Official NBA Playoffs Thread

[montestewart]

Wow. OKC is choking down the stretch.

I just performed a Heimlich. They're breathing much better now.

[hands11]

Sefolosha

Huge steal.

And insane finish with the reverse semi dunk.

OKC down by 1 with 1:30 to go.

Can they steal one in Miami ?

[FAH1223]

MIA has to have Durant in foul trouble to win

OKC giving up 2 3point fouls was beyond stupid... those were the big difference along with their missed free throws

the series is over, you may as well give Miami the O'Brien Trophy

[Jay81]

Harden has bee terrible

[FAH1223]

[noworriesinmd]

FAH1223, awesome vid!

[noworriesinmd]

[snip]

It is a very interesting, exciting series that I hope won't be decided by officiating.

Like game 2 was? That was a foul on LaBron vs Durant at the end.
Durant should have had 2 FTs to tie. Then MIA should have had the
ball with the chance to win.

Just like Durant should have been out the game with 3 min to go because of his charge. If that was called there would be no KD vs LBJ play.

[closg00]

MIA has to have Durant in foul trouble to win

OKC giving up 2 3point fouls was beyond stupid... those were the big difference along with their missed free throws

the series is over, you may as well give Miami the O'Brien Trophy

NOOOOOO, say it ain't so, everything is going to be ok right? The basketball Gods would never allow a Miami victory parade.

[Ruzious]

Those 2 fouls on the 3's really hurt - and were very foolish - but remember Fisher got a 4 pointer not long before them - equally foolish by Miami. I think the game was won/lost at the FT line - where Miami took advantage and OKC didn't. But kudos to both teams for the great defense. I've never seen so many deflections in an NBA game. And Bosh was the 4th quarter hero, imo - with his help defense. When anyone got around Lebron, Wade, or anyone else, Bosh was there to help. Ibaka's got to do a role reversal with Bosh to give OKC the advantage, imo.

FAH, thanks for sharing that. It's hilarious.

[closg00]

In an NBA Finals full of 50-50 calls, LeBron is winning 100 percent of the time

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/19374109/in-a-game-full-of-5050-calls-lebrons-winning-100-percent-of-the-time

[LyricalRico]

Agree that Miami is going to win the series, for three reasons:

1. Durant just isn't enough of an actor to compete with LeBron/Wade in drawing fouls.
2. Bosh is outplaying all of the OKC bigs combined IMO.
3. Miami is at their best when they are front runners, and now they have the series lead plus the next two at home. They will be very tough to beat. I wouldn't be surprised if this ends in 5.

To give themselves a chance, I think the Thunder have to go small and start Durant at PF so he can guard Battier instead of LeBron. That way he's not picking up early fouls. This would also mean that Battier is likely guarding Durant on the ball, meaning he's not able to come from the weakside to draw charges.

The problem is who do you start? Harden is their best bench player, but I'd be reluctant to start him since his role is already defined. Maybe start Fisher at the 2? But then who guards Wade? It would be nice if OKC had a true SF on their bench that could step in for situations like this.

[verbal8]

The problem is who do you start? Harden is their best bench player, but I'd be reluctant to start him since his role is already defined. Maybe start Fisher at the 2? But then who guards Wade? It would be nice if OKC had a true SF on their bench that could step in for situations like this.

I think the Thunder has to start the game with their best offensive team, which would include Harden. The first quarter has been high scoring and they have had a significant deficit every game.

It still looks like Miami has the advantage, but I think the Thunder should be able to at least take the series back home if they make some adjustments.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

The referees will turn the tables and allow OKC to steal one in Miami. The series will go to OKC. It will come down to seven games. Bad officiating in the 7th game is something I am looking for.

Miami has the advantage with experience. Bosh's length on defense was a huge deciding factor, Ruz. Battier killing it on threes is something that has to stop. Right? I think OKC is the more talented team, but Durant really does not act or complain vociferously like Wade, LR.

Also, the single biggest detriment OKC has is their youth. Harden and Westbrook make the darnedest bad plays or take bad shots at the worst times. That said, if they can keep the pressure on the Heat, Wade can play poorly and Lebron can choke.

I think the Heat will win because of their experience and the refs; however, this same Thunder team was down 0-2 to the Spurs and SA had won 20 in a row. They beat SA four in a row (with help from the refs). So, they can definitely come back.

