*The Official 2011-12 NBA Thread*

And another thing. Somebody has to tell Wade to stop being such a whiny ***** all the time. His complaining to the ref while the opponent has the ball is costing his team points every game. I know this has to be pissing off Heat fans. This series is going to be a dogfight, and I don't think the Heat can afford to give up points because Wade's man is scoring in transition because Wade is too busy falling to the ground staring at the ref.

The loss of Bosh is a much bigger blow than some Heat fans are trying to make it. They need him drawing bigs out the paint with his deadly jump shot. None of the other bigs offer that. Even Haslem has completely lost his jump shot this year.

 

All that being said, Wade and LBJ were basically enough to win this game if even one bench guy comes up with even an average game. The Pacers are not that good. The slobbering over a team that won a game while scoring 78 points and shooting 36% is hilarious. Would not shock me if Heat wins this in 5.

We just need somebody, anybody, to kinck in 10 points. Mike Miller was useless, Haslem has become useless, Chalmers was borderline useless. James Jones perhaps?

 

No I'm not joking. Yay, he kept us in the game....but we still lost. So.....point? None. Winners win, they dont ALMOST win.

 

Of course you wouldn't be shocked if the Heat won in 5. This is the lack of humility that too many Heat fans are displaying these days. Be prepared to be shocked, because this series isn't ending in 5 games. I think the Heat win the series, but the lack of respect for the Pacers is mind boggling.

 

So because we lost one game to the Pacers, in which the Heat got zero contributions from anyone other than LBJ or Wade (and Wade was frankly awful too for much of the game) you want to "give up" on LeBron?

What exactly do you think we'd be winning without him?

Was it all those playoff series that Wade won when he was the only star on the team? Oh wait, we failed to win a series between the championship and last year when that horrible loser LBJ showed up.

It was one game. He missed some free throws. It sucked. It happens. Jump off the bandwagon if you want. My money is on LBJ and Wade finding a way to beat the Pacers 3 more times.

 

Lebron should not be given up on, he just needs some counseling on being mentally tough. This is a true statement not an attack.

 

I'm just a fan. Who cares about my lack of humility?

And no I wouldn't be shocked if the series goes 6 or even 7, but I highly doubt it.

Putting aside everything the Heat did wrong yesterday, Indiana has shown absolutely no ability to score down the stretch in either game, and that's because they don't have a star and rely on precision execution. That's going to be a tough chore against the Heat.

It's one thing to win a slugfest one time where you win with 78 points. How often are you going to be able to do that? You have to hope that the Heat supporting cast stays as epically bad as it's been the first two games. If even one guy steps up, Indy has no chance.

 

Lol far from a bandwagoner....I'm a Dolphins fan for Godssake. Just tired of people including myself making excuses for Lebron, It is just one game...so...

 

Indiana had no problems scoring buckets down the stretch yesterday. It was free throws they couldn't make.

 

Wrong.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/playbyplay?gameId=320515014&period=4

Indy's last bucket came at the 2:53 mark. And they only shot 4 free throws after that point. They weren;t getting to the basket at that point.

Game 1

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/playbyplay?gameId=320513014&period=4

Indy's last bucket came at the 4:50 mark.

 

You realize that it's a team sport?

Nobody ever has, nor ever will win a title singlehandedly.

 

It's like some of you have never watched a NBA playoff series. This is pretty comical to read.

 

And the Heat with their superstars last bucket came with 2:41 remaining. The Pacers only attempted 2 shots the last 2 minutes. Hard to make shots down the stretch when there's none to take since you're either at the free throw line, or running the clock out. They had no problems down the stretch aside from the missed free throws.

 

I didn't say the Heat was any better. What I said was that through two games, the Pacers simply have not been able to score down the stretch of games, which will cost them against the Heat, as it should have cost them last night. and the Pacers only took 4 free throws follwojg their last bucket, the last two being intentional on the Heat's part.

 

And the Pacers actually missed two 3 pointers a layup and a tip shot following their last basket. The Heat defense was excellent down the stretch.

 

It was actually 6 free throws, all in the last 2 minutes. They had 2 shot attempts the last 2 minutes. It's easy to say they can't score buckets down the stretch when there's no buckets to score. The Pacers will be fine. They might not do great at scoring down the stretch, but the Heat aren't going to do much better. Not with the significant size and physicality advantage the Pacers have. LeBron is the only one I have any faith in at scoring baskets. Wade is going to continue to struggle shooting the ball I think. Paul George is a tough matchup for Wade.

