[lynchburgwildcats]

How about those Pacers. Ugly all the way but not as ugly as the Heat. Tied up at 1-1 and headed to Indy.

LeBron passes up another opportunity with the game on the line.

I notice that you conveniently left Wade out of the picture. He's the one that passed to Chalmers for the game-winning attempt.

Miami's biggest problem last night was the 100% no show by LeBron and Wade's teammates and the lack of any semblance of offense other than iso LeBron and iso Wade. No team has ever won a playoff game when the third leading scorer had five or fewer points. Never happened. They can't expect to win the series if LeBron and Wade are going to have to play isolation 2-on-5 every game. Indiana isn't a great defensive team, but they are certainly more than capable of having five players contain two players.

[TDDance234]

How about those Pacers. Ugly all the way but not as ugly as the Heat. Tied up at 1-1 and headed to Indy.

LeBron passes up another opportunity with the game on the line.

I notice that you conveniently left Wade out of the picture. He's the one that passed to Chalmers for the game-winning attempt.

Miami's biggest problem last night was the 100% no show by LeBron and Wade's teammates and the lack of any semblance of offense other than iso LeBron and iso Wade. No team has ever won a playoff game when the third leading scorer had five or fewer points. Never happened. They can't expect to win the series if LeBron and Wade are going to have to play isolation 2-on-5 every game. Indiana isn't a great defensive team, but they are certainly more than capable of having five players contain two players.

Wade's not without blame; he shouldn't have blown that layup.

However, when you are the league MVP and are the leader of the widely-considered favorite to win the NBA championship, you don't float around the arc and hope nobody passes you the ball. He blew two FT's in the final minutes and deathly afraid of being put in that position again. He's the most talented player in the NBA until crunch time. He HAS to demand the ball in those circumstances.

[bballfan84]

Lebron looked absolutely terrified at the end of the game...I mean really drive to the basket and pass to shane battier in the corner for a three pt shot that wasnt really open...thats pathetic..Lebron couldnt wait to get the ball out of his hands...Durantula is the real MVP

[thepostman]

I didn't watch the game so I can't say for sure if he was once again being passive, but if true, this is exactly why earlier in this thread I said there is no way I would ever pick a Lebron James led team to win the championship. Until he proves me wrong I will stand by that.

[Purple Haize]

Wade has publicly passed the torch to James in an attempt to make LeBron feel more comfortable. But at the end of the game, Wade should take over. James fills out astat sheet, but can't finish a game.

[R i]

[NG33]

One stat that I've found interesting in regards to Lebron in the 4th Quarter is that James is just 10-of-17 on free throws in the final minute of one-possession games this season. Honestly, Lebron has been more consistently clutch this season as well as in these playoffs (Scoring the last 8 points for the Heat in game 1). However, shooting 58% from the free throw line when your team really needs the points isn't going to cut it. He still has a long ways to go before people start thinking he is reliable in the clutch

[bballfan84]

was it me or did it seem like the refs tried to give that game to the lakers to make sure the series was tied...FAIL!!! also has anyone else noticed that everytime Bynum touches the ball he travels. He has the worst footwork in the league but rarely gets called

[Purple Haize]

was it me or did it seem like the refs tried to give that game to the lakers to make sure the series was tied...FAIL!!! also has anyone else noticed that everytime Bynum touches the ball he travels. He has the worst footwork in the league but rarely gets called

We are talking about the NBA right ? And this suprised you?

[lynchburgwildcats]

LeBron called, he said he wanted his choke job crown back that Kobe stole from him last night.

[Purple Haize]

LeBron called, he said he wanted his choke job crown back that Kobe stole from him last night.

Not even close. Kobe had 4 defenders on him and was still pizzed he didn't get the ball. Pippen,errr Lebron, made a token attempt to get open being guarded by one defender and then seemed apathetic about not getting the ball. Even if the line about the play being drawn up for Chalmers is true, at least Pippen pouted back in the day when Kucok was supposed to take the final shot.

[RubberMallet]

you just have to get more out of role players....well and wade. that was pathetic last night. but mike miller, battier, and the bigs have to do more. james and wade have to drive to the lane more. stop with the jumpers. you can easily drive on this team. they went to the line like what? 6 times last night?

clippers are done. that was expected.

