HUGE NBA fan.
My favorite pro sport by a mile.
Any other fans around these parts?
What do you guys make of the EPIC Stan Van Gundy press conference this morning:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NocsnNyNdCY
I feel bad for the guy.
Great coach, got the shaft in Miami, and now he's going to probably end up getting the shaft again in Orlando too, despite how well the team has played in the face of Dwight Howard's absolutely ridiculous antics this season.
Absolutely love his attitude in this press conference though.
"What time is it? 12:02? Fire me now, and by 12:05, I'll be happy at home looking for something else to do."
Also, how incredible were the OKC/Miami and Lakers/Clippers games last night?
Huge Mavs fan here. WORLD CHAMPS!! Van Gundy is spot on. Only thing he can control is getting prepared for games. He can't worry about all the other BS. Howard is one of the top athletes in the league and players should be flocking to Orlando, but they aren't. They question is why. Is it Howard, Van Gundy, the management, or the city of Orlando?
I can't stand BB. It's the one sport I couldn't figure out as a kid. Sure, I could shoot - average, but that was about it.
No height + no dribbling skills + no offensive / defensive concept + average shooting skill = I sucked.
I digress. Over the years of listening to Rome, SVG has had some memorable sound bites.
I hear a rumor that the NBA is going to relax its rules about the number of white guys that can be on the court at the same time. Any truth to it?
Quote from: WmNussbaum on April 05, 2012, 02:04:56 PM
I hear a rumor that the NBA is going to relax its rules about the number of white guys that can be on the court at the same time. Any truth to it?
Sure. When more white guys are better athletes. ::)
Quote from: WmNussbaum on April 05, 2012, 02:04:56 PM
I hear a rumor that the NBA is going to relax its rules about the number of white guys that can be on the court at the same time. Any truth to it?
They're all at the Masters :)
Lol at the Stan Van Jeremy/Howard stuff. Orlando is a joke. They should have traded Howard and ended this circus months ago. The games last night were great, although just about every put back Griffin does would be considered fouls for most players.
Becoming a Heat fan, great game last night vs Thunder.
I hate to say it Lake, but I'd have a hard time putting Miami higher than the 3rd best team in the east right now.
Boston is just on FIRE lately.
That's cool. People thought Dallas was going to get put out in the first round heading into the playoffs last year. No worry from me. I'm ready for the playoffs to start.
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on April 05, 2012, 02:02:54 PM
I can't stand BB. It's the one sport I couldn't figure out as a kid. Sure, I could shoot - average, but that was about it.
No height + no dribbling skills + no offensive / defensive concept + average shooting skill = I sucked.
I digress. Over the years of listening to Rome, SVG has had some memorable sound bites.
I love BB... just cant stand whatever it is they play in the NBA... :o ::) Pro NBA basketball... to me at least... is akin to pro wrestling. They call it wrestling... it just isnt. :)
The NBA is still playing?
Dont think the Heat will make it out of the first round.
With the Heat closing out the season 13-10 since the All Star break, and losing 8 of their last 9 on the road against winning teams, I sincerely do not see the argument for Lebron James over Kevin Durant as MVP. Durant's line might not be quite as strong, but OKC has become the best team in the league on Durant's back, and Durant is raising the level of play of those around him in ways we haven't seen Steve Nash's first MVP season. The Westbrook situation was on the verge of exploding last season, and Durant has almost signal handedly brought that team together by swallowing his ego and regularly stepping back and letting Westbrook get going. And when James Harden starts playing like a legit All Star, you know you're doing something right. The stats don't tell the whole story, and at the end of the day, who do you want with the ball in their hands with 2 minutes left to play, Durant or Lebron?
Question for you Ennis:
As a Heat fan, are you concerned with Lebron's well documented problems at the end of games?
Or do you think he'll be able to recapture some of that late game magic that he seems to have left behind in his next to last year in Cleveland?
Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on April 13, 2012, 01:09:05 PM
Dont think the Heat will make it out of the first round.
I'm willing to use your funds as an economic stimulus for my bank account. Care to put up some cash on this prediction?
Quote from: KenFSU on April 13, 2012, 03:55:11 PM
Question for you Ennis:
As a Heat fan, are you concerned with Lebron's well documented problems at the end of games?
Or do you think he'll be able to recapture some of that late game magic that he seems to have left behind in his next to last year in Cleveland?
No, Lebron and Wade are the least of my concerns as a Heat fan. I've watched all of the games this year and Lebron has performed pretty well closing out games this year. I have no idea what happened in Dallas during the Finals.
I'm more concerned about the coaching staff's refusal to play James Jones. The Heat's problem since the all-star break, the bench can't hit the side of a barn on all the open shots they get. Jones is the only guy who has always been money with his shot but he gets no PT.
As for the playoffs, I'm not concerned. Typically, your rotations go down to 8 or 9 players so the bench play will become less a concern. In addition, if match ups stay the same, Chicago will have have to go through the Knicks and Celtics to get to the ECF. That leaves Philly and Indiana for the Heat. I like that scenario.
If I'm the Heat, I'd use these next two weeks to rest the big 3 and get the bench into some type of groove.
http://www.youtube.com/v/wp6b27JwLek?version=3&feature=player_detailpage"%20type="application/x-shockwave-flash"%20allowfullscreen="true"%20allowScriptAccess="always"%20width="640"%20height="360"></object>
QuoteMagic center Dwight Howard has called team owner Rich DeVos to tell him that he won't play for coach Stan Van Gundy anymore, WKMG in Orlando is reporting.
Howard missed his sixth straight game with a back injury Wednesday against the Celtics, and Van Gundy has already said that he is preparing for his big man to miss the rest of the season and the playoffs.
