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

[ehh]

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

The Thunder are a better team. There is no question in my mind, and wiped the floor with a better team than the Heat in 4 straight the series prior and had all the momentum in the world, while the Heat limped in barely beating a injury ridden Celts team. Come on man.

OKC can't keep their composure to save their life, their 3rd best player has been AWOL something fierce, their frontcourt has been subpar defensively and on the glass, Miami denying the KD the ball is doing enough to disrupt OKC's offensive flow (which is already limited in its own right). Miami has also stepped up their D as a whole and they're finding their offensive chemistry with each passing game. It's no coincidence that Chalmers had a huge game tonight because the offensive flow was by far the best it's been in a long time. Chalmers got great rhythm jumpers throughout the night (granted he hadn't been hitting a lot of those open J's) and the rotating defense gave him more driving lanes than usual.

As for the WCF, San Antonio would have been a more difficult match up for Miami probably due do their chemistry, craftiness, team work and ability to play smallball very well. Are they better than Miami? Not sure at this point, Miami has woken up and stepped their game up this series.

[ZB9]

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

Ibaka isnt rebounding worth a darn in this series. Perhaps he'd rather block shots, but rebounding is more important

Miami is playing so much smarter than OKC. Lebron is getting to the post, making the right passes, the right shots, carving up the Thunder D. He's playing chess out there on the court right now, got to give him props

[The 24th Letter]

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

I was seriously wondering how long before this comparison was brought up lmao.

pretty ridiculous honestly.

[BringTheHeat]

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

I'm not talking about that one. That should have been a foul on Russ if anything. The one I'm talking about was with around 2 min left in the 3rd. Russ pulled up at the FT line and Jones clearly gave him a forearm shiver, but I can't remember if it was to the chest or back. I think it was the chest/stomach. Even the announcers commented on the no-call.

Alright didnt' know which one. I'll have to look for it again.

[The 24th Letter]

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

As for the WCF, San Antonio would have been a more difficult match up for Miami probably due do their chemistry, craftiness, team work and ability to play smallball very well. Are they better than Miami? Not sure at this point, Miami has woken up and stepped their game up this series.

SA would have killed MIA with spacing on offense and ball movement...

but as a Spur fan, I would have been scared to death at MIAs finishing ability at the rim.

[Rawdeal28]

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

Not sure if I like all these posts praising Westbrook right NOW because I know all he has to do is throw up a brick and the "Bad Russ" posts will come right back and that'll overshadow everything he's done today.

so true

[Hawaii_Stars]

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

Harden is going to have turn it around for the Thunder to have a chance. He was so good up until this series. I know players go into funks but dang. It almost looks like he is point shaving out there. I know he slowed up to get a foul, but you gotta go strong and dunk that with the contact.

[phenom1990]

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

SA would have killed MIA with spacing on offense and ball movement...

but as a Spur fan, I would have been scared to death at MIAs finishing ability at the rim.

NBA playoffs... the game of matchups. I would have loved to see Miami defend Parker or Duncan. I thought if the Celtics played the Thunder they would have lost in 5. I thought the Celtics would beat the Heat in 6 and I thought the Heat would beat the Thunder in 6 ( which is still in play). Basketball can be a weird game.

[bigbob]

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

These teams just gained a lot more common ground.

Normally I would give them the benefit out the doubt, but the one sided officiating is too blatant to ignore. It's not just the calls that the Thunder don't get, it's the calls that Wade and LeBron get on a consistent basis. Truly is embarrassing.

I have no vested interest in either team, and have the utmost respect for LeBron James and his game, but I'd rather him win a championship by actually winning it, and not by it being handed to him. Sure the Thunder blew the lead, but if Thunder got half the calls they should have gotten, they would have won by 10+. Same thing in Game 2.

And anyone who says LeBron winning isn't good for the league, is out of their mind. This same thing would have happened in Cleveland if he would have stayed there. It was only a matter of time. The Lakers/Celtics wave had to fade out first.

I just want to see good basketball, not a series defined by officiating and people trying to find other reasons for losing because they don't want to admit it effects the game.

The Thunder are a better team. There is no question in my mind, and wiped the floor with a better team than the Heat in 4 straight the series prior and had all the momentum in the world, while the Heat limped in barely beating a injury ridden Celts team. Come on man.

I hate to agree with a Bears fan, jk, but I couldn't have said it better myself.

[ehh]

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

Harden is going to have turn it around for the Thunder to have a chance. He was so good up until this series. I know players go into funks but dang. It almost looks like he is point shaving out there. I know he slowed up to get a foul, but you gotta go strong and dunk that with the contact.

Wonder if he'll go to desperate measures and shave the beard.

[Trapper700]

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

Personally, I don't see how the heat winning is good for the sport. If you like the way baseball is, with the same big teams always winning, then the heat winning is good for the sport. I absolutely hate the idea of every year Miami, New York, LA, and maybe a few Chicago's taking it all.

That's why to me this series is like Ivan Drago(heat) vs Balboa(okc). Nothing special about taking the easy way IMO.

I guess Rocky always did come back at the end though....right?lol

Cause you know, there's no competitive balance in baseball, with 9 different teams winning the world series in the last 11 years.

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

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

Dwyane Wade... smh at those glasses man.

[Rocky]

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

In Harden's defense, he is the only player who has to log heavy minutes on both Lebron and Wade and still expected to contribute offensively.

[Fresh Tendrils]

He's still gotta knock down open shots and gimme lay ups.

[BringTheHeat]

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

In 2022 this will be known as "The Cramp Game"

lol, oh YouTube.