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

[ProfessaPackMan]

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

Curious as to what you think his agenda is.

[King_B_Mack]

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

Curious as to what you think his agenda is.

Whatever HE thinks is best for the league. In this case, wouldn't shock me at all to learn he thinks making sure Miami gets that second win gets this thing back to OKC one way or another. If OKC is going to win this thing, be a helluva lot better for the league if they do it in OKC.

[23]

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

...and having control and a hand in whats happening

[King_B_Mack]

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

He's like the NBA's version of that clown Joe West in MLB. If his name shows up in the paper then it's a job well done as far as he's concerned.

[videobastard]

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

Durant needs to do his best to stay out of foul trouble for the remainder of the series. The foul calls that he can avoid is jumping on pump fakes and trying to take charges. With his length he can contest a shot without being worried of jumping first or at the same time against the opposing players. With his frame i would not even be trying to take charges.

[ZB9]

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

bout time James Jones got some run..didnt understand why Mike Miller was ahead of him, Miller is clearly injured

i get to keep my avatar for a few more games

[wwharton]

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

Once again, lil Simba Lebron is learning how to roar right before our eyes... so damn good to see. Even his pregame speech seemed more focused on the game and not just trying to say something with the camera in his face. He's attacking, cutting hard without the ball and even passing out of situations when they run isos instead of just going up and hoping his jumper is on that day.

Personally THIS is what I want to see... in the Heat losing. The team is still flawed and I don't want to see other players/teams think this is the way to get a ring... and would rather see complete teams with depth and chemistry get the prize. Personally I don't think James getting a ring shuts anybody up. I think James attitude, effort and decision making before, during and after the game is what will eventually quiet the crowd. And I personally think that will shine more in a Heat loss than a win. The Thunder could win the next 3 in a row, and if James just plays like he has consistently this series, I dare anyone to blame him. It's just not that easy to get a freaking ring. I'm glad he's learning that.

[ZB9]

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

Miami has been playing smarter than OKC overall in this series so far imo...and specifically, Lebron and Wade have been playing smarter than Durant and Westbrook

perhaps OKC's inexperience is finally showing up? There is a reason why no team as young as this Thunder squad has won an NBA championship

[CMH]

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

Miami has been playing smarter than OKC overall in this series so far imo...and specifically, Lebron and Wade have been playing smarter than Durant and Westbrook

perhaps OKC's inexperience is finally showing up? There is a reason why no team as young as this Thunder squad has won an NBA championship

Last night definitely looked like a game won on experience.

Miami just looked much more calm and relaxed. They did make a lot of turnovers in the 4th, but both teams did.

Forget the turnovers because it was a battle and that's likely to happen. The free throws, the shot selection is the thing to me. Miami just looked like a team that knows how to deal with the pressures of the Finals...kind of like they've been there before.

The Thunder, however, did a great job adapting and learning on the fly during the playoffs. Just because they are inexperienced doesn't mean they can't play with the Heat. It's in their nature, for some odd reason, to suddenly learn in one day what it takes some teams a year or two. I expect they'll adjust and learn to relax.

Not to take anything away from Miami because they played a very good game, but if the Thunder hit their free throws then the end result is very different. Miami played like Miami. The Thunder did not play like the Thunder.

[King_B_Mack]

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

I don't buy the inexperience angle for this. I think that angle is just another of the buzzwords that the media pushes out for situations to describe things that they're too lazy to give actual analysis on. The Thunder just made a lot of stupid mistakes that we've seen them make plenty of times before this season and even this postseason. Teams/players have mental farts all the time, look at CJ Watson passing the friggin ball to Asik at the end of the Bulls series. That's not some lack of playoff experience at work, he just screwed up because it happens. Good as these guys are, they aren't perfect. You'd like them to not make such simple mistakes, but it is what it is. Being in the Finals the last five years wouldn't have changed some of the stuff we've seen out of the Thunder the last few games. Also I know we all wanna overcompensate Miami with love for what they do right because of the hate they get, but they haven't played anywhere close to their best basketball in this series either. Some team has to make at least one less mistake than the other to win though.

[CMH]

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

I don't buy the inexperience angle for this. I think that angle is just another of the buzzwords that the media pushes out for situations to describe things that they're too lazy to give actual analysis on. The Thunder just made a lot of stupid mistakes that we've seen them make plenty of times before this season and even this postseason. Teams/players have mental farts all the time, look at CJ Watson passing the friggin ball to Asik at the end of the Bulls series. That's not some lack of playoff experience at work, he just screwed up because it happens. Good as these guys are, they aren't perfect. You'd like them to not make such simple mistakes, but it is what it is. Being in the Finals the last five years wouldn't have changed some of the stuff we've seen out of the Thunder the last few games. Also I know we all wanna overcompensate Miami with love for what they do right because of the hate they get, but they haven't played anywhere close to their best basketball in this series either. Some team has to make at least one less mistake than the other to win though.

You're correct it's a bad buzzword, but I'm not using a buzzword; I'm using what happened in the game and offering a reason.

The way I saw it, the Heat played like a team that knew how to handle adversity and the Thunder did not.

Call it inexperience vs. experience, bad basketball vs. good basketball or whatever, there still needs to be an explanation.

To say "things happen" isn't an explanation. It's just a shrug and ignoring the details.

[nightcreeper]

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

Lebron is too hungry this is his year...

[23]

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

I dont know man, OKC has Fish and Perk who both have extensive enough finals experience

I didn't like KDs body language last night as I kept saying, ... mentally I just dont think he was willing to try to do whatever it took last night, even if it led to him fouling out

[The 24th Letter]

So where's this "everyone wants everyone's to show extra love to MIA" angle coming from? Because I haven't seen anyone say anything close to that....serious question.

[King_B_Mack]

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

You're correct it's a bad buzzword, but I'm not using a buzzword; I'm using what happened in the game and offering a reason.

The way I saw it, the Heat played like a team that knew how to handle adversity and the Thunder did not.

Call it inexperience vs. experience, bad basketball vs. good basketball or whatever, there still needs to be an explanation.

To say "things happen" isn't an explanation. It's just a shrug and ignoring the details.

I don't think I'm ignoring details, but I definitely know it's not some ridiculous notion of 'these guys have been here before so they know what to do while these guys don't.' It's the Finals yeah, but it's still basketball. Being the Finals or Game 1 of the East/West Quarters doesn't mean there's a difference in fouling a three point shooter or flopping when you should be playing defense. All things considered the Thunder have still been in these games and are only down 2-1 with one win giving them homecourt advantage back. The thought of 'been here before' is stupid to me cause it's like a front running notion in a way. So we start talking about them wilting under the pressure of the Finals and Miami knows what to do in situations and all this other crap and then on Tuesday OKC comes out and wins by ten. Then what they suddenly gained Finals experience between yesterday and Game 4? Miami suddenly forgot what to do in situations? The Thunder secretly switched out the game ball with the Space Jam ball and stole Miami's Finals experience to use as they're own?