[lynchburgwildcats]

LeBron called, he said he wanted his choke job crown back that Kobe stole from him last night.

Not even close. Kobe had 4 defenders on him and was still pizzed he didn't get the ball. Pippen,errr Lebron, made a token attempt to get open being guarded by one defender and then seemed apathetic about not getting the ball. Even if the line about the play being drawn up for Chalmers is true, at least Pippen pouted back in the day when Kucok was supposed to take the final shot.

There is more to choking than one possession...

Here is a sequence of how all hell broke loose for him in the final two minutes of the game:
- Bryant let James Harden drive by for an uncontested layup.
- He let Kevin Durant steal the ball on a lazy entry pass for an uncontested dunk.
- He failed to catch a pass – albeit a bad one – from Steve Blake for another turnover.
- Next possession down, he forced up a fadeaway jumper which was blocked by Harden, who then sprinted down for another layup, with Bryant failing to recover defensively.
- With six seconds remaining on the shot clock, he took a 3-pointer that missed.
- With 18.6 seconds remaining in the game, he dribbled down the clock to 5.7 seconds until Thabo Sefolosha committed a foul to give.
- Unable to find Bryant, Metta World Peace threw a pass from inbounds to a wide-open Steve Blake, who missed the 3-pointer. With 2.7 seconds left, Sefolosha grabbed the rebound, but Bryant turned away in disgust instead of fouling him immediately.

http://www.sheridanhoops.com/2012/05/17 ... out-76ers/

Complete mental break down one right after the other. That's an epic choke job. If LeBron had done that, he'd be getting death threats on Twitter like Steve Blake has been.

[Purple Haize]

..and how many rings does LeBron have? The difference is that Kobe has shown he can get it done in the clutch. LePippen hasn't. IMO Kobe's current problem is that he doesn't trust his current team mates or coaches and feel he has to do it all. Which lead to a lot of bad shots and plays

[jcmanson]

The birds are chirping loudly this morning

[RubberMallet]

okc and SA will be the best series in the playoffs including the finals. i would think SA would be at a disadvantage because of age but when you've only played 8 playoff games so far you are somewhat fresh. finesse vs flash. either team can win. i think it goes 7.

that is the only chance the heat have at winning. they have to get bosh back and they have to hope the WCF's are a drag out beating.

i dont' think the 76'ers or celtics will beat the heat in 7. with or without bosh. the celtics could but i find it unlikely.

[TDDance234]

okc and SA will be the best series in the playoffs including the finals. i would think SA would be at a disadvantage because of age but when you've only played 8 playoff games so far you are somewhat fresh. finesse vs flash. either team can win. i think it goes 7.

that is the only chance the heat have at winning. they have to get bosh back and they have to hope the WCF's are a drag out beating.

i dont' think the 76'ers or celtics will beat the heat in 7. with or without bosh. the celtics could but i find it unlikely.

SA isn't as old as you might think. I'll give you Duncan and Ginobli but TD has been vintage this postseason. Parker put up one of his best seasons in the league this year. I think I remember seeing something somewhere where SA was one of the youngest teams in the league this year.

If Westbrook plays like he did against the Lakers, it's going to be awful tough to beat the Thunder.

[RubberMallet]

okc and SA will be the best series in the playoffs including the finals. i would think SA would be at a disadvantage because of age but when you've only played 8 playoff games so far you are somewhat fresh. finesse vs flash. either team can win. i think it goes 7.

that is the only chance the heat have at winning. they have to get bosh back and they have to hope the WCF's are a drag out beating.

i dont' think the 76'ers or celtics will beat the heat in 7. with or without bosh. the celtics could but i find it unlikely.

SA isn't as old as you might think. I'll give you Duncan and Ginobli but TD has been vintage this postseason. Parker put up one of his best seasons in the league this year. I think I remember seeing something somewhere where SA was one of the youngest teams in the league this year.