Howard is still upset that Van Gundy publicly said this month that Howard asked management to have him fired, sources told WKMG. According to the report, the 86-year-old DeVos took Howard's call in his suite at the Amway Center sometime during Friday's game against the Hawks.
Uncertainty has dogged the Magic for quite some time. Howard asked management for a trade in the preseason, but after months of speculation he signed a waiver of the opt-out clause in his contract, meaning that he would remain under contract to Orlando at least through next season.
Amazing how, just three years ago, Lebron James was the most popular player in the League in Cleveland, with likeable Dwight Howard not far behind, especially after his Superman dunk.
Now, I'm genuinely not sure which one is more hated.
If I'm Orlando, I find a way to move Dwight Howard as quickly as possible during the offseason.
While masquerading as the hero -- an act fewer and fewer people are buying anymore -- he's just killing that franchise.
Even though Dwight only signed on for next year after Orlando threatened to trade him to the Lakers, if I can get Bynum (attitude problems and all) for Howard straight up, I do it in a heartbeat. In an absolute heartbeat.
Also, I'm
really hoping the mad scientist that Paul Pierce borrowed the time machine from lets him keep it through June :D
Quote from: JeffreyS on April 13, 2012, 05:05:56 PM
http://www.youtube.com/v/wp6b27JwLek?version=3&feature=player_detailpage"%20type="application/x-shockwave-flash"%20allowfullscreen="true"%20allowScriptAccess="always"%20width="640"%20height="360"></object>
FUNNY!!!
Quote from: KenFSU on April 19, 2012, 01:43:24 PM
QuoteMagic center Dwight Howard has called team owner Rich DeVos to tell him that he won't play for coach Stan Van Gundy anymore, WKMG in Orlando is reporting.
Howard missed his sixth straight game with a back injury Wednesday against the Celtics, and Van Gundy has already said that he is preparing for his big man to miss the rest of the season and the playoffs.
Howard is still upset that Van Gundy publicly said this month that Howard asked management to have him fired, sources told WKMG. According to the report, the 86-year-old DeVos took Howard's call in his suite at the Amway Center sometime during Friday's game against the Hawks.
Uncertainty has dogged the Magic for quite some time. Howard asked management for a trade in the preseason, but after months of speculation he signed a waiver of the opt-out clause in his contract, meaning that he would remain under contract to Orlando at least through next season.
Amazing how, just three years ago, Lebron James was the most popular player in the League in Cleveland, with likeable Dwight Howard not far behind, especially after his Superman dunk.
Now, I'm genuinely not sure which one is more hated.
If I'm Orlando, I find a way to move Dwight Howard as quickly as possible during the offseason.
While masquerading as the hero -- an act fewer and fewer people are buying anymore -- he's just killing that franchise.
Even though Dwight only signed on for next year after Orlando threatened to trade him to the Lakers, if I can get Bynum (attitude problems and all) for Howard straight up, I do it in a heartbeat. In an absolute heartbeat.
Also, I'm really hoping the mad scientist that Paul Pierce borrowed the time machine from lets him keep it through June :D
At least Lebron played his contract out. What Howard, Chris Paul, and Carmelo Anthony have done in the past year is ridiculous. Nevertheless, as a Heat fan, I say trade him to Miami for Chris Bosh. Orlando isn't going to get anything better in return.
Quote from: thelakelander on April 19, 2012, 03:40:34 PM
Quote from: KenFSU on April 19, 2012, 01:43:24 PM
QuoteMagic center Dwight Howard has called team owner Rich DeVos to tell him that he won't play for coach Stan Van Gundy anymore, WKMG in Orlando is reporting.
Howard missed his sixth straight game with a back injury Wednesday against the Celtics, and Van Gundy has already said that he is preparing for his big man to miss the rest of the season and the playoffs.
Howard is still upset that Van Gundy publicly said this month that Howard asked management to have him fired, sources told WKMG. According to the report, the 86-year-old DeVos took Howard's call in his suite at the Amway Center sometime during Friday's game against the Hawks.
Uncertainty has dogged the Magic for quite some time. Howard asked management for a trade in the preseason, but after months of speculation he signed a waiver of the opt-out clause in his contract, meaning that he would remain under contract to Orlando at least through next season.
Amazing how, just three years ago, Lebron James was the most popular player in the League in Cleveland, with likeable Dwight Howard not far behind, especially after his Superman dunk.
Now, I'm genuinely not sure which one is more hated.
If I'm Orlando, I find a way to move Dwight Howard as quickly as possible during the offseason.
While masquerading as the hero -- an act fewer and fewer people are buying anymore -- he's just killing that franchise.
Even though Dwight only signed on for next year after Orlando threatened to trade him to the Lakers, if I can get Bynum (attitude problems and all) for Howard straight up, I do it in a heartbeat. In an absolute heartbeat.
Also, I'm really hoping the mad scientist that Paul Pierce borrowed the time machine from lets him keep it through June :D
At least Lebron played his contract out. What Howard, Chris Paul, and Carmelo Anthony have done in the past year is ridiculous. Nevertheless, as a Heat fan, I say trade him to Miami for Chris Bosh. Orlando isn't going to get anything better in return.
Adding Dwight Howard to the Miami Heat would make them quite possiblly the most terrifying defensive team since that 96 season where Jordan, Pippin, and Dennis Rodman were all NBA first team defense.
Bosh and a couple of other pieces for Dwight seems like a no-brainer.
Rumor throughout the season though was that Chris Bosh was untouchable. Not because of his value to the Heat, but because Miami flagrantly broke contract tampering rules by secretly working out the whole Wade/Lebron/Bosh thing sometime during the previous year's playoffs (would certainly explain Lebron's astonishing nosedive during his last playoff series with the Cavs), and the Heat were afraid that it would get out if they traded Bosh against his will.
