2011/2012 NBA Thread: Where Weather Happens

[Darthphere]

Wade needs to wake up from all this sleepwalking he's doing. Do what got you here, attack the paint. WAAAAAAAAAY too many jumpshots for my liking. I don't know if he's afraid of getting injured but he's always been an attacking player. He needs to get out of this funk.

 

[Docker2.0]

"If the Spurs win game 2, we can start talking about how OKC needs another season to develop."

I wouldn't write the Heat off, even if OKC wins game 2. A playoff series never really starts until a team loses at home.

Thanks Matt for saying that for me. I don't know when it became cool for a team to get down 2-0 and then write them off all of a sudden but if OKC wins it's first two home games, then they did what they are suppose to do. I still feel Miami will steal one of these 1st two games but we'll see. I figured it would be tonight.

 

[craigdbfan]

Bosh is pretty useless most of the time as well. They're more like The Inconsistent 3.

 

[Darthphere]

Bosh is pretty useless most of the time as well. They're more like The Inconsistent 3.

Well Bosh has an excuse, he's playing hurt (not injured). Wade doesn't have that excuse...as far as we know.

 

[Doc Samson]

Typical Thunder, they played a horrible quarter, regrouped in the 2nd, then started rolling in the 3rd. I doubt Battier is going to have another game like this, so Wade needs to find out how to be effective. Very soon. Like 24 hours soon...

 

[Matt]

Wade needs to wake up from all this sleepwalking he's doing. Do what got you here, attack the paint. WAAAAAAAAAY too many jumpshots for my liking. I don't know if he's afraid of getting injured but he's always been an attacking player. He needs to get out of this funk.

I know people in Miami LOVE Wade, but I'm thinking that if anyone in Miami needs to go, it is Wade. This just isn't the same player that he once was and I think that LeBron is a big part of that. Wade doesn't need to be the man anymore. So he's not being it. The Heat desperately need a supporting cast, LeBron needs teammates more than a buddy and Wade needs a change of scenery so he can stop being so damn complacent.

Thanks Matt for saying that for me. I don't know when it became cool for a team to get down 2-0 and then write them off all of a sudden but if OKC wins it's first two home games, then they did what they are suppose to do. I still feel Miami will steal one of these 1st two games but we'll see. I figured it would be tonight.

I don't think that the Heat will take one in OKC, to be honest. I think that people just say that because it sounds like conventional baskletball wisdom to say that the Heat will steal one of the first two games in OKC (all the analysts are saying it, it must be true!). I think that the energy in OKC is just too high and the Thunder feed off of it. The Heat needs to take the crowd out of the game and demoralize the Thunder a bit. They'll have to do that on their own court, however. I think that the Heat will take game three as their first win. Games four and five will really determine the series, IMO. If the Heat can win games four and five, they head back to OKC with the momentum entirely in their favor and the Thunder's crowd and energy completely sapped away. That said, I'm not sure I can see the Heat sweeping in Miami.

 

[Matt]

Well Bosh has an excuse, he's playing hurt (not injured). Wade doesn't have that excuse...as far as we know.

No one is going to point the finger at LeBron, because he had a good game on paper, but he took a lot of shots he didn't have to. A lot of those fourth quarter misses should've never been shot but rather passed. I can't help but wonder if he is letting the media/scrutiny get to him and trying to prove once and for all that he is the one who can carry the team?

 

[Darthphere]

I know people in Miami LOVE Wade, but I'm thinking that if anyone in Miami needs to go, it is Wade. This just isn't the same player that he once was and I think that LeBron is a big part of that. Wade doesn't need to be the man anymore. So he's not being it. The Heat desperately need a supporting cast, LeBron needs teammates more than a buddy and Wade needs a change of scenery so he can stop being so damn complacent.

Then they just become the Cavs.

I think a true PG would help them a lot. Someone who controls the game and gets the ball out of Lebron's hand. Also, an actual offensive game play would help as well.

 

[Matt]

Then they just become the Cavs.

I think a true PG would help them a lot. Someone who controls the game and gets the ball out of Lebron's hand. Also, an actual offensive game play would help as well.

It depends on how they build. The Cavs problem wasn't the lack of another star. It was the lack of any kind of talent. Gilbert would only spend on either has beens or never was's. Take Wade out of the equation and the Heat still have an elite defensive player in Bosh and a good role player/sixth man in Chalmers (though I agree, he ought not be starting at PG and running the game). I suppose Steve Nash could fill the role...but come on, a 38 year old just stinks of being desperate (much like when Cleveland signed Shaq).

If I were Pat Riley, I would trade D-Wade for John Wall and a pick from the Wizards. I tend to think that Washington would go for it, just to get a marketable star like Wade. I know it sounds crazy as Wall has been something of a bust in Washington but I think that is more of a reflection of the system he has been working in not really fitting him and the lack of talent around him. Wall can manage a game and has talent. His career is not beyond saving. Plus he is much cheaper which will allow them to build up a bench. I would use the Wizards pick to draft Austin Rivers to fill the gap at shooting guard. Austin Rivers and John Wall, plus a **** load of cap space for Wade...may not be a terrible idea.

 

[SolarTiger]

Austin Rivers won't be much of an impact player.

 

[runawayboulder]

You don't know that. They said the same thing about Stephen Curry and he's doing fine.

