NBA Chatter Thread

[Texas Ace]

You know I'm looking forward to it.

It's like Christmas Eve when you're a kid where I'll probably have trouble sleeping because I'll be too excited about getting to listen to all the whimpering and whining in the morning.

Why wait? I'm sure there's at least one local sports station there that does a post game show.

You can tune in tonight!

 

[1bigfan13]

Also, best part about this beat down is I get to listen to Heat fans/radio whine about it all weekend as Game 5 isn't until Sunday night.

 

[Texas Ace]

The Heat look a lot like the Cavs in Lebron's final 2 years there.

All Lebron and not much of anything else.

As an aside, when the Spurs when this thing picking the Finals MVP is going to be tough. No one has really stood out. Could it be Boris Diaw? Sounds funny suggesting that but he's been one of there most consistent players this series. Leonard has been great these past two games but he no-showed in both San Antonio games.

If Leonard has another good game when they close it out, I would give it to him.

His emergence has played a huge part in the Spurs' dominance in these last 2 games.

 

[1bigfan13]

Why wait? I'm sure there's at least one local sports station there that does a post game show.

You can tune in tonight!

There is but it's the morning show guys that really rubbed me the wrong way.

 

[1bigfan13]

I kind of think playing in that weak ass Eastern Conference didn't do Miami any favors. Sure they got an easy trip to the Finals out of it but as many believe, going through fire builds iron. It's as if they weren't ready for the higher level of competition.

 

[Deuce]

The San Antonio White Walkers destroy all in their path. Winter has come to Miami.

 

[Texas Ace]

I kind of think playing in that weak ass Eastern Conference didn't do Miami any favors. Sure they got an easy trip to the Finals out of it but as many believe, going through fire builds iron. It's as if they weren't ready for the higher level of competition.

I don't know if it hurt them, but playing in such an awful conference and having such a ridiculously easy path to the Finals certainly couldn't help.

I said this last year and the year before - Miami just isn't a great team. If not for some missed free throws, this team would have one championship in 4 chances.

They really need to re-evaluate how they want to build this team going forward. I think Lebron stays, but what do you do next? The big 3 with a bunch of non-reliable players just has too many flaws. I know you can't have a steak on every plate, but they need to look at the Spurs and see it's better to have a team with five or six 8's and no 10's than to have 3 supposed 10's surrounded by a bunch of 3's or worse.

Bring back Lebron, see if Bosh is being honest about taking a significant pay cut, and let Wade walk and see if you can get Melo to take a discount and try and trade for some solid bench players, and really make an effort to bring in either a solid big man or PG.

Even if those bench players aren't capable of getting 20 points, if they can just consistently get you 12, than that is much much better than what they've gotten from their bench since this team was assembled.

 

[Simpleton]

I kind of think playing in that weak ass Eastern Conference didn't do Miami any favors. Sure they got an easy trip to the Finals out of it but as many believe, going through fire builds iron. It's as if they weren't ready for the higher level of competition.

Yea, I mean alot of people said that as they were going through the complete shit show of Charlotte/Brooklyn/Indiana. And for Ace, Wade would have to opt out if they want to get rid of him and I'd be surprised if that happens at this point.

 

[1bigfan13]

Someone on tv was saying all 3 would have to opt out in order for Melo to even be a possibility.

Personally I'd hate to see Melo go to Miami. It cheapens things, in my opinion.

I wouldn't mind seeing him go to Chicago, but going to Miami would feel incredibly sleazy.

I guess modern players are more "if you can't best them, join them" than "to be the best, beat the best".

Where's the personal pride?

 

[1bigfan13]

Also, Melo and his handlers should realize that you don't have to align yourself with 2 our 3 other star players to win. He and another star player could make a real run at the title provided the supporting cast is solid and there's a good coach in place.

Melo's problem in N.Y.was largely self inflicted. He was too impatient. He could have played out that last year in Denver then left to N.Y. as a free agent. Doing so would have left the Knicks roster intact. Instead he short of forced the Nuggets' hand and they ended up trading him which resulted in the Knicks gutting their roster and giving up draft picks.

Who knows, if he'd have taken a long term approach to his career rather than focusing solely on the near term maybe the Knicks at least get to the conference Finals.