Pure rumor, but it is interesting that Miami -- despite their holes in the last two seasons -- hasn't even entertained the idea of shopping Bosh around :)
Chicago/Miami is going to be a lot of fun tonight!
Lol, fun for Miami. We're going to spank dat azz. Preseason is coming to an end. Time for D Rose and company to officially get ready bow down to daddy.
Quote from: thelakelander on April 19, 2012, 06:01:14 PM
Lol, fun for Miami. We're going to spank dat azz. Preseason is coming to an end. Time for D Rose and company to officially get ready bow down to daddy.
I'm worried about Derrick Rose.
He seems to be breaking down, physically and emotionally. He's losing his composure a lot lately, especially complaining about the referees and what he perceives as excessive hard fouling against him.
Assuming Rose, Deng, Bosh, and Wade all play tonight, it should be a pretty telling game going into the playoffs.
Rose has been acting pretty strange lately and he's definitely hurt. I don't think he's going to be healthy enough to play at a high level throughout the playoffs. I think he's out tonight. Right now, Wade and James are playing and Bosh is a game time decision.
Hope the Bulls dont make you eat those words Lake.
lol, it wouldn't be the first time.
As predicted....
(http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly6dmghrLi1qhi91no1_500.gif)
Enjoy the flight back to Chicago.... ;D
Always nice taking the Knicks to the woodshed. Too bad about Derrick Rose tearing his ACL today. Hopefully, when he comes back in a year, he can regain his explosiveness.
Yeah Chicago's done. Rose must be hatin life right now. Someone will knock the Heat out though. Go Mavs!!
REALLY sucks to see Rose go down.
No clue what he was still doing in the game with a minute to go and the Bulls up 16.
Let's not forget how well they've played without him this year though.
Miami looked scary good today, especially Lebron.
Flop of the century too :)
And man was that game winner by Durant awesome.
Cannot WAIT to see the Celtics take their first step toward that one last title tomorrow!
RIDICULOUS comeback by the Clippers last night. I've never seen anything like that.
Terrible loss for the Celtics, and I have a feeling Rondo's going to be suspended for Game 2 :(
And Heat/Knicks should be a lot of fun tonight. Jeremy Lin is already talking about trying to make it back for this series.
Yeah, last night's game was crazy. I missed it, even though I had it on in the background. The Clippers were down by something like 11 with a couple of minutes left and I assumed it was over. I didn't realize they actually came back and won until I saw them jumping up and down.
As for Jeremy Lin and the Knicks.....expect another beat down. It won't be +30 but it will end up +10. There's a reason the Knicks are now 0-4 against Miami this season. They simply don't match up well. They have some big names but Miami plays defense on another level. Bringing turnover prone Lin back will be like feeding chum to a shark.
QuoteLin failed to reach double figures for the first time since he entered the starting lineup, hitting just 1 of 11 shots from the field. He committed six of his eight turnovers in the first half and managed just three assists after leading New York to a 9-2 record and averaging 23.9 points during that stretch.
In the nationally televised contest that brought the Heat as many media requests as for last year’s NBA Finals, Lin struggled from the start. He didn’t have a single superb moment all night, ending more than two weeks of steady play and late-game brilliance.
“They did a great job of making me uncomfortable,†Lin said. “I can’t remember another game where it was just hard to take dribbles.â€
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/jeremy-lin-fails-to-lift-knicks-over-lebrons-miami-heat/2012/02/23/gIQA0W6uXR_story.html
Yeah, I remember that nationally televised Sunday afternoon Knicks/Heat game when Linsanity was at its peak. Miami just manhandled the guy. Throw in the fact that New York has pretty much abandoned the high screen/pick and roll since Lin went down, and also throw in the fact that those Lin turnovers are going to be a hell of a lot more costly in the slowed-down, half court playoff grind, and I think he may actually be more a liability in this series than an assett.
And I believe the Clippers came back from a grand total of 24 points down in the last 8 minutes.
My predictions from here on out:
East:
Miami over New York
Chicago over Philly
Boston over Atlanta
Indiana over Orlando (great win by the Magic though this weekend)
West:
Spurs over Utah
OKC over Dallas
Memphis over Clippers
Lakers over Nuggets
Semis:
Boston over Miami
Chicago over Indiana
Memphis over San Antonio
OKC over Lakers
Conference Finals:
Boston over Chicago
OKC over Memphis
Finals:
OKC over Boston
Despite last night's horrific loss for the Celtics, I still feel like they've got one more great run in them (wishful thinking, perhaps), plus -- for whatever reason -- Boston has had Miami's number this season.
Playoffs are a different animal. NY is learning the hard way that they should have tanked. Evan Turner wasn't as crazy as some made him to be last week when he said they tanked to avoid Miami in the first round. Some of those guys like Wade have coasted the entire season, just waiting for the real season to begin. Bosh will eat Garnett up just like he did last year. If Boston makes it past Atlanta, they'll lose in 5 or 6, just like last year.
Can we stick a fork in NY now? Another beat down, even with Melo going off for 30.
(https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRNhkHHW60EGY5i30p3HKtrfZqfaRlNkcQpNCevpwp8jcwbhiU4NQ)
Now Amare loses a fist fight to a fire extinguisher.
http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/7875526/2012-nba-playoffs-amare-stoudemire-new-york-knicks-injures-hand-loss
Where's my broom? Bring on Atlanta.
(http://h9.abload.de/img/untitled-1l7y7l.gif)
^ That is freakin HILARIOUS.
The Knicks are done.
At this point, I'm not even sure if the MSG crowd can get them a win in this series.
Sadly, I smell as a sweep.
-----
A little added context for the Rondo ref bump.
