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

[Kriech23]

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

I dont know about playing Cole. Spo also tried starting Dexter Pittman against the Pacers to give them some energy and an extra player, and he ended up playing 10 minutes and had a statline of 0-0-0. This is a similar situation.

I don't think Cole has been on the court in 2 months.

Cole has played in 15 playoff games, and all 7 last series. He's an energy guy that should get about 6-8 minutes a game, like he did last series.

Pittman on the other hand should never see the floor.

[BlastX21]

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

...and you'll never find out will you?

Keep riding that LeBron James Super Duper Hero cart and see where that goes

Its not about LeBron. Cole and him play 2 different positions. Playing Cole doesn't mean LeBron gets more rest.



@Kriech, didn't know that Cole had been getting time against the C's. Were his stats any good?

[BlastX21]

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

Nevermind, looked it up myself. This postseason, Cole is shooting 31%.

[HMcCoy]

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

Thabo made Lebron take a few fadeaways and then forced him to help and traffic. I'd say he did a great job guarding LeBron only allowing him 2-6 or 2-7 in the 4th.

The Heat tried too hard to cause havok with the Wade/Bosh PnR in the 4th. Wade's sloppy handle and Bosh's settling for long pops off the screen froze Bron out for a long stretch.

In theory it was a solid plan to free up James on the weakside, but it also illustrated why James has always liked to pound the ball going down the stretch. If he let others create for him, there's no guarantee that he'll get it back in good scoring position, or with enough time to survey and attack. Bron's damned if he does, damned if he doesn't in this case.

For me, if you list all of Lebrons talents, making contested J's and knocking down FTs are at the bottom of his list. When big games are being decided, when the refs are swallowing whistles, when defenders are mugging dudes at the rim, KD can still calmly do what he does all game long...Use them ridiculous arms to pull up in yo face. Doesn't have to dive into traffic.

Lebron can get hot and take over a game down the stretch, but closing is always going to be a struggle for him as long as he has to rely on freelancing his way to the weakest part of his skillset when the pressure is at it's highest. Missed FT's, turnovers, bricked off-balance J's and charges all too common for my dude. Bron is a beast, but IMO just like Shaq he needs a teammate who's game is tailored to the last 2 minutes to hand things off to. No shame in that.

[702]

Extremely well put.

[JerzeyReign]

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

Missed a day of discussion and just wanted to put a point to the comment I made earlier about Lebron not having help.

Y'all said the help isn't effective -- the only help I consider helpful is effective help. If its not effective then its not really helping IMO. If I'm in a firefight and you hand me a weapon that only fires 10 meters and the enemy is 200 meters away then you really don't help the cause. Right now, he has no help IMO. We saw what happens when Wade plays up to his normal self (Indiana series, well the last two games) -- the Heat are unstoppable. We see what Bosh can do when he's on point. Bosh has an excuse being that he's trying to get back in the groove but Wade is lacing them up every night and giving 'role player' performances. I just don't get it.

Oh well, Miami gonna come out strong tonight -- hopefully Lebron listens to Eminem again

[jeebs9]

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

I kind of see the Heat losing again tonight. And possible in the same fashion as in game one.

[ScoobySnax]

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

They need to start Bosh tonight. He's one of your big guns and he needs to be out there. What are you "preserving" him for? This is the Finals! Exert yourself to the max, win and THEN take a freaking break.

If the Heat lose tonight, they won't have to worry about playing in OKC again.

[23]

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

The Heat tried too hard to cause havok with the Wade/Bosh PnR in the 4th. Wade's sloppy handle and Bosh's settling for long pops off the screen froze Bron out for a long stretch.

In theory it was a solid plan to free up James on the weakside, but it also illustrated why James has always liked to pound the ball going down the stretch. If he let others create for him, there's no guarantee that he'll get it back in good scoring position, or with enough time to survey and attack. Bron's damned if he does, damned if he doesn't in this case.

For me, if you list all of Lebrons talents, making contested J's and knocking down FTs are at the bottom of his list. When big games are being decided, when the refs are swallowing whistles, when defenders are mugging dudes at the rim, KD can still calmly do what he does all game long...Use them ridiculous arms to pull up in yo face. Doesn't have to dive into traffic.

Lebron can get hot and take over a game down the stretch, but closing is always going to be a struggle for him as long as he has to rely on freelancing his way to the weakest part of his skillset when the pressure is at it's highest. Missed FT's, turnovers, bricked off-balance J's and charges all too common for my dude. Bron is a beast, but IMO just like Shaq he needs a teammate who's game is tailored to the last 2 minutes to hand things off to. No shame in that.

I dont know man becuase that wasnt the case in game 6 in Boston

They were getting him the ball in good position and he worked from that

Again I dont think this coach knows how to get the best out of these guys, and they still play the take turns offense too much.

[23]

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

Its not about LeBron. Cole and him play 2 different positions. Playing Cole doesn't mean LeBron gets more rest.



@Kriech, didn't know that Cole had been getting time against the C's. Were his stats any good?

I think you completely misunderstood because thats not what I meant at all

[Kriech23]

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

Nevermind, looked it up myself. This postseason, Cole is shooting 31%.

Cole's really out there to play defense and provide a lift off the bench. He's not a shooter by any means. Last series in particular, he had some good takes to the rim where he either dished off or scored. It's the little things that go a long way.

[The 24th Letter]

Coles a pretty good defender...pretty good mod tange shooter too actually despite his avgs....he's not a good finisher at the rim though...

[Nathan_OS]

Love hearing John Barry talk on ESPN Radio

[jeebs9]

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

Coles a pretty good defender...pretty good mod tange shooter too actually despite his avgs....he's not a good finisher at the rim though...

Coles just needs a little a punch from teammates. "Just Go!" He's been second guess himself on the offensive side of the ball. But I think he is a above average finisher at the rim. He just needs a little confidents. I think Spo will probably give him more playing time when they get back home.


Some blindfold talk...

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamiheat/post/_/id/14827/introducing-shane-battiers-secret-weapon

"I absolutely hate it." - Durant

edit: There is an article on espn about the Heat minutes. Seems like James Jones been dealing with migraine and we all know Mike Miller is at the door.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamiheat/post/_/id/14805/heat-already-hinting-at-game-2-adjustments

[The 24th Letter]

Love hearing John Barry talk on ESPN Radio

How unfortunate.