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

[WTF]

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

Serious question, how did Spo not get T'ed up for being 5 feet from Westbrook on the final 3, waving his arms, etc? I can understand if he's on the sideline, but he's 3-4' out on the floor.

I know a few guys talked about it, but that should be talked about a little more. By no means is it the reason the Heat won, but man, absolutely crazy.

[CMH]

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

That's like saying having Robert Horry right now on that team would help them win the series. No disrespect to Fisher or Perkins. They are important to the team, but they aren't Durant and Westbrook or Harden.

That being said, I think it matters that Perkins said Durant needs to be smarter and Durant is echoing the same words during a press conference. That's what experience does.

I'm not saying experience trumps all. I hate that to be the buzzword or go-to excuse for OKC's play. I am saying that experience helps and it's a big thing to feel the pressure of the Finals and deal with adversity at the same time. When you've dealt with it before, it's easier to push it aside. When it's your first time, it's not.

When guys that normally hit free throws aren't sinking them, it has got to be mental. So what else could be in their thoughts if not the pressure of knowing that every free throw counts and letting that build on you?

Well, that's what I think at least.

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.

But I'm not talking about those things. Never even mentioned them.

[23]

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

That's like saying having Robert Horry right now on that team would help them win the series. No disrespect to Fisher or Perkins. They are important to the team, but they aren't Durant and Westbrook or Harden.

That being said, I think it matters that Perkins said Durant needs to be smarter and Durant is echoing the same words during a press conference. That's what experience does.

I'm not saying experience trumps all. I hate that to be the buzzword or go-to excuse for OKC's play. I am saying that experience helps and it's a big thing to feel the pressure of the Finals and deal with adversity at the same time. When you've dealt with it before, it's easier to push it aside. When it's your first time, it's not.

When guys that normally hit free throws aren't sinking them, it has got to be mental. So what else could be in their thoughts if not the pressure of knowing that every free throw counts and letting that build on you?

Well, that's what I think at least.



But I'm not talking about those things. Never even mentioned them.

Dont ever disrespect Big Shot Bob!

He took opponents out til he retired SON!!!!!

Fish and Perk are vital parts to the team, and have never been the main cogs, but they have the experience and are vets..every team needs it.

[CMH]

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

Dont ever disrespect Big Shot Bob!

He took opponents out til he retired SON!!!!!

Fish and Perk are vital parts to the team, and have never been the main cogs, but they have the experience and are vets..every team needs it.

Agreed on everything.

[23]

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

I just dont buy the experience angle either...

This was a series that was/is pretty much up in the air, and both teams had question marks going in.

Im still hoping for a not 1 not 2 not 3 Not 4 NOt 5 NOT 6, but a 7 game series

[King_B_Mack]

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

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.

May be an exaggeration on my part, but I know after every game usually every year of the playoffs for the most part, the talk is always mostly about what the losing team did wrong than heaping tons of praise on the winning team however only when it's the Heat winning are we suddenly expected to talk more about them winning than what the other team didn't do. That and the fact that both teams played like doo doo all last night so trying to talk up the Heat win moreso than what the Thunder didn't do last night isn't really on point this time because the Heat just sucked less last night. That's not to say they didn't have some positives to take away from the game though.

But I'm not talking about those things. Never even mentioned them.

Don't get me wrong, not saying you were, but those things were pretty big reasons they lost that game last night and they have nothing to do with not having been in the Finals before.

Saying they don't know how to deal with the pressure of the Finals and adversity is ridiculous to me. They were down 14 in Game 1 of the Finals and won. I guess we stil live in the same universe that would consider that dealing with adversity and pressure.

[CMH]

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

Don't get me wrong, not saying you were, but those things were pretty big reasons they lost that game last night and they have nothing to do with not having been in the Finals before.

Saying they don't know how to deal with the pressure of the Finals and adversity is ridiculous to me. They were down 14 in Game 1 of the Finals and won. I guess we stil live in the same universe that would consider that dealing with adversity and pressure.

They were also home.

And I never said the Thunder don't know how to handle adversity. I said they played like a team that didn't know how to handle adversity. I see a big difference there.

Also not discrediting they lost because of those other mistakes.

Not sure where I ever said OKC lost because of inexperience or not handling adversity.

[King_B_Mack]

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

They were also home.

And I never said the Thunder don't know how to handle adversity. I said they played like a team that didn't know how to handle adversity. I see a big difference there.

Also not discrediting they lost because of those other mistakes.

Not sure where I ever said OKC lost because of inexperience or not handling adversity.

I should probably make clear that I'm not addressing you specifically with my disagreement to the inexperience angle. I just generally dislike the argument and you aren't the first to make mention of it with this series.

[The 24th Letter]

On the Spoelstra on court thing....should've been called according to rules (I assume), but it just never is... WB said he never saw him, so I don't think it was an actual distraction or anything like that.

Doc Rivers or Thibbs would probably average 6 more techs a year if they did call it more often though...lol

[23]

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

Its just funnier because he blocked Joey's POV and he just moved over to see around him...

If the ref aint on the court why is the coach

[wwharton]

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

I should probably make clear that I'm not addressing you specifically with my disagreement to the inexperience angle. I just generally dislike the argument and you aren't the first to make mention of it with this series.

