Official 2012-2013 NBA Playoffs Thread

[DesiPower]

Where is the Birdman ? Miami getting mauled inside.

My thoughts exactly, they do well when he's on the floor, he had a big hand in the 3rd game but did not get enough minutes in 4th... coach sucks...

 

[Atomic Playboy]

The 6th foul on James was non-existent... What a ridiculous call.

But I'm happy the Pacers won. I want a long series, if nothing else. And, hey, Spurs / Pacers Final? Two of the nicest teams in the league. It's hard to find anything bad to say about either one of them. I don't think it's going to happen, but it would be nice.

 

[Miramonti]

is that reggie miller who is commentating? if so, his bias is so f'in blatant lol

He's a pacer lifer and you're definitely hearing a bias, but I think he tries to be honest calling both sides. If you want to hear a migraine inducing pacer bias, listen to their radio crew, lol. Miller's got a lot of respect for james and the heat, and I think that comes across too.

 

[dougp]

The 6th foul on James was non-existent... What a ridiculous call.

But I'm happy the Pacers won. I want a long series, if nothing else. And, hey, Spurs / Pacers Final? Two of the nicest teams in the league. It's hard to find anything bad to say about either one of them. I don't think it's going to happen, but it would be nice.

We can point at a lot of existing non-calls that were ridiculously missed.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

We can point at a lot of existing non-calls that were ridiculously missed.

Probably. I didn't get to see the whole game, just the last 6 minutes or so. Which was a very action-packed 6 minutes, I must say. I still don't like that call against James, or, for that matter, the bogus travel call on Wade on the next possession. But, whatever, Pacers win, so I guess I can't look a gift horse in the mouth, right?

Honestly, there's a part of me that hopes LeBron James reels off 8 or 9 championships in a row just to shut up all the critics who constantly belittle his basketball acumen. But that's just me being petty. I think the Heat are going to win it all again this year, but I wouldn't be unhappy with any of the teams left getting a win. I think I might pull for the Spurs just because it would be great for Timmy to solidify his position as the greatest player of his generation and Popovich as the greatest coach of his generation, not to mention bolster Manu's and Parker's resumes (it's a crime how overlooked Parker is).

 

[bigpimpatl]

Honestly, there's a part of me that hopes LeBron James reels off 8 or 9 championships in a row just to shut up all the critics who constantly belittle his basketball acumen.

Who is questioning his basketball skill? he's the best player on the planet.

That said, I hate him and will never respect him for teaming up with 2 other HOFers. I'm also sick of the refs constantly giving him carte blanche to do whatever he wants.

 

[Arkaign]

My thoughts exactly, they do well when he's on the floor, he had a big hand in the 3rd game but did not get enough minutes in 4th... coach sucks...

AGREE!

The Heat coach effing sucks is what.

I watched the Miami v. Dallas series a couple years back now, and Dallas won just by harder play and better coaching. Miami had all the talent advantage in the world, but I think it's somewhat squandered under that coach. With the guys they have, probably any average NCAA coach could do as well if not better. Imagine what a real coach like Riley or Jackson could do with them.

 

[manly]

Personally I'm not a big fan of smallball. The Heat got away with it last season because Perk is almost useless, but it's a huge problem against Roy Hibbert. While I can understand Spo sticking with Allen or Battier if they're playing well, that hasn't really been the case this series (Allen was passable last night).

Unfortunately now they don't have much choice but to dance with the girl they came with. It's way too late to play Joel Anthony 15 minutes a game just for defense; and if they go with Birdman as I'd prefer they do, the floor spacing and shooting they rely upon contracts. And Bosh despite his best efforts is too spindly to contain Hibbert.

AGREE!

The Heat coach effing sucks is what.

I watched the Miami v. Dallas series a couple years back now, and Dallas won just by harder play and better coaching. Miami had all the talent advantage in the world, but I think it's somewhat squandered under that coach. With the guys they have, probably any average NCAA coach could do as well if not better. Imagine what a real coach like Riley or Jackson could do with them.

Rick Carlisle is a great coach, but you're really going too far here. PJ got swept by the same Mavs 2 years ago as the defending champs. The Heat were quickly assembled and at that time hadn't yet decided "whose team" it was; now they definitely know.

I wouldn't call it being outcoached when your superstar 2-time MVP curls into a fetal position in the most critical Finals games.

As for Reggie Miller, even if he's biased, he hasn't yet found an excuse not to praise LeBron. Miller's clearly got a crush on the king.

 

[007ELmO]

There's a reason Mike Brown won coach of the year when LBJ was in Cleveland.

 

[actuarial]

Who is questioning his basketball skill? he's the best player on the planet.

That said, I hate him and will never respect him for teaming up with 2 other HOFers. I'm also sick of the refs constantly giving him carte blanche to do whatever he wants.

Sounds like you would have been making a case that he couldn't win without superstar teammates. It's one (legitimate) thing to hate 'The Decision', but his teammates are no better than what most other superstars played with and he was a free agent. Isn't signing where you have the best opportunity to win what a player is supposed to do?

And Bosh is not going to the HOF.

 

[dbk]

Why doesn't Spo play Joel Anthony more? Hibbert is being allowed to do whatever he wants.. at least Anthony is a big body that can box out and grab rebounds!! They lost the rebounding edge by almost 20!? Smallball can work in certain situations but not when David West AND Hibbert are both out there.. makes no sense. West and Hibbert can run up and down the court - they're not that slow.

