NBA 2012-2013

[Surfah]

This is a terrible officiating crew. The only thing that could make it worse is if Joey Crawford were part of it.

[Surfah]

I can't believe Miami is going to Wade and Bosh. I hope they lose.

[MarkGrace]

Looking like one of those games that favors the Pacers.

[Surfah]

Congrats Bosh you're now shooting 30%. Can't stand Avatar.

[MarkGrace]

But he's got 7 boards, which I think matches his total from the first 6 games.

[Surfah]

San Antonio and Heat should be fun.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

LeBron is an absolute freak. He's gotten help on offense this game, so he goes into full on shut down defense mode. He can lock up any guy on his own, while also being the best help defender on the floor. And he happens to be the best offensive player, maybe ever.

[Surfah]

It seems like game 7's are always blowouts.

[Surfah]

Was that a fan going after the Pacers' bench?

What is it with Miami's fans? They're all nuts.

[Surfah]

Was that a fan going after the Pacers' bench?

What is it with Miami's fans? They're all nuts.

Ha! Flo Rida's manager. This club can't even handle me right now!

[Art Vandelay]

In sure this kid has a long and successful career ahead of him...just like Britney, Lindsay, and Amanda.

[smokymountainrain]

LeBron is an absolute freak. He's gotten help on offense this game, so he goes into full on shut down defense mode. He can lock up any guy on his own, while also being the best help defender on the floor. And he happens to be the best offensive player, maybe ever.

Crazy that the Heat won by 23 points with Bosh and Wade shooting a combined 10-29 FGs.

LeBron is the greatest game 7 scorer in NBA history and he isn't even known as a scorer. If anything he gets criticized because he's too unselfish. Further evidence that he can do it all and does do it all - often at the highest level.

[Surfah]

It's not fair that someone as big as he is can jump this high.

It reminds me of that old Lew Alcindor rebound picture.

[smokymountainrain]

Winner of game 1 wins the title, IMO. If SAS wins game 1, take it to the bank, the Heat are toast - might even be a sweep. If Miami wins game 1, it's far from a lock, but it means the short rest time didn't hurt too much and I think LeBron will take care of things from there.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Winner of game 1 wins the title, IMO. If SAS wins game 1, take it to the bank, the Heat are toast - might even be a sweep. If Miami wins game 1, it's far from a lock, but it means the short rest time didn't hurt too much and I think LeBron will take care of things from there.

The Heat haven't lost back to back games in forever. Sweep? No way, not unless some of LeBron's cyborg parts fall off.

The NBA playoffs so far has been a great example of how much match-ups can matter. San Antonio looked old and out classed last year against an OKC team with elite wings and offense. This year GS took two games off them, but SA railroaded a far superior Memphis team because they had the unique offense that could shred Memphis' defense and good enough team defense to expose the limited Grizz offense. Miami cruised past OKC in the finals last year, but looked mortal going up against big, bruising defenses like Chicago and Indiana this year even though LeBron is a much better player. Certainly Wade's limitations and Bosh's vagina played into those struggles. But the past two years those have really been the only type of teams that have given Miami much trouble. I can't remember where I read it yesterday, but I agree that Chicago and Indiana presented the perfect kind of defense to limit Miami's offense, while SA will potentially have the offensive kryptonite to Miami's defense. But I expect Bosh to have a far bigger role in the Finals because there isn't a David West, Roy Hibbert, or Joakim Noah in this series abusing him and making him wave the flag for mercy.

I'm excited to see LeBron on Parker at times, and to see how well Kawhi can do against LBJ. Even with the rest, this is a dang long season for Duncan's and Ginobli's legs. A major key to me is the shooting of Allen/Chalmers and Green/Bonner/Neal. I think if Miami tries to swarm on defense like they did in Game 7 against Indiana, SA will pick them apart. But Miami is pretty dang good when they play defense straight up too, because James can shut down whoever he goes against, and their rotations are generally as good as any other team. I've read lots of analysis already about SA being a battle tested team, and that's certainly true about their own Big 3. But Ginobli is averaging 9 ppg and shooting 38% in the playoffs. And outside of him, Parker, and Duncan, this finals experience is very new for the rest of the team.

Miami in 6.