A healthy Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Mozgov would certainly have made the Knicks one of the deeper teams in the East. Instead they had to gut the depth just to acquire Melo.

 

[Deuce]

Someone on tv was saying all 3 would have to opt out in order for Melo to even be a possibility.

Personally I'd hate to see Melo go to Miami. It cheapens things, in my opinion.

I wouldn't mind seeing him go to Chicago, but going to Miami would feel incredibly sleazy.

I guess modern players are more "if you can't best them, join them" than "to be the best, beat the best".

Where's the personal pride?

Ya, I think they all have to opt out and then agree to resign for less money for Melo to have a chance at taking less money to be there.

And as far as the "cheapening things" comment...well I said from the day they all colluded to be together in the first place that that was the case. I still believe that, thought it is awesome that it looks like they'll lose just as many finals appearances as they did win. This series is almost as fun to watch as when they lost to Dallas.

 

[Texas Ace]

I wouldn't mind seeing him go to Chicago, but going to Miami would feel incredibly sleazy.

I guess modern players are more "if you can't best them, join them" than "to be the best, beat the best".

Where's the personal pride?

I could be wrong, but Melo strikes me as the type that wants to be the unquestioned best player on his team.

For that reason, I don't think he joins the super team in Miami. My guess is he goes to Houston or Chicago, where he would get help from other all stars, but he would still be recognized as the go-to-guy and the one most responsible for getting X team to the championship.

Melo's problem in N.Y.was largely self inflicted. He was too impatient. He could have played out that last year in Denver then left to N.Y. as a free agent. Doing so would have left the Knicks roster intact. Instead he short of forced the Nuggets' hand and they ended up trading him which resulted in the Knicks gutting their roster and giving up draft picks.

It wasn't just impatience, though. He made it known for quite some time that NY was a desired destination of his and I think that had a lot to do with his wife seeking to further her career.

 

[Texas Ace]

And as far as the "cheapening things" comment...well I said from the day they all colluded to be together in the first place that that was the case. I still believe that, thought it is awesome that it looks like they'll lose just as many finals appearances as they did win. This series is almost as fun to watch as when they lost to Dallas.

I don't hate Miami like I used to, but I still want them to lose.

It really is a shame that Ginobili and Leonard couldn't hit their free throws last year in game 6, or Miami would only have one championship and 3 Finals losses in this 4 year span, and that would've been worthy.

 

[Smitty]

Ya, I think they all have to opt out and then agree to resign for less money for Melo to have a chance at taking less money to be there.

And as far as the "cheapening things" comment...well I said from the day they all colluded to be together in the first place that that was the case. I still believe that, thought it is awesome that it looks like they'll lose just as many finals appearances as they did win. This series is almost as fun to watch as when they lost to Dallas.

It would be even better if they had lost to the Spurs last year too like they should have.

 

[1bigfan13]

Quite comical video of Dwyane Wade's lackluster defensive effort during the Finals.

 

[Texas Ace]

Spurs win tonight and it's not even close.

It'll be their third straight victory of 15 plus, and they're fourth overall of the series.

Has any team in Finals history won all 4 games by 15 or more?

 

[1bigfan13]

Spurs win tonight and it's not even close.

It'll be their third straight victory of 15 plus, and they're fourth overall of the series.

Has any team in Finals history won all 4 games by 15 or more?

I think Miami comes out strong but after that initial wave of adrenaline wears off I think the Spurs slowly take control and wear them out with their superior ball movement.

I expect LeBron to have a huge game but I don't see anyone else on the Heat stepping up to give him the help necessary to beat the Spurs.

The Heat are the older team and it shows. They take entirely too many plays off, especially on the defensive end. The Spurs will run them ragged with all their movement and by the late 3rd quarter I expect the Spurs to be in full control.

And if by chance the Heat play balls out and actually win tonight, with the short turnaround and having to play again on Tuesday night, I don't think they'll recover enough to play elite basketball in back to back games.

 

[Carp]

Parker is a complete bitch and Lebron is going full on Jordan.

 

[Carp]

I hate Ginobili.

 

[Deuce]

If I were the Spurs, I would welcome this new Heat starting lineup. They can be bullied in the post. But the Spurs have barely tried them down there.