[lynchburgwildcats]

I think they probably will (and should) because they could get a better shot at Wiggins next year. Imagine Noel, Wiggins and Irving on the same team. That would probably be more than enough to draw Lebron back to Cleveland. The only issue would be not having enough shots to go around.

I'd love to see them gamble and trade the pick. If you want a project big man that can at least give you some time go after the kid from Maryland. I say trade it for 2 first rounders, preferably this year, but splitting would fine, some 2nd rounders and change. Cleveland wants back in the play offs next year, and IMO, Noel isn't getting them there. Trading the pick, getting the kid from Maryland another first rounder and a 'fill the need' veteran would.
Plus, UK big men don't have a great reputation in the league.

Problem is that Chad Ford said in a live chat on ESPN today that no one wants the #1 and no one wants to give up anything of value for it.

[lynchburgwildcats]

Alex Len wasn't that good at Maryland (12 and 8 in 26 minutes as a sophomore in a weak ACC) and is dealing with ankle problems already. I'm not sure I would take any of the top big men this year in the lottery except maybe Noel and stash him on IR for a season.

Oh he's a project, no doubt about it, but I love his upside and how quickly he picks things up. This way you don't gamble an over all #1 on a weak big man class but can still get one with a lower pick. Cleveland is putting a lot of their franchise on Noel if they take him #1. Take Len 5-10 and you have some wiggle room.

No one is putting much of any of their franchise on this draft. It's not like their investing a 10+ million a year contract into the player and automatically taking themselves out of the running for any valuable free agents. You don't see any NBA teams being roundly criticized for "putting a lot of their franchise on" the #1 pick from a horrible NBA draft like 2000, which might just be the worst draft in NBA history, and people are saying this 2013 class rivals that. Crappy drafts happen, and even the most unreasonable folks understand that.

[NotAJerry]

You simply cannot allow Lebron free access to the basket for a game winning shot. Make him hit a jumper if he gets the ball.

[thepostman]

That was awful it was as if Indy felt they had already won

[Purple Haize]

The Pacers have the Heat right where they want them. They've proved they can beat them but since I don't believe the Heat have lost a series after losing Game 1, the Pacers should be odds on favorites the rest of the way!

[RubberMallet]

they might win a game or 2 but you could see the heat doing all the tricky old vet things that eventually got them that victory over the young kids.

[lynchburgwildcats]

While not having Hibbert in was a critical error, there are many other things to blame on that final possession.

1) Paul George played terrible defense every way imaginable. First he over played. Secondly, he overplayed to his right hand, apparently trying to force LeBron left. LeBron shoots well over 50% going to his left, 48% going to his right. Terrible scouting report defense. Honestly the way he defended the play, it looked like he had no clue what the heck he was doing out there. For all George did well in the game, he really made some monumentally bad mistakes in OT, things that the moron talking heads at ESPN like Skip Bayless would vehemently hate on LeBron for if he had made those same mistakes.

2) Sam Young didn't even attempt to foul LeBron to play defense

3) Sam Young was in the game. TRust me, dude does not play good defense. I don't know how in the world Vogel would ever think it would be better to have Sam Young in the game over Hibbert.

4) Vogel made the decision to match up man-to-man to spread the floor defensively, allowing LeBron the space to penetrate. There were five players on the floor, only three of them had any realistic chance of getting the ball for the final shot in LeBron, Bosh, and Allen.

5) Whoever received the inbound pass wasn't going to be passing the ball out to anyone else, why did no one collapse into the lane when it was obvious the inbound pass was going to LeBron? Yeah sure, Young shifted over to do nothing but watch. Hansbrough just stood in the corner and watched. David West just jogged back to try to provide help. George Hill had his back turned to the ball.

6) Why have David West guarding the inbound pass? He was barely even defending the inbound pass to begin with! You know who Miami wants to get the ball there, and it was some fellow named LeBron. Why not have David West or someone else helping double LeBron to deny him the ball? There wasn't enough time for the inbound pass receiver to get the ball back to the inbounder with enough time to get off a decent shot. The inbound passer - in this case Battier - offered very little in the way of beating the Pacers in this situation.

[thepostman]

there was so much wrong with that last possession. It is just clear the Pacers thought they had the game wrapped up.

It will either help them become better or completely demoralize them in this series will be over before it even began....

[Purple Haize]

there was so much wrong with that last possession. It is just clear the Pacers thought they had the game wrapped up.

It will either help them become better or completely demoralize them in this series will be over before it even began....

