Official 2012-2013 NBA Playoffs Thread

[digiram]

It's funny, but what Pop said earlier in the season that he got fined for really hurt the Spurs. If the Spurs had home court, they win. That's why each game of the season should matter.

Anyhow, My thoughts on the series. It was great and really fun to watch. Clutch shot by Parker in game 1, clutch 3 by Ray Ray in game 6.

What's really funny is the head game the Spurs on put on Bron and Wade. They had them second guessing their skillz until the final game.

Spurs should've won game 6. Pop made some bone head moves. The squad he had in early in the 4th was horrible, and that should've changed asap. Sitting Duncan in critical defensive stops in the final seconds, wow. Didn't they watch the Pacer series?

I'm on the Lebron hate wagon to, but credit to Lebron for the effort in game 6 and hitting clutch shots in game 7.

I just don't like that he whines and cries each time he is the one over powering his way through defenders and nothing is called. Don't want contact, don't make contact. Initiate contact, live with results.

 

[Blackjack200]

Lebron has to become more fundamentally sound or he won't be in the league at 32.

ROFLMAO!!! In a thread full of stupid comments, this takes the cake!

See that shark over there? You just jumped it.

Is this the same thread where OFT was claiming he could get some buckets on the perimeter if he played for the Heat? That one was also golden.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

That's the end of SA big 3 IMO. Duncan and Ginobili should retire. They don't have another finals run in them. They can hang on and be shells of themselves or retire after what was a successful season.

pretty sure Duncan would have been finals MVP if the Spurs had won, and yet you think he should retire?

Nah, he should just try and orchestrate a trade so he can go play with LeBron, just a fraction of his output vs. what Bosh provided would have made 4-5 game series out of either this one or vs. the Pacers

 

[jhbball]

pretty sure Duncan would have been finals MVP if the Spurs had won, and yet you think he should retire?

Nah, he should just try and orchestrate a trade so he can go play with LeBron, just a fraction of his output vs. what Bosh provided would have made 4-5 game series out of either this one or vs. the Pacers

Duncan was solid through the entire series. Ginobli should probably call it quits though.

 

[QueBert]

pretty sure Duncan would have been finals MVP if the Spurs had won, and yet you think he should retire?

Nah, he should just try and orchestrate a trade so he can go play with LeBron, just a fraction of his output vs. what Bosh provided would have made 4-5 game series out of either this one or vs. the Pacers

Even if they lost last night James should have been MVP. His triple doubles + overall crazy play imho would have been one of the rare instances where the loser was more deserving. I believe it has happened twice in the past? It's just rare as shit to see it.

 

[Blackjack200]

Even if they lost last night James should have been MVP.

My God, could you imagine the howling?

 

[darkewaffle]

Duncan is reported as saying "Not right now" regarding his retirement plans.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Duncan was solid through the entire series. Ginobli should probably call it quits though.

While its easy to say he should retire in reaction to his many blunders, I think he can still contribute, he would just need to be willing to accept a pretty hefty demotion. Valuable roll players shouldn't be underrated, they're what pushed the Heat over the top for these past two championships, and its something I think Ginobli could still come in and contribute with, rather than traditions expectations for him to put out superstar performances.

 

[lupi]

Duncan will stay as long as the spurs keep him under contract, he's got a divorce to pay for.

 

[JTsyo]

That's how I've always felt about it. People absolutely HATE Lebron for leaving a shitty Cleveland team, and they act as if he opted out of his contract after 1 season there. But he wasted 7 years in Cleveland giving them everything and even somehow someway carried the entire team to a finals appearance. Dan Gilbert is a real shitty owner, too.

So I don't understand all the visceral Lebron hate. Why is he such a polarizing figure when he hasn't done anything horribly wrong? Not like he's Michael Vick anyways (whom by the way, people seemed to forgive pretty fast). Not to mention all the other NBA and NFL players with assault charges and worse, as pointed out earlier in the thread.

Plus, he's just great to watch - I've always been a Lebron fan. He was given unreal expectations coming out of high school and he exceeded them. All the butthurt Cleveland fans and people who seemingly hate him for no reason just made me become a bigger fan of his over time.

