2011-2012 NBA Season - Page 17

Uh oh, I hope that terrible T on Chalmers isn't a sign that we're in for a game where the refs are the stars...

Holy cow, the only thing that could make me love Lebron's first half more would be if he just went full Hollywood Hogan and flipped the camera a double bird. 

Wade is really keeping Boston in the game though!

ESPN is going to be packed with flip-floppers tonight.  Everyone was picking Boston, except for Michael Wilbon and Dan LeBatard's crazy ass.  Sportscenter sounded like a eulogy for the Heat all day long.

To be fair, Miami looked as bad in Game 5 as Boston looked in game 6. The Celtics seemed like they were told an invisible baby was inside the basket and would be hit in the face by any made shot.

45-15-5 for LeBron. Who needs clutch when you can just run the other team out of their own arena? (Or alternatively, clutch starts w/ 48 minutes to go)...

Here's hoping for a close game 7!

Well, that should shut up the LeBron critics for, oh, a game maybe.

That was maybe as complete a performance as we've ever seen from him. He was exploiting every mismatch to the fullest, taking guys down to the block and hitting shots from all kinds of angles, orchestrating the offense and cleaning the glass on the other end. Super impressive, particularly given the stakes.

Lebron has delivered two amazing all time performances when his team needed it in these playoffs. The first time against the Pacers, and now again when facing elimination against the Celtics. But your right clever. The media's template for negativity regarding certain players is not going to change. Only if Lebron continues to deliver victories and Miami takes the title does Lebron have a chance at changing how the media talks about him. Personally, I dont like Lebron all that much, but geez he has incredible game.

Btw, just saw it mentioned that the NBA chose to referee San Antonio's elimination game: Joey Crawford, the ref suspended a few years back for challenging Tim Duncan to a fight. OKC shot 15 FTs in the 4th quarter alone (13 before the game got out of hand). Fouls were 11-5 in the 4th. That included two of the worst dives I've ever seen in an NBA game (both by Harden), one of which essentially removed Ginobli from the most important part of the game.

Also of note: the horrifically officiated BOS/MIA Game 4, with a crazy 58 fouls called, including multiple phantom calls to foul out Lebron, was head officiated by: Joey Crawford.

I'm not an "NBA conspiracy" guy, but this much seems true: the NBA continually puts officials' tenure over the importance of having well-refereed games.

The NBA needs some younger, more fit officials than the likes of Joey Crawford.

Or if they want to up the entertainment factor, go all old-school WWF and have special guest referees like Mr. T.

I may not be the biggest fan of Lebron, but his critics are pretty out there sometimes.  It seems like they would rather build a team around Robert Horry.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3nnui 

Lebron has delivered two amazing all time performances when his team needed it in these playoffs. The first time against the Pacers, and now again when facing elimination against the Celtics. But your right clever. The media's template for negativity regarding certain players is not going to change. Only if Lebron continues to deliver victories and Miami takes the title does Lebron have a chance at changing how the media talks about him. Personally, I dont like Lebron all that much, but geez he has incredible game.

I wouldn't call myself a Lebron fan or anything, but I think the guy really gets unfairly maligned. The commentators made a good point last night, imagine if Lebron had put up the same numbers Paul Pierce had last night. Where's the uproar about how badly Pierce has choked in this series? You'll never hear it, because Pierce has won a title, he's perceived as a "winner". It's all part of this absurd mindset that until you win a championship, you can't be "clutch" or a "winner". People forget, KG was considered one of the biggest choke artists of his generation, a guy who you couldn't trust down the stretch of important games. Then he went to Boston, got better teammates, and won a title. There are no "KG chokes at the end of games" stories now, not because KG has changed as a player, but simply because he won a title. It's a ridiculous standard. I just want Lebron to win a title so that people will finally shut up about it and realize they're watching one of the greatest players of all time in his prime.

The scrutiny of LeBron is no different from the scrutiny Peyton Manning got until he won a Super Bowl. That's the problem with being the best at your sport: all of those pesky expectations.

I find it interesting that guys like Jon Barry are basically saying the finals are a foregone conclusion.  I mean, I'd pick OKC against either of these East teams too; but a now healthy Miami, who lost last year's finals and would have just put the hammer down for two straight elimination games would deserve more consideration than being a foregone conclusion, I would think.

