2012-2013 NBA Season

[thelakelander]

A couple of Spurs missed free throws and late threes by Lebron and Jesus Shuttlesworth. All with less than 30 seconds on the clock.

[KenFSU]

I hate Ray Allen.

That said, probably my favorite NBA Finals game since the Bulls/Suns triple overtime game in 1993.

Stray observations:

- Crazy how everything fell almost perfectly into place for Miami. Parker, Ginobili, and especially Leonard all missed key free throws that would have cemented the game for San Antonio. Ginobili capped off an awful game with a couple of terrible turnovers. Pop choosing not to foul at the end of the game. And a huge no-call against Ginobili at the end. If even one of those things would have played out differently, the Spurs would be champs right now.

- Anyone else notice that, for whatever reason, Lebron just doesn't get the respect from the referees that other great players have historically gotten? Rarely do you see the guy get the superstar foul calls like a Jordan or a Kobe. Certainly doesn't help that the Heat have a tendency to complain about every no-call, often at the expense of getting back down the court, but you'd expect him to get a few more whistles down the stretch.

- Speaking of Lebron, I find it strange how much credit he's getting for the win. Though he put up pretty big numbers, played great D on Tony Parker, and had that big scoring streak in the 4th, he also had about four turnovers and several key missed shots at the end of the 4th quarter. Meanwhile, Chris Bosh isn't getting nearly enough credit for laying the hammer down on defense there at the end and coming up with two massive, game-saving blocks.

- Really dislike the 2-3-2 Finals format.

- Miami had a really awesome crowd tonight. Loved the fans literally praying during some of the final free throws.

- I'm going Spurs in 7, for the following reasons:

1) I think last night's game took everything out of Miami. I don't know how they bounce back from a game like that, especially with Dwayne Wade so hobbled and Lebron James looking legitimately tired for the first time in his career. The Spurs have been there so many times though, I think they'll be ready to go for the kill on Thursday.

2) Spurs win game 1, Heat win game 2, Spurs game 3, Heat game 4, Spurs game 5, Heat game 6. It's the Spurs turn to win.

3) San Antonio hasn't lost two games in a row in six months.

4) This core Spurs squad is now 14-3 in closeout games on the road.

Gonna be epic either way though.

[thelakelander]

 

And a huge no-call against Ginobili at the end.

Should have been a travel.  He took at least three steps running to the basket.  Looked like he was playing rugby instead of basketball.

I'll take Miami (obviously ) for the following reasons:

1. Miami's at home. Role players like Chalmers, Battier, and Miller will hit their shots.

2. Spurs wasted Tim Duncan's fountain of youth performance.

3. Spurs' stars have older legs, which were ran to death last night.

4. Crushing Spurs loss will be tough for them to overcome mentally (that's about as close to winning a championship as you can get)

5. Miami's players have a significant advantage in game 7 appearances. Allen, alone has played in 10.

6. Much easier to win a game 6 on the road than a game 7. Spurs just blew their chance.

7. Spurs younger guys will shrink under pressure....like Green did from the 3-point line and Leonard did with his free throws.

8. Oh, Miami has the best player on the court.

As for Allen.....he earned his entire year's paycheck with that shot last night.

[thelakelander]

Why do you hate Ray Allen? I actually did some reading on him last night after he made that big shot. Seems like a pretty interesting guy. Military family, unbelievable practice & work ethic, a little OCD maybe. Doesn't drink, (thats weird to me) seems to take his job very seriously.

KenFSU is a Celtics fan.

[thelakelander]

[KenFSU]

Why do you hate Ray Allen? I actually did some reading on him last night after he made that big shot. Seems like a pretty interesting guy. Military family, unbelievable practice & work ethic, a little OCD maybe. Doesn't drink, (thats weird to me) seems to take his job very seriously.

Also thought it interesting that the commentators kept complaining about Wade flopping. I thought I saw pretty clearly Parker flop twice in the 4th qtr on elbows that didn't seem to even come near hitting him and he flops back holding his mouth like he got hit.

Like Ennis mentioned, I'm a lifelong Celtics fan, and am experiencing a bit of the sour grapes over him leaving Boston to play for the Celtics' biggest rival in the last few years. When I say I hate him, what I really mean deep down is that I hate how good he is playing for another team

And, yes, make no mistake about, if Miami are the kings of flopping, the Spurs are the evil emperor. Nobody can top them. Manu Ginobili may have single-handedly started this whole flopping era himself. Was cracking up last night when Lebron checked Tony Parker in the waste, Parker flops backwards, snaps his head back like he got hit in the head, and starts holding his mouth. Tim Duncan comes over and comforts him, they make sure its not bleeding, etc.

All interesting, valid points Ennis, but I think Pop is going to have a winning game plan, and at this point it kind of feels like nearly 100% of the pressure is on Miami. The Spurs have little to lose, and you can already feel people getting ready to judge Miami's entire legacy based on Game 7.

[thelakelander]

^Great!  Miami plays better with their backs against the wall.  Look for one last big game from Wade and a couple of 3-point shooters to carry Lebron to his second championship on Thursday.

[tufsu1]

And a huge no-call against Ginobili at the end.

Should have been a travel.  He took at least three steps running to the basket.  Looked like he was playing rugby instead of basketball.

come on....you know the NBA allows more steps than that

[thelakelander]

Wrong sport. The guy ran to the basket like he was carrying a football and then has the audacity to cry about a no foul call. Boohoo. If he wouldn't have soured the Spurs chances with his putrid play last night, they'd be celebrating a championship today.

[Keith-N-Jax]

I'm pulling for the HEAT. I hope they blow them out. I cant take another game like that with-out being on medication.

[tufsu1]

Wrong sport.

you're right...the NBA isn't basketball

[KenFSU]

What, for the life of me, I haven't been able to wrap my head around today:

Why did Pop go with his second unit for so long in the 4th quarter when the Heat were making that massive run?

[KenFSU]

- Cannot WAIT for the game tonight. 9:00 PM cannot get here soon enough.

- Supremely disappointed in Doc Rivers. As much as I disliked Ray Allen leaving for Miami, I at least understand it. The Celtics had used him as trade bait on at least two occasions, and he had the chance to win another title late in his career. Doc has no such excuse. Just a massive slap in the face to the city of Boston to not only try to orchestrate a way out of his three-year commitment to the team, but to also to potentially take KG with him and block trade terms that would be favorable to Boston.

- Phil Jackson is now acting as a "non-official consultant" for the Lakers. That certainly is interesting...

[thelakelander]

I'm not surprised.  The NBA is simply a job for these guys.  Sort of like quitting McDonalds for a higher salary at Burger King.

As for tonight's game, I find it interesting that the Spurs had to have a team dinner to help them get over the loss the other night.  Dinner isn't going to help.  However, knocking down free throws will.  Maybe they should have spent some extra time at the charity stripe.

[funwithteeth]

Supremely disappointed in Doc Rivers. As much as I disliked Ray Allen leaving for Miami, I at least understand it. The Celtics had used him as trade bait on at least two occasions, and he had the chance to win another title late in his career. Doc has no such excuse. Just a massive slap in the face to the city of Boston to not only try to orchestrate a way out of his three-year commitment to the team, but to also to potentially take KG with him and block trade terms that would be favorable to Boston.

And having to take DeAndre Jordan in return. Hasn't Boston gone through enough this year?