Apparently they've had trouble with this ref (Marc Davis) dating back to a Hawks game earlier in the season where (the Celtics feel) he almost single-handedly gave the game to Atlanta.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N806wOuatPY
----
I still think Dallas has a lot of life left in them.
They're done 0-2, but they held their own against OKC up until the very end in the first two games.
I think it's coming back to OKC tied 2-2.
lol that was funny, I still don't think the Heat will make it past the Celtics. I would like to see James win a ring though.
The Celtics aren't going to make it past Atlanta.
Quote from: KenFSU on May 01, 2012, 12:38:06 PM
I still think Dallas has a lot of life left in them.
They're done 0-2, but they held their own against OKC up until the very end in the first two games.
I think it's coming back to OKC tied 2-2.
Man sure hope they do. Like Dirk said, they're a couple bounces from being up 2-0. I hope my Mavs can pull out a couple wins but think OKC is gonna win it all this year.
Quote from: thelakelander on May 01, 2012, 07:20:49 PM
The Celtics aren't going to make it past Atlanta.
I like what you're doing with the reverse jinx there!
But yeah, this game has me sweating at Sneakers :/
Hawks certainly not running away with this, imagine the game back in Boston. Next season I'm gonna try to go to some Magic and Heat games.
Really disappointing, bordering on spineless, to see Stan Van Gundy fired by Orlando.
If I'm the Magic, I'm trading Dwight Howard yesterday (Carmelo Anthony and a few scraps for Dwight Howard should be a no brainer for both teams).
A few other things:
1) Will be kind of sad to see the Kobe-era Lakers come to an end tonight.
2) I can't see anybody in the league beating San Antonio in a game, much less a series, with how well they are playing right now.
3) Hell of a game from Lebron yesterday, but I still can't figure this Heat team out.
4) Must-win game tonight for Boston. If they lose Game 5 in Boston, we might be seeing the end of the Big 3 era Celtics as well.
5) Will be really interesting to see what happens with Blake Griffin and Chris Paul next year, and if both guys end up staying with the Clippers.
The West is going to win no matter who comes out of the east. The Heat great win, but I think they are finished.
Nothing to figure out about the Heat. With Bosh out, they are screwed. Mike Miller should be arrested for stealing money from the Heat. I cringe everytime Battier launches a three point attempt. They might as well hire me to replace him. I'll promise I can at least hit the side of the backboard for 1/2 the salary. Perhaps they can two man ball themselves to the Eastern Conference Finals but healthy Bosh is needed give them a chance at winning it all.
Looks like that's exactly what they might do. That was a great game the other night. Hopefully they can seal the deal to night. The Heat need some players that can score other than Wade and James on a consistent basis. Look at the Thunder, just about everyone is a threat to score. OKC over San Antonio I think.
MJ just can't catch a break, can he :D
Anthony Davis in New Orleans could be a lot of fun.
Now, come on Rondo.
Let's get a win in Miami tonight.
No lets not get a win, Go Heat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Absolutely incredible performance by Rondo tonight.
Probably sounds like sour grapes, but that had to be one of the worst officiated games I've seen in a long time.
Lebron James shoots almost TWENTY FIVE free throws and Paul Pierce fouls out in the 4th.
Between the no-call on Dwayne Wade piefacing Rondo on a layup (a four point turnaround) and the KG getting a foul for being kicked by Dwayne Wade, the officials played way too big a part of the outcome of this game.
No excuses, Boston should have held that lead, but the officiating has been truly awful this series.
Great game. Coming from the other side, I thought Boston got away with some calls as well. However, I agree officiating has been pretty bad during the playoffs in general. As for Boston, they got killed on the glass. The game doesn't even make it to overtime if they would have rebounded a little better.
Yep, and James should have driven to the basketball on that final possesion.
I was actually surprised he took the shot. I figured he'd pass it to Chalmers or Wade with a second or two left on the clock.
Sorry Ken, your dreams of the Celtics making it a real series will die tonight as the clock strikes midnight for Rajon Cinderella Rondo and his aging crew!
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kea8TCoPs8U/TebwS-aQGDI/AAAAAAAAA0w/kdGt0zwvKcI/s1600/nba-jokes-photos-lebron-vs-boston-matrix.gif)
I acutally think this will go the distance.
Yes, the distance of one more flight back to Miami for a season ending loss ;D. As you can see, the cocky Heat fan in me has found its lost mojo.
My prediction is a split in Boston and the series ending the first game back in Miami. Tonight, it will be important for Boston to build a huge first half lead, imo. Both Lebron and Wade are due for one of those games that Rondo just had. The bigger lead Boston can build, the better chance they have to survive such an outburst.
See you later on here to eat your crow when the Celtics win tonight, but anyway go Heat!!!!
Quote from: thelakelander on June 01, 2012, 03:29:09 PM
Sorry Ken, your dreams of the Celtics making it a real series will die tonight as the clock strikes midnight for Rajon Cinderella Rondo and his aging crew!
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kea8TCoPs8U/TebwS-aQGDI/AAAAAAAAA0w/kdGt0zwvKcI/s1600/nba-jokes-photos-lebron-vs-boston-matrix.gif)
::Keeps Quiet for 4th Quarter out of fear of jinxing anything::
:D
Lol, I guess the Swami's prediction was off tonight. It's ok. The cocky Heat fan in me still believes a split will happen this weekend and the close out comes in game five. However, for tonight, I'll eat my crow early (I've been watching Forrest Gump for the last 10 minutes now instead of the game) and post a more accurate video of tonight's debacle.
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/nbacardDOTnet/zz%20NBA%20Photo%20Gallery/z%20Funny%20NBA%20Photos/Others%20Masterpiece/0%20queen%20lebron%20james/rondodestroylebronjames.gif)
LOL, should have know Boston was not going out with out a fight
Boston BADLY needs a win in Game 4, especially if Chris Bosh is able to make it back for Game 5.