Fuck Jon Barry, and fuck ESPN. They were unanimous in thinking the Heat would win Game 5, then trashed them after, then were unanimous in saying the Celtics were going to win Game 6. When Magic Johnson is the most reasoned, eloquent voice on your panel, your panel blows. TNT has made ESPN's coverage look embarrassing, even with Shaq and Reggie Miller babbling about nothing.

I've been rooting for the Celtics, but a Heat-Thunder finals would be the closest we've seen to a live action version of NBA Jam.

What'd be hilarious is that Lebron would be the "old man" in the matchup w/ Durant... at 27 years old.

(Dwayne Wade would be Grampa Simpson).

If LeBron hit the finals-winning shot over Durant, I think a good portion of the Internet would melt down like a robot contemplating a paradox.

Yes, the majority of ESPN analysts and commentators overreact to the most recent thing they've just seen; however most of them also acknowledge that LeBron is the best player in the NBA.  I just thought it was odd that Barry, who doesn't tend to overreact that much, gives the Heat no shot if they survive. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Farsight 

What'd be hilarious is that Lebron would be the "old man" in the matchup w/ Durant... at 27 years old.

 

(Dwayne Wade would be Grampa Simpson).

Speaking of "old man"

I would pay literally any amount to have been there for that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kernel 

I may not be the biggest fan of Lebron, but his critics are pretty out there sometimes.  It seems like they would rather build a team around Robert Horry.

I would love to have him on the Pacers, but besides that I really don't like him, a hell of a player but not a fan of him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mangy 

The scrutiny of LeBron is no different from the scrutiny Peyton Manning got until he won a Super Bowl. That's the problem with being the best at your sport: all of those pesky expectations.

I think Manning prior to the SB is the most apt comparison, but LeBron still is more scrutinized quarter to quarter, shot to shot than any other person I can ever remember.  Much of that has to do with basketball's schedule, and the fact that off the field everyone liked Manning and by and large hates LeBron.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rando 

 

I think Manning prior to the SB is the most apt comparison, but LeBron still is more scrutinized quarter to quarter, shot to shot than any other person I can ever remember.  Much of that has to do with basketball's schedule, and the fact that off the field everyone liked Manning and by and large hates LeBron.

That's how I see it as well. Manning didn't have a TV special on where he'll go once the Colts let him go.  I was fine with LeBron when he was with the Cavs, but once he had "The Decision" it just turned on the hate machine for a lot of people.

You'd think it was, "The Decision... to Eat Babies!"... "That's right, America! I'ma gonna eat not one baby... not two babies... not three or four... not five, not six... I'ma gonna eat seven babies! Now go fuck yourself, San Diego!"

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoonBaseNick 

That's how I see it as well. Manning didn't have a TV special on where he'll go once the Colts let him go.  I was fine with LeBron when he was with the Cavs, but once he had "The Decision" it just turned on the hate machine for a lot of people.

It was absolutely fueled by The Decision, but it was also something else.  When KG, and Ray Allen, joined Paul Pierce in Boston, it felt like guys who had played out the string on their respective teams, and weren't going anywhere on their own, joining together before they retired to try to get a title.  Which they did.  We've seen other old guys join teams in a search for a ring.  But for LeBron, even if the Cavs weren't winning anything with that roster, they were still one of the best teams in the East; and for him to jump ship with Bosh to join Wade in Miami to try to create a juggernaut, it rubbed people the wrong way.  It felt like a superstar taking the easy way out.  It would have been different if they'd joined him in Cleveland, because then people would have felt at the very least there was loyalty to a long-suffering town.

To fans, these weren't old guys who had played for their original team for a decade or more, and were seeking a change.  This was three guys in their prime "colluding" to make an all-star team.  And then that manufactured pep rally sort of sealed the deal.  (Even if LeBron only said the kind of thing people say at them to get the crowd hyped.)

The thing is, in sports you don't need a legitimate reason to hate a player or team.  LeBron's a big boy who accepted the mantle of "King", and then he bailed on his home town.  Even if that's not a "fair" assessment, even if you could find other players in sports who did similar things and didn't get the hate, it simply doesn't matter.  Sports rooting doesn't have to be rational, or even consistent, to an outside observer.  What makes one guy hate a team might be the very thing that makes someone else love them. We root for and against for our own personal reasons, and we're free to do so.  That's part of what makes it fun.

