****2012 NBA FINALS DISCUSSION THREAD****

[Boltman]

Re: ****2012 NBA FINALS DISCUSSION THREAD****

okay im not mad about the loss, i said it was going 7... but what pissed me off today was my cousin all in my face that OKC lost, and he said he was a Heat fan but cannot name more than 4 players on the team. And he also said Lebron transferred to the Heat... SMH

Alright then, it's settled!

[ZB9]

Re: ****2012 NBA FINALS DISCUSSION THREAD****

Bosh at center makes all the difference in the world for Miami

and Lebron didnt miss a FT. He went 12/12.

[StankonYa]

Re: ****2012 NBA FINALS DISCUSSION THREAD****

Bosh at center makes all the difference in the world for Miami

and Lebron didnt miss a FT. He went 12/12.

Battier with 5/7 three point shots and 6/8 overall for 17 points was big for the heat.

The last two free throws by Bron was clutch, Wade played better also.
I still say D.Wade must be hurt, but he played more like himself tonight.

[Sam Marlowe]

Re: ****2012 NBA FINALS DISCUSSION THREAD****

Some of you seem to know something the rest of us dont. If there's some evidence that refs don't swallow their whistles on last second plays I would love to seee it. It would be a damn public service.

[BlastX21]

Re: ****2012 NBA FINALS DISCUSSION THREAD****

Battier with 5/7 three point shots and 6/8 overall for 17 points was big for the heat.

The last two free throws by Bron was clutch, Wade played better also.
I still say D.Wade must be hurt, but he played more like himself tonight.

They get a 2 day break before game 3, so hopefully he and Bosh will be closer to full strength by then.

[bakan723]

Re: ****2012 NBA FINALS DISCUSSION THREAD****

Some of you seem to know something the rest of us dont. If there's some evidence that refs don't swallow their whistles on last second plays I would love to seee it. It would be a damn public service.

Knowing that the refs will swallow the whistle at the very end, as an offensive player, you should push off, like MJ did to B. Russell. Gotta be somewhat subtle with it though and not make it look TOO obvious.

[wheelman990]

Re: ****2012 NBA FINALS DISCUSSION THREAD****

I didn't think the last play was a foul personally. Yes I've seen less contact called on the same token I've seen more uncalled. I wish the league would let guys play more. Less foul call IMO is better for the sport.

I would agree with this if it wasn't for all the ghost calls Lebron & Wade get.It has to be a balanced called game. I just have to laugh and shake my head. Lebron gets calls for any tiny little thing(and a lot of phantoms), and Wade is the biggest flopper I ever saw.

This entire game was really decided by the ref's IMO. Not that I don't think Jordan used to get ref help too, but I really never saw anything like Lebron gets IMO. I think they just blow the whistle if he drives and don't even really look at the play-honestly! I even thought this when he played for us in Cleveland, it's not just hate talk.

I think you take away Westbrook's terrible and greedy first half(and a few 2nd half ones) plays, and this is a OKC win. I hope he learns to play a more team like roll moving forward, Got to know when he is hot, and know when he's not. There is weapons on that team, he doesn't need to push it all the time(let Durant do that). Take what they give you.

What I have learned most this post season is Kevin Durant is the man in the NBA right now. I'd take him #1 over any player out there to lead my team. What is not to love with this kid? He has awesome skills, he is not greedy, he is very smooth out there and actually IMO is open a lot more then he gets passed to. Then you have the maturity and leadership skills to back it all up.

If Durant was more of a circus clown like some of the big name hot heads in the NBA, I say he gets ranked #1 by lot more. Sadly, the guy that quietly gets it done doesn't always get all the press.

[wheelman990]

Re: ****2012 NBA FINALS DISCUSSION THREAD****

Knowing that the refs will swallow the whistle at the very end, as an offensive player, you should push off, like MJ did to B. Russell. Gotta be somewhat subtle with it though and not make it look TOO obvious.

Hard to fault Durant man. The comeback he did nearly on his own was just ridiculous. Can't expect much more.

I don't think Durant is a the "flopper" or "sell it" type at all man. I don't think he wants to "fake it" or "sell it" and I respect him for that. He seams to be a real legit baller who wants to win at his game and his way. I like that. I don't want to win a championship on a "sell it" type play myself either, that's just me though. Play hard, and take the calls you get. That is what he did, and IMO that's what I love about him.