 

Heat defense was excellent aside from their 3rd quarter lapse. Everyone is going to look to the final minutes, but the reality is that the Heat lost this game in the 3rd.

 

This just isn't true. He took two shots in the final 3:45.

 

Right, because putting on one of the best defensive performances in recent history doesn't require any mental toughness.

Chucking up low-percentage shots - now that takes mental toughness

 

You can try and defend it all you want, if he wants to be considered the best he has to be more aggressive when it matters. If you really think he has no fear with the ball in his hands in the last couple possesions then you are seeing what you want too.

I have grown to feel bad for Lebron actually, I pitty his fear of the moment, the media and his overall perception to all of us. Dude is an amazing all around basketball player but his lack of aggressivness last night and other nights is frusterating for any fan of team sports including myself. Part of me would actually be happy to see him transform into THAT guy, even if it meant dealing with you arrogant folks.

 

I could show you ten times when he has taken shots that fulfill your Space Jam fetish. Go back and watch the Bulls series from last season or the Celtics series. Big shot after big shot in the "last couple of possessions". You can choose to ignore those all you want, but they actually happened.

 

I love Space Jam.

 

In this case perception IS reality. There is a reason Lebron is 10-17 on FREE THROWS in the final minute of close games...he gets too nervous. Hell im sure I would too but noone is calling me the best basketball player on the planet.

And your choosing to ignore games like last night.

 

I'm not ignoring anything. He chose to get the ball to Wade, who failed. He had a layup blocked. I never said James does it all the time. If you're expecting him to score game winning baskets every night, you're living in a fantasy world. Nobody does that. You're expecting him to do more than he already has, when the reality is that he's done more for his team than any player in history. He consistently leads the team in points, rebounds, and assists. He shuts down MVP point guards and power-fowards alike.

He certainly didn't do it last night. I have no problem acknowledging it. But you said he's never done it, which is patently false.

 

fo shizzle dizzle

 

Never did I use Never. Fact is he is hounded about this thru the media and the naysayers and for good reason, when it comes down to the final couple possesions in a game he looks and acts like he wants to differ. Everyone is not out to get Lebron even if you think I am. This isnt a made up perception and honestly from a humane standpoint I hope he starts taking the initiative to be the goto guy. Rather he makes the "smart basketball" play or not is bogus. WANT the ball.

 

Didnt have the sound on, but I can imagine Heat fans want to see him take control aswell.

Besides the one's who insist he already does ofcourse.

But really it's just a meaningless game in an inevitable series so whatever. EC Playoffs are hard to watch.

 

I never said he should have added in the elbow. His path was cut off by the man he knocked on his ***. I've seen a ton of posts from you that show nothing but class in the Qb debates so save it.

 

If you are saying he's scared, then you're implying its "never". Unless of course there is something that makes him scared against the Pacers but not against the Bulls.

Or, of course, you would care to quantify how often he "looks to defer".

 

I just watched it on NBA.com and I see right where I'm talking about. Except it is not a close up for you to see in that highlight. On live TV they showed a close up in slow motion. It was a good job by them and it was only a slight tug on the bottom of his jersey but it altered his steps to the basket.

 

Robbed!!

So much like the national title game! Refs just hate Miamians.

 

So are you saying that I'm crying about the officiating in the Heat/Pacers game?

 

So you are saying you cried about the national title game???

Thanks for the confirmation.

 

I can agree with this. I don't mind him passing up last opportunity jump shots for better shooters, though.

 

No, I'm dead right to ***** about a phantom call. One that many Canes fans have shown you video evidence of. I'll never stop *****ing about it either. Just like when you see someone say it, you just cannot resist chimming in.

 

You make no sense. His path was cut off? The ****? No, he intentionally pushed Collison because he was mad about a non-call which was the right call. Complete dirty move. No different than what Jason Smith did to Blake Griffin. No different than what James Posey did to Hinrich. Both received suspensions. And it will really show the NBA's true colors if Wade doesn't get suspended.

 

Every non Canes fan knows there was no PI as well. We'll let OSU have it. Not like they've done much of anything else since 1970. But that's for another thread.

 

The entire Pacers team played dirty the whole game. I wanted to see Turiaf or Pittman punch one of their teeth out. I applaud what Wade did.