Official NBA Playoffs Thread

I_Like_Dirt · Post #581 » by **I_Like_Dirt** » Wed Jun 6, 2012 6:39 pm

The Heat's big problem is twofold. One, they've got overpaid vets as their supporting cast. That's good for defensive purposes, but horrible for scoring purposes. The do it, though, partly because that's what coaches and players think they want (makes their jobs easier because they can just rely on the vets to pick up the slack but doesn't help with winning) and also because when their big 3 are healthy, don't leave a lot of roles on the basketball court for other players to fill and produce in so they might as well just take guys who make everybody's jobs easier.

Secondly, Wade and Lebron are absolutely horrible fits next to one another. They seem to go back and forth figuring out ways how to play together or how to not play together, however during the stretches they do figure out how to play together, it basically means nobody else on the team can score, rebound, create an assist, or even block a shot since Wade and Lebron like to rotate defensively and play for blocks. Getting Lebron and Wade to play effectively together has been the proverbial anchor around their neck these past two seasons. Both guys are going to have to sacrifice their production in a similar manner to how Bosh has - notice how KG, Allen and Pierce all took reduced roles when they teamed up. If they can do that, it will open up room for other players who can actually produce to fill in spcific and produce. Find a crazy shotblocker, find a 3-point shooter. Lebron and Wade are two of the top 5 stars in the NBA, they aren't two of the top 5 role players, though, and in the NBA it's stars who can also be role players who succeed in situations when they're playing with other stars.

Post #582 » by **nate33** » Wed Jun 6, 2012 6:44 pm

If the Heat could trade Wade for, say, Noah and Afflalo, they'd win the championship every year. Ideally, they follow up by trading one of Miller/Battier for a serviceable PG - maybe a guy like Luke Ridnoir or Andre Miller.

theboomking · Post #583 » by **theboomking** » Wed Jun 6, 2012 7:39 pm

Higga wrote:Can't believe Miami is on the verge of choking, but I got a feeling this is gunna go 7 games.

I think Miami may win it if it goes to 7 games. I'm crossing my finger for game 6.

Ruzious wrote:Why do you call it choking instead of giving Boston credit for playing great against a worthy opponent?

Having said that - Wade's behavior continues to turn me off. He definitely deserved a technical for his continuous whining in the first quarter over a call correctly made against him when he obviously hit Pierce's arm as Pierce was shooting. They showed him sitting on the bench still yelling/cussing at the ref several minutes after the call.

Wade is really coming off as a b**ch. I used to really like him, but for some reason, it really grated on me when Wade and Lebron were mocking Novitski with fake coughing and laughing, when Dirk was sick in the finals last year. It just seemed so juvenile, sophomoric, and unprofessional. He looked like just some dick you would have known in high school.

Post #584 » by **Rafael122** » Wed Jun 6, 2012 11:30 pm

You know whats scary, I think KG has a year or two more in him. But they have two first round picks this year, and a ton of cap room. The big 3 era may end, but they probably won't take a huge step back.

Post #585 » by **miller31time** » Thu Jun 7, 2012 4:02 am

Some questionable officiating but the Thunder did play their asses off. Durant and Harden are as clutch as they come.

And the OKC crowd is absolutely infectious. I'm not a huge Thunder fan but I find myself rooting for them simply because of the fans.

hegotgame132 · Post #586 » by **hegotgame132** » Thu Jun 7, 2012 4:13 am

This spurs thunder series should just play on repeat in the film room and serve as the basis for everything we should try to become.

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #587 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Thu Jun 7, 2012 7:21 am

miller31time wrote:Some questionable officiating but the Thunder did play their asses off. Durant and Harden are as clutch as they come.

And the OKC crowd is absolutely infectious. I'm not a huge Thunder fan but I find myself rooting for them simply because of the fans.

Harden's flopping gets on my nerves. Next to Wade, he's my least favorite player still playing.

The officiating was terribly biased towards OKC.

The Thunder are fun to watch and were the better team this series. Still, I hate that officiating really left a mark on this game and made it far less enjoyable than it should have been

tontoz · Post #588 » by **tontoz** » Thu Jun 7, 2012 11:18 am

The two teams combined to shoot 21-44 from 3 last night. That is some clutch shooting for such an important game.

OKC sustained effort level seemed to wear the Spurs out.

hands11 · Post #589 » by **hands11** » Thu Jun 7, 2012 12:02 pm

Pretty amazing SA won as many as they did in a row.

Then lost 4 in a row.

That is a pretty huge story.

Looks like OKC to take it all now which is what many though from the start before SA went on a tear.

Post #590 » by **nate33** » Thu Jun 7, 2012 12:49 pm

It's a little disappointing that OKC got the better end of every single call down the stretch, but you gotta give credit to their defense. They made it so hard for San Antonio to even make a pass.

Tony Parker was ice cold in the 3rd and early 4th quarters. That killed San Antonio.

Nivek · Post #591 » by **Nivek** » Thu Jun 7, 2012 2:09 pm

Having listened to some of the Mike & Mike show this morning, I can now say conclusively that Tim Legler is an idiot.

FAH1223 · Post #592 » by **FAH1223** » Thu Jun 7, 2012 3:15 pm

I feel for the Sonics fans. Man. KD was supposed to be in Seattle for 15+ years and bring them back to this position.

Higga · Post #593 » by **Higga** » Thu Jun 7, 2012 4:29 pm

Good to see the Thunder close it out at home, hopefully the Celtics can follow suit tonight.

mohammed10 · Post #594 » by **mohammed10** » Thu Jun 7, 2012 5:41 pm

FAH1223 wrote:I feel for the Sonics fans. Man. KD was supposed to be in Seattle for 15+ years and bring them back to this position.

+1

Hopefully the Sonics will be reincarnated sometime in the near future...

I_Like_Dirt · Post #595 » by **I_Like_Dirt** » Thu Jun 7, 2012 7:32 pm

mohammed10 wrote:Hopefully the Sonics will be reincarnated sometime in the near future...

...because that's how the NBA rolls. You lose Kevin Durant. Then, suddenly, 20 years later, you get the Charlotte Bobcats. The NBA. Where generosity and loyalty to the fans happens.

GhostsOfGil · Post #596 » by **GhostsOfGil** » Fri Jun 8, 2012 2:34 am

Wow.. Lebron is absolutely killing it. Nearly 80% true shooting for the game.. :eek1:

dangermouse · Post #597 » by **dangermouse** » Fri Jun 8, 2012 3:02 am

You have to respect that performance, douche or not.

That was Jordan-esque.

AFM · Post #598 » by **AFM** » Fri Jun 8, 2012 3:19 am

Yeah that was bad ass. Reminded me a little bit of Blatche...

sfam · Post #599 » by **sfam** » Fri Jun 8, 2012 3:48 am

dangermouse wrote:You have to respect that performance, douche or not.

That was Jordan-esque.

I don't think I've ever seen such a look of pure concentration and drive from Lebron - he had it all night. It was truly a memorable performance, one we'll be talking about for years, no matter how game 7 goes. The Celtics seemed to age as the game went on. He flat out buried them.

hands11 · Post #600 » by **hands11** » Fri Jun 8, 2012 4:26 am

GhostsOfGil wrote:Wow.. Lebron is absolutely killing it. Nearly 80% true shooting for the game..

After all these years and lots of good stat game, that was a legit arrival game from LeBron. And maybe his best post game interview ever. Could it be possibly he finally is understanding the difference between honest humility and determined focus and acting like he has it ?

This may be a turning point game for him.