****OFFICIAL**** NBA Finals Thread

[LordUnum]

The Heat are a great team on paper, but for some reason I see shades of Blazer teams from not so long ago...

perhaps that's because heart & chemistry can't be measured on paper.

 

[wyvrn]

I wonder why Miami went away from J williams in the fourth. He was having a pretty good game, and Payton didn't give them anything offensively. You cannot beat the Mavs defense with only 2 decent shooters in the game.

 

[ShOcKwAvE827]

Mavs are just way too deep of a team, Miami can't matchup. If Dirk gets even warm, it's over for Miami. Wade is insane though.

 

[hypn0tik]

****** that. Miami lost the game due to missed free throws. I expect Shaq to miss a few, but D.W.? That's just unacceptable.

 

[wyvrn]

Originally posted by: hypn0tik
****** that. Miami lost the game due to missed free throws. I expect Shaq to miss a few, but D.W.? That's just unacceptable.

Nobody else on their team even got to the line. That's not a good statistic. Miami needs another scorer to step up or they won't have a chance.

 

[dbk]

It seemed like Antoine Walker just kept killing whatever momentum Wade and Shaq created for the Heat, whether it be a quick 3 (attempted 9), wild pass (to Haslem), or a turnover (he had 6).

 

[waggy]

Great game. it looked like the heat just died in t he 2nd half though. they looked great the first hal.f

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Both teams looked a little rusty and nervous. Miami got off to a great start, they were on fire in the first quarter. But if you a Mavs fan you gotta love the way they closed out the 2nd and 4th quarters. They have been incredible this post season at closing the last few minutes of each half. Probably a result of their depth and Avery's rotation schemes.

 

[Lash444]

Well I said in the beginning of the playoffs that I think the Dallas and S.A. were playing much better ball than the east. Ill stick with what I said and go with Dallas in 6.

 

[z42]

Originally posted by: ornament
It seemed like Antoine Walker just kept killing whatever momentum Wade and Shaq created for the Heat, whether it be a quick 3 (attempted 9), wild pass (to Haslem), or a turnover (he had 6).

He and Payton played pretty poorly.

As I stated earlier, when Shaq can be guarded by a single man without having to be doubled every time, it really cuts down on what Miami can do offensively. Especially when Shaq is too old/out of shape to work hard and take more than 11 shots. Walker and Payton are used to spotting up for open shots, they aren't used to having to break down defenses anymore. Plus Dallas has a very quick and long team, and they play pretty good defense. Their main weakness is against speed, as Wade showed, but he is the only guy on Miami with any speed. (Williams has speed but gets out of control when he uses it)

I called my shot with Damp being able to limit Shaq in the series, and I'm sticking to it. Mavs in 5.

 

[Bumrush99]

Miami did not play well at all.. One factor was the home crowd in Dallas.. They really had a huge impact on the game, homecourt in Dallas is going to be very difficult to break

 

[spacejamz]

Originally posted by: hypn0tik
****** that. Miami lost the game due to missed free throws. I expect Shaq to miss a few, but D.W.? That's just unacceptable.

they lost by 10 points...

statistically, they have made 60% of their free throws during the post season...

so even if they would have made 60% of their free throws attempts, they would have only scored 4 more points (they hit 7 FT and 11 made FT's would have been their average (60% of 17 attempts))...even if they would have made 80% of their FT's, it still would not have been enough...

I am not buying that one...

 

[CTrain]

Its a telling tale...Dallas bench >>>>> Miami bench.
Whenever Shaq take a rest or get into foul trouble....thats when Dallas take control.
Evidence of that in the 2nd quarter.

Man, Payton has really fell of the planet.
I know you suppose to get worst when you're older but he looks like a CBA player.
What ever happenned to his shooting ?? Whenever I see he take a 3, its brick.

 

[beggerking]

Shaq shooting freethrows.......not a good sign..

I still don't understand why the Lakers traded Shaq and kept Coby... Shaq seemed more valuable...

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: beggerking
Shaq shooting freethrows.......not a good sign..

I still don't understand why the Lakers traded Shaq and kept Coby... Shaq seemed more valuable...

Kobe was much younger/healthier and wasn't demanding as much $$. He was a safer "frachise" choice.

 

[Ricochet]

Originally posted by: beggerking
Shaq shooting freethrows.......not a good sign..

I still don't understand why the Lakers traded Shaq and kept Coby... Shaq seemed more valuable...

Seeing the way Shaq plays now, I believe Lakers made a good choice.

 

[Ricochet]

Originally posted by: CTrain

Man, Payton has really fell of the planet.
I know you suppose to get worst when you're older but he looks like a CBA player.
What ever happenned to his shooting ?? Whenever I see he take a 3, its brick.

That bothers me as well. Ever since he left Seattle his talent just completely left him as well. One would think that your game skill would taper off as you get older. For Payton, it looks like he just hit a brick wall. Really makes me think that he has gone the way of Shawn Kemp; perhaps drug and alcohol addiction.

 

[CTrain]

Originally posted by: ricochet

Originally posted by: CTrain

Man, Payton has really fell of the planet.
I know you suppose to get worst when you're older but he looks like a CBA player.
What ever happenned to his shooting ?? Whenever I see he take a 3, its brick.

That bothers me as well. Ever since he left Seattle his talent just completely left him as well. One would think that your game skill would taper off as you get older. For Payton, it looks like he just hit a brick wall. Really makes me think that he has gone the way of Shawn Kemp; perhaps drug and alcohol addiction.

Yeah, good comparison.
If you have skills, it just doesn't go away instantly.

Kemp went from averaging 17ppg to like 6.8ppg after 1 season.
Payton seems like he dropped off as soon as he got to LA.
Seriously, he looks aweful out there.

 

[iamme]

game 2 tonight.

Steve Kerr believes it's a must win for Miami.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=A...lug=sk-guide061006&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

 

[GuitarDaddy]

As usual the Mavs close out the half better than any team in the league. Don't think the Heat can come back from 16 down, their offence is the suxors

 

[CTrain]

Somebody on Miami's team need to tell Payton to stop jacking up 3s.
I mean don't even attempt one.
If you're behind the 3-pt line and have that urge..take a step inside and then take a shot.
Somebody whos shotting 28% for the season and 28% for the postseason need to be banned from shooting 3s.
His 3s aren't even close to going in.

 

[CTrain]

LOl, Walker looks like the biggest piece of sh!t ever.
Fouling for a 3-pt and 4-pt plays

 

[dbk]

Antoine Walker is the cancer of this team.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Shaq just can't buy a FT

 

[neegotiator]

mavs just look like they're goin through practice out there...i really want heat to win but this game is just plain ugly