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

[ScoobySnax]

Between the chatter in here and the game tonight...

"Dis gon be gud"


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[da ThRONe]

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

I think this comes down to LeBron. If he is focus and plays an efficient brand of ball the Heat will win. By efficient I mean in the post or attacking the basket with the ball(instead of dribbling along the perimeter) and moving and cutting without the ball(instead of just standing in the corner).

LeBron can slow down Durant. Nobody on the Thunder team can handle James when he is focused and playing high percentage basketball.

[jeebs9]

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

This is such a difficult series for me to predict because LeBron is still a huge question mark to me. Despite his legendary efforts in the final two games of the ECF I'm not sold that he's put all of his issues to bed permanently and that he'll be other-worldly in the Finals. I'm praying he is though, despite how much fun it is to hate on the man I really hope he rises to the occasion and we witness the start of the LeBron Era. I want to see greatness and I hope he puts up insane numbers and is focused and playing hard the entire series.


Why I like OKC

• Dallas, LA and SA are all better than any of the three teams Miami faced
• They have consistently played well, even during the first two games of the WCF
• Depth, athleticism, size, versatility
• Durant will be the most difficult match up they face this post season and I can't wait to see how well LeBron does defending him.
• While Westbrook isn't as good of a PG as Rondo I think he might be an even tougher match up because he's almost unintelligently aggressive. He'll have his fair share of stupid decisions as always but I think he'll have a huge series. He's going to attack Chalmers endlessly.
• Of the Top 5 best individual players Miami faces this post season, three will be in the Finals (Melo & Rondo being the others).

Why I don't

• They don't have LeBron
• I think their front court advantage will be neutralized to a large degree

Why I like Miami

• LeBron, duh
• Bosh is healthy enough
• I think they can really exploit the Perkins/Ibaka front line by spreading the floor. They've proved they can still rebound even with a smaller lineup. LeBron, Wade and Haslem are great rebounders for their size and got the job done thus far.
• I believe Miami plays to their competition to a certain degree and didn't take any of the Eastern opponents as serious as they should have. I think they know their margin for error against OKC is smaller and they'll play better because of it.
• On a similar note I think Wade really steps up his game this series.

Why I don't

• They haven't put together a full series yet where they consistently played well.
• When they've looked bad they look really bad
• Can such a team with such little depth beat a team with talent AND depth. The Pacers had depth but no star power, OKC is on a whole other level.
• Wade has not been playing well enough for Miami to win it all IMO

When I objectively look at the teams on paper I think OKC has a decided advantage but LeBron will finally play up to his potential and dominate this series. Heat in 7.

One of the best assessments I've seen since saturday!!

It's shocking that even I agree LeBron is the X-Factor. We're talking about a guy who has put up crazy numbers during the playoffs. But once Larry O' Trophy comes out. He's disappeared. As a long time LeBron follower (He was 16 when he became my favorite player). I hope he breaks out of the stupid shell.

[OSUFan_88]

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

I think this comes down to if the players around LeBron are sucking or not. If LeBron has an off night, then the Heat are toast anyway, but LeBron is going to need some help, and I'm not sure Wade is capable of that anymore.

[ScoobySnax]

I dont doubt D-Wade. He's gonna be a problem for OKC.

"get knocked down seven times...get up 8."


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[cjonesfan921]

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

I favor OKC but not by much.

However, wouldn't be surprised if OKC runs them out the gym tonight.

[elprez98]

I think that fatigue will play a huge factor in this one. Miami exerted a lot of emotional and physical energy to get past Boston. All of this talk about Lebron, but the Heat will only go as far as Bosh goes.

[Drewski]

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

Should be a great series, probably the most "exciting" Finals that could have lined up this season. The fact that either Lebron or Durant will walk away with their first title alone is great for the sport. With the way the season, and the playoffs, have all played out it’s difficult to even want to make a prediction.

Wade will not have any easier of a time with OKC’s defense than he did against Boston with Thabo and Harden in his face, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Westbrook on him as well. Harden, in particular, is a great perimeter defender, especially against the craftier types (I.E.Kobe). Thabo is also a solid, fundamental, defender that will help contain Wade. An unhealthy Wade getting his knee drained isn’t going to have his way with the perimeter defense of OKC’s, and when he does finally get by his defender and into the lane, Perk and Ibaka will be there to clean it up much better than the bigs of Boston. More so Perk, as you would believe that Ibaka will have to play honest on a healthy Bosh, especially after that ridiculous game 7 shooting performance. I really see Harden giving Wade an incredibly difficult series.

