NBA Playoffs 2011

[Surfah]

How much did James guard Terry in the 2nd half last night? I know he guarded him for much of the 4th quarter but I didn't see when he actually switched over.

James' versatile dominance on defense in these playoffs seems like a huge story to me. Players simply don't play 45 mpg, run the show on offense, nearly average a double-double, and serve as the team's defensive stopper, especially not in the post-season.

LBJ is a great defender, but Terry was wide open on most of his shots. He just missed. So did Peja and that runt JJ. This bench that was scoring 60+ points a game against the Lakers sucked last night.

[Jacob]

LBJ is a great defender, but Terry was wide open on most of his shots. He just missed. So did Peja and that runt JJ. This bench that was scoring 60+ points a game against the Lakers sucked last night.

Yep. If Dallas shoots 3s like they did against the Lakers, they win the series. If they shoot like last night, they lose. I'm guessing it'll be somewhere in between and they'll make a series out of it.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

LBJ is a great defender, but Terry was wide open on most of his shots. He just missed. So did Peja and that runt JJ. This bench that was scoring 60+ points a game against the Lakers sucked last night.

He only took 10 shots. All of his makes (3 from the field and 3 from the line) were in the first half. He had no rhythm in the 2nd half at all because he wasn't seeing the ball as much and wasn't able to get a decent shot up when he did.

It is absurd that a 6'8", 250 lb guy can have that kind of effect on players like Terry and Rose.

[Jacob]

He only took 10 shots. All of his makes (3 from the field and 3 from the line) were in the first half. He had no rhythm in the 2nd half at all because he wasn't seeing the ball as much and wasn't able to get a decent shot up when he did.

It is absurd that a 6'8", 250 lb guy can have that kind of effect on players like Terry and Rose.

Scottie Pippen had that effect on guys like Stockton.

[Surfah]

He only took 10 shots. All of his makes (3 from the field and 3 from the line) were in the first half. He had no rhythm in the 2nd half at all because he wasn't seeing the ball as much and wasn't able to get a decent shot up when he did.

It is absurd that a 6'8", 250 lb guy can have that kind of effect on players like Terry and Rose.

I guess. But Terry was still wide open with LBJ no where near him on many of those shots. There were two consecutive plays where they reversed the ball to Terry and then when Dirk passed out of the corner to the opposite side and Terry just missed. Maybe he was worried that LBJ would come swat his shot away from 10' out (He did get fouled on the follow through by James on that corner 3).

[Donuthole]

Yep. If Dallas shoots 3s like they did against the Lakers, they win the series. If they shoot like last night, they lose. I'm guessing it'll be somewhere in between and they'll make a series out of it.

Also, Barea missed 4 layups at the rim that he was making in the previous 3 series. If he makes 3 of those, it's a different game. After starting the 3rd Q hot, the Mavs went ice cold for the rest of that quarter. By the time James hit that three to end the quarter, the game was pretty much over.

[Donuthole]

(He did get fouled on the follow through by James on that corner 3).

Nah, i thought so too, initially. But LeBron landed cleanly, and then Terry tried to sell it. He flopped.

[Surfah]

Nah, i thought so too, initially. But LeBron landed cleanly, and then Terry tried to sell it. He flopped.

He hit his arm on the follow through. The shot was off and it was after the fact, but it was still a foul. It didn't warrant Terry flopping to the ground though.

I still haven't decided who I want to win more. The Heat so Terry has to laser off his tattoo or the Mavs because I really like Cuban and would like to see LBJ be the ringless king. Unlikely.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Scottie Pippen had that effect on guys like Stockton.

Yep. And it completely changes what a defense can do, especially when you have Ron Harper or Mike Miller on the court as your PG so the opposing SG/SF doesn't have a big advantage on the switch.

But Pippen played at what, 215 lbs? LBJ guarding PGs at 250 or 260 is nuts.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Also, Barea missed 4 layups at the rim that he was making in the previous 3 series. If he makes 3 of those, it's a different game. After starting the 3rd Q hot, the Mavs went ice cold for the rest of that quarter. By the time James hit that three to end the quarter, the game was pretty much over.

And I don't think Miami is going to shoot it from 3 consistently like they did in Game 1.

[Jacob]

I still don't understand the 2-3-2 format for the finals. It puts Dallas at an even bigger disadvantage after losing game 1.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

On the money, or reading too much into a few playoff games on a team that is still just in its first year of figuring out how to play together?

I have no clear answer for what ails Dwyane, but he does seem half himself. And the most jarring indicator comes from the past, not the present. I recently watched two 2006 Finals games, only to discover an athlete I’d forgotten.

Young Flash was faster, more springy. Today, Wade’s among the craftiest operators–a North American Ginobili. Back then, he could impose his athletic will without much lateral trickery. There was a brutally efficient aura to the constant driving. So often, he threw inexorable physicality towards a logical end. It was like Dwyane made his body the sandpaper that erodes another team’s will.

And sometimes he would hit a bank shot.

The style was unsustainable and that player is gone. It’s hard to know if Wade changed due to a conscious effort or due diminished athleticism. But I do know that the 2011 athlete is more refined and less powerful. He looks to be compensating these days.

This makes me wonder about Miami’s future: Is Wade the Sword of Damocles, hanging over this whole operation? A repeated meme is the idea that, if the Heat win this series, the decade is theirs. Confidence will perpetuate. Great veteran players will take pay cuts to join Miami’s dynastic glories. Seven championships will be attainable.

But, what of Wade? He’s 29. He lacks the outside shot that can extend a two-guard’s career. And he has a half decade of immense salary on the books. I can’t predict where the next CBA will zag or zig, but I would imagine that owing Dwyane through 2016 will get onerous.

At 32, Kobe Bryant is the expensive, declining superstar who hinders future L.A. rebuilding efforts. And Kobe’s game is better suited for aging than Dwyane’s. The Heat would be lucky to have 32 year-old Wade match 32 year-old Bryant in effectiveness.

http://hoopspeak.com/2011/06/does-wa...80%99s-future/

[MartyFunkhouser]

On the money, or reading too much into a few playoff games on a team that is still just in its first year of figuring out how to play together?



http://hoopspeak.com/2011/06/does-wa...80%99s-future/

There are definitely some intriguing points made, but I can't quite make a call of on the money or reading too much into it. Wade will need to improve his off the ball play, but I don't see any reason why he can't do that and still be effective.

One thing is for sure though, anyone saying Bron Bron is riding the coattails of Wade is ridiculous. I dislike Bron Bron as much as anyone, but there is no doubt who is the leader and best player on that team. The way Bron Bron is playing right now, he would have won a title even if he remained with the Cavs. Amazing what the guy can do when he decides not to quit.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

There are definitely some intriguing points made, but I can't quite make a call of on the money or reading too much into it. Wade will need to improve his off the ball play, but I don't see any reason why he can't do that and still be effective.

One thing is for sure though, anyone saying Bron Bron is riding the coattails of Wade is ridiculous. I dislike Bron Bron as much as anyone, but there is no doubt who is the leader and best player on that team. The way Bron Bron is playing right now, he would have won a title even if he remained with the Cavs. Amazing what the guy can do when he decides not to quit.

Almost as amazing as what he does when he does "quit".

[smokymountainrain]

Almost as amazing as what he does when he does "quit".

Seriously - he has yet to record a triple double in these playoffs (?), yet after quitting in the series Funk loves to refer to, he had an impressive triple double. Perhaps he should quit in this series too and all but guarantee a championship for the Heat.