Tonight though, Lebron just had no consistent help whatsoever for most of the game.
You know it's not the Heat's night when Ray Allen is dunking on you.
Should be a lot of fun to see what adjustments Sam Antonio and Miami make for game 4.
Definitely, not your night when people like Marquis Daniels puts in great production off the pine. Miami can start adjusting by getting in some extra practice shooting free throws! I've never seen them shoot this bad collectively as a team. I also expect them to push the pace and better ball movement. They are difficult to deal with when they stay away from ISO ball. The game 4 plan for Boston should remain the same. Feed the ball to Garnett inside, assuming Bosh doesn't play, get big production from the bench and a decent lead to buffer them in the 3rd & 4th when Miami typically makes their big runs.
Quote from: thelakelander on June 01, 2012, 03:29:09 PM
Sorry Ken, your dreams of the Celtics making it a real series will die tonight as the clock strikes midnight for Rajon Cinderella Rondo and his aging crew!
you were saying?
I was off by two days. Sunday night they'll be headed back to Miami up 3-1 with no need for Bosh, other than a tune up for the finals. Mr. Cleo has spoken.
Dont be surprised if Boston wins this series.
Of course, in 2010. Now, I really would be surprised. Just can't imagine those old legs beating the Heat 3 out of 4 possible remaining games.
San Antonio might have been thinking the same thing...until they went to OKC
Cocky Heat fan is in favor of the Spurs and Thunder beating each other into a pulp in a seven game series. The more rest for Bosh's gut muscles and Wade's knees the better. However, to compare Boston (in their current hobbled state) to the Thunder is silly. While wine gets better with age, father time does the opposite on a basketball player's body. Boston has a lot of heart but that pacemaker will eventually give out.
Ok Lake when the series is tied 2-2 headed back to Maimi, then what? I'm hoping the Heat can pull out a win here b/c I think it will be difficult for them to win 2 games in Boston.
If it goes seven, they don't have to win a game in Boston.
Of course if they win in Miami :)
At this point, I believe Lebron or Wade will get hot and take a game in Boston before Jesus Shuttlesworth finds the fountain of youth in Miami.
Gonna be a FANTASTIC Game tonight.
Cannot wait.
This is just an absolute must win for Boston.
I smell another huge game for Rondo :D
It should be a great one. At the end of the night, we could either have a real series on our hands or Boston's season tinkering on the verge of ending. I expect both teams to play with a lot of passion and heart tonight.
^ wow. now that's a strong prediction...going out on a limb with that one :)
Quote from: thelakelander on June 03, 2012, 03:07:47 PM
At this point, I believe Lebron or Wade will get hot and take a game in Boston before Jesus Shuttlesworth finds the fountain of youth in Miami.
lol, I thought the fountain was in St.Augustine.
^exactly ;D!
Quote from: tufsu1 on June 03, 2012, 06:49:00 PM
^ wow. now that's a strong prediction...going out on a limb with that one :)
(http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRfVAxAKaBlTkaPWfj2SmynoNIHxNVJCQ_KQIYa8VM0TI2f5f_0mA)
The cocky Heat fan's overall series prediction hasn't changed. I'm going with it being a five games series until Boston can turn back the clock and get a second one. Tonight I predict that Marquis Daniels and Keyon Dooling will play like the journeyman backups they really are. As for Shuttlesworth, his daddy Denzel Washington won't be around to knock down all those 18' jumpers like he did in He Got Game and pre-wheelchair Paul Pierce isn't coming back.
(http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT2W5dUBXxdG8-BBjsy6zH9kOXWXtIhu0lpcqi8Wwpr5sHupg4r)
GREAT start by Paul Pierce, Rondo, and Ray Allen.
Refuse to jinx anything though :x
Up by 17, so much for old legs. Who's the old man team here?
97-96 Boston with a minute to go.
Man is this uncomfortable to watch.
What a game.
Thank GOD Boston pulled it out.
Two real questionable fouls on Lebron though (the double foul in the 4th and the offensive foul in OT), a bad traveling call on KG in the 4th, and a couple of weird fouls on Paul Pierce meant that, once again, the refs had way too much influence on this outcome again.
Really excited to have at least two more games of this series to look forward to.
Sucks but a great game. I'm not too concerned about officiating. Miami will get the calls they didn't get in Boston in Miami and vis versa. That's just how the NBA works these days. Guess this makes my prediction officially off. Time for a new prediction. It's only going six. Oh and a message to Pat Riley. Make Lebron spend the next two days practicing how to shoot free throws. Good grief!
:D
Cocky Heat fan is still alive and kicking. Just a little extra theater for the Heat's magical 2012 run for Lebron's first championship. Great last win of the season by Boston.
cocky Heat fans....smh :)
^Did I mention Cocky Heat fan's ability to transform into Cocky Marlin fan if things don't work out Thursday! ;D
Quote from: thelakelander on June 06, 2012, 07:54:13 AM
^Did I mention Cocky Heat fan's ability to transform into Cocky Marlin fan if things don't work out Thursday! ;D
How much of these last three losses do you put on Spoelstra?
At least the last two. End game management has been an issue for the last two years and Bosh should have been on the floor in the 4th last night. Also, I've never been crazy about Battier for 3s this postseason. I'm much more comfortable with Miller and Jones taking those shots. I'll admit that Rivers is playing chess and Spo is struggling with his checkers board.
Fat Lady singing high soprano!!!
Time to bring our goon Pittmann off the bench to give Garnett a blast from the past, lol. I was wrong about Jesus Shuttlesworth finding the fountain of youth in Miami. Evidently, the fountain is in Garnett's house.