If Westbrook plays like he did against the Lakers, it's going to be awful tough to beat the Thunder.

many of the guys playing 20+ minutes are over 30. full roster they may be younger, but when it comes to majority of minutes, they are old. but battle tested. the matchups in this series are awesome.

[bradyfan]

okc and SA will be the best series in the playoffs including the finals. i would think SA would be at a disadvantage because of age but when you've only played 8 playoff games so far you are somewhat fresh. finesse vs flash. either team can win. i think it goes 7.

that is the only chance the heat have at winning. they have to get bosh back and they have to hope the WCF's are a drag out beating.

i dont' think the 76'ers or celtics will beat the heat in 7. with or without bosh. the celtics could but i find it unlikely.

I think I remember seeing something somewhere where SA was one of the youngest teams in the league this year.

Not sure where you saw that, they're the 7th oldest team in the league. In all honesty, Indiana was the only matchup problem for Miami and the Heat took care of that series last night. As good as Bosh is, Miami can win the finals without him. If Bosh comes back 100%, Miami wins a championship. OKC and SA don't play defense and Boston can't score against good defense. Miami is fantastic defensively and very good offensively.

[lynchburgwildcats]

http://hoopism.com/?p=2611

Spurs only the 11th oldest team, when weighted for playing time, with an average weighted age of 27.7. Thunder check in as 5th youngest at 25.36, so we're talking the Spurs being just 2.34 years older on weighted average. The Heat are 6th oldest with a weighted average of 28.53 while Boston is second oldest at 30.66

[bradyfan]

The Heat don't have one starter over 30 in what is a completely star driven league. The Spurs have one starter under 30....Just because you're 11'th and 12'th man are 20 doesn't mean you're a young team.

[lynchburgwildcats]

The Heat don't have one starter over 30 in what is a completely star driven league. The Spurs have one starter under 30....Just because you're 11'th and 12'th man are 20 doesn't mean you're a young team.

The Spurs start Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green, both are well under 30 years old at 20 and 24 respectively. Diaw and Parker are only 30. 30 isn't old in the NBA, not when guys consistently play until they are 38-40 years old. Splitter and Neal come off the bench and are only 27. Duncan, Ginobili, and Jackson are the only really old guys on the team at 36, 34, and 34 respectively and Duncan and GInobili are still clicking at a pretty high level, especially for Duncan in the playoffs. Heck, Manu just took the much younger Harden to task over and over last night.

I recalculated the adjusted age based on playoff minutes, all data taken from Basketball Reference. The adjusted age for each team is as follow:
Spurs 28.9
Thunder 25.8
Boston 29.89
Miami 28.8

Now with the players eliminated who have accumulated less than 100 playoff minutes:
Spurs 29.17
Thunder 25.57
Boston 29.93
Miami 28.9

As can be seen, the little minute scrubs account for next to nothing here...

[bradyfan]

Notice the words "star driven." Look at the stars from each team.



Spurs -

Tim Duncan - 36
Manu Ginobli - 34
Tony Parker - 30

Average Age - 33.3

Miami -

Lebron James - 27
Dwayne Wade - 30
Chris Bosh - 28

Average Age - 28.3

OKC -

Kevin Durant - 23
Russell Westbrook - 23
Harden/Perkins/Ibaka avg - 23.6 (I did this because one of these three always end up having a big night)

Average Age - 23.2

Boston -

Ray Allen - 36
Paul Pierce - 34
Kevin Garnett - 36
Rajon Rondo - 26

Average Age - 33

I took every player that matters and averaged their age. Oldest team is SA.

[thepostman]

you guys are putting too much thought into things

Miami will beat Boston because they are better right now then the Celtics and the Spurs will beat the Thunder because they aren't currently better then them. Then the Spurs will go on to beat Miami because they are better then Miami. All your crap stats about age mean absolutely nothing....

[bradyfan]

you guys are putting too much thought into things

Miami will beat Boston because they are better right now then the Celtics and the Spurs will beat the Thunder because they aren't currently better then them. Then the Spurs will go on to beat Miami because they are better then Miami. All your crap stats about age mean absolutely nothing....

OKC played terrible last night and lost by three and the Spurs won't win a game in OKC. The Thunder will take the series in six.