So even though, for example, I know LeBron is probably a nicer guy than Michael, I still say fuck LeBron, and long live Jordan.

(None of that excuses poor analysis, though.  When people unfairly criticize LeBron's game, they're just being dumb.)

And your game 7 head referee... Joey Crawford!

Odds of bad calls significantly affecting the game: 90%

Very classy showing by the Heat fans to applaud the Celtics' Big 3 as they left the court.

Whew, we did not get Crawford-ized.

Good game, just too much Miami down the stretch. Chris Bosh did a nice job reminding people that, "Hey, I'm actually pretty good, too."

So, Lebron is averaging 31-10-5 in the playoffs, Durant is at 28-8-3. This is -the- marquee NBA matchup, now and probably for the next 5 years. I give LeBron the matchup edge due to his defense (I assume he'll be on Durant a lot), but I wonder if Wade can match Westbrook. Bosh showed he can easily be as big a factor as Harden, and the Heat's role-players were big in game 7. Should be a great series.

I favor OKC slightly due to their depth and 2-3-2 format. Odds are Miami will have to win the series on the road.

Celtics played an amazing game, hitting clutch shots through 3 quarters. Miami hung in there with great plays by their role players Chalmers, Battier and Bosh (I kid). When Lebron and Wade took over both offensively and DEFENSIVELY, the Celtics could no longer match them.

This should be a great finals. Bosh looks healthy enough to play significant minutes and their big 3 are all coming off great performances. Having Boston test them allowed them to become sharper as a team and bond together. I will be rooting for OKC all the way, but Miami looks perfectly capable of taking it. I just hope OKC is ready for the big stage.

Gotta hand it to Lebron for taking over when it was most needed. Celtics up 82-81, 8:19 left in the game. The next 11 plays: Lebron rebound, Lebron dunk in semi-transition, Wade steal, Lebron assist to Bosh for 3, Battier block, Lebron short jumper, Lebron rebound, Lebron pass to Battier for open 3 (missed), Bass jumper, Lebron deep 3 at the end of the shot clock, Lebron rebound. At that point, it's 84-91 and Miami is totally in control. Just an amazing performance at most important stretch of the game.

Should be a great finals. Durant/James is the league's marquee matchup. The Thunder have the better supporting cast, but I think Miami can get an advantage by playing small. They can put Lebron at the 4 (or even at the 5) and its not like Perkins or Ibaka are going to destroy you on post-ups, even if they've got the size advantage.

We rarely have a season with such a clear cut "Best 2".

Iverson v Shaq? (3rd n 1st in MVP votes)

Jordan v Malone? (1st n 2nd)

For me, what makes this special is that they should be guarding each other a LOT. For that type of head-to-head I think we have to go back to Shaq v Hakeem.

Interestingly, the guy Lebron got tips from to improve his post game during the off-season was... Hakeem.

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gotta love chalmers learning from Lebron...I am glad the refs did not buy into the phantom throat strike.

Wade has been really awful in this second half. He's taking way too many long, contested jumpers. Also, not having Haslem in the game is allowing OKC to go to work on the glass.

Man, ya think "don't go for Wade's head fake" was in the scouting report? He's tried that like 20 times tonight, and I don't think its worked once.

Jesus!

Who planted the idea that it was OK for Bosh to take 3-point shots? 

Because it isn't.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAIRUS 


When he went 3 for 3 from beyond the paint against Boston.
 

And he's shot 28.9% for his career. One fluky game does not a good idea make.

I was honestly kind of shocked at how bad Wade looked. I mean, he hasn't been great in these playoffs, but it was like he just couldn't get to the rim at all. He did it a couple times off of screens, but every time he tried to go 1-on-1 against someone, it seemed like he always ended up picking up the ball 20 feet from the hoop, shot-faking, and then either passing it away or taking a contested jumper. Just looked like he had no explosion at all. No way Miami has a chance if he can't take it up a notch.

Durant is just ridiculous. He's like somebody sat down in a lab and genetically engineered the perfect points scoring machine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAIRUS 



Yeah one game and I think he thought he was awesome. I'm sure the defense from OKC also forced him out as well.

They were letting him take that shot because they knew he wouldn't hit it; it was either bad coaching if they actually drew up plays for Bosh to shoot 3's or it was bad coaching if Spo didn't try to stop him.

And I'll also chime in with the obligatory "Fuck the Heat!"