Quote from: thelakelander on June 06, 2012, 07:54:13 AM
^Did I mention Cocky Heat fan's ability to transform into Cocky Marlin fan if things don't work out Thursday! ;D
you can use that center field home run time machine thing to transform!
Cocky Heat fan's prediction tonight.......old men act their age tonight!
(http://s17.postimage.org/zfwxszku7/Celtics_old.png)
Heat win. Game 7 on Saturday night in South Beach!
Quote from: thelakelander on June 07, 2012, 02:58:37 PM
Cocky Heat fan's prediction tonight.......old men act their age tonight!
(http://s17.postimage.org/zfwxszku7/Celtics_old.png)
Heat win. Game 7 on Saturday night in South Beach!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TqyfreTsAg
:D :D :D
Gonna be an EPIC game.
We'll see what Miami is made of tonight.
Kind of a bad sign that Lebron has been openly questioning Spoe's rotations today.
^About time! I've been questioning them for the last two years. However, if I'm Spo, I'd tell Lebron to focus on making free throws. He's shooting a Shaq-like percentage from the charity stripe right now.
Heat will be cooled off tonight, doesn't really matter, OKC all the way.
Not really worried about the young guns in OKC right now. The Heat are struggling to keep Grandpa Boston from popping the viagra pills.
Lake maybe u r right, Boston legs maybe tired now, will the Heat squander this big lead?
No sir.......That's ballgame Boston...
(http://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad43/LascelleLegend/9760j4.gif)
Pick yourself up, change your shorts and get ready for the whipping in South Beach!
Will give credit where it's due.
An all-time great performance from Lebron tonight.
That look in his eyes, we saw him go someplace he's never fully gone before.
Bordering on monster.
Nobody in the world was beating LBJ tonight.
Clearing my schedule for Saturday night, it's going to be a wild one.
Quote from: thelakelander on June 07, 2012, 11:05:17 PM
No sir.......That's ballgame Boston...
(http://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad43/LascelleLegend/9760j4.gif)
Pick yourself up, change your shorts and get ready for the whipping in South Beach!
is that like the beating Boston took in Game 5 in Miami?
There will be a 6'11" all star power forward, with a wet 18-foot jumper, starting and spacing the floor on Saturday night. A luxury that wasn't really available and utilized until last night. Garnett won't be able to play free safety on defense (thus clogging up the driving lanes for Lebron and Wade) like he has in the first half of this series.
A half day removed, and I'm still having trouble putting into words what we saw last night. It was almost like Lebron -- under the weight of two years of incessant criticism and hatred -- finally snapped. He looked like a serial killer out there. Completely joyless. Icy stare. Zero emotion, except maybe hate. And he just single handedly eviscerated a surging Boston team, at the Garden, in a game that most picked Boston to win and Miami to choke in. By the 4th quarter, he was just toying with the Celtics, grabbing one handed rebounds and finding the open man at will. No joke, I had nightmares about the guy last night. To me, this easily tops the overtime game against Detroit a few years back as Lebron's greatest performance to date.
Seeing Lebron play like this is the main reason that I hated to see him go to Miami to play with Dwayne Wade. When you've got both guys on the floor, neither can live up to their full potential. Both Lebron and Wade are too good to play a deferring role to anyone else. The league would be so much better if we got to see both Lebron and Dwayne Wade truly leading two different franchises.
Lebron's game 6 will be a nice consolation prize for Miami fans to hang on to when the Celtics advance to the Finals on Saturday ;)
I can't remember the last time I was this excited for a Game 7. You just cannot possibly get any bigger than this. Up to 7 future NBA Hall of Famers (no fewer than four being first ballot). The Big Four's potentially last chance at a ring. Lebron's legacy, rightfully or not, on the line (no one remembers Game 6 if he chokes tonight). To a lesser extent, Paul Pierce's legacy. It is going to be a huge. As long as the referees back off, I think we're looking at a guaranteed classic.
That was an awesome performance from James. I just re-watched that game. Looking forward to tonight's game
Great game,
Welcome back Mr. Bosh! Jesus Shuttlesworth.....expect an offer to play in South Beach this summer.
Still hurting from the Boston series, but man. Tip off hasn't even occurred and already this Finals matchup feels more epic than any Finals I can recall since Bulls/Suns in 1993. Lebron's body language in pre game warmups is night and day compared to last year. As a Celtics fan, do not like this at all, but as a basketball game, I really think we are about to see something incredibly special.
I thought the Heat would lose this first one in a blowout. I'm surprised they came out strong but OKC has responded pretty well in the second half.
I confess that I really do not like the NBA... and after hearing the commisioner on the Jim Rome show today... he certainly did not help...
You gotta hear this... ;D
http://www.youtube.com/v/dstZTHdMn8U
EPIC :D
Big fan of cranky, sarcastic David Stern.
Totally unprofessional, but I think he's earned it.
Can totally see why so many people dislike both Stern and the league though.
Mic check, mic check.....the fat lady is on the stage and getting ready to go vocal. Parade on Biscayne Boulevard this weekend!
Miami is totally outplaying OKC.
They deserve it if they win it.
That said, I really hate the 2-3-2 Finals format.
Even with "homecourt advantage," it is REALLY hard to go on the road and play three straight.
^Yeah, I've never been a fan of the 2-3-2 format. If you have homecourt and lose of one of the first two, you're screwed big time.
They changed it to 2-3-2 because the sports media complained about the constant travel between the east and west coasts.
Such a treacherous flight between OKC and Miami :D
I hate to admit it, but Lebron James has really won me over.
Guy is just playing out of his mind night in and night out.
I swear if I didn't love the Heat I'd fucking hate Wade. DO YOU THINK HE'LL RECOVER FROM THAT DEVASTATING INJURY?