I agree. Cleveland took way more than they gave. 7 Years is a long time to get a good team together. Lebron owned them nothing.

 

[jhbball]

While its easy to say he should retire in reaction to his many blunders, I think he can still contribute, he would just need to be willing to accept a pretty hefty demotion. Valuable roll players shouldn't be underrated, they're what pushed the Heat over the top for these past two championships, and its something I think Ginobli could still come in and contribute with, rather than traditions expectations for him to put out superstar performances.

Yeah, good point. He could contribute off the bench still. I couldn't believe Pop left him all of game 6, after committing 8/9 terrible turnovers.

 

[preslove]

Ginobli was used too much last night and game 6. He didn't start turning the ball over last night until the 2nd half. He still has some years in him as a supporting player.

Oil Field Trash was just being an idiot when he talked about Duncan retiring. I'm pretty sure the Heat would gladly trade him for Bosh in a 1 to 1 trade...

 

[Blackjack200]

I'm pretty sure the Heat would gladly trade Christian Laettner for Bosh in a 1 to 1 trade...

Fixed.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Yes Duncan or even Ginobili could contribute to a team next year. I'd rather see them retire while there is still a little tread on the tires. Duncan could probably play till he's 40 and still be effective. It's just sad to see when guys hang around too long. They've made plenty of money. Go enjoy life.

 

[preslove]

Fixed.

Well, that would be great salary dump, lol.

If the heat were really keen on getting rid of Bosh, their name would come up in all the Dwight Howard discussions...

 

[preslove]

Yes Duncan or even Ginobili could contribute to a team next year. I'd rather see them retire while there is still a little tread on the tires. Duncan could probably play till he's 40 and still be effective. It's just sad to see when guys hang around too long. They've made plenty of money. Go enjoy life.

This is basketball, not football. There's nothing preventing pro basketball players from 'enjoying life' while getting payed millions of dollars to play a game that doesn't cause terrible pain or permanent damage. If you enjoy competition and it's been your passion for most of your life, why give it up before you have too? He'll have a lot of time to pursue other things, but he'll never have the opportunity to play pro ball after the next couple years.

No one gives a fuck about what you'd rather see.

 

[preslove]

This is interesting... http://tracking.si.com/2013/06/21/greg-oden-heat-appear-to-have-mutual-interest/

Coming off back-to-back titles, the Miami Heat are already trying to upgrade the roster for next season.

Free-agent center Greg Oden is interested in signing with the Heat this summer and the feeling is mutual, reports FOX Sports Florida.

Oden’s agent Mike Conley said that Oden expects to talk with Heat president Pat Riley when free agency begins July 1. Oden hasn’t played in the NBA since December 2009 due to knee problems, after being drafted No. 1 overall in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers.

“The Heat need some size, that’s not a secret,” Conley said. “Whether it’s in a backup role or whatever, he could help them. I know they’re interested in him and he’s interested in them. ”The Miami Heat make sense.”

PHOTOS: NBA’s No. 1 draft picks in lottery era

Miami will have a taxpayer mid-level exception starting at $3.183 million to pay a free agent this summer.

 

[juiio]

If the heat were really keen on getting rid of Bosh, their name would come up in all the Dwight Howard discussions...

Howard would be a poor fit with the Heat, as he'd make the defense clog the middle. They need good outside shooters.

 

[Red Storm]

Howard would be a poor fit with the Heat, as he'd make the defense clog the middle. They need good outside shooters.

Howard would be an amazing fit with the Heat. He would plug their one glaring weakness (size) and even coming off back injury he was still a force on the boards and on D.

However, there's no way that he ends up on Miami this year unless some ridiculous trades happen. It would take A LOT more than Bosh to land Howard.

 

[Blackjack200]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU6UWAO54h4

 

[manly]

How is Greg Oden an upgrade unless you're talking about the 2007 NCAA championship game?

Howard would be an amazing fit with the Heat. He would plug their one glaring weakness (size) and even coming off back injury he was still a force on the boards and on D.

However, there's no way that he ends up on Miami this year unless some ridiculous trades happen. It would take A LOT more than Bosh to land Howard.

