Around the NBA / Finals - Part 5

[HINrichPolice]

I really wish the Reinsdorf would pay the tax to bring back the band for just 1 season. If we fail next year with the same team, then the retooling process could and should begin. We'd let our expirings walk, amnesty Boozer, and bring back Mirotic, all for the '13-14 season.

But for now, please Jerry, let's pay the tax for just ONE year. Have a little faith that Rose will actually stay at all-star quality, Deng will play even better due to getting his wrist fixed, and... I guess Joakim Noah becomes Kareem Abdul Jabbar! Oh wait...

[jumpmanjay]

Where does Durant rank as someone who elevates his game in the biggest moments? I guess you can call it clutch, but i dont just mean last second shots. I mean throughout big games (regular season), throughout the playoffs, including the 4th quarters and last second shots.

This isnt reactionary. Its based on a body of work over the last 3 years of his career.

The two guys that immediately come to mind for me are of course MJ and Reggie Miller. They always seemed to get up in the big moments, against rivals, and in the playoffs.

I feel like Lebron is just lebron. He plays the same no matter what game it is or what situation. Same for kobe. I dont feel like his game elevated at big moments or in big games, but just stayed the same steady very very good level it was always at.

i wish there was a way we could trade rip, deng, boozer, noah, gibson, asik, korver, butler, watson, and brewer for KD.

[Tommy Udo 6]

I still have the heat winning this. Possibly a back ended sweep.

same here - Heat in 6

I just hope that i am wrong

[WinCity]

I still have the heat winning this. Possibly a back ended sweep.

same here - Heat in 6

I just hope that i am wrong

How? I mean if they were healthy that would be one thing but clearly Bosh isnt 100% otherwise he would be out there 40mpg and Wade is just up and down due to age/wear and tear. I dont see it.

[rtblues]

why the F does every thread eventually turn into a bulls trade thread?
S*it man, there's a trade thread, FYI!

[BullsGate]

Any1 still think bulls could beat Thunder in the finals? They got different ways to destroy you.

[jc23]

Any1 still think bulls could beat Thunder in the finals? They got different ways to destroy you.

i think we would.

[coldfish]

Any1 still think bulls could beat Thunder in the finals? They got different ways to destroy you.

There is two sides to that coin. Anyone still think the Bulls had no shot against the Heat? Wade and Christina aren't what they were and their bench is awful. If Chicago was even mostly healthy they would have beat Miami.

[RedBulls23]

He also calls himself King James. His twitter handle is @KingJames. He does not have any rings. The longer this goes on the funnier it gets.

This...I just can't root for a guy that calls himself the King when he has nothing to back it up. Especially when I have no ties or anything to gain in rooting for him.

And don't even get me started on D. Wade. He's even worse as far as ducheyness. Bosh is probably the only guy fo the 3 I don't hate and he probably is mostly guilty by association.

As far as Westbrook, I'm indifferent about him. Although I don't see how he is a big douche? Maybe I missed something. He's just more of a hot head if anything. And Durant is like Rose in how humble he is and antic free. He's probably my favorite non-Bulls player. For me it's Thunder all the way without a doubt.

[SpinninHouse]

Any1 still think bulls could beat Thunder in the finals? They got different ways to destroy you.

There is two sides to that coin. Anyone still think the Bulls had no shot against the Heat? Wade and Christina aren't what they were and their bench is awful. If Chicago was even mostly healthy they would have beat Miami.

We would have knocked Miami out in 6 games if Rose was healthy. The devastation caused by Rose's ACL injury will haunt us in unimaginable ways for many years. We would have won the East this year and made the Finals. We probably would have made it again next year. One of the two years we would have won the whole thing.

Having said that, beating OKC this year would have been incredibly difficult. They are signficantly more talented than us, have tremendous size, and incredible depth. We may have been a little deeper with equal size down low -- but the talent disparity might push them over the top. Plus I love their coach. They are a great team.

[TeamMan]

In the Bulls first title, they came out their first finals game a little flat and looked nervous. The veteran Lakers were able to take that game. Then the Bulls figured out that it was just basketball and they were the better team and won the next 4.

Last night, Miami was the veteran team and had a reasonable lead early. It clicked in for OKC though later in the first half.

Miami is in trouble here. They aren't a resilient team. Now that OKC has confidence against miami and got through the first game jitters, it could get ugly.