Durant and Lebron is a phenomenal matchup, both having different advantages in size and length. It’s easy to say Lebron is a superior defender, but having arguably (three straight scoring titles) the games premiere scorer to check in a 7 game series is something he has never had to deal with. Yeah, he matched up against Granger, Iguodala, and Pierce, but I wouldn’t consider any of them remotely close to Durant’s level on a consistent basis. In that matchup, stylistically, I prefer Durant’s length and outside game to Lebron’s size. Lebron should be able to bully Durant on the block, but while his post play has improved dramatically this season, it’s still a work in progress (really enjoyed that Hakeem piece in re: to this. Definitely agree that he’s far from comfortable going to the post as a "go-to" type scenario and falls back into the habit of utilizing the outside game / drives. Not necessarily a bad thing but takes away from his possessions in the post where he can be incredibly efficient.). I don’t envision Lebron going to the post in critical possessions, essentially, so I don’t see Lebron’s post game being a determining factor in the series. Lebron will get his, but he’s going to be matched up against someone who will do the same. This isn’t the same Durant that, two years ago, Ron Artest was able to pin in the corner into submission through the playoffs.

Chalmers is simply overmatched against Westbrook. All that space that Miami gave Rondo will be non existent, no more keying in the paint, because Russ can get it going off of the pick and roll around the free throw line. Even with Wade covering Russ, I don’t see Miami walking away unscathed. The only thing that I feel can stop Russell Westbrook in this series is, as usual, Russell Westbrook. I like his odds of having a great series and silencing the critics.

I’m extremely excited to see this series unfold, and as much as it pains me to see it happen so early in their careers, Durant and the Thunder in 6 is my pick. Sky will be the limit for KD. The Western Conference, and the league, can be his for a long time. After the first ring, it will be difficult to pry the NBA from his fingertips. Can definitely see a Larry O’Brien Trophy propelling Durant towards another level.
Can’t wait.

[SteelersFreak]

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

Well good for you!

What I'm saying is, I don't agree with the article, that EVERYONE should be rooting for the Heat. I completely understand why Seattlites would root for the Heat or Sonics fans elsewhere, but no one else should feel bad for rooting for the Thunder.

[King_B_Mack]

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

I'm going OKC in 6. I think Thabo is gonna check this new, soft D-Wade who's gonna still be whining for calls. Bosh is going to need to be in the starting lineup, cause Ibaka and Perkins are going to have a field day with Haslem and whoever on the glass. Fisher is gonna have some Laker magic working in at least one of these games. Meanwhile I think Westbrook is going to cost the Thunder a game with his decision making and there will be a game in Miami where LeBron, Wade and Bosh all go nuclear.

We have the best possible series though, no doubt. We're going to see what the Heat are made of. The Thunder will need to be very careful and not dig themselves into any sort of holes that way they've been prone to do this season. I've still not seen anything to say otherwise, but the Heat since they've been together is the greatest frontrunning team in the league.

[Jasong7777]

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

No matter who wins tonight I hope there is not an overreaction.

One game does not a series make.

[RedSceptile]

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

No matter who wins tonight I hope there is not an overreaction.

One game does not a series make.

50 bucks says by halftime if there's a double digit lead either way we'll see "well they're done" or "what chokers" etc.

[King_B_Mack]

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

No matter who wins tonight I hope there is not an overreaction.

One game does not a series make.

50 bucks says by halftime if there's a double digit lead either way we'll see "well they're done" or "what chokers" etc.

I think it all depends. If it ends in a blowout, then yeah, overreaction city. However if this goes down to the wire or it's just generally a close game to end it, that'll keep people quiet until the next one. Then we get to do it all over again.

[jeebs9]

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

Anyone think Shane Battier will start? And pick up Durant from the jump?

But I expect the Thunder to win by double digits tonight.

[greenegt]

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

Just a fantastic matchup. I can't wait for game 1, tonight. The Thunder have brought it in these playoffs and I expect that to continue.

I want to see LeBron come in with that "any means necessary" attitude to get his ring. If he has to work his butt off to contain Durant and drop 30 on the offensive end, so be it. If he comes out passive, Miami has no chance.