Game 1 Post Game NBA Finals

[LakerLegendMikeSmrek]

I read a post on the General Board which confirmed my feeling that I had last night

"the thing about this thunder team, is that seem, they feel beatable...like a good prizefighter...they lull you into some false sense of security, of hope. you watch what they are doing, and think ok, weve seen that before, weve seen better, and then the next thing you know, they are ahead, and then they are pulling away, not looking back...they did it to my lakers , they did it the previously red-hot spurs, and they will do it the heat as well...

it pains me to admit this to myself, let alone on a public forum...but they are the best team in the league this season... "

what do you guys think?

Laker fan here. That quote is spot on. Lakers lost a 7 pt lead with 2 minutes left in game 2, lost a 14 pt lead in 4th quarter of game 3. I was convinced Lakers gave those games away rather than thinking the Thunders "took them." But as I continue to watch them in the playoffs, I am convinced now. They are TAKING THEM. No lead is safe against them.

[King_John]

The only thing I hope is that the Thunder at some point start to realize that they really could win a championship and start to THINK...it s a young team and I hop the pressure eventually takes his toll on the Thunder

[krikor]

Its mainly because they have scary shooters, high efficiency.

[Pimpwerx]

I read a post on the General Board which confirmed my feeling that I had last night

"the thing about this thunder team, is that seem, they feel beatable...like a good prizefighter...they lull you into some false sense of security, of hope. you watch what they are doing, and think ok, weve seen that before, weve seen better, and then the next thing you know, they are ahead, and then they are pulling away, not looking back...they did it to my lakers , they did it the previously red-hot spurs, and they will do it the heat as well...

it pains me to admit this to myself, let alone on a public forum...but they are the best team in the league this season... "

what do you guys think?

We played bad defense in the second half. People penciled the Spurs in as the GOAT after Game1. Go figure. I suppose the first half of last night's game was just them lulling us to sleep, or it could just be they made a good adjustment at halftime. We got answers. We'll be fine. PEACE.

[WD]

Dan Lebetard just said that SPO is going to run these guys(Lebron/Wade) in the ground, but STUGOTZ is really saying some of the dumbest sh@t I have ever heard from a sports talk host. Saying "that's what these guys signed up for, no help to do it themselves"

Dan also said you cannot play just 6 guys, said MJ never played like that, said he can't believe SPO cannot trust his bench enough to give his starters 2 or 3 minutes in a game.

Say what you want about Lebetard, everything he has said so far is spot on.

[WD]

:( noooooo JJ.

Ira Winderman ‏@IraHeatBeat
It's turns out the shortened rotation Erik Spoelstra spoke of was because of a migraine that kept James Jones out. http://sunsent.nl/KSrof1

because of 1 player?

IDK man. Spo seems like he is in panic mode right now: scrambled eggs for a brain. Can't tell what he is thinking shortening the rotation due to one player. Note sure if he is thinking at all.

against a younger team, it would seam you would EXPANDA your rotation, who cares if Ronny or anybody else picks up 5 fouls and I still want to know why you best post defender(COACH'S words) only played 2 minutes.

[WD]

In a ideal world,that would be the case.But alas,crap happens when you make mistakes,and allow a young,talented and hungry team to linger.

Sidenote:Why the heck was D-wade and Lebron laughing,on their way up to the podium for their press conference? Is it false bravado,or do these guys feel that they have the Thunder right where they want them?

The laughing is still bothering me too. I pointed it out after a loss against Boston in Game 3 I believe. They straight up got to the podium laughed, and made jokes. But after a dog fight in Games 6 and Game 7, I was almost positive we weren't going to see that type of attitude again. I'm not expecting those two to get up there and cry, but they take losses way too lightly and it's not until they are in a WIN or GO HOME situation that we see ANY sense of urgency, and that's pathetic. Thunder were in their FIRST Finals game and they somehow looked hungrier than the team that got embarrassed last year and has been disrespected all season long. Somehow these two are always finding humor in playing like **** as a team. Yeah Lebron scored 30, but he didn't win. You can't be satisfied with a LOSS period. Even if you felt like you did "enough" you have to demand more out of your teammates. And Wade? 7/19 for 19 points yet you're LAUGHING? I don't get it. Sometimes I feel like these dudes are content with failure.

Vent on,my brother.

No,but,I definitely agree with you.They have to stop acting so "blahzay" and start taking this stuff serious.I mean these young Thundercats are dead serious,and you can tell by watching their press conferences.I'm willing to bet a pretty penny that no one on the OKC's team has had any P***y since the Playoffs have started.I mean that's how serious these dude's seem to be about winning.

If your COACH doesn't get excited or IN THE PLAYERS FACES, how can anyone expect the players to respond?

[WD]

I want to see this LeBron next game:



I know he is buddy-buddy with KD, but come on, pull a Marion and get in his head a little bit. It would help if you lessened KD's confidence and make him have mental breakdowns in his first NBA Final.

Dude looked poised like a vet out there.

Darn,I miss the 70's,80's and 90's era of Basketball,when a guy could be your best buddy off the court,but on the court he was your mortal enemy.

