****OFFICIAL 2012 NBA PLAYOFFS THREAD****

[dirk digler]

Great sports weekend with the draft and now the NBA Playoffs starting today

First Round Matchups Today:

76ers vs Bulls
Knicks vs Heat
Magic vs Pacers
Mavs vs Thunder

Sunday:

Jazz vs Spurs
Celtics vs Hawks
Clippers vs Grizzlies
Nuggets vs Lakers

[okcchief]

Originally Posted by SNR

We'll see, but since the Thunder have thrown away two consecutive playoff games in the Finals, I don't think that's just botching. Something's wrong with them, and Miami's taking advantage of that mismatch in coaching/decisions/etc.

At this point anyway, yes, Miami is the better basketball team.

The coach is part of the team. So yes, they've been the better team so far.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Urc Burry

Am I the only one noticing how everyone and their mothers points out the bad calls on the thunder but ignore it when it comes to the heat

There are lots of reasons why OKC shot themselves in the foot and lost. But ultimately, the biggest reason the lost was because when they lost Durant in the 3rd quarter, the team never was the same. That's no excuse for them not to perform. But you'd like to see the refs not knock out a superstar on a completely blown call.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Didn't watch much of it until the last five minutes due to the US Open, but LeBron seemed to be the difference maker down the stretch again and was the better player than Durant in the 4th.

Did the better team win tonight in the Heat or did OKC throw one away that they should have had?

LeBron played a very strong 4th quarter. Wouldn't call it superhuman, but it was very good. Wade was the liability, by a mile.

Durant seemed flat and, again, I think sitting out the 3rd took a lot of air out of his sails. I also think he played skittish, as you'd expect from a man trying not to get knocked out of the game with a 6th foul.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by okcchief

The coach is part of the team. So yes, they've been the better team so far.

Tonight was the first time in the series where Brooks was a total idiot. You can't have Perkins in this late in the game. But the free throw shooting was the difference.

[okcchief]

Durant's 4th foul was questionable.

These teams are pretty close. Miami has stepped up to the challenge and are playing better ball than they were against Boston. It's really down to game 4 now. If OKC doesn't win that game they are in big trouble. Though I won't count us out since we beat SA 4 games in a row.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

LeBron played a very strong 4th quarter. Wouldn't call it superhuman, but it was very good. Wade was the liability, by a mile.

Yeah, I see that in the box score. Also Wade almost singlehandedly gave the game away there at the end with his careless dribbling and poor pull-up shot.

Durant seemed flat and, again, I think sitting out the 3rd took a lot of air out of his sails. I also think he played skittish, as you'd expect from a man trying not to get knocked out of the game with a 6th foul.

It can be difficult to play your first road NBA Finals game, I'm sure he'll be better.

[okcchief]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Tonight was the first time in the series where Brooks was a total idiot. You can't have Perkins in this late in the game. But the free throw shooting was the difference.

He was pretty bad in game 2 too IMO. No way Perkins should play more minutes than Collison in this series.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by SNR

We'll see, but since the Thunder have thrown away two consecutive playoff games in the Finals, I don't think that's just botching. Something's wrong with them, and Miami's taking advantage of that mismatch in coaching/decisions/etc.

At this point anyway, yes, Miami is the better basketball team.

Miami's dealt with this pressure before just last year and are probably better for it (LeBron is certainly having a much better series than in 2011). OKC hasn't, it's a new experience for them.

It's going to be tough to pick up one of the next two games in Miami, but the Thunder are capable of it if they play their best basketball. We saw them do it in San Antonio...they can do it again.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by okcchief

He was pretty bad in game 2 too IMO. No way Perkins should play more minutes than Collison in this series.

I see no progress was made in that area today. Collison 13 minutes...Perkins 33.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by okcchief

He was pretty bad in game 2 too IMO. No way Perkins should play more minutes than Collison in this series.

From what I've seen, the Heat have a more difficult time keeping up with the quicker, more athletic lineup that the Thunder put out on the floor with Collison and Ibaka.

[okcchief]

Originally Posted by milkman

From what I've seen, the Heat have a more difficult time keeping up with the quicker, more athletic lineup that the Thunder put out on the floor with Collison and Ibaka.

Yes, the only person who doesn't admit that is Scott Brooks.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by milkman

From what I've seen, the Heat have a more difficult time keeping up with the quicker, more athletic lineup that the Thunder put out on the floor with Collison and Ibaka.

I think everyone sees that except Brooks. I love Perk but I am still puzzled why you take the infinitely better player Ibaka out and have Perk play

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by Urc Burry

Am I the only one noticing how everyone and their mothers points out the bad calls on the thunder but ignore it when it comes to the heat

I only try to bitch about the complete obvious ones like throwing the ball off the back of the backboard when the refs is staring right at it. That is a potential 5-point swing. Those are huge blown calls that should never happen in the NBA Finals.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

I only try to bitch about the complete obvious ones like throwing the ball off the back of the backboard when the refs is staring right at it. That is a potential 5-point swing. Those are huge blown calls that should never happen in the NBA Finals.

I think that's one that might be hard to see in real time.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Yeah, I see that in the box score. Also Wade almost singlehandedly gave the game away there at the end with his careless dribbling and poor pull-up shot.


It can be difficult to play your first road NBA Finals game, I'm sure he'll be better.

I don't think the road game had much to do with it. He was terrific going into the 3rd quarter. As I said, OKC and Durant had unbelievable momentum, and then the air just completely went out of their sails when Durant got called for his 4th. Nobody seemed to get in sync.

That can be fairly difficult for a guy like Durant. It makes it harder to fight throughs screens and it makes you cautious rather than an attacker. I think if he stays out of foul trouble, he'll be back to his usual 4th quarter form.

While the refs really botched his 4th, Durant also was pretty dumb about the way he drew his 3rd and 5th. That's one area where his immaturity showed.