Question (and I have no dog in this fight, I'm a Sixers fan) for people here that "hate" the Heat.  Is it strictly a LeBron thing?  Or are there other problems you have with Miami?

I am just enjoying watching the Heat get tired out like they tired out the Celts. I want to see crying and flopping in the halls like the Heat did last year, and not one of their little victory dances.

As for flopping, I  do want to see the league take steps to end such blatant attempts to draw fouls. This is a legitimate sport, not like European soccer. When a casual brush is made to look like someone was shot with a cannon, it's time to do something.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKh8Zq6zhRc

I never thought the Heat wouldn't win titles with this team, and I wasn't going to begrudge them doing so.  But I didn't want some kind of dynasty to emerge from what happened that offseason.

Even though they should have won last year, I thought they had all the time in the world, and I was just happy the Mavericks delayed the inevitable.  I still think they'll win a title at some point, but is it going to get any easier than right now?  Assuming health for all teams involved, next year they'd have to go through the Bulls and (presumably) an OKC team that should be even tougher.  And another year of pressure and questions is not going to make them better.  They could definitely win this series if Wade puts in three or four great performances over the next five or six games.  They'd better.  It's amazing how quickly they look potentially past their prime.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bailey 

I never thought the Heat wouldn't win titles with this team, and I wasn't going to begrudge them doing so.  But I didn't want some kind of dynasty to emerge from what happened that offseason.

 

 It's amazing how quickly they look potentially past their prime.

Wade may be hurt but he's going to be on the downside of his career soon.  And unless the team that comes out of the West every year is hurt, I don't see the Heat winning unless they dump Wade for some a few players.  It just seems like the Heat still don't know how to play together 2 years in. 

Now imagind if Wade and LeBron decided to come to Chicago 2 years ago.  Hell if it was LeBron/Bosh theyd still have a ring w/ a 2nd on the way.  I'll never understand James, Wade, Bosh choose Miami when it was them and nobody else.

PG Rose

SG Wade

SF James

PF Gibson

C Noah 

Bench  Deng, Korver, Asik, Watson...

They would be on their 2nd title right now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rando 

Question (and I have no dog in this fight, I'm a Sixers fan) for people here that "hate" the Heat.  Is it strictly a LeBron thing?  Or are there other problems you have with Miami?

It's partly a LeBron thing (more accurately, a "The Decision" thing) and partly the idea that Bosh and James decided to bypass the usual channels (build a great team through smart drafting and pick up great role players along the way.)  The new "Big 3" method just seems hollow and it's the same reason I hated the Yankees in the 00's.  

I know that OKC is an aberration with their team construction (let's face it: the Heat method is THE team prototype for the next decade), but I would love to see another great team (like the 2011 Mavs) win the Championship rather than a collection of mismatched all-stars. 

Tied up in "The Decision" was the way the Big Three celebrated their coming together as if it in itself were a third championship, and immediately started speculating about whether they'd be picking up 4 rings or 6.  Most people found it distasteful, and before they ever took the court they had essentially set themselves up as the Yankees of the NBA, only without any of the history of success.  Then they act hurt and bewildered when people like to see them lose, further endearing them to absolutely no one.

America loves a winner, so if they pull it off expect to see a lot of turnaround on Miami.  But it's also really easy to resent the "born on third base and act like you hit a triple" mentality.  This team traded its way onto third and immediately started bragging about how they'd pretty much hit for the cycle.

On Lebron to Chicago: this season with Rose out, he'd be in a similar situation, trying to win it himself with a collection of lesser players.

It's funny that people freaked out over the Decision, like owners collecting stars as if they're property is "acceptable", but athletes choosing to form a team themselves is "wrong". OKC has three stars, but it's okay because they got them through the draft instead of free agency? So as long as the players had no say in forming their team, it's ok? By that rationale, we should just abolish free agency and really put those athletes in their place!

These are people, not trading cards. I find the entire line of thinking distasteful.

As for the post-decision celebration... it was a fucking pep rally! You don't fire up a crowd by saying, "We're going to try really hard and see what happens!" It's stunning to me that people couldn't figure out that a guy talking about winning at least 8 titles was just goofing around.

Lebron's made some PR mistakes, but the speed and glee with which people tore into him says a lot more about them than it does him.

NBA commish David Stern pops off on Jim Rome, asks him if he still beats his wife.