Around the NBA 9.0 (Playoffs Edition)

[PaulieWal]

If we do make the finals even though I think we win the Heat are going to have to be perfect to beat the Spurs, can't afford to be lazy defensively and go on offensive droughts it will be super tough.

Yep. There will be very marginal room for error.

We'll need Wade and James to play with confidence in Super Saiyan mode to beat the Spurs. More importantly we will need Spo to make changes to our defensive scheme and make sure we find a way to defend the 3. Otherwise it's gonna be a bad series for us.

Edit: I am already picturing Danny Green raining 3s on us . Please don't leave him open the first 3 games .

[GetMoney]

Yup get ready for Danny green

[mopper8]

That moment when the Thunder start to seriously think, "we aren't winning the title this year"

[jaseda510]

Spurs were up 2-0 in 2012 playoffs against OKC but OKC went 4-0 to win the series.

I am not saying that OKC will beat Spurs again this year, but isn't it kind of premature to call it a series for OKC after first game and a half???

well, the only problem with this logic is that they had Ibaka in 2012

[PaulieWal]

makes no sense to leave a 2time team now that wade seems fine. I dont think lebron will end here in miami he eventually will go to cle after next contract.

I actually think LeBron will retire in Miami if he re-ups here for his next 4-5 year deal.

[PaulieWal]

Spurs were up 2-0 in 2012 playoffs against OKC but OKC went 4-0 to win the series.

I am not saying that OKC will beat Spurs again this year, but isn't it kind of premature to call it a series for OKC after first game and a half???

well, the only problem with this logic is that they had Ibaka in 2012

And Harden.

[cb1]

Looking at this series I have to give a lot of credit to Spo for the job he did in 2012 without Bosh against the Pacers. Even though we had to downsize against the biggest team in the league we were still able to lock them down unlike OKC who can't stop the spurs at all and are conveniently using the Ibaka excuse to mail it in.

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[IggieCC]

Spurs were up 2-0 in 2012 playoffs against OKC but OKC went 4-0 to win the series.

I am not saying that OKC will beat Spurs again this year, but isn't it kind of premature to call it a series for OKC after first game and a half???

well, the only problem with this logic is that they had Ibaka in 2012

I guess.. they had James Harden in 2012 too.

But I will hold off my judgement until at least I see the results of the first 4 games.

Frankly, I don't really care about the WCF

[Sonny Carson]

The one thing you notice about the Spurs.....


they all look well rested.

No one looks tired. Everyone can give great energy. Everyone is mentally there for team.


I think we can beat the Spurs. Its just a matter of how much energy we have left. Which is why we really need to win these next two games at home...and hopefully step on Indiana's throat in game 5 (wishful thinking I know)


But again...all those extra heavy mins in the regular season Spo put on LeBron.....if he could just held back a bit..

And our old guys...looks very old (UD, Shane, Ray and BIrdman at times)

[fast-break]

If we do make the finals even though I think we win the Heat are going to have to be perfect to beat the Spurs, can't afford to be lazy defensively and go on offensive droughts it will be super tough.

Yep. There will be very marginal room for error.

We'll need Wade and James to play with confidence in Super Saiyan mode to beat the Spurs. More importantly we will need Spo to make changes to our defensive scheme and make sure we find a way to defend the 3. Otherwise it's gonna be a bad series for us.

Edit: I am already picturing Danny Green raining 3s on us . Please don't leave him open the first 3 games .

I agree but it's always easier said than done isn't it?

Get ready for a presumably long series, and that's if things go well for MIA, lol.

[Sonny Carson]

Looking at this series I have to give a lot of credit to Spo for the job he did in 2012 without Bosh against the Pacers. Even though we had to downsize against the biggest team in the league we were still able to lock them down unlike OKC who can't stop the spurs at all and are conveniently using the Ibaka excuse to mail it in.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using RealGM Forums mobile app

Umm

Was it Spo

or Paul George/Hibbert not being as good back then and LeBron/Wade both playing at an MVP level?

[Sonny Carson]

We better beat Indy in no later than 6 games...

[LikeABosh]

Spurs were up 2-0 in 2012 playoffs against OKC but OKC went 4-0 to win the series.

I am not saying that OKC will beat Spurs again this year, but isn't it kind of premature to call it a series for OKC after first game and a half???

Yes, it is premature, but that OKC team and SAS have changed a lot. No Harden or Ibaka this time around and Leonard/Green/Splitter have really come into their own since then

[cb1]

Looking at this series I have to give a lot of credit to Spo for the job he did in 2012 without Bosh against the Pacers. Even though we had to downsize against the biggest team in the league we were still able to lock them down unlike OKC who can't stop the spurs at all and are conveniently using the Ibaka excuse to mail it in.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using RealGM Forums mobile app

Umm

Was it Spo

or Paul George/Hibbert not being as good back then and LeBron/Wade both playing at an MVP level?