You can tell by their body language,that some of these players don't really won't to be mean or defeat their friends on the court. These are crazy Basketball times we are living in...

this was exactly what I was thinking this morning during my bike ride, too much friendship, smiling, too many interviews, twitter, access.

[WD]

You cats burying your own Miami Heat are gonna feel stupid, trust me.

This series isn't even CLOSE to over.

What did OKC do tonight? They won a home game. Game 1 of the NBA finals. Lots, and lots, and lots, and lots, and lots of home teams win game 1 of the NBA finals. That doesn't mean you're gonna win the series.

Besides some others, I think most people are mad at HOW we lost, and not the actual loss.

for me, it's ALWAYS HOW

[WD]

Lebron better flip the switch

what other switch should he flip? - SERIOUSLY

[Heat_team02]

Without reading any other posts here are my observations:

1) Dexter Pittman was placed on the inactive list in favor of Juwan Howard & Terrell Harris

2) Turiaf did not play despite playing 26 minutes vs the Thunder this season.

3) Cole did not play despite playing 15 minutes vs the Thunder this season.

4) Once the Thunder started paying attention to Battier no rotation adjustment was made. (Harris/Jones)

5) Playing undersized for long stretches & undermanned will not get it done. Joel Anthony (2 minutes- long enuff to get posterized but at least he was trying to make a play)

[ecnirp]

Here is my hopeful post.

Also...Wasnt the Thunder's last game like Wednesday?

The Heat just came off a GRUELING series against the Celtics. They werent able to get their 2nd wind against the Thunder. This team gives away games. Just who they are. You will see a different energy level in game 2.

[WD]

Without reading any other posts here are my observations:

1) Dexter Pittman was placed on the inactive list in favor of Juwan Howard & Terrell Harris

2) Turiaf did not play despite playing 26 minutes vs the Thunder this season.

3) Cole did not play despite playing 15 minutes vs the Thunder this season.

4) Once the Thunder started paying attention to Battier no rotation adjustment was made. (Harris/Jones)

5) Playing undersized for long stretches & undermanned will not get it done. Joel Anthony (2 minutes- long enuff to get posterized but at least he was trying to make a play)

Outstanding post, I would like to know what this staff has to say about these items. These are valid reasons for a loss to this team.

[WD]

Here is my hopeful post.

Also...Wasnt the Thunder's last game like Wednesday?

The Heat just came off a GRUELING series against the Celtics. They werent able to get their 2nd wind against the Thunder. This team gives away games. Just who they are. You will see a different energy level in game 2.

Knowing this, they still played JUST 7 players - including Joel for 2 minutes. if you were the COACH, would You do this?

[WD]

Chris Bosh Wants HEAT to Attack the Rim

The same plan the Heat had to spread the floor against Boston by spotting shooters up on the perimeter didn’t go over as well against the Thunder. (Chris) Bosh agrees that a more aggressive approach needs to be taken into Game 2.

“We have to do a better job of executing our offense,” Bosh said. “Sometimes we have to attack the rim, because if you’re not making shots and you’re shooting jumper after jumper, (Oklahoma City) is getting out in the open court, and that’s what they do.”

LeBron James Asks for More Rest

(Kevin) Durant had hit the Heat, hit them so hard and fast they hadn’t seen it coming. A closer look at that seemingly modest 15-9 run — with 11 points from Durant — told the story of how Durant and the Thunder wore the Heat down. Miami’s rotation shrank to only six players who logged all but 12:13 of the game, and it showed.

“We’re going to have to have more guys in there to give me and (Dwyane) D-Wade a rest,” said (LeBron) James, who finished with 30 points.

Durant’s dunk with 8:30 left came off Nick Collison’s steal of a pass by James, and Durant simply beat James down the floor in transition. Beat him badly. Both Durant and James played nearly 46 minutes, but only one of them had his legs. That run-out dunk was the closest James came to guarding Durant during the Thunder’s deciding run.

[WD]

Sometime today, guys go and listen to the interview of Dan Lebatard on 790theticket today - just go listen

[ecnirp]

Brian Windhorst ‏@WindhorstESPN
Erik Spoelstra riding his players early, Scott Brooks giving players breaks. Which will work?

Brian Windhorst ‏@WindhorstESPN
Heat have LeBron on Westbrook defensively & now Durant going to work.

Brian Windhorst ‏@WindhorstESPN
Heat look tired & they're playing tired. Spoelstra basically is playing 6 players, Thunder have more rest, playing 8.

[ecnirp]

Sometime today, guys go and listen to the interview of Dan Lebatard on 790theticket today - just go listen

Will Spo?

[FlashTheKilla]

The good news about that game is that there is plenty of room for improvement for everyone not named Shane.

[DefenseWins]

Bosh should start so we can get rest Wade/LBJ with Battier coming off the bench. Miller is injured so he isn't helping with that situation.

Battier played 41 minutes last night.... everyone ran out of gas last night man.

Spo messed up. The defense wasn't there in the 2nd half and running guys down to the grown doesn't help,