There is merit though. I think your issue is with it being handed a significant role in a win or loss, but it does play it's part. Honestly, even though he's "been there before" I think Lebron's difference in play is a result of what happened last year in the finals. Bosh has admitted as much, saying he was overcome with the butterflies last year. I agree with CMH that the free throw line is a great place to see it come into play. Also, a guy like Harden looking pretty loss out there. In general the stars will rise, it's just if it's enough. The effect it can have on role players is hard to gauge bc we never expect consistency from them anyway. But wouldn't you think a role player with championship game experience would have more confidence (and then probably play better) on the road than one who doesn't?

At the end of the day both of these teams are amazing at their best, both offensively and defensively. It is going to come down to little things that come into play for wins and losses. KD missing 4th qtr free throws, Harden being outscored by Perkins, and Westbrook missing a WIDE open 3 play the same role as James getting away with the foul late on Durant or Wade turning the ball over in the open court in the 4th qtr. None of these things determined the win or loss individually, but in such close games, things going as we should be able to expect them to, could change the outcome.

[The 24th Letter]

Its just funnier because he blocked Joey's POV and he just moved over to see around him...

If the ref aint on the court why is the coach

But like you were speaking to earlier, if anyone is up for making a game changing, attention grabbing call, it's Joey

[King_B_Mack]

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

There is merit though. I think your issue is with it being handed a significant role in a win or loss, but it does play it's part. Honestly, even though he's "been there before" I think Lebron's difference in play is a result of what happened last year in the finals. Bosh has admitted as much, saying he was overcome with the butterflies last year. I agree with CMH that the free throw line is a great place to see it come into play. Also, a guy like Harden looking pretty loss out there. In general the stars will rise, it's just if it's enough. The effect it can have on role players is hard to gauge bc we never expect consistency from them anyway. But wouldn't you think a role player with championship game experience would have more confidence (and then probably play better) on the road than one who doesn't?

At the end of the day both of these teams are amazing at their best, both offensively and defensively. It is going to come down to little things that come into play for wins and losses. KD missing 4th qtr free throws, Harden being outscored by Perkins, and Westbrook missing a WIDE open 3 play the same role as James getting away with the foul late on Durant or Wade turning the ball over in the open court in the 4th qtr. None of these things determined the win or loss individually, but in such close games, things going as we should be able to expect them to, could change the outcome.

I don't know, I just know I hate hearing about that ALL THE TIME. We always have to hear the experience angle with games like these. LeBron I would say is not a good example. Last year wasn't LeBron's first Finals. By the experience logic that we all bring out, LeBron should've dominated last year because he'd been there before. The difference in play between this year and last year isn't so much experience of what to expect and how to deal with adversity in the Finals, it's LeBron trying to get people off his *** about not winning. The experience thing is played up way too much.

[CMH]

I should probably make clear that I'm not addressing you specifically with my disagreement to the inexperience angle. I just generally dislike the argument and you aren't the first to make mention of it with this series.

Yeah I get that and trust me I'm not trying to use it as an excuse.

I consider one of the smaller things that matter when it matters.

My whole point was really to give Miami credit for playing cool and collective as if their situation was been there done that rather than an excuse for OKC's sloppiness.


Sent from my mobile device.

[TajDeni]

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

didnt want to start a new thread to post this and as it pertains to the finals ill post it here.

i dont like the way the media is handling and treating westbrook in the finals, i find it very insulting to anyone who actually knows what they are watching.

now im going to use a laker reference to tie in my point but im not talking about the lakers so just skip them and peep the point.

so basically i feel that the media has made it up in its mind that if the OKC wins the storyline has to be all about KD. and that basically Westbrook is gettin in the way of that story, like hey young man didnt you get the memo that this is all about Lebron and KD, know your place in this story and fall back.

then you have guys like Magic, who i absolutely hate on TV - he's too corporate on tv, and Steven A. basically using shock jock tactics.

but here's how inconsistant the media is:

you got magic saying that the #2 option (Westbrook) needs to get the ball to the #1 option (KD) because the best player needs to eat 1st. (again ignore the laker talk) but when the lakers #1 options shoots 1st the media says get the ball more to the 2nd option. now why is this? they say because of matchups advantages. well isnt Westbrook the 1 with the greatest mismatch advantages. KDs being guarded by Battie and LBJ and Westrbooks is being gaurded by Chalmers, Coles, and a hobbled Wade.

the bottomline here is the media doesnt care about reporting the finals they only care about storylines and placing ppl in batman and robin roles. did anyone ever stop to think that maybe they view themselves as the avengers and not batman and robin.

couple other points.

Westbrook is every bit as good as KD, and id argue that P4P he is even better than KD. ask youself this outside of scoring, what does KD do better than Westbrook? Nothing thats what. Im not saying KD is not the face of the franchise, because he seems more suitable to handle that mantle. but even if he is Westbrook is asked to carry more responibilities and burdens on that team. All im saying is there is no best player on that team they are equal parters 50/50 and they should receive equal respect as contributers of that team.

lastly i believe that if the media would just leave them alone and not play favorites KD and Westbrook could figure it all out 2gether and play there entire careers 2gether. but im afraid that if they keep meddling, Westbrook is going to want to leave eventually because everything that good always goes to KD and everything thats bad always goes to Westbrook. im afraid he's gonna feel that he needs to go out on his own to ever get the respect he deserves.

because the media takes sides all the time, KD and Westbrook has the potential to be the new Shaq and Kobe saga all over again. and it doesnt have to be that way if they would just stop picking favorites and actually just report the sporting news.

i just absolutely hate the way he's being treated and being set up by the media as the fall guy should the thunder lose. hate it!

PS. my bad didnt scroll down far enough to see the westbrook thread