+1

I agree with this 100%. OKC came out flat because of their 1st finals, but IMO it was Fisher who got them focused again when he came into the game. Having a player with his experience is exactly what the Thunder needed to help get past the butterflies.

But now that the young players have their focus back, the Heat are in trouble. I still expect OKC to struggle in Miami, but they should pull out the series (maybe 7 games).

Also, Thabo was a hugh factor on defense. At the beginning of the playoffs I'd thought that he was going to be a non-factor because Harden was going to put up big minutes. But after Brooks got the idea to put him on Parker against the Spurs he made a breakthrough.

He may not be able to guard LeBron every game for 40 minutes, but in the 1st game you could tell that James was getting frustrated. And when Thabo was on Wade he was even more effective.

I don't have any great love for the Miami players, but I don't really hate them either (even though IMO LeBron was really stupid to turned down the Bulls offer to play SG with Rose), but I'm still a big Thabo fan and I'll be overjoyed to see him get his ring.

[BullsGate]

Any1 still think bulls could beat Thunder in the finals? They got different ways to destroy you.

There is two sides to that coin. Anyone still think the Bulls had no shot against the Heat? Wade and Christina aren't what they were and their bench is awful. If Chicago was even mostly healthy they would have beat Miami.

Heat would probably double, triple team Rose with his teammates disappearing again & thibs not making the right adjustments. A team with 1 play maker, 1 shot creator is very easy to stop.

[TeamMan]

Any1 still think bulls could beat Thunder in the finals? They got different ways to destroy you.

There is two sides to that coin. Anyone still think the Bulls had no shot against the Heat? Wade and Christina aren't what they were and their bench is awful. If Chicago was even mostly healthy they would have beat Miami.

Bosh against Boozer was a huge factor against us last season, and he was injured most of the series against Boston. Still, IMO we would have needed a healthy Rip to beat them.

Speaking of OKC having "...different ways to destroy you...".

Them being the best FT% team in the league would be the X-Factor against the Bulls. And it gives them a monster advantage over the Heat.

[RedBulls23]

why the F does every thread eventually turn into a bulls trade thread?
S*it man, there's a trade thread, FYI!

Maybe because you're on the Bulls forum?

[coldfish]

Any1 still think bulls could beat Thunder in the finals? They got different ways to destroy you.

There is two sides to that coin. Anyone still think the Bulls had no shot against the Heat? Wade and Christina aren't what they were and their bench is awful. If Chicago was even mostly healthy they would have beat Miami.

Heat would probably double, triple team Rose with his teammates disappearing again & thibs not making the right adjustments. A team with 1 play maker, 1 shot creator is very easy to stop.

And then the Bulls get the offensive rebound and dunk it.

Miami's frontcourt is just awful. The perimeter play almost doesn't matter because the Bulls bigs would destroy Miami's so bad.

[D_GoLow]

Thabo's defense is going to be huge against Lebron & Wade. Thunder haven't won anything yet, 1 game at a time. The Heat have fought back all playoffs.

Game 2 is a MUST win for OKC.

[RedBulls23]

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/22 ... _Finalists

Jerry Sloan, Brian Shaw and Quin Snyder have emerged as the three finalists for the Bobcats' coaching job, according to sources

I'm confused...but if Jerry Sloan actually wants the job, why even interview anyone else? He's clearly the best guy you could get right?

[aaqubed]

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/221510/Sloan_Shaw_Snyder_Become_Three_Charlotte_Finalists

Jerry Sloan, Brian Shaw and Quin Snyder have emerged as the three finalists for the Bobcats' coaching job, according to sources

I'm confused...but if Jerry Sloan actually wants the job, why even interview anyone else? He's clearly the best guy you could get right?

Guessing it depends on whether or not MJ wants to show him the money.

[D_GoLow]

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/221510/Sloan_Shaw_Snyder_Become_Three_Charlotte_Finalists

Jerry Sloan, Brian Shaw and Quin Snyder have emerged as the three finalists for the Bobcats' coaching job, according to sources

I'm confused...but if Jerry Sloan actually wants the job, why even interview anyone else? He's clearly the best guy you could get right?

Guessing it depends on whether or not MJ wants to show him the money.

He might go with Shaw to incorporate the triangle offense.

[Air Poohdini]

I've never liked LeBron since they gave him the RoY award over Carmelo, and since he was in our division I hated him more. Now I really don't care, but I still prefer OKC to win it all.