Heyy it kills me to do this but I have to defend Spo here. The Thunder who are more athletic than us can't even close the paint against a team that isn't even as big as the Pacers were but yet our small team closed the paint. In Lebrons own words after the series he admitted that Spo made unbelievable adjustments from games 4 to 6

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[mopper8]

Looking at this series I have to give a lot of credit to Spo for the job he did in 2012 without Bosh against the Pacers. Even though we had to downsize against the biggest team in the league we were still able to lock them down unlike OKC who can't stop the spurs at all and are conveniently using the Ibaka excuse to mail it in.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using RealGM Forums mobile app

Umm

Was it Spo

or Paul George/Hibbert not being as good back then and LeBron/Wade both playing at an MVP level?

Riley is on record saying he wanted Spo to use exclusively big lineups (e.g. Haslem/Turiaf), and it was Spo's call to go small with Battier. His spacing was a big part of Wade & Lebron going GOAT level.

[PaulieWal]

Yep. There will be very marginal room for error.

We'll need Wade and James to play with confidence in Super Saiyan mode to beat the Spurs. More importantly we will need Spo to make changes to our defensive scheme and make sure we find a way to defend the 3. Otherwise it's gonna be a bad series for us.

Edit: I am already picturing Danny Green raining 3s on us . Please don't leave him open the first 3 games .

I agree but it's always easier said than done isn't it?

Get ready for a presumably long series, and that's if things go well for MIA, lol.

Well for starters Wade is healthier and hopefully stays healthy. Secondly, LeBron and Wade gotta shoot that open mid-range J that you know you are gonna get from the Spurs. Realistically if they make that jumper in the first two games Pop has to change his defense and things might get easier for us.

Anyway, let's not get ahead of ourselves. We have Indy to take care of first.

[cb1]

Looking at this series I have to give a lot of credit to Spo for the job he did in 2012 without Bosh against the Pacers. Even though we had to downsize against the biggest team in the league we were still able to lock them down unlike OKC who can't stop the spurs at all and are conveniently using the Ibaka excuse to mail it in.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using RealGM Forums mobile app

Umm

Was it Spo

or Paul George/Hibbert not being as good back then and LeBron/Wade both playing at an MVP level?

Riley is on record saying he wanted Spo to use exclusively big lineups (e.g. Haslem/Turiaf), and it was Spo's call to go small with Battier. His spacing was a big part of Wade & Lebron going GOAT level.

Basically this and yet we were still able to close the paint against the biggest team in the league

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[LikeABosh]

Looking at this series I have to give a lot of credit to Spo for the job he did in 2012 without Bosh against the Pacers. Even though we had to downsize against the biggest team in the league we were still able to lock them down unlike OKC who can't stop the spurs at all and are conveniently using the Ibaka excuse to mail it in.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using RealGM Forums mobile app

Umm

Was it Spo

or Paul George/Hibbert not being as good back then and LeBron/Wade both playing at an MVP level?

Danny Granger in that series was as good as PG is in this series and Hibbert still averaged 12/11 with great defense. But yes, it did come down to Lebron/Wade playing at unbelievable level rather than Spo's excellent coaching.

[Sonny Carson]

Looking at this series I have to give a lot of credit to Spo for the job he did in 2012 without Bosh against the Pacers. Even though we had to downsize against the biggest team in the league we were still able to lock them down unlike OKC who can't stop the spurs at all and are conveniently using the Ibaka excuse to mail it in.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using RealGM Forums mobile app

Umm

Was it Spo

or Paul George/Hibbert not being as good back then and LeBron/Wade both playing at an MVP level?

Riley is on record saying he wanted Spo to use exclusively big lineups (e.g. Haslem/Turiaf), and it was Spo's call to go small with Battier. His spacing was a big part of Wade & Lebron going GOAT level.

I agree it was a good move to go small...

but Battier was horrible that series.

LeBron just took it up another notch in terms of rebounding and defending.

Again, I hate to sound like a Spo hater. This season is the only time I've questioned him outside of 2011 (when he made some very awful decisions....but hey..he was learning..)

I thought Spo was great against OKC and more impressive against Doc those last two games..

but that Indy series was all about LeBron/Wade imo...

[FlashFlare]

Spurs were up 2-0 in 2012 playoffs against OKC but OKC went 4-0 to win the series.

I am not saying that OKC will beat Spurs again this year, but isn't it kind of premature to call it a series for OKC after first game and a half???

well, the only problem with this logic is that they had Ibaka in 2012

and Harden