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

[ex carrabba fan]

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

I don't know, Cook is about as good a 'weapon' as James Jones is.

OKC's bench though is much much more stout than Miami's... I don't even think it's a discussion frankly. Even role player wise.. Miami has the worst depth you'll find in the entire league.

Not making excuses for anyone, but if Miami loses the blame probably shouldn't fall on LBJ or Wade or even coach Spo... more on the fact that they have walking corpses for a bench.

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

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

I don't know, Cook is about as good a 'weapon' as James Jones is.

OKC's bench though is much much more stout than Miami's... I don't even think it's a discussion frankly. Even role player wise.. Miami has the worst depth you'll find in the entire league.

Not making excuses for anyone, but if Miami loses the blame probably shouldn't fall on LBJ or Wade or even coach Spo... more on the fact that they have walking corpses for a bench.

I'd take the Heat's bench over what the Celtics had in the ECF every day of the week.

[ex carrabba fan]

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

I'd take the Heat's bench over what the Celtics had in the ECF every day of the week.

Celtics have one of the worst as well though...

Jeff Green is a solid 6th man though.. if he were healthy.. Miami doesn't even have that..

But I won't argue, they're both ****ty

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

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

Celtics have one of the worst as well though...

Jeff Green is a solid 6th man though.. if he were healthy.. Miami doesn't even have that..

But I won't argue, they're both ****ty

Yeah, if Boston had Bradley and Green I don't think it's really a question, but I think the Heat's role players are actually decent fits for that team. They (along with Wade recently) just aren't consistent enough. But if you think about what they in theory bring to the team, they all either bring shooting or defense which is basically all you want from your role players. Battier, Chalmers, and Miller are all capable of being hot for a night or two. That's all you can really ask for.

[The 24th Letter]

I think it's more MIAs bench under performing than the actual personnel...obviously they are missing size all together

They got burned pretty bad on the Miller pick up, with what he was supposed to bring....definitely could've used that $ somewhere else.

[23]

I think cook is a more consistent shooter than jones though

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[The 24th Letter]

Well we don't get to see enough of Jones IMO

But yeah, they are both pretty much dead eye shooters

[Hotobu]

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

I still think Dwyane Wade is playing extra hurt and just isn't saying anything. He missed a fourth of the season and I think that's still bothering him.

[23]

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

Well we don't get to see enough of Jones IMO

But yeah, they are both pretty much dead eye shooters

I know that... he can't get in the game enough to establish a rythym because of the coa.... nevermind

[jeebs9]

What do you guys think about Bosh coming off the bench? I think it fixes alot of problems you guys are talking about here.

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[Cavsfan4life]

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

I got Heat in 6, I think they will play their best basketball in this series. The Heat can match up very well with OKCs athleticism as well as defend OKCs perimeter players. OKC does have more depth and size, but I think Wade or LBJ being on the floor throughout the game can neutralize Harden as well as control the boards. Also, MIA bench has been inconsistent, but they have proven players in Haslem, Battier, and Turiaf. OKC gets away with a lack of a presence in the paint because of their fast breaks, but MIA has the speed to get back on defense, something no one that OKC faced could do IMO.

[bigeastbumrush]

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

Heat don't have an answer for James Harden.

I think Game 1 will be an OKC blowout. They're gonna run the Heat off the court Game 1. The rest of the series should be competitive.

[Scott812313]

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

I got Heat in 6, I think they will play their best basketball in this series. The Heat can match up very well with OKCs athleticism as well as defend OKCs perimeter players. OKC does have more depth and size, but I think Wade or LBJ being on the floor throughout the game can neutralize Harden as well as control the boards. Also, MIA bench has been inconsistent, but they have proven players in Haslem, Battier, and Turiaf. OKC gets away with a lack of a presence in the paint because of their fast breaks, but MIA has the speed to get back on defense, something no one that OKC faced could do IMO.

Couldn't disagree more. At full strength, Miami is athletic, but they're not full strength. Wade isn't his usual explosive self and Bosh hasn't shown any of his old athleticism since the injury, though he played well. At this point, LeBron is the only athletic player the Heat have, while OKC has 5 supreme athletes.

As far as guarding the OKC perimeter players, who is guarding who? If you put LeBron on Durant, you risk diminshing his energy for the offensive end, which could/would be a deathblow. If you put Battier on KD, KD will eat his lunch. Wade can't guard Harden or Westbrook at this point either. When OKC is on D, not only do they have an ace defender in Sefolosha, they also have the best rim protector in the game in Ibaka and one of the most physical enforcers in the game in Perkins. I just can't see any way Miami wins this series.

[Cavsfan4life]

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

Wade lost some athleticism, but its not to the point where he cant defend Harden, I dont see Harden as a supreme athlete, he can get to rim with the moves he makes instead of relying on athleticism. MIA also have Anthony and Turiaf, both mobile bigs who could be important in the series. Lebron had to defend Melo, Granger/George, and Pierce and still produced. Durant will be a big challenge for him, especially with his ability to score and his length, but Lebron is a great defender, he will give Durant problems. Ilbaka and Perk is a great front line defensively, but their offense lacks compared to MIA with Bosh. If OKC jumpers are not falling, they cant give the ball to Perk or Ilbaka and say get us a basket, but MIA can with Bosh.

[Scott812313]

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

Wade lost some athleticism, but its not to the point where he cant defend Harden, I dont see Harden as a supreme athlete, he can get to rim with the moves he makes instead of relying on athleticism. MIA also have Anthony and Turiaf, both mobile bigs who could be important in the series. Lebron had to defend Melo, Granger/George, and Pierce and still produced. Durant will be a big challenge for him, especially with his ability to score and his length, but Lebron is a great defender, he will give Durant problems. Ilbaka and Perk is a great front line defensively, but their offense lacks compared to MIA with Bosh. If OKC jumpers are not falling, they cant give the ball to Perk or Ilbaka and say get us a basket, but MIA can with Bosh.

They are both garbage men. An NBA team as good as Miami shouldn't have guys of that caliber even on the roster, let alone burning.

Bosh gives you the same thing Ibaka does on offense, the 15-18 foot jumper. Bosh doesn't score many buckets at all with his back to the bucket, he's strictly a face-up guy. I'd take Ibaka in a heartbeat over Bosh, though I'll admit, Bosh is a better offensive player, but he isn't half the defender or athlete Serge is.

None of those guys you mentioned are in the same galaxy as KD. Carmelo was off almost the whole series, Granger was more worried about being a tough guy than scoring and PP is getting old and he's hurt. All those minutes he spent checking those guys though, especially compensating for the Bosh injury, could be a HUGE factor in trying to stop KD, the best offensive player in the world.