Anyway, looking forward to them closing it out Thursday. And not looking forward to the resulting hangover Friday morning.
Wade's dealing with a lot of off-the-court stuff. He just had his ex-wife arrested on attempted child abduction of his kids the other day.
http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2012/story/_/id/8072993/2012-nba-finals-miami-heat-dwyane-wade-asks-judge-suspend-ex-wife-right-visitation-children
However, his main injury is age. You can't beat father time but he's good enough to be a great running mate for Lebron for a few more years.
Quote from: thelakelander on June 20, 2012, 06:03:16 AM
^Yeah, I've never been a fan of the 2-3-2 format. If you have homecourt and lose of one of the first two, you're screwed big time.
This is why you win at home!!! Go Heat!!!
You guys may want to check this article out...
http://www.fastcodesign.com/1670059/moneyball-20-how-missile-tracking-cameras-are-remaking-the-nba
Quote
Moneyball 2.0: How Missile Tracking Cameras Are Remaking The NBA
A new camera system is adding a whole new level of analytics to basketball. We talk to insiders using it.
The technology was originally developed to track missiles. Now, SportVU systems hang from the catwalks of 10 NBA arenas, tiny webcams that silently track each player as they shoot, pass, and run across the court, recording each and every move 25 times a second. SportVU can tell you not just Kevin Durant’s shooting average, but his shooting average after dribbling one vs. two times, or his shooting average with a defender three feet away vs. five feet away. SportVU can actually consider both factors at once, plus take into account who passed him the ball, how many minutes he’d been on the court, and how many miles he’d run that game already.
(http://www.fastcodesign.com/multisite_files/codesign/imagecache/inline-large/post-inline/kevin-durant-open-shots-attempts.jpg)
Nah I just want the Heat to win so I can go to bed at a decent time. I wonder what Skip will say about James if the Heat win?
He'll say James needed Norris Cole, Shane Battier and Mario Chalmers to carry him to a championship.
(http://gifsoup.com/webroot/animatedgifs6/2192020_o.gif)
Congrats, James and the Heat. Great performance from the supporting cast. The Thunder looked lost in that game. Their inexperience really showed last night.
Quote from: thelakelander on June 21, 2012, 11:14:55 PM
(http://gifsoup.com/webroot/animatedgifs6/2192020_o.gif)
wow Lake...is this what the ladies will look like at the Heat victory parade?
This is going to be a rough day. I knew I should have taken today off. The coffee isn't working.
I'm feeling your pain. Was up to 200am last night and on my 3rd cup right now. Come on 430pm
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t930LcyQA24/T-FYdYk7EDI/AAAAAAAAAUc/n0VN6NCg0fE/s400/ip7tCn1KGSMPH.gif)
(http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1199637/heatmenageatrois_medium.gif)
LOL Westbrook wasn't that bad, lol
Good for Lebron.
I'm really happy for the guy.
He took his lumps, and got his redemption.
Really interesting to hear him reflecting on how he played with so much hatred last year.
Between the Christmas start, the Chris Paul trade, the shortened season where literally every night a couple of important games were on, Linsanity, drama in New York, LA, Orlando, and Boston, and an incredible series of playoffs once we got into the second round, this might have been one of my favorite basketball seasons of all time.
My only regret is that we got robbed out of what should have been epic Chicago/Miami series.
Really, the Boston/Miami series wasn't enough?
Don't get me wrong, I loved Boston/Miami (significantly more than the Finals), but I would have loved to have seen what would have happened had Rose not gone down with the torn ACL. Definitely not saying that there should be an asterisk next to the Miami championship, but it was really unfortunate to see the best team (by wins) in the league lose the then-reigning MVP and subsequently get eliminated in the first round. Still think Miami probably wins it though.
Miami would have won in 5 just like they did last year. Although the Bulls had a top notch defense that would keep them in games, they would have had trouble scoring down the stretch once Lebron would switch to Rose. I know they had Rip, but it was an old Rip and Miami ran through a Rip in his prime back in 2006.
Didn't think James Dolan could top all of his Isiah Thomas nonsense, but he might have actually hit a new low when he decided to let Jeremy Lin leave for Houston, barely a week removed from signing Jason Kidd to mentor him. You cannot put a price tag on what Jeremy Lin brought to New York, and to the NBA, this season. Sure, he had turnover problems and got hammered by Miami, but you don't fluke into games like his 38 point effort against the Lakers, or his crazy streak of 20-10s. I don't buy the luxury tax line either, as they could most certainly dump a few contracts by the final year of the deal. A guy like this comes around once a decade, if that, and it's just insane to me that they (or, Dolan) would just let him walk out the door so easily. I remember going to Chicago Pizza at the Landing on a random weekday night to watch the Knicks game, and the place was just packed out with people there to watch Lin play. You don't see that often. The Linsanity thing was dying down, sure, but kid has so much potential.
HATE the fact that the NBA approved the addition of advertisements to team uniforms.
The thought of seeing the traditional white and green Celtics jersey bastardized with some goofy Burger King logo makes me want to puke.
Definitely sets a precedent for the other major US sports too.
Quote from: KenFSU on July 20, 2012, 12:54:17 PM
HATE the fact that the NBA approved the addition of advertisements to team uniforms.
The thought of seeing the traditional white and green Celtics jersey bastardized with some goofy Burger King logo makes me want to puke.
Definitely sets a precedent for the other major US sports too.
I don't even watch basketball, but if this is happening.... I don't even think I'll be able to 'respect' the NBA anymore.
You know who wears ads on their jerseys? Little League baseball teams.
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on July 26, 2012, 10:13:15 AM
Quote from: KenFSU on July 20, 2012, 12:54:17 PM
HATE the fact that the NBA approved the addition of advertisements to team uniforms.
