Game Thread: NBA FINALS!!! SA vs MIA

[hockey878]

The logic that the Spurs "should have" or "could have" beat the Heat is the same as the Heat should have beat the Mavs in 2011

Kings should have beat the Lakers in 2001
Sonics should have beat the Nuggets in 94

Point is, those teams "could have" beaten the other team, but they didn't. Either some mistakes were made and/or the other team made some big plays. It's basketball.

There SHOULD HAVE been a game 7 in the 98 NBA finals when they waved off a halfcourt three pointer saying it was after the buzzer when it was clearly before.

how much could that have changed things. No one ever brings up that when talking about MJ or "lucky breaks"

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Wade might be healthier but he isn't better. Wade shot has been off.

Disagree.
Often Wade will take ill advised shots for no reason, that lower his overall %, but when he plays to his strengths he has been a very good shooter this season.

 

[bksballer89]

Wade might be healthier but he isn't better. Wade shot has been off.

What are you talking about? He's much better.

2013 First Round- 13. 7 PPG on 36% shooting

2013 Second Round- 12.6 PPG on 50% shooting

2013 ECF- 15.4 PPG on 43% shooting

2014 First Round- 17.5 PPG on 49%

2014 Second Round- 18.2 PPG on 50% shooting

2014 ECF- 20 PPG on 55% shooting.

Yeah he isn't better and his shot is off

 

[hockey878]

Wade might be healthier but he isn't better. Wade shot has been off.

he just had the best 3 point shooting series hes had in a long long long time. (wouldn't expect that to continue) he is also shooting 6% higher this postseason than last. I just have a hard time figuring out where you come up with his shot being off

 

[trojanfan12]

Its funny, we can go back and forth on this stuff all day. Because I can come back with how Gary Neal was a pretty huge spark off the bench spurs and he isn't going to be around. Then you can make a point about Patty Mills filling that roll.

And who knows what we'll see from Danny Green? Its not even unreasonable to think he could be white hot again like he was early in the finals last year.

I think both you can make arguments for both teams as to why they are better or worse this year than last year. which makes this intriguing and exciting.

I just feel like a healthy dwade starts to sniff a ring and he has a higher upside vs last year than any of the other guys. Would anyone be surprised if he averages 20 5 and 5 on 53% shooting? Could be the difference.


im ranting. as i write i think of more and more variables. there are just too many really small things different both ways that could end up being huge.

it'll be fun to watch. glad its the spurs. its nice to know that even if your team doesn't win you can respect the champion.

Yep, it's funny how easy it is to make a case for both teams. Just means that they are pretty evenly matched and all of us basketball fans should be in for some more great basketball from these 2. If my Lakers can't be there, I can't think of 2 teams I'd rather watch.

 

[hockey878]

What are you talking about? He's much better.

2013 First Round- 13. 7 PPG on 36% shooting

2013 Second Round- 12.6 PPG on 50% shooting

2013 ECF- 15.4 PPG on 43% shooting

2014 First Round- 17.5 PPG on 49%

2014 Second Round- 18.2 PPG on 50% shooting

2014 ECF- 20 PPG on 55% shooting.

Yeah he isn't better and his shot is off

he also couldn't stay in front of ANYONE defensively last year. he just wandered and got lost. he has been so much better in that respect this postseason

 

[bksballer89]

1st, not if he is going to hit +40%.

If he is going to be a jump shooter he should take the 3, not long 2s is my point.

A mid range 2 is not a long 2. Nobody is telling him to shoot 2's just in front of the 3 point line. A 15 foot 2 is a much higher % shot than 23 or 24 ft 3 point shot

 

[hockey878]

Another major difference is Bosh's 3pt range (for better or worse, i think he needs to find a healthy balance). last year he was 0-6 and not nearly the threat he is from there as he is this year.

On the spurs side, Diaw has been better this year than last and will surely spend a nice amount of time guarding lebron.

Which is actually another thing different. Last year it seemed lebron spent the first 2-3 games figuring out how the spurs were guarding him because they have several players who can guard him and he has to attack them all in different ways. He should be better prepared for that this year.

 

[BUD]

If you really think the Heat still have weaknesses from 2011 you're a fool.

Dallas beat Miami for 3 reasons.

1) The Heat still did not know how to play as a team. They basically played the way OKC plays now as Wade & Bron took turns on offense. Since 2012 they play like a team instead of 1 on 1 basketball.

2) They used a zone. Good luck going to a zone when Miami can put 4 pretty good 3 point shooters on the floor at all times.