Like I said earlier, this will go 7 games IMO. I predict Durant is going to have a monster game 4--over 40 points. To make one adjustment, OKC could substitute Fisher in place of Perkins and just go with Ibaka in the middle. What seems to be killing them the most is Miami's spacing and them hitting open threes. I don't think Brooks needs to do that until they get down more than 5 in the first.

[FAH1223]

i'd still start Perkins but definitely keep his minutes between 20-25 minutes

Going small is the only way they can be consistent IMO. Durant at PF, Sefalosha at SF, and Harden at SG after the first few minutes would give OKC their best lineup to matchup MIA's small lineup that they have been running since Game 2 vs. IND Pacers.

Durant isn't a flopper as James/Wade are... thats where the difference in drawing phantom fouls is coming from. KD just plays without trying to do that, thats how he always has been.

[closg00]

How-many times will Wade jump into another player while shooting tonight, he gets that call every time.

[Ruzious]

How-many times will Wade jump into another player while shooting tonight, he gets that call every time.

Yeah, if they fall for his pump-fake and jump anywhere near him, he will jump into them and get the call. I hate that. And Wade's certainly not the first player who's done that. Which is worse - that or flopping? It's funny how flopping is a terrible thing that's gotta be stopped except... when Shane Battier does it - and Battier probably does it more than anyone else in the NBA. Battier used to play for Jeff Van Gundy, so it's a smart veteran hustle move when he does it.

[dobrojim]

Ibaka and Harden need to step up tonight. Going down 1-3 doesn't
bode well at all.

[LyricalRico]

Ibaka and Harden need to step up tonight. Going down 1-3 doesn't
bode well at all.

Yesterday on 980, Sheehan and Loverro were saying that guys like Ibaka and Collison were letting OKC down. But I still see that as a matchup issue rather than an effort issue. They were great against the Spurs because the Spurs consistently play a big lineup. But Miami isn't doing that. They are starting small and staying small through the whole game. IMO Battier is a bad matchup for Ibaka, and Collison isn't enough of shot blocker against a team of slashers.

I really think OKC needs to bench Perkins, start Ibaka in the middle against Bosh, slide Durant/Thabo to the forward positioins, and start Fisher at SG. Harden still comes off the bench and plays the most SG minutes. I think that helps OKC in the following ways:

- Ibaka is back in his comfort zone
- Durant isn't being guarded by LeBron
- Durant isn't guarding LeBron and getting early fouls
- Battier is defending Durant on the perimeter and isn't as free to rotate for charges
- Fisher provides more spacing for Durant/Westbrook to get going offensively
- Perkins has a big advantage over MIA's backup bigs

Of course, it does come with risks:

- Who is going to rebound? Durant/Thabo might be overmatched.
- Can you count on Fisher to be effective in the added minutes?
- Who guards Wade? I would assume Westbrook, but if he's in foul trouble you're options are limited.

I still think Brooks should give it a shot tonight.

[I_Like_Dirt]

I dunno, Rico. I agree the Thunder need to try something and going small is about all they've got, but at the same time, the Heat would still stick Lebron on Durant and have Battier rotating for charges. The only way that going small works to their favour is if Sefolosha takes and makes a bunch of 3s, and I can't recall him ever doing that. Plus, you get stuck with somebody like Fisher or Cook guarding Wade.

I still think the series is far from over, but the problem the Thunder are having is that their big 3 really do everything for the team other physical and/or interior defense. So they've loaded up on defensive bigs. They've got enough talent to overwhelm most teams, and of the elite teams, only Miami is really set up to play small. Sefolosha, Perkins, Ibaka, Collison and Fisher are all excellent role players, but Fisher can't shoot like he used to and none of the other guys were ever known for their shots - in fact they're more known for passing up on shots and focusing on other things. The Heat are easier to defend than you'd think, up to a point. They don't have so many shooters that tightening your defense up works, but it only works up to a point because the Heat have too much talent.

That's where the Thunder, and honestly even the Bulls have gotten themselves into a bit of trouble, because to beat the Heat, you've got to have more than 3 scoring options on the floor, and they just don't have the players to do it. The Mavericks managed with only one defensive big, less superstars, but a complement of supporting players who could hit 3s.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

This series is almost unwatchable. Perhaps it's my blind loathing of the Heat.. But at this point, pro wrestling referees seem more honest.