Semi-OT: Game 6 2010 Finals

[LLcoleJ]

I felt that if we won game 6, there was no way we'd lose game 7. When we won game 6, i felt the series was over.

Pretty much this.

I felt we would go into game 6 with a ton of confidence and I thought BOS would also suffer from a lack of confidence under those circumstances.

To beat a home team in a setup like this you have to overcome not only the arena going crazy but the confidence in the players ( lakers). That's a tough task.

However, going into game 7 with the anything can happen concept, that evens the playing field a bit for both teams IMO.

HCA= Huge.

[CowsMoo]

I felt very confident going into Game 6, if for no other reason than hearing about the rampage that Kobe went on after his teammates failed him miserably in Game 5. I don't remember his exact words, but I recall that he was extremely vocal in the locker room following the loss and asked his teammates "who is ready to f'ing go to war with me?"

That's kind of what you expect from your leaders, and after hearing about Kobe ripping into guys I was absolutely convinced that we'd come out and smoke the C's in Game 6 -- and that's exactly what we did. Unfortunately, that kind of attitude/leadership was missing from the team this year for whatever reason.

Game 7 was a different story though. I knew it was going to be ugly as hell, and I was very nervous going into that game. I can't even imagine the kind of pressure that the players felt in Game 7. The two most successful franchises in the league who deeply hate each other and have one of the biggest rivalries in all of sports... yeah, that'll mess with your nerves as a player AND as a fan.

Felt exactly the same way. Phil and Kobe's leadership got me through game 6. For game 7, I took every possession as is, not even worrying about the bigger picture. If they scored, I screamed my lungs out, if they missed, I cursed at the tv. I just lived every moment of it. Thank god they won. But I was so emotionally invested into it.

[Miamis3rdRing]

Thanks for the replies, it took me a while to read all of them, but I really enjoyed it. I'd like to reply to all of them, but that would take forever and there's some overlap.

1st of all let me say, the thing you're doing with the sig/av, doesn't JET do that and sleep in the opposing team's shorts or something? Haha. Anyways..

Yeah I believe he sleeps in the opposing teams shorts the night before a game. At first I was annoyed by JET's trash talk, but now (Unlike most Heat fans) I feel he's deserved the right to talk trash. He said LBJ isn't shutting him down in the 4th, and he's been delivering ever since.

Although I'm not so sure Miami can be beat 3 times in a row, so maybe it's also bound for 7 and Game 7 is unpredictable.

I've been clinging to the hope that they can't win 3 in a row against us. But then I remember Chicago fans saying "We haven't lost more than 2 in a row all season long".

You're playing a team that is also historically good at choking. If you were a fan before this year, you'd know that.

I've been a Heat fan since the Mourning/Hardaway era, and a general fan of the NBA years before that. The thing is, Dallas isn't going to choke this year. I made these predictions before every series this season:

Portland over Dallas in 6
Lakers overs Dallas in 4 or 5 (And when you guys were down 3-0, I said "If any team can choke a 3-0 lead it's the Mavs")
Thunder over Mavs in 6

Dallas has been incredibly clutch this post-season, and outside of the Celtics/Bulls series the Heat have been awful the whole year.

I felt very confident going into Game 6, if for no other reason than hearing about the rampage that Kobe went on after his teammates failed him miserably in Game 5. I don't remember his exact words, but I recall that he was extremely vocal in the locker room following the loss and asked his teammates "who is ready to f'ing go to war with me?"

Agreed. You absolutely NEED a vocal leader like that. Wade isn't a vocal leader, he's more of a 'by example' guy. LeBron on the other hand is, but with the way he's been playing even I wouldn't want to follow behind him. I wish Wade would tear into some of these guys ala Kobe.

Once they blew Game 2, all I was worried about what winning one of the next two games in Boston. Immediately bouncing back to take Game 3 relieved all the pressure, in my mind.

I too had a huge sense of relief after we got Game 3 in Dallas. I'll be honest, I was rooting for Boston. After you guys took Game 3 I recall Fisher either crying or being very emotional as he played a huge role in stealing that game. At that point I knew the Lakers were back in the driver seat and that Boston was in deep trouble.

I think the Mavs might be able to close the Heat out though. They've been one of the most resilient teams I've seen in years, and Miami still has LeBron missing in action in the 4th quarter. Unless he steps up, or Wade drops 45+, I think Dallas can close them out.

Hate to say it, but I feel the same way. If the Heat have a 10 point lead with 5 minutes left the Mavs will win IMO. We better blow them out of the water the next game. I have zero confidence in LeBron.

Artest was making Pierce miserable
Fisher was clinging onto Allen like a drowning man hanging onto a branch in a flood

That's the difference between Phil Jackson and Eric Slowstra. Kobe on Rondo instead of Ray Allen was a great move. He matched you guys up in such a way that you had an advantage at basically every position, and even where you didn't their advantage(s) were minimized if that makes sense.

While I believe Lebron has surpassed Kobe and is now the best player in the NBA, Lebron is mentally weaker. Kobe still believes deep down he's the best and his team will win, Kobe doesn't ever let anything affect him. This is why the Celtics didn't trash talk him like the Mavs are trash talking with Lebron....anything negative said about Kobe he'll make you pay for it, with Lebron not so much, Lebron seems to worry about his image a whole lot. Kobe doesn't, Kobe wants to go out there and make you look like an idiot. Lebron isn't poise that way, Lebron enjoys when things are going well but when things are going bad Lebron usually doesn't handle it well.

I'd be blasted on the Heat board for such thoughts, but that is EXACTLY how I feel. Very well put.

The fact that Miami allowed Dallas to steal two games where they shot terribly and played the Heat's type of game is a red flag. When you don't win games you should, it lessens your room for error and puts more undo pressure on your role players.

Agreed. Game 2 and Game 4 were ones that we had no business losing. 99% of the time, the better team will prevail. Just like Chicago this season made all those comebacks against Indiana. That's what worries me. After last night's game I finally felt that Dallas is a better team. They were missing a lot of shots they hit against you guys and OKC. They've sort of figured out our defense.

[Rox_Nix_Nox]

anyway, i hope you get embarrassed

[Pablo Escobar]

I felt that if we won game 6, there was no way we'd lose game 7. When we won game 6, i felt the series was over.

Exactly how I felt.

[Doormatt]

i was 100% sure we would win game 6, especially after watching them play the first few minutes. you just got the feeling that there was no way they would lose. imo it was the lakers at their very best, they played with a lot of energy, gave it their all on every possession, and just outmatched boston in every way possible. they were flat out dominant.

if the heat dont come out with that kind of energy/determination, id be pretty worried as a fan. if this game 6 is anything like last year, you should be able to tell almost immediately

[Doormatt]

game 7 was terribly nerve racking though, i was with a bunch of other people and you could just feel how bad the lakers were playing. i dont even remember what i was thinking going into that game, and tbh, i hated watching it. i just wanted the game to be over and the celebration to start.

[Anklebreaker702]

Called it to a tee. I said we'll blow them out in Game 6 & Game 7 will be close