It really depends on the Lakers mentality if DH decides to go elsewhere. I suspect the Lakers want to avoid the repeater clauses in the luxury tax, but they'll definitely listen to strong offers.

So far, it's been suggested that the Clippers would offer Blake Griffin and I believe Eric Bledsoe. I don't think the Lakers can get any more than that. Atlanta would part with Al Horford if the Lakers are willing to take a good PF on a palatable contract. You could argue that Horford and Bosh are somewhat comparable value players in a trade scenario but Bosh's contract is much, much worse. So in this case, it isn't about the Lakers wanting more than a CB from Miami, but that the Heat would have to absorb some crap in return such as Metta World Peace's expiring contract.

But I think you're mostly correct, if I'm the Lakers, I'll save the cap space for next summer while beginning the rebuilding process if DH doesn't sign an extension. Any sign & trade that the Lakers executed would severely impact their luxury tax bill.

 

[Ban Bot]

Howard would be an amazing fit with the Heat. He would plug their one glaring weakness (size) and even coming off back injury he was still a force on the boards and on D.

I agree.

The Heat would then have 2 of the top 5 defenders (probably 1a and 1b in Howard and Lebron imo). Howard would limit the opposing big (4/5) and Lebron the next best after that (1-4). It would make Lebron that much better on D knowing he had Howard behind him and vice versa. Teams would be forced to live from the outside (low percentage shots) and the Heat could play such aggressively, just daring them to try to pound it inside. I don't think these two would ever pair up, even with Howard being on the market and James possibly next year, but if they did, regardless if it was the Heat, Lakers, or elsewhere, the defensive combo would be absurd.

As you noted, Howard would improve rebounding. The Heat are not a great rebounding team (although, again, Lebron is) so this would give them more possessions. The improved rebounding and defense would play well into the transition game where Lebron and Wade are strong.

The negatives are not so great though.

Free Throws. If people think Lebron is weak at the line then they have not met Shack Jr.

Offense. Howard is althetic and extremple explosive. But he doesn't really have a post game. On the one hand I could agree that it may clog the lane as opposing bigs may not follow Howard if he floats out. BUT while in theory Bosh does this we have seen him both abused defensively by opposing bigs AND not shoot well from the outside the last couple series. When Bosh isn't shooting well (which has been too often in the playoffs) the lane is still clogged.

I think with Howard you at least get a threat in the paint the opposing team MUST defend. Lebron, and when healthy Wade, are effective when slashing into the paint. With Howard the opposing team will have to choose helping or staying with Howard. Likewise the defense couldn't just sag and dare James to drive (like SA did) as Howard would already be drawing attention down low. If the opposing bigs covering the paint are watching and reacting to James I think Howard would eat them alive considering how well James passes.

Maybe not ideal--but neither is the status quo. Howard is a better defender and rebounder and offensively will require more attention than Bosh. The upside of Bosh, pulling the opposing bigs out of the paint, only works if Bosh shows up and plays well. As much as I like Bosh and he deserves praise for doing a LOT of little things and putting out a lot of effort when it comes to playoff calibur competition he has not been effective enough.

The Heat are far better off with Bosh than without (see Pacers last year) but a true big would be better for Miami in the long run.

But alas I don't think anyone would take Bosh & his contract. And I don't think the Heat can get a quality big. Which I think will be problematic as the Pacers continue to improve and the Bulls+Rose both have the potential to down the Heat.

James is great but Wade is broke and Bosh has been ineffective far too often. It was a good run (3 final appearances, 2 rings) but they need to retool IMO or it is all over.

 

[bigpimpatl]

Take off the tinfoil hat, doofus. You're embarrassing yourself.

lol okay

the team that again won 60+ games, with a better roster than the year before, versus a celtics team with KG still coming back from ACL injury and i'm a tinfoil? The cavs were the favorite to win that series. But please, finger yourself.

 

[QueBert]

Dougp must have went on vacation because he's not around, hummm...

 

[HendrixFan]

lol okay

the team that again won 60+ games, with a better roster than the year before, versus a celtics team with KG still coming back from ACL injury and i'm a tinfoil? The cavs were the favorite to win that series. But please, finger yourself.

What was the difference between the Cavs that year during their 13 game winning streak and in the playoffs?