NBA Finals and Random Thoughts.

[joepatsfan]

http://joepatsfan.blogspot.com/2014/06/miami-san-antonio-pt-ii-lance-more.html

San Antonio-Miami again... Gonna be good. I'm glad it's SA. I think OKC would've been killed by Miami.

Spurs in 6

 

[Kontradiction]

I'm going with Heat in 6. Wade has fresher legs this year and I don't see any way they consistently guard LeBron. Plus good defense trumps good offense every time.

 

[joepatsfan]

I'm going with Heat in 6. Wade has fresher legs this year and I don't see any way they consistently guard LeBron. Plus good defense trumps good offense every time.

Wade is healthy, which is scary.

I think Kawhi Leonard can decently defend LeBron. I think this whole series depends on Parker's health. He can give Miami issues and force LBJ to cover him which opens up everyone else.

Also, SA has the size that kills Miami. Duncan looks 32 again somehow...

Honestly I think the series goes 7, but im saying spurs in 6 just because

 

[Kontradiction]

Game day, fellas. I have to say that the Heat hate around here is not as strong as it has been the last couple of years. The Heat are going into this one as the underdog and I absolutely love it.

 

[joepatsfan]

Game day, fellas. I have to say that the Heat hate around here is not as strong as it has been the last couple of years. The Heat are going into this one as the underdog and I absolutely love it.

Well, I'm here lol so go San Antonio!!

I would not at all call Miami the underdog and idk what the betting line is, but I'd say this is even or in Miami's slight favor

 

[Kontradiction]

Well, I'm here lol so go San Antonio!!

I would not at all call Miami the underdog and idk what the betting line is, but I'd say this is even or in Miami's slight favor

As of last night, the betting line favored San Antonio by 54%. As I see it, this series will come down to:

1. Miami's ability to guard Tony Parker (subplot: Parker's ankle).

2. The Heat's close out defense to disrupt those three point shots.

3. Bosh's ability to continue to knock down long range jumpers, thus drawing Duncan out of the paint.

4. Kawhi Leonard's ability to guard LeBron and slow him down.

5. The Spurs being able to play small with Miami while still hauling in rebounds (they did this well last year).

In all, I think this is going to be a very tough and testy one. Really looking forward to it.

 

[joepatsfan]

As of last night, the betting line favored San Antonio by 54%. As I see it, this series will come down to:
1. Miami's ability to guard Tony Parker (subplot: Parker's ankle).
2. The Heat's close out defense to disrupt those three point shots.
3. Bosh's ability to continue to knock down long range jumpers, thus drawing Duncan out of the paint.
4. Kawhi Leonard's ability to guard LeBron and slow him down.
5. The Spurs being able to play small with Miami while still hauling in rebounds (they did this well last year).
In all, I think this is going to be a very tough and testy one. Really looking forward to it.

I would overall agree with this. I would put #4 above 3 though. Slowing LBJ would be huge. I also think Leonard's scoring off the wing will be huge. If he can give SA 15-20 that would be big.

Both of these teams can live and die from the 3 (not so much Miami because LBJ or Wade could take over, but if they are passing) so whichever team's role players hit the open looks will be in business. I'm interested to see who Pop starts at the 5 for SA. Bonner or Splitter.

Also, last year, Manu had a reallllly tough series and it could be a lot different story if he resembles somewhat of his clutch self.

And, if Tony isn't close to 90-100% then this series is done in 4-5

 

[Kontradiction]

Ginobili cannot guard Wade. Anytime the Heat see that, the ball has to go to him.

 

[varjao]

I'm a Bulls fan but in West I very much like the Spurs and still can't believe they lost the finals last year, it was this close, damn Allen.

Only watched the second half yesterday and I was absolutely shocked by the turnovers the Spurs were giving, Splitter was hot in the end of 3rd and it was a key piece in a moment the game was going to be out of hands with Miami opening a big difference, Pop adjusted for the 4th quarter but still, this is Spurs sometimes is a big mess, last year team was better but Manu choked.

Before the series I was giving the odds to Miami, I still think Spoelstra is garbage but it's too much talent there and after 3 years the chemistry is at the top, anyway it's Spurs 1x0 now and it's an important stat because that should be a 1x0 Miami had LeCramps stayed on the game.

Let's see Sunday. Go Spurs.

 

[everlong]

It wasn't just basketball fans going after the four-time MVP; Gatorade's Twitter account responded with a few zingers to people who mistakenly thought James was a client of theirs. There were tweets from the Gatorade about the temperature on the court and even one encouraging the play of Dwyane Wade, who is a Gatorade athlete. But they didn't pull punches with replies about James.

@ryanbkoo The person cramping wasn't our client. Our athletes can take the heat.

— Gatorade (@Gatorade) June 6, 2014

Gatorade is apologizing but I honestly that's just awesome.

