Thunder are better than the Heat...not even close

[CablexDeadpool]

Since I am a betting man...if I had to put money on it, Thunder>Heat in the Finals...actually I have put money on it and I tell you why.


Durant is best jumpshooting scorer in the league at 6'11
James Harden is playing the Ginobili role
Russell Westbrook is Derrick Rose lite


While

Bosh shows up half the time...literally, dude needs to be more featured in the offense
Lebron is easily nullified with the Thunder front court
Wade is easily nullified with the Thunder front court

Ibaka Perkins and Durant's length = a clogged paint


James Harden coming off the bench. Heat bench is trash and I have been saying this for a while now.
To be a championship team, you need a legit bench, not this rag tag group the Heat has.

Lakers had Odom, Spurs had Ginobili, Mavs Jason Terry, Bulls Toni Kukoč...you get what I am saying, you need a bench star or a legit bench to be a championship team.

Sixers, Grizzlies, Bulls, Spurs...all have legit benches, meaning they can actually play like the starting 5


Thunder's Big 3 in reality>Miami's Big 3 in reality

Bosh shows up rarely. Bosh is really, Bosh is really freaking pedestrian okay.

Bosh has the talent, but with the Heat, he's really freaking average. His impact on the game is really damn low. If he was coming off the bench, he would be great, but he's freaking starting and he isn't as good as I thought he would be impact wise. Skillwise, Bosh is awesome, but with Wade and Lebron...it turns into the Wade and Lebron show.

The person(s) with the ball in the most, controls the game. Wade and Lebron having the ball and getting the ball most of the time isn't good enough when you surround them with marginal talent outside of Bosh.

Nobody is scared of the rest of the Heat besides Wade and Lebron. You stop Wade or Lebron and have Bosh not getting involved, it turns into a one man show. Or you stop the bench...which happens a lot, then you have the scoring load placed on 3 players.

Lebron and Wade also operate in the post and the paint...the post is simple to disrupt by double teams and traps so you need a perimeter threat...Heat's better perimeter threat is James Jones...Spo doesn't play him.

Then there is a mismatch, Thunder is bigger than the Heat and even more athletic (meaning they can keep up physically ). On top of that they are a scoring machine (They have the best scorer in the league and the best scoring point guard in the league and the best bench scorer). On top of that, Spo is the coach of the Heat.


Thunder are better than the Heat.

[iboxlefty]

So why did the Spurs absolutely dominate them few days ago but we killed the Spurs without wade?

We haven't been playing well since all star break and our interior defense has sucked. If this is our fate for the rest of the season then you're right.

We also had 21 turnovers, how normal Is that?


1 game, relax

[CablexDeadpool]

So why did the Spurs absolutely dominate them few days ago but we killed the Spurs without wade?

We haven't been playing well since all star break and our interior defense has sucked. If this is our fate for the rest of the season then you're right.

We also had 21 turnovers, how normal Is that?


1 game, relax

You seriously think the Spurs gonna beat the Thunder in a 7 game series?

The Spurs had the best record last year and get beat by the Grizz.

If the Thunder meet the Heat in the Finals, it's gonna be a long Finals.

Only team that can legit beat the Thunder, is the Thunder. They have to go brain dead to lose a series, meaning Westbrook has to **** it up and Durant has to be passive and settle for jumpshots. And they don't play D.

The Thunder is just built for playoff basketball. I been picked the Thunder to win before the season began. You have the erase in Ibaka and you have the post enforce in Perkins, you have your Perimeter Defender in Selfolosha, you have your 3 scorers in their Big 3...and they are efficient in scoring and 3 point shooters, then you have your blue collar guy in Collison, etc.

I didn't think the Heat would win last year, even though I hoped so, and I don't think they will win this year, even though I hope so.

Heat are an elite regular season team, that's it.

They are just like the Spurs, you see them dominate and you go ooooooooh and aaaaaaaaaah...but the way they play isn't gonna fly playing the same team, to a potential seven times, if they meet the team that has their number.


