****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

[KevB]

This was an incredible play that they didn't even replay last night:

Serge denies LeBron

[BIG_DADDY]

I didn't realize the Thunder could play that badly. You can't expect to win in the finals when the whole team doesn't show up a good portion of the game.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

I didn't realize the Thunder could play that badly. You can't expect to win in the finals when the whole team doesn't show up a good portion of the game.

FFS you are ridiculous. OKC didn't play that poorly.

Westbrook/Durant shot 22/48 (46%)
Lebron/Wade shot 20/42 (48%)

Harden/Ibaka were 9/15 (60%)
Bosh/Battier were 12/21 (57%)

Miami won the 1st qtr. OKC won the 3rd & 4th. They tied the 2nd.

OKC didn't play terrible and Miami didn't play great.

[okcchief]

I don't think either team has played great. OKC could have put themselves in a better position to win, but they didn't. Too relaxed early. Miami had more energy. Again, Collison 14 minutes with the effect he's had in the game there is no excuse. If Miami wins this series they'll deserve it. but I'll always feel like Scotty ****ed us this game.

We play good with our backs against the wall and it seems like the Heat do as well. This could be an epic 7 game series. I may be a lot more gray by the end.

[BIG_DADDY]

Originally Posted by okcchief

I don't think either team has played great. OKC could have put themselves in a better position to win, but they didn't. Too relaxed early. Miami had more energy. Again, Collison 14 minutes with the effect he's had in the game there is no excuse. If Miami wins this series they'll deserve it. but I'll always feel like Scotty ****ed us this game.

We play good with our backs against the wall and it seems like the Heat do as well. This could be an epic 7 game series. I may be a lot more gray by the end.

OKC needs to get out of the gates. That was ridiculous. They couldn't hit anything.

[KevB]

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

OKC needs to get out of the gates. That was ridiculous. They couldn't hit anything.

OKC started with three non-offensive players on the floor. Ibaka is getting better, but still not consistent on that end. Perkins is terrible and Thabo is Bruce Bowen (needs others to set him up). If Westbrook is missing shots, Miami can focus on Durant. Miami is a good defensive team. There's a reason the Heat have taken a big early lead to start both games, and it has more to do with one team coming to play and another not coming to play.

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

http://deadspin.com/5918716/?utm_cam...ium=socialflow

LOL

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

[L.A. Chieffan]

It's that a pic of MJ throwin dice?

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Tom Haberstroh ‏@tomhaberstroh
Another reporter follows up and asks KD if he "got mugged by LeBron" late. KD's response: "I missed the shot, man."

He's such a great ****ing kid. Everything you want in a superstar...

[okcchief]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

He's such a great ****ing kid. Everything you want in a superstar...

I've had the pleasure of meeting him a few times. It's unreal how nice he is to everyone, and it's no act. I don't know many people in my daily life who are as genuinely kind as KD. It's so refreshing.

I loved the way he and the team responded to the last play. They know they lost to the better team that night, and it's time to get better for the next game. It's the truth.

[PunkinDrublic]

Shane Battier played for the most hated team in college basketball and now plays for the most hated team in the NBA. He's like the Shooter Mcgavin of basketball.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

Yeah.. LeBron got away with a foul, big time there.

I have no problem with the non-call on that play.

You have to let the players play.

I do have a problem with the bullshit excuse that Steve Javie throws out there for the ref.

Out of position.
Please.

Stevie Wonder exiting the building from the rafter seats could have seen that contact.

Don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining.

Tell me the truth.
You simply don't want to be the guy that helps decide the game, you want the players deciding it.

I'm good with that.

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Big free throws by LeBron and a big win for the Heat on the road. They were the better team tonight and have home advantage now because of it.

The Heat were the better team in the first quarter.
The Thunder let it get to far out of control to come back all the way from the eraly huge hole they dug themselves into..

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Are you seriously arguing that LeBron didn't dominate the Thunder tonight? He went off for 32/8/5 on the way to a win in the toughest road environment in the NBA, a place where no opposing team had won yet this year in the playoffs. What more does he have to do to get respect for his play?

I have been as critical of LeBron through the years as anyone.
He has, in the past, shrunk from the biggest moments.

In this postseason, he has stepped up to those moments, whether it's the outstnding game in game 4 against the Pacers to lead the Heat when they had to have a win to even the series at 2 games, or the huge game against the Celtics, or the big free throws against the Thunder Thursday night to seal the win.

He will, win or lose this series, earn the respect of a lot of his critics.

Some people are just going to hate.

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Tom Haberstroh ‏@tomhaberstroh
Another reporter follows up and asks KD if he "got mugged by LeBron" late. KD's response: "I missed the shot, man."

This is why Durant is going to be the most loved star in the league for the next several years.

He is a class act.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by okcchief

I've had the pleasure of meeting him a few times. It's unreal how nice he is to everyone, and it's no act. I don't know many people in my daily life who are as genuinely kind as KD. It's so refreshing.

I loved the way he and the team responded to the last play. They know they lost to the better team that night, and it's time to get better for the next game. It's the truth.

Losing a guy like KD is just KILLING people in Seattle. I know, I know, I'm not going to keep this shit up forever. I'm just saying. Whatever though, ancient history.

As hard as I try, I just CAN'T root against that team. They're everything you hope for in a franchise right now. Win or lose this series, if they can keep them together, it's a dynasty in the making.

And believe it or not, I'm happy for you. Not everyone down there, but for class act, hardcore fans...Abso****inglutely. Enjoy every oz. of it.

[Chiefs Pantalones]

The Dream Team. Wow. Just wow. I miss those guys. I miss that time in the NBA. That was the NBA at its peak. Not so much now. I miss it. After the 80's and 90's it has went down. Now you have "star" players missing clutch shots better than 90% of the time, "star" players fouling out, "star" players flopping all the damn time. A lot has changed. The teams aren't as good anymore. But I still watch it lol. It's nice to see a guy like KD bring some old school class back from the dead. He's gonna do big things in his long career ahead.