2011/2012 NBA Thread: Where Weather Happens

[Matt]

I can't see Bosh being 100 %. It would be very foolish of Spo to make him a huge part of the gameplan for game 5. He should use game 5 to test the waters, rather than have him dive back in.

 

[Darthphere]

LeBron on fouling out:

"I didn't foul out, I didn't get six, so whatever."

Think he'll get fined for that? My thoughts are this....Celtics had some bad calls go against them in game 2, Heat some bad calls go against them in game 4. Such is the game.

That said, I don't think LeBron TECHNICALLY had any bad calls against him. Every foul was a foul. All of the commentators (and even LeBron himself) who are calling foul (see what I did there?) about it, are so used to this idea of the stars getting preferential treatment that they've come to expect it and when it doesn't happen then something must be wrong. The star players don't foul out after all, especially on that kind of foul.

Personally, I think that the NBA needs to loosen their standards for EVERYONE. LeBron fouled out when feet got tangled up and fouls tend to favor offensive players in basketball. I think it was incidental and both sides were just as responsible. Call went against the defensive player. It is accurate...but I think the refs in the NBA need to let the game just be played. Not every tiny bit of contact needs to draw a whistle. I said it after game 2, I'll say it now...JUST LET THE GAME BE PLAYED. The NBA would be so much more enjoyable if the refs just let the game be played and did not give every bit of contact a whistle.

Indeed. I think the issue most people have is that the Pierce and Lebron 6th fouls were such ticky tack ********. It's OT in the playoffs, just let them play. Neither "foul" was affecting the game at that point. Off the ball stuff needs to be let go as long as it's not turning into some WWE ****.

 

[Poeman]

Doris Burke: What holes were you exploiting in the Heat defense?

Rondo: Them complaining and crying to the referees in transition.

That was hilarious...I am trying to envision how players can cry and complain at the same time on a transition play.

It would be comical

 

[Darthphere]

Easy because he's right. Too many times Lebron or Wade miss a shot and cry about a foul when all 5 C's are on the break and they're too slow to get back on defense. It's funny coming from the Celtics when they have Paul "I'm in a wheelchair" Pierce on their team and they're calling the Heat criers.

 

[Matt]

Indeed. I think the issue most people have is that the Pierce and Lebron 6th fouls were such ticky tack ********. It's OT in the playoffs, just let them play. Neither "foul" was affecting the game at that point. Off the ball stuff needs to be let go as long as it's not turning into some WWE ****.

I almost feel like the refs calling every little thing on LeBron was their way of addressing the very loud criticism that the stars get protected over everyone else.

 

[Raiden]

Easy because he's right. Too many times Lebron or Wade miss a shot and cry about a foul when all 5 C's are on the break and they're too slow to get back on defense. It's funny coming from the Celtics when they have Paul "I'm in a wheelchair" Pierce on their team and they're calling the Heat criers.

I really lost all respect for Pierce after that incident.

 

[Poeman]

Easy because he's right. Too many times Lebron or Wade miss a shot and cry about a foul when all 5 C's are on the break and they're too slow to get back on defense. It's funny coming from the Celtics when they have Paul "I'm in a wheelchair" Pierce on their team and they're calling the Heat criers.

I do see Lebron gets pretty demonstrative after a no call or a offensive foul. I wonder why he doesnt get any technicals like alot of guys do for much less...

 

[runawayboulder]

Darthphere made a great point. You have to be pretty bad if the Celts are calling you a baby.

 

[Doc Samson]

I almost feel like the refs calling every little thing on LeBron was their way of addressing the very loud criticism that the stars get protected over everyone else.

I still feel that the players aren't doing themselves any favors either. On that foul Lebron drew on Garnett, KG did in fact hook his arm, but then Lebron decided to just fall down, pull KG with him, and force the refs to make a call.

So on the flipside, when Lebron gets pulled down from Pietrus, he shouldn't get upset because it was the same trick he used. Once these guys decided that flopping and falling was their best way to draw attention to themselves for a foul, they should have anticipated it working both ways.

Word is that Bosh may play Game 5.

Bosh reminds me of Jameer Nelson in that Finals series against the Lakers. That situation was a little different, as the Magic did find a serviceable replacement in Rafer Alston that shouldn't have been taken out in favor of the returning Nelson. Obviously, the Heat have no substitute for Bosh, and his impact could make a difference.