 

[varjao]

He's had the cramps against OKC 2 years ago too, I think it's not just about dehydration, maybe some proneness due to the intensity and volume of his game.

By the way, Anderson Varejao from Cavaliers was a special guest on ESPN's broadcast in Brazil yesterday and he said that it wasn't looking like only cramps, he said it was weird and should be something else. At some moment he couldn't fold his left knee, but I don't think is a knee injury.

Is there any report?

 

[SalemPats]

If Lebron doesn't cramp up, Heat win.

 

[joepatsfan]

If Lebron doesn't cramp up, Heat win.

Completely not true. The Heat ended up losing by 15... The Spurs didn't miss in the 4th quarter at all. LeBron cant guard five guys on the floor. Yes, he would've produced some better offense but the Heat still would've lost by 6-10. When a team shoots 59% and 14-16 in the 4th, its hard to win no matter who is out there

 

[RecoveringCowboy]

Is it just me or does it seem if the Patriots were a basketball team, they would be a lot like the Spurs?

 

[Kontradiction]

Completely not true. The Heat ended up losing by 15... The Spurs didn't miss in the 4th quarter at all. LeBron cant guard five guys on the floor. Yes, he would've produced some better offense but the Heat still would've lost by 6-10. When a team shoots 59% and 14-16 in the 4th, its hard to win no matter who is out there

Yeah but LeBron has been first team all defense for the majority of his career. The Heat have had games in all three playoff series before this one where an opponent starts very hot in the 4th quarter and gets completely shut down with 3-4 minutes remaining. LeBron came out for good with 4 minutes left. Hard to think that he wouldn't have made a difference on both ends of the floor.

 

[Kontradiction]

Also, Isiah Thomas just recently came out and defended LeBron...

http://www.freep.com/article/20140606/SPORTS03/306060107/lebron-james-cramps-isiah-thomas

Detroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas was a natural person to ask about the ordeal this morning, given that he is widely viewed as putting on one of the gutsiest performances in NBA history when he scored 25 points on a sprained ankle in the fourth quarter of Game 6 of the 1988 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Surely, Zeke condemned James as soft, right?

Not even close.

“As an athlete, there’s really nothing you can do,” Thomas said on the “Mike and Mike” show on ESPN Radio this morning. “When you have debilitating leg cramps, you can’t move.

“I saw Miami having control of the game last night, they had control of the tempo. Defensively and offensively, everything was going their way. He was having a great game. So there’s no reason for him to take himself out. If they’re down 15 and maybe getting blown out, then you can maybe suggest that maybe something else is going on. But in that type of scenario, you can’t bring the conspiracy into it that he may have taken himself out of the game.”

Gatorade was just hopping on the hate train for some shameless free advertising. It also doesn't help that LeBron endorses Powerade. But, if you've ever played sports, you know the feeling of a cramp. And that's even before the surging muscle pain takes place. I've had them in football and basketball (never in baseball) and can remember being next to useless. My question is why didn't the Heat trainers take him to the back and give him an IV the first time it began happening with over 8 minutes to go?

 

[joepatsfan]

Yeah but LeBron has been first team all defense for the majority of his career. The Heat have had games in all three playoff series before this one where an opponent starts very hot in the 4th quarter and gets completely shut down with 3-4 minutes remaining. LeBron came out for good with 4 minutes left. Hard to think that he wouldn't have made a difference on both ends of the floor.

Yes true, but every single Spur was hitting. I just think his presence on the defensive end couldn't reach to covering 5 guys who weren't missing.

Still, if LBJ had finished the game, I think the Heat lose, just by a lesser margin.

 

[joepatsfan]

Also, Isiah Thomas just recently came out and defended LeBron...

http://www.freep.com/article/20140606/SPORTS03/306060107/lebron-james-cramps-isiah-thomas


Gatorade was just hopping on the hate train for some shameless free advertising. It also doesn't help that LeBron endorses Powerade. But, if you've ever played sports, you know the feeling of a cramp. And that's even before the surging muscle pain takes place. I've had them in football and basketball (never in baseball) and can remember being next to useless. My question is why didn't the Heat trainers take him to the back and give him an IV the first time it began happening with over 8 minutes to go?

I've had cramps before in basketball. 3rd game of the day during a tournament. My calves were locking up, couldn't even walk, I waddled. I was able to sit and massage em a little and come back and play with a little pain..
There was another time during another tourney I had cramps and couldn't move, sat the rest of the 4th out...

I cant imagine how bad LBJ's were that he couldn't move

 

[Kontradiction]

That might have been the finest game of the postseason so far. Well called by the zebras too. I thought they did a good job of letting both teams play.

 

[varjao]

You lose 4 FT's in the 4th quarter of a game this close, can't win.