The Thunder has the Heat number, it's a matchup nightmare, too big, too athletic, too much offensive firepower.

Now if the Thunder get eliminated, then the Heat can probably beat any team in the West besides them.

But the Thunder...nah not happening...unless the Thunder beat themselves by playing like idiots.

[DefenseWins]

Hold your horses dude. Let's see how April the 4th goes.

But I understand what you're saying.

Lately, we've been the team trying to get back into games though, which is not like us. I think this team is just in a slump right now. Including LeBron, which just spells disaster. I'm starting to think it's our defense. We've been trying to crawl back into games.

Durant, this guy is amazing. I remember when people said Carmelo was the best scorer, and before this season he was, but Durant has taken that title. His shot, I expect it to go in most of the time lol.

I know you spoke of the Thunder's bench, but it's just Harden. We let Harden do his thing though, and throughout the game they were all comfortable. Westbrook, who was actually in foul trouble, was 4-16 still. I think he is the Thunder's weak link WHEN STRUGGLING. But, Ibaka and Perkins erased anything Westbrook did tonight. Ibaka and Perkins won't play like that in a 7 game series though. Our defense fell asleep on them. Too bad Joel can't do something like that huh? Because no one guarded Joel in the paint.

Durant's also clutch too which doesn't help. Even if he misses something, atleast he tries and has a the will to win. Depends on the ball deny of the other team though, or else he doesn't do anything. But his quick release is devastating.

I mean, today the bench scored almost the same as OKC. Haslem, Battier, Ronny. Harden did ALL of their damage (besides 4 points from others). But you're right, we don't have that legit option off the bench.

Bosh has to do a better job defensively. I would defend this guy on his defense, but he looked like a statue today. The whole team defense has been bad actually. We also can't seem to be getting stops anymore. Like wtf is going on? This team also has practices... I don't know if they are tired, because I don't even what they are practicing. They look the same all the damn time.

Wade looked like he wanted to win. I'd like to see how the game goes if Wade gets the ball in the 4th WITH THE HEAT GETTING DEFENSIVE STOPS!!

Also the Spurs have beaten OKC like 8 out of their last 11 meetings, something like that. The Spurs are deep enough to challenge OKC. It doesn't matter if Spurs are old or whatever, that excuse looks stupid compared to what the Mavs did last year and even against us. Smart basketball, defensive stops, will get your championships. Also when your star player steps up. Spurs had a bad match up last year with the Grizz, Ginobili was hurt. The Spurs, if you look at their roster compared to last year, are LOADED. We'd even lose against them in the Finals. Yeah we had no Wade last time (we were getting blown out til LeBron got hot in the 3rd then MILLER TIME!), but they had no Ginobili.

[broke]

yeah im more worried about getting past the Bulls in the playoffs let alone who we meet in the "Finals" the Bulls are still winning games regardless of who they are missing. personally if im being a pessimist we lose in ECF to the Bulls this year. BUT i'm not counting those chickens, and this team is "built" for the playoffs, i do believe that actually. I'm ready for the playoffs already to be honest! let's get this train rolling!!

[arsenic]

Eh, calm down bro.

That was honestly the worst defensive collapse I've seen from us all season. I just can't use this as an indicator as to how we'll perform against the Thunder in the future. I'm almost positive the effort on April 4th will be nothing like this...win or lose, albeit I'm anticipating a win.

The defense was absent throughout.
Our offense for the last 4 or so games has been strange. We have been going into complete scoring DROUGHTS in the 2nd half. Very unusual for the Heat.

This is not the same team we saw pre-march. Things should pick up soon...

[Vertical Limit]

Yeah I'm more worried about the Bulls. I'll worry about the Thunder when they actually put up a fight in the playoffs. Last year they got stomped on.