Still, I think it's a huge gamble. The type of injury he has is notorious for re-aggravation, and unless they're positive he could be 90-95% (which they're not) then he should only be seen in limited minutes off the bench. A little Bosh here and there is better than re-injury and gone for the rest of the postseason.

 

[Matt]

Wow, that is a flop for the ages from Harper. He grabs his nose, falls to the ground,acts like it is broken, then the second that the whistle blows he jumps up as if nothing is wrong.

Anyway, the Thunder is giving this game away. They need to tighten things up and show some discipline.

 

[Duke]

Thank You James Harden for that 3pt dagger for the Spurs.

 

[Matt]

Harden just won the game and maybe the series for the Thunder. What a difference a week makes for the unbeatable Spurs, eh?

 

[Matt]

And what a difference ten seconds makes....holy shnikes. Insane.

 

[Matt]

These announcers are nuts? A quick 2? You go for the tie. This could be your last possession. Shot clock is dead. Go for the tie. When you're down be three with 15 seconds left, you don't play safe.

TERRIBLE shot from Ginobili.

 

[SpideyVille]

Harden just won the game and maybe the series for the Thunder. What a difference a week makes for the unbeatable Spurs, eh?

I'll say. They go from winning 20 straight to struggling to win one.

 

[Anubis]

Hell of a game.

 

[Doc Samson]

The Thunder just seem too fast and long. They gamble in the passing lanes a ton, and would probably get burned more if they weren't so quick, but the Spurs have turned the ball over more in these past 3 games then perhaps the previous two series combined.

 

[Poeman]

Harden just won the game and maybe the series for the Thunder. What a difference a week makes for the unbeatable Spurs, eh?

James Harden proves why Durant needs to be teamed up with Harden for the next decade...Not Westbrook.

Westbrook will command his own team down the road. Watch it happen.

Harden is the Pippen to Durant's Jordan
(just giving an example, not literal here)

 

[Ironhorse75]

Thunder almost gave that game away a few times. Some really bad mistakes were saved by James Harden.

I cannot believe how many possessions I see where nobody but Westbrook touches the ball. Especially in the final few minutes there, Westbrook dribble dribble clank. Meanwhile the 3 time scoring champ sits in the corner.

I read in an article that said everyone was trying to squeek in another championship before Durant's maturity and experience caught up with his talent. Scary how good he is.

 

[Raiden]

James Harden proves why Durant needs to be teamed up with Harden for the next decade...Not Westbrook.

Westbrook will command his own team down the road. Watch it happen.

Harden is the Pippen to Durant's Jordan
(just giving an example, not literal here)

I still don't think Westbrook and Durant should be on the same team. It just seems like Westbrook wants to be "the man" in OKC, while Durant is the player that deserves to be the face of the franchise.

 

[Ironhorse75]

I really lost all respect for Pierce after that incident.

I don't know who is worse, Pierce or KG. In Minnesota I loved KG. But as soon as he landed on Boston that ego shot up. The moment that sticks out the most is when he got behind Bayless and was barking like a dog on his hands and knees.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YysS4vCKis

 

[Matt]

The key to winning tonight for both teams is that they need to play four quarters of basketball. That may seem like a sports cliche, but neither team has done it since game one.

Spolestra's entire strategy seems to be to be to hold back and let the Celtics play high intensity basketball for the first three quarters, take a lead and then hope like hell that the old men are worn out by the fourth quarter so the Heat can dominate and come back. This strategy worked once (game 2) and failed twice (3 and 4).

The Heat need to adapt and play for a full four quarters. Conversely, Boston needs to quit playing into their hands. They need to make better use of their bench and switch out more in order to keep their high octane players form being completely fatigued by the end of the game.

 

[Matt]

Also, the NBA needs to ban multiple player press conferences.

 

[Darthphere]

See, what the Heat need to do is score more points than the Celtics. That is the key to the game.

 

[Daniel Thompson]

A friend last night at work made a good point in that the way the NBA was in the 90s playing wise will never be like that again. Never be a bad boyz Pistons team that plays that style defense. Too many players crying and complaining to the refs like Rondo said, they def be whinning when get slammed on their head all the time or clotheslined.