The thought of seeing the traditional white and green Celtics jersey bastardized with some goofy Burger King logo makes me want to puke.
Definitely sets a precedent for the other major US sports too.
I don't even watch basketball, but if this is happening.... I don't even think I'll be able to 'respect' the NBA anymore.
You know who wears ads on their jerseys? Little League baseball teams.
As a proud veteran of the England Thims and Miller Orioles, I take offense to you comparing our proud club to an NBA team.
Gonna be an epic Game 2 tonight.
I think Lebron comes out looking for blood tonight, similar to Game 6 in the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals.
But, not why I'm here.
Netflix just announced a 10-part documentary series on Michael Jordan's career, directed by the guy who did the amazing HBO Documentary on Andre the Giant.
Mark your 2019 calendar now.
http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/05/15/netflix-10-part-michael-jordan-documentary-announced?abthid=5afb3a0405e140570c000cb7
Quote from: KenFSU on July 20, 2012, 12:54:17 PM
HATE the fact that the NBA approved the addition of advertisements to team uniforms.
The thought of seeing the traditional white and green Celtics jersey bastardized with some goofy Burger King logo makes me want to puke.
Yeah, that would be wicked awful.
LeBron puts up 51-8-8, and still loses because JR Smith runs the wrong way, Tyronn Lue doesn't know how to call a timeout, and the referees can't even make a proper call using slow motion replays.
Or an 80% free throw shooter could have made the free throw. But yes, totally did not get them reversing that call.
Never thought I'd say it, but you've got to put LeBron right beside Jordan as the greatest of all time (Bill Russell notwithstanding, don't see how you can compare the eras).
Jordan might be 6 for 6 in the Finals, but he never had to carry such a weak supporting cast on his shoulders alone,* and he was usually on the bench by the fourth quarter resting, not putting up the minutes that LBJ is night after night.
*Except for the two 37-45 seasons with the Wizards that everyone pretends never happened, where he twice failed to make the playoffs with a talented young nucleus.
The 1994 Bulls racked up 55 wins after Jordan retired the first time, and 30 wins in 1999 (lockout adjusted) after they lost Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman.
Could this Cavs team win 20 games in the East without Lebron? I don't know.
LBJ single-handedly kept the Cavs in the lead for most of Game 1, on the road, against the most offensively stacked team in NBA history (this gem aside: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFBI4zJJmpM). He was the best offensive player on the floor, the best passer, and the best defender.
The guy has never got the calls from the ref that Jordan did, never had Phil Jackson or equilvalent leading the team (though Spoelstra remains super underrated), and is playing in a much different, much more demanding era (Jordan broke down in his 15th season, Lebron seems to be getting even better in his).
When he heads out west to join the Lakers with Kawhi and/or Paul George and wins another title, he'll seal the deal as GOAT.
Pat Riley runs circles around Phil Jackson. What Lebron has become is totally due to his time spent in Miami.
Quote from: thelakelander on June 01, 2018, 11:46:57 AM
Pat Riley runs circles around Phil Jackson. What Lebron has become is totally due to his time spent in Miami.
Blasphemy!
Phil's got more than twice as many rings as Riley (11 vs.
5), despite coaching four fewer seasons (20 vs. 24). Championships in 55% of his seasons, despite having to deal with the Krause's and the Reinsdorf's, and with Jordan's ego and gambling, and with Dennis Rodman kicking cameramen in the groin, and with Kobe and Shaq's drama, and with the rape trial, and with Meta World Peace, and with the most suffocating media attention of perhaps any basketball team in history.
Riley's Knicks had championship caliber talent in the early 90's, and they couldn't get past Phil's Bulls. And his Heat were loaded with talent (Zo, Tim Hardaway, Majerle, Eddie Jones, etc) after that, and they couldn't get past Jeff Van Gundy's Knicks.
Agree with you on Miami shaping LeBron, but Riley over Phil? Get outta here with that homer talk!
I don't watch the NBA at all, but I did catch the final 4 minutes of that game...
My only question - instead of throwing his hands up and yelling at JR Smith, why didn't Lebron call a timeout when he realized that JR was trying to run clock?
Someone has got to have the composure to not make a mistake worse, and in this case, game ending.
Quote from: KenFSU on June 01, 2018, 12:20:25 PM
Agree with you on Miami shaping LeBron, but Riley over Phil? Get outta here with that homer talk!
Pat did it at all levels. Phil was a flaming disaster in NY's front office.
Quote from: thelakelander on June 01, 2018, 01:18:29 PM
Quote from: KenFSU on June 01, 2018, 12:20:25 PM
Agree with you on Miami shaping LeBron, but Riley over Phil? Get outta here with that homer talk!
Pat did it at all levels. Phil was a flaming disaster in NY's front office.
In Phil's defense, EVERYONE is a flaming disaster in NY's front office, but I'll concede that Riley clearly has the better track record in that respect.
But, if we're talking
all levels, we might as well point out that Phil also has twice as many rings as a player than Riley (2 vs. 1) 8)
Celtics in 6 over Miami.
Warriors in 7 in an all-time great series with the Mavs.
Celtics over the Warriors in the Finals 8)
As of now, it's 1-1. I expect them to go back to Miami tied 2-2. So I'll take the Heat in 7!
Warriors will take out the Mavs in 5.
Heat-Warriors finals with the CEO of Big Face Coffee taking his brand to MVP status.
^ Condolences on your loss
Butler missed the game winning shot, or else my predicting would have been on point!
Oh well! Golden State will win in 6.
Quote from: thelakelander on May 31, 2022, 12:00:41 PM
Butler missed the game winning shot, or else my predicting would have been on point!
hindsight - it was a terrible shot - he had an easy path to the basket for 2
^Loser's mentality! Screw playing for the tie! Go for it all. Win or go home!