 

[Darthphere]

Yeah, look at what they said about Rondo when they drafted him.

 

[Matt]

I think that getting rid of Wade and picking up John Wall and the number 3 draft pick (possibly in the form of Austin Rivers) would be a kick ass move for the Heat. Rivers may not be able to carry a team to a championship alone, but he wouldn't have to on a team with LeBron, Wall and Bosh. They would be unstoppable.

 

[Darthphere]

I think that getting rid of Wade and picking up John Wall and the number 3 draft pick (possibly in the form of Austin Rivers) would be a kick ass move for the Heat. Rivers may not be able to carry a team to a championship alone, but he wouldn't have to on a team with LeBron, Wall and Bosh. They would be unstoppable.

I think the Wizards would ask for a lot more than just Wade though.

I don't see Riley trading Wade honestly. He just needs to learn to play with Lebron and play his game. I mean if OKC has showed us anything is that two scorers can play together with great success.

 

[Matt]

I think the Wizards would ask for a lot more than just Wade though.

I don't see Riley trading Wade honestly. He just needs to learn to play with Lebron and play his game. I mean if OKC has showed us anything is that two scorers can play together with great success.

No, I don't think he would either. Just speculating. I think if the Heat offered Wade and their first and second pick for Wall and the Wizards first, they'd get it though. Wade is too marketable for the Wizards to turn down and that deal is just too damn good for them to say no to.

But yeah, I don't think that Riley would. I think if anyone is going should the Heat lose, it is Spoelstra....and I'm not even positive that Riley will fire him (only if Riley wants to take over, I think). The Big Three will have at least one more year together.

 

[Darthphere]

No, I don't think he would either. Just speculating. I think if the Heat offered Wade and their first and second pick for Wall and the Wizards first, they'd get it though. Wade is too marketable for the Wizards to turn down and that deal is just too damn good for them to say no to.

But yeah, I don't think that Riley would. I think if anyone is going should the Heat lose, it is Spoelstra....and I'm not even positive that Riley will fire him (only if Riley wants to take over, I think). The Big Three will have at least one more year together.

I don't have a lot of faith in Spo being given his marching orders. He's Riley's apprentice and firing him would be an admission of failure. I can see them making some changes on the coaching staff though. Maybe a semi-big name assistant. They need help on the offensive end and Spo is too defensive minded.

 

[Matt]

I agree. I think Spo making the finals, assured his safety for another year (unless Riley wants to come back). Though I do think that Riley may move his protege Alonzo Mourning out of the front office and into the coaching staff. This team desperately needs leadership. LeBron and Wade are both too temperamental and quick to point fingers (look at the way that bench erupts when things go wrong) to be leaders. Spoelstra is a total failure as a leader. Having a seasoned veteran like Alonzo Mourning, who has led teams through adversity on the bench as a coach may work wonders for this Heat team.

 

[Darthphere]

That might work. Something has to change though, even if the Heat somehow win the Finals. I actually think this team right now could play better, they just need better direction.

 

[Poeman]

I absolutely love watching the Thunder. They are my 2nd favorite team to watch after my Knicks.

Kevin Durant is my dude.

Heat's bench was great early on, but they fizzled out in the second half. I was ready to criticize Lebron for his play in the 4th, but he finally showed up with 6:53 mins remaining to get his first basket. He got smart and began to drive to the basket.

It was just too late by then. Durant and Westbrook went off in Super Saiyan mode.

 

[Raiden]

The problem is, they really can't afford to with all the money they have tied up in the big three. They need to trade either Bosh or Wade.

Yeah, Lakers have the same problem, that's why they will be aggressively trying to trade Gasol in this offseason.

 

[Poeman]

I just dont see them trading one of the three...They may send out Mario Chalmers before that happens

 

[runawayboulder]

I don't think Spo is safe at all. If the Heat lose, he's gone. Back to back Finals losses? Admitting failure would be the right thing to do.

Spo's faults have been exposed more this years playoffs than last year. I felt he was unfairly being blamed for a lot of things last year. He did screw up a few times, like letting it slip that his guys were crying after a loss.

 

[Matt]

That might work. Something has to change though, even if the Heat somehow win the Finals. I actually think this team right now could play better, they just need better direction.

I agree. They need someone who can really push them. Spoelstra isn't that man. How many times has this team lost just because they half ass it or get cocky? I feel like a real authoritarian coach would do wonders. Obviously, that is never going to be Spo. But putting Mourning on the bench and making it clear that he doesn't report to Spo but rather Pat Riley himself....he may be able to get some fire up their asses. Granted, it completely undermines Spo, but so does LeBron getting up in Spo's face or Wade shoving him out of the way. I'd love to see either try that **** with Alonzo Mourning.

 

[Poeman]

At the end of the last series...Lebron whispering to Doc..."I really respect you Doc, come coach me when you finished coaching the Celtic 3. I need you."

 

[Mister J]

Miami needs to be smarter in its offense. Too much settling from outside and no effort in running, after makes or not. Of course, bothering to play defense worth a damn would probably help out with that.

Nix this **** with Bosh coming off the bench. Also, and Zeus help me, Joel Anthony is going to need some PT. Joel can't do much, but he can disrupt the hell of a screening offense.

edit: If I thought about Doc Rivers coaching the Heat, I'd come close to wetting myself from excitement.