[Miamis3rdRing]

Blow it up if we don't win a title this year. I don't care who the opponent is. If our core is healthy and we cannot win a championship then it may be time to move in a different direction or make a big time move.

As for our match-up against OKC I'll wait until the next game to make proper judgement. They beat the crap out of us. Somewhere in the 2nd quarter I knew we were screwed.

As of right now my top 4 looks something like -
1. Chicago
2. OKC
3. Spurs/Heat
4. Lakers

[GreenHat]

I'm not going to bother with a long reply since its 4am.

I'll just add to the it's one game crowd.

Also if you are so sure about putting your money on the Thunder you can get them at like 4.5 or 5-1 to win the title

[iboxlefty]

So why did the Spurs absolutely dominate them few days ago but we killed the Spurs without wade?

We haven't been playing well since all star break and our interior defense has sucked. If this is our fate for the rest of the season then you're right.

We also had 21 turnovers, how normal Is that?


1 game, relax

You seriously think the Spurs gonna beat the Thunder in a 7 game series?

The Spurs had the best record last year and get beat by the Grizz.

If the Thunder meet the Heat in the Finals, it's gonna be a long Finals.

Only team that can legit beat the Thunder, is the Thunder. They have to go brain dead to lose a series, meaning Westbrook has to **** it up and Durant has to be passive and settle for jumpshots. And they don't play D.

The Thunder is just built for playoff basketball. I been picked the Thunder to win before the season began. You have the erase in Ibaka and you have the post enforce in Perkins, you have your Perimeter Defender in Selfolosha, you have your 3 scorers in their Big 3...and they are efficient in scoring and 3 point shooters, then you have your blue collar guy in Collison, etc.

I didn't think the Heat would win last year, even though I hoped so, and I don't think they will win this year, even though I hope so.

Heat are an elite regular season team, that's it.

They are just like the Spurs, you see them dominate and you go ooooooooh and aaaaaaaaaah...but the way they play isn't gonna fly playing the same team, to a potential seven times, if they meet the team that has their number.


The Thunder has the Heat number, it's a matchup nightmare, too big, too athletic, too much offensive firepower.

Now if the Thunder get eliminated, then the Heat can probably beat any team in the West besides them.

But the Thunder...nah not happening...unless the Thunder beat themselves by playing like idiots.

God youre way too long winded and you must be a thunder fan at core


And Yea i think the spurs would beat the Thunder in a series

No I don't think the Thunder would definitely beat us if we play to our strengths.


Main reasons
Ibaka and Perkins close to 20 points each? Not gonna happen

Us with 21 turnovers? Not gonna happen.

Our defense lookin like complete trash every game? Not gonna happen

The thunder shooting THAT well? Nah not gonna happen


Our defensive strategies and adjustments will be applied in a series when we have a better feel for them


If lebron chalmers bosh and everyone else keep playing like this no we can't win, but they won in a way tonight that they dont usually win. It's not their identity the way they played tonight, its not the norm therefore I see this more as our failures than their 'greatness"


A playoff series with Ibaka shooting wide open jumpers and Perkins all alone in the paint having lunch? Playoffs? Nope not normal, not gonna happen

[Chosen01]

Lol at not close. Already knew the Heat would lose judging by-the 1st half alone.

You know when they've come out to play and when they haven't,just painfully obvious to see.

[Vertical Limit]

Seriously wonder if you guys do this to troll our boards or just to be randomly insane.

Show some composure after a regular season loss for christ's sake. Your overreactions is making us look like the Knicks' board.

[HIF]

wow! the heat lost a regular season game to a Western conference favourite on the road. Sure on the day Oklahoma were better but let's get some realism into the context.

Next there'll be a fire spo thread.

[rizkid92]

Thunder's Big 3 in reality>Miami's Big 3 in reality

LOL u have got to be kidding me.