3) Lebron was afraid of the moment.

If the Spurs are dumb enough to try what the Mavs did in 2011, they will be gone in 5. I know Pop isn't dumb though

I did not say the Spurs were going to play like the Mavericks, Im not an avid NBA fan but I still do see weaknesses in the Heat. Now you probably think the Heat are infallible, you are wrong. I dont want to argue with anyone, really. Most all of you know all of the NBA teams and are into it all year round, so I will just sit back and listen to you all. But I will contribute once in awhile. Give me a break, im a little high on a nasty looking Sunday..

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Yep, it's funny how easy it is to make a case for both teams. Just means that they are pretty evenly matched and all of us basketball fans should be in for some more great basketball from these 2. If my Lakers can't be there, I can't think of 2 teams I'd rather watch.

No coincidence that the 2 best teams are also currently the 2 best top to bottom run organizations.

Intangibles are:

Heat has James
Spurs have HC advantage.
Everything else pretty much evens out. It will come down to which team gets the most contributions from both there starters and bench. End of the day it's a team game.

Spurs have probably 49/50 states rooting for them ( which really means nothing, just is probably true).

 

[cwalke3408]

It basically comes down to want team Manu Ginobili decides to play for this year.

 

[Hambombs]

The Spurs open at -130 to win the series.

Of course, the players will determine who eventually wins or loses, but I love the fact that the Heat are viewed as underdogs.


The Heat are always looking for something to give them that little bit of extra edge and attitude.
Since the a Spurs don't have a douche like Lance, this might be the best were going to get.

Why do you have 3peat as your sig?

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Why do you have 3peat as your sig?

I put it up at the start of the playoffs.
In no way was it a guarantee. More of a wishful thinking thing.

I figured we would have a tough EC Finals, and then a brutal Finals ( if we made it).

 

[trojanfan12]

No coincidence that the 2 best teams are also currently the 2 best top to bottom run organizations.

Intangibles are:

Heat has James
Spurs have HC advantage.
Everything else pretty much evens out. It will come down to which team gets the most contributions from both there starters and bench. End of the day it's a team game.

Spurs have probably 49/50 states rooting for them ( which really means nothing, just is probably true).

I would add that Pop gives the Spurs a coaching advantage. Not that Spo hasn't become a pretty damn good coach in his own right, he absolutely has. But Pop is arguably one of the best coaches of all time. Spurs have the edge there, but not by quite as wide a gap as some might think.

Definitely a team game, but in the end, it will come down to the best player in the world vs. the best coach in the world, imo. Can Lebron overcome what Pop will throw at him?

 

[Hambombs]

I put it up at the start of the playoffs.
In no way was it a guarantee. More of a wishful thinking thing.

I figured we would have a tough EC Finals, and then a brutal Finals ( if we made it).

Tru true hah

 

[gordontrue]

I'll believe the Spurs can win a title in an even-numbered year when I see it

 

[trojanfan12]

I'll believe the Spurs can win a title in an even-numbered year when I see it

Good point!!

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

I would add that Pop gives the Spurs a coaching advantage. Not that Spo hasn't become a pretty damn good coach in his own right, he absolutely has. But Pop is arguably one of the best coaches of all time. Spurs have the edge there, but not by quite as wide a gap as some might think.

Definitely a team game, but in the end, it will come down to the best player in the world vs. the best coach in the world, imo. Can Lebron overcome what Pop will throw at him?

Not at all trying to a dick with you today, but again I have some issues with this.

I'm not saying that Spoelstra is on Pops level, but Pop was coaching last year when the Heat won, and his decision making was very much questioned because Duncan had been taken out of the end of game 6.

Both of these coaches are very bright and are not afraid to go with their gut vs conventional thinking.
Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that great players have a much bigger impact on the results of games then great coaches IMO.

 

[TRIPLE 777]

The Heat will THREE-PEAT IN THE HEAT OF THINGS

Heat in 6... CL gone for 90.

I MUST AGREE WITH FLAUGE....
I LOOK FOR THE HEAT TO WIN GAME ONE AND THE SERIES....WORD

 

[BOTSLAYER]

A mid range 2 is not a long 2. Nobody is telling him to shoot 2's just in front of the 3 point line. A 15 foot 2 is a much higher % shot than 23 or 24 ft 3 point shot

They arent going to give him 15 footers all night and that adjustment isnt hard, but if you have to guard lbj at the 3p line is a nightmare.