Win or loose, I think this Durant kid (23yrs) is the best in basketball right now. Before his time is done, he should get a couple wins. OKC is building this team right and it's so nice to see these guys playing in a smaller market with such success.

[The 24th Letter]

For you 2k12 complainers, KD straight morphed through Battiers defense for that dunk last night

[DukeC]

Re: ****2012 NBA FINALS DISCUSSION THREAD****

For you 2k12 complainers, KD straight morphed through Battiers defense for that dunk last night

Nah, he didn't morph through.

He just entered an unstoppable dunk animation

[Drewski]

Re: ****2012 NBA FINALS DISCUSSION THREAD****

Fairly lopsided game yesterday until the last few minutes. OKC started out almost as terrible as they possibly could (could have scored 0 instead of 2, that's about it) and never felt like they were going to surge back. As soon as they cut it down to 10 or less, Miami would respond. OKC was bleeding the whole game.

Westbrook was something like 1-7 before he took his first benching. Most of it felt like it was coming from attacking the rim and not getting the finish. I don't have a problem with him taking those shots around the rim, they were quality, just couldn't get them to go.

Shane freaking Battier though. This guy is shooting LIGHTS OUT. He's doing a great job moving away from the ball and spacing the floor for Miami, and it's paying off. He get's open look after open look out on the perimeter, OKC gets lost in rotations and help defense often. I didn't think he'd be THE X-Factor in this series, but games 1 and 2 he's been monstrous for Miami (even if 1 game resulted in an L). Part of it is definitely veteran savvy of knowing where to be and how to move within the offensive flow.

Going down 10-15 every game because of a lack of 1st half offense is too much against the Miami Heat who frontrun phenomenally. You get down like this game in Miami and there likely wont be a close game to finish the 4th. Thunder have to bring it early, and often, because this come from behind magic just will not cut it. And all those missed free throws, while playing from behind, not a good formula for success.

Lebron played a hell of a game and came through with some clutch buckets to close it out for Miami. That banker towards the end that he hit was just dirty. Hit his free throws. Early on did a good job operating out of the post. Quality game from Bron, he's engaged every possession it seems. Have to give credit where it's due, way to pull it all together and finish the job for the W.

Props to the OKC crowd who were going crazy all game, despite looking at a 10-15 point lead almost all game. They just keep believing and cheering their team on. It's great to see support like that.

All in all, it wasn't a very enjoyable game to watch. The end of the game excitement was thrilling though. KD's second half almost brought OKC back. I liked the last possession for OKC, it was a quality possession. Really thought Durant was going to get the bucket, but those rims were not nice to OKC last night. And while Lebron definitely fouled KD, there are a million other things OKC could have done better to win the game, so I won't harp on that one shot.

Going to be a great series, even if game 2 wasn't a great game. Interested to see how the change of scenery effects OKC.

[OSUFan_88]

Re: ****2012 NBA FINALS DISCUSSION THREAD****

Kind of rooting for the Heat, TBH.

IDK, all of a sudden, I just found that I don't care if LeBron wins or not, and what the Thunder franchise did to Seattle is wrong in every circumstance.

[kayfngee]

Re: ****2012 NBA FINALS DISCUSSION THREAD****

KD may be my new favorite player. I love his demeanor and no crying about the foul and not getting into the BS.


I love it.

Just because he didn't cry in the post game conference doesn't mean he wasn't crying for the foul. He did throw his arms up and look at the official when he didn't get the call.

[King_B_Mack]

Re: ****2012 NBA FINALS DISCUSSION THREAD****

Some of you seem to know something the rest of us dont. If there's some evidence that refs don't swallow their whistles on last second plays I would love to seee it. It would be a damn public service.

And herin lies the problem with NBA refs. Some games they swallow the whistle at the end of games and you can get away with stuff like last night and then some games if you sneeze in a guy's direction late in the game and they're blowing.

What's funny is just a few games ago we SAW the refs NOT swallow their whistles when both LeBron and Paul Pierce fouled out late in Game 4 and you and a few other dudes are in here acting like refs have never called a late foul in their lives and it's like finding legit proof of Big Foot's existence, nevermind the thousands of times it's happened BEFORE that Game 4 as well.

[BlueNGold]

Re: ****2012 NBA FINALS DISCUSSION THREAD****

Kind of rooting for the Heat, TBH.

IDK, all of a sudden, I just found that I don't care if LeBron wins or not, and what the Thunder franchise did to Seattle is wrong in every circumstance.