[Altered_Beast]

ahhhh i was starting to miss these overreaction threads. heat have been playing bad and the thunder came out hot and stayed hot, thats all. it was a really tough game for us to win. sure we wouldve liked to see a closer game but IMO the heat were lucky they didnt lose by 40, thats how bad everyone was. everyone was careless with the ball and lebron was chucking. he was trying to play like durant instead of trying to play like lebron and wade only shot 10 and made 6 WTF!!!

[Pchu]

As a non-Heat, non-Thunder fan, I would pick the Heat to win the series against the Thunder if they face each other in the finals.

Last night's game is a really bad one for the Heat, but it's one game on the road against a team with a great home record.

The Thunder is not a great defensive team, the Heat can score on them. However, the Heat has to make adjustment on Durant. You cannot allow Durant to catch and shoot so easily, they have to deny him the ball just like Marion did in the Western Conference Final last season.

[Heat_team02]

Since I am a betting man...if I had to put money on it, Thunder>Heat in the Finals...actually I have put money on it and I tell you why.


Durant is best jumpshooting scorer in the league at 6'11
James Harden is playing the Ginobili role
Russell Westbrook is Derrick Rose lite


While

Bosh shows up half the time...literally, dude needs to be more featured in the offense
Lebron is easily nullified with the Thunder front court
Wade is easily nullified with the Thunder front court

Ibaka Perkins and Durant's length = a clogged paint


James Harden coming off the bench. Heat bench is trash and I have been saying this for a while now.
To be a championship team, you need a legit bench, not this rag tag group the Heat has.

Lakers had Odom, Spurs had Ginobili, Mavs Jason Terry, Bulls Toni Kukoč...you get what I am saying, you need a bench star or a legit bench to be a championship team.

Sixers, Grizzlies, Bulls, Spurs...all have legit benches, meaning they can actually play like the starting 5


Thunder's Big 3 in reality>Miami's Big 3 in reality

Bosh shows up rarely. Bosh is really, Bosh is really freaking pedestrian okay.

Bosh has the talent, but with the Heat, he's really freaking average. His impact on the game is really damn low. If he was coming off the bench, he would be great, but he's freaking starting and he isn't as good as I thought he would be impact wise. Skillwise, Bosh is awesome, but with Wade and Lebron...it turns into the Wade and Lebron show.

The person(s) with the ball in the most, controls the game. Wade and Lebron having the ball and getting the ball most of the time isn't good enough when you surround them with marginal talent outside of Bosh.

Nobody is scared of the rest of the Heat besides Wade and Lebron. You stop Wade or Lebron and have Bosh not getting involved, it turns into a one man show. Or you stop the bench...which happens a lot, then you have the scoring load placed on 3 players.

Lebron and Wade also operate in the post and the paint...the post is simple to disrupt by double teams and traps so you need a perimeter threat...Heat's better perimeter threat is James Jones...Spo doesn't play him.

Then there is a mismatch, Thunder is bigger than the Heat and even more athletic (meaning they can keep up physically ). On top of that they are a scoring machine (They have the best scorer in the league and the best scoring point guard in the league and the best bench scorer). On top of that, Spo is the coach of the Heat.


Thunder are better than the Heat.

You forgot Collison who goes out there to take charges & rebounds.

[FlashKing]

If we don't win it all this year, the blame will be mostly put on the head coach, and rightfully so...

I'm almost hoping that we go on a 5-6 game losing streak so Spoelstra will get the boot. this team is not playing up to its potential because of how poorly coached they are. Phil Jackson has 11 rings for a reason, and he's never had a team with 3 talents(in their prime) like the one Spoelstra has right now.

Poorly executed rotations, no creativity on the offensive side of the ball. he just lets the big 3 do what they want as long as they make stops on the defensive end. he brings nothing to the table.

[SweetTouch]

I would rest LBJ for a couple of games.

Check his $tat$ after the non-concussion

Heat will not get the 1st seed0 **** the bs

[Tim_Hardawayy]

Lane needs to come out of retirement and purge this board. Its gone to ****.