I thought the thought process of Vogel was good but turned out wrong. I'm not saying its what I would have done but see why he did what he did. He came out after the 2nd TO and they switched on every screen. Hibbert probably wouldn't have been under the basket anyways. It was sound reasoning but just didn't work out. I wouldn't have switched all screens but I'm not in the NBA

[thepostman]

I was more talking about the way they played lebron on that possession and that lack of urgency they showed as a whole.

I think Hibbert should've been in, but you are probably right about him being away from the basket. Hibbert not being in was minor compared to the lack of urgency and all around laziness the Pacers showed on that possession.

[NotAJerry]

The Pacers didn't show any laziness/lack of urgency on that play. 4 guys had their player covered tight and George overcommitted when all he needed to do was stop at the left elbow, stay in front of Lebron, and contest whatever shot he put up. The moment George overcommitted it opened up an easy lane to the basket since everyone else was hustling to where they were supposed to be and were giving the other Heat players no room.

[Purple Haize]

The Pacers didn't show any laziness/lack of urgency on that play. 4 guys had their player covered tight and George overcommitted when all he needed to do was stop at the left elbow, stay in front of Lebron, and contest whatever shot he put up. The moment George overcommitted it opened up an easy lane to the basket since everyone else was hustling to where they were supposed to be and were giving the other Heat players no room.

Yeah, you can create volumes of videos where a player tries to be the hero when all they had to be was normal. Hard to blame a player for effort, but man just do your job!
I still like them to go 6 or 7 and am pulling for the Pacers. Stern would have multiple ulcers if two small market teams were in the Finals. I mean can the casual fan even name 3 starters for the Pacers? And Reggie Miller doesn't count.

[lynchburgwildcats]

I was more talking about the way they played lebron on that possession and that lack of urgency they showed as a whole.

I think Hibbert should've been in, but you are probably right about him being away from the basket. Hibbert not being in was minor compared to the lack of urgency and all around laziness the Pacers showed on that possession.

Well with what David West did, which was essentially nothing but stand there, they could have parked Hibbert in the paint.

[NotAJerry]

It's amazing how the last 3-4 minutes has been so blatantly pro Miami from the officials. Heat players are flopping all over the place and getting every call, the refs are inventing reasons to hand out technicals to Indiana, and it's still just a tied game. Now Lebron is crying about getting called for a foul where he smacked Paul George in the stomach.

[Purple Haize]

It's amazing how the last 3-4 minutes has been so blatantly pro Miami from the officials. Heat players are flopping all over the place and getting every call, the refs are inventing reasons to hand out technicals to Indiana, and it's still just a tied game. Now Lebron is crying about getting called for a foul where he smacked Paul George in the stomach.

That was a legite T on Hansborough.

[NotAJerry]

It's amazing how the last 3-4 minutes has been so blatantly pro Miami from the officials. Heat players are flopping all over the place and getting every call, the refs are inventing reasons to hand out technicals to Indiana, and it's still just a tied game. Now Lebron is crying about getting called for a foul where he smacked Paul George in the stomach.

That was a legite T on Hansborough.

I'll quote Brian Shaw from the previous tech, "Ball don't lie!"

[Purple Haize]

Juwaun Howard is looking very stylish though.

[Purple Haize]

Fire away Bosh. Fire away! My theory of The Heat winning a series that they lose their first game my be legit! Who played worse down the stretch: Stephenson or James?

[NotAJerry]

I did not expect Indiana to be so competitive in Miami. I thought they could push the series to 6 or 7, but they really should be up 2-0 now. It's going to be very interesting to see how things go in Indy the next two games.

[Purple Haize]

I did not expect Indiana to be so competitive in Miami. I thought they could push the series to 6 or 7, but they really should be up 2-0 now. It's going to be very interesting to see how things go in Indy the next two games.

It's Race Weekend I knew they'd win one!

[lynchburgwildcats]

Fire away Bosh. Fire away! My theory of The Heat winning a series that they lose their first game my be legit! Who played worse down the stretch: Stephenson or James?

They better learn how to play like something more than a D League team when the Heat come rolling in to town then.

[NotAJerry]

I don't know if there's a more surprising story than San Antonio going back to the finals.

[RubberMallet]

the best part about it is that it pisses david stern off.

[Purple Haize]

the best part about it is that it pisses david stern off.

Which is why I long for a San Antonio v Pacers final!

[RubberMallet]

i hope pop says something....i think stern would be ok with heat/pacers. heat you have obviously your main superstar...you want him in the finals...but stern has always been pro young players over the vets. for obvious reasons. he doesn't care about the east at this point in my opinion. he's just ticked the spurs came out of the east...uncle drewing their way past 2 young teams (talking about starters) to do it.