It was hilarious watching Battier trying to guard Hibbert in the post - just gets bodied around.. and even when Hibbert missed the shot David West grab the O-reb and Battier ends up fouling him! Lebron ran the point a lot last night - Cole hurt? I would call for a pick and roll with whoever Hibbert is guarding every time and get that big body out of the paint.

 

[007ELmO]

It was hilarious watching Battier trying to guard Hibbert in the post - just gets bodies around.. and even when Hibbert missed the shot David West grab the O-reb and Battier ends up fouling him! Lebron ran the point a lot last night - Cole hurt? I would call for a pick and roll with whoever Hibbert is guarding every time and get that big body out of the paint.

I noticed that Battier play also, for some reason I find Battier extremely annoying.

 

[dougp]

I noticed that Battier play also, for some reason I find Battier extremely annoying.

I used to have quite a bit of respect for Battier when he was with the Rockets & Grizzlies but it just seems like he's become a dirty defender - I'm not sure if this is because of his old age and he's slowed down, or that he's just not as crafty as he used to be. It's also funny watching Ray Allen try and play defense ...

 

[Vdubchaos]

I used to have quite a bit of respect for Battier when he was with the Rockets & Grizzlies but it just seems like he's become a dirty defender - I'm not sure if this is because of his old age and he's slowed down, or that he's just not as crafty as he used to be. It's also funny watching Ray Allen try and play defense ...

Agreed

Although I find entire Miami team annoying.....but that's just me

 

[dbk]

I used to have quite a bit of respect for Battier when he was with the Rockets & Grizzlies but it just seems like he's become a dirty defender - I'm not sure if this is because of his old age and he's slowed down, or that he's just not as crafty as he used to be. It's also funny watching Ray Allen try and play defense ...

Yeah, I've been saying for a while now. He's getting to that bruce bowen dirty level but at least bowen actually played defense. Battier just tries to hack people (aftet the whistle). He just turns the game hostile, it goes beyond "playoff intensity". Similar to how Ron Artest and Matt Barnes used to be..

 

[vi edit]

I think Battier's entire purpose at this point is to be an irritant to the other team. He's *just* sneaky enough to get away with elbows, hooks, and grabs on screens and appears to be working on a "Best Supporting Actor" award selling flops and falls. He's smart enough to get the other team worked up and not respond back getting the other guy T'd up while he walks away.

I don't think Spo want's to play Anthony much because he's a massive liability on offense and completely kills the flow of things for them. If Wade/Lebron/everyone else are struggling he's not getting any offensive spark there. Anderson is a much better option coming from the weak side for blocks and has a lot more energy on the offense end for hand off dunks and putbacks.

 

[lupi]

Who is questioning his basketball skill? he's the best player on the planet.

That said, I hate him and will never respect him for teaming up with 2 other HOFers. I'm also sick of the refs constantly giving him carte blanche to do whatever he wants.

Then you must really hate jordan, bird, magic, russell...

 

[dbk]

I think Battier's entire purpose at this point is to be an irritant to the other team. He's *just* sneaky enough to get away with elbows, hooks, and grabs on screens and appears to be working on a "Best Supporting Actor" award selling flops and falls. He's smart enough to get the other team worked up and not respond back getting the other guy T'd up while he walks away.

I don't think Spo want's to play Anthony much because he's a massive liability on offense and completely kills the flow of things for them. If Wade/Lebron/everyone else are struggling he's not getting any offensive spark there. Anderson is a much better option coming from the weak side for blocks and has a lot more energy on the offense end for hand off dunks and putbacks.

Yeah of course Birdman is better but sometimes hes too aggressive and picks up quick fouls like last night. So if Bosh and Birdman are in foul trouble, does Spo go with Anthony or a smallball lineup? Last night he picked the latter and got demolished in the paint. But the Heat still had a chance to win even with giving up all those points in the paint and getting outrebounded by almost 20. So in conclusion i guess it doesnt matter.. Lol

 

[darkewaffle]

I hate him and will never respect him for teaming up with 2 other HOFers.

I dunno, part of me has respect for a guy who gives winning a higher priority than his paycheck. I think pro leagues could benefit from more of that mentality; though it's less lucrative for them overall so it'll probably never be very common.

Also I like Hibbert. He's a big but doesn't seem to have that kind of sluggish/lankiness that I think a lot of other big men exhibit. It's fun to watch, at least for as long as his body holds up.

 

[jman19]

And series all tied up ya'll. shows how watered down the league is when Miami goes like 41-3 or something and lose 2 in this series so far

That's the biggest problem with the league IMO... not enough talent to fill the rosters - and the rosters are already small compared to other sports. The NBA really is a "player" driven league, not team driven. One of the reasons I find my interest in the NBA always ebbing and flowing...

 

[dougp]

 

[Vdubchaos]

And that's why Lebron would simply be an average player if he was to exist in the 80s/90s.....

For his size, he should be taking some BIG hits and not flop/act like a pussy.

If they called fouls for Jordan, the way they call them form Lebron, Jordan would've averaged 35-40ppg his entire career.....

 

[007ELmO]

Lebron is taking tips from Wade, bad influence...

 

[Vdubchaos]

Lebron is taking tips from Wade, bad influence...

If he follows wade on the wardrobe end he will complete his douchebag image....

 

[bigpimpatl]

Then you must really hate jordan, bird, magic, russell...

Did those guys ever team up with each other in Free Agency? Or colluded with each other years before to play for the same team?