Playoff Thread

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The one thing that needs to stop is Lebron's flopping. DJ Augustine gets screened by James and he falls to the ground like he got hit by a semi??? When he got could in the 4th on a drive, he went to the ground like he got shot down by a Patriot missile. Stop flopping...

The double flop.
http://puu.sh/33wu3.gif

One positive thing I can say is that I forgot how much I enjoyed watching a good post player post up and get his shot. Growing up, it was beautiful to watch the footwork of Kevin McHale, Akeem Olajuwon, Kareem, etc. and Roy Hibbert, while nowhere near that good yet, has shown that a big guy who works on his footwork and moves still has a place in the game. The Heat just have no answer for him.

That double flop,was as bad as any you see on the soccer field. Did or is either getting warned for the no flopping rule? I still have not seen anything

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Given the WCF are over looks like David Stern wants a 7 game series in the East

I don't get this.

If there was another NBA grand conspiracy, it would want a Spurs-Heat finals and having Pacers take Heat as far as a Game 7 is taking a chance it doesn't make sense they would take.

Can you imagine Lebron James fouling out of a Game 7 in Miami. He'd have to decapitate a guy to have that called against him after the way Game 4 was officiated for him. There is no way the Heat lose a Game 7 in Miami unless someone from Indiana goes off for 45-50 points and can't be stopped.

I enjoy watching the games when it gets to this point of the playoffs, but I still remember when I first became suspicious of the NBA officiating. It was the 1987 playoffs and the Bucks were in a Game 7 in the Boston Garden. The Bucks were up 8-10 points with 5 minutes left in the game. Paul Pressey had been handling Larry Bird the whole game. My Dad then says "You watch. There is no way the NBA wants the Bucks to advance here. Paul Pressey will pick up a couple of cheap fouls." Sure enough, Pressey fouls out; Bird gets hot; and the Bucks lose."

http://www.complex.com/sports/...y/celtics-bucks-1987

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That double flop,was as bad as any you see on the soccer field. Did or is either getting warned for the no flopping rule? I still have not seen anything

Fines came out today. James, West, and Stephenson -- $5k

Where's the fines for Wade and Battier?

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I enjoy watching the games when it gets to this point of the playoffs, but I still remember when I first became suspicious of the NBA officiating. It was the 1987 playoffs and the Bucks were in a Game 7 in the Boston Garden. The Bucks were up 8-10 points with 5 minutes left in the game. Paul Pressey had been handling Larry Bird the whole game. My Dad then says "You watch. There is no way the NBA wants the Bucks to advance here. Paul Pressey will pick up a couple of cheap fouls." Sure enough, Pressey fouls out; Bird gets hot; and the Bucks lose."

Wow, I remember the game well.

It was at that exact point (8-10 up) that I said to my brother, "If they can keep this cushion another couple minutes, I think they are gonna get it!"

Pressey picked up those two fouls within about 20 seconds.

It was an absolute disgrace.

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If there was another NBA grand conspiracy, it would want a Spurs-Heat finals and having Pacers take Heat as far as a Game 7 is taking a chance it doesn't make sense they would take.

It's not taking a chance when the team they want (Miami) ends up in the Finals anyway.

Look over the last 25 years of the Conference Finals or NBA Finals. Lots of game 7s. Why? They usually fall on Sundays or in prime time - and extra eyeballs will be watching the "drama" unfold.

Since the Lakers/Kings series 10 years ago I am convinced there is some element of fixing involved in the NBA playoffs. We've seen too many coincidences over the years to suggest otherwise. Maybe it is subtle - i.e. somebody gets calls and others don't, but if you watch the games it really makes you wonder if the refs intentionally try to influence the outcome of these games.

The irony of the current situation is that years back the Heat were on the receiving end - i.e. in the "Knick Bavetta" days. It all comes full circle I guess.

And yes, I believe the NBA draft lottery is farce as well.

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Originally posted by Tschmack:

quote:

If there was another NBA grand conspiracy, it would want a Spurs-Heat finals and having Pacers take Heat as far as a Game 7 is taking a chance it doesn't make sense they would take.

It's not taking a chance when the team they want (Miami) ends up in the Finals anyway.

Look over the last 25 years of the Conference Finals or NBA Finals. Lots of game 7s. Why? They usually fall on Sundays or in prime time - and extra eyeballs will be watching the "drama" unfold.
t
Since the Lakers/Kings series 10 years ago I am convinced there is some element of fixing involved in the NBA playoffs. We've seen too many coincidences over the years to suggest otherwise. Maybe it is subtle - i.e. somebody gets calls and others don't, but if you watch the games it really makes you wonder if the refs intentionally try to influence the outcome of these games.

The irony of the current situation is that years back the Heat were on the receiving end - i.e. in the "Knick Bavetta" days. It all comes full circle I guess.

And yes, I believe the NBA draft lottery is farce as well.

I totally agree with you. Dan Lebatard said it best about this season's finals. He said that no one wants to see Indiana vs San Antonio in the finals. Everyone wants to see Miami vs San Antonio. Stern and his cronies will see to it that it will be Miami vs San Antonio.

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Originally posted by phaedrus:

quote:

I enjoy watching the games when it gets to this point of the playoffs, but I still remember when I first became suspicious of the NBA officiating. It was the 1987 playoffs and the Bucks were in a Game 7 in the Boston Garden. The Bucks were up 8-10 points with 5 minutes left in the game. Paul Pressey had been handling Larry Bird the whole game. My Dad then says "You watch. There is no way the NBA wants the Bucks to advance here. Paul Pressey will pick up a couple of cheap fouls." Sure enough, Pressey fouls out; Bird gets hot; and the Bucks lose."

Wow, I remember the game well.

It was at that exact point (8-10 up) that I said to my brother, "If they can keep this cushion another couple minutes, I think they are gonna get it!"

Pressey picked up those two fouls within about 20 seconds.

It was an absolute disgrace.

I remember that game well. I was so p*ssed off watching the end of that game.

Well, now we can keep a watchful eye on the officiating.

Stern to Officials: "Pssst. Spurs-Heat final."

Stern say's tonight's Game 7 should be a doozy but isn't ready to give away the surprising ending!

That's funny, Chili!

Well, they sure did not need any help. Though Hibbert with 5 fouls before the fourth quarter would pretty much ensure a Pacer loss even if the game was competitive.

I didn't watch it so can't say I have any idea the 5 fouls were "just an aberration."

I tuned in twice for about 2 minutes each time. Realized right away there's no way Pacers were going to win the game.

Both times I watched (beginning of game and sometime early in 2nd quarter) a Pacer was whistled for an offensive foul for an illegal screen. They were good calls by the rules, but going the other way I watched Bosh hip checking on his screens and another time literally sticking his ass out to bump off the defender with no call and I knew the Pacers had no chance.

Didn't watch another minute of the game so I have no idea how good the Heat played or how bad the Pacers played.

There were a few cheap calls on the Pacers, notably the 5th for Hibbert and George. But the refs didn't impat this outcome. Miami played great -- they really attacked the rim and were the aggressor all game. Wade had his best game of the series and Allen hit three huge 3's in the 1st half to propel the Heat into the lead. That + LeBron + Pacer turnovers + Awful Pacer bench = Heat Blowout.

Kind of surprised no activity here after Game 1 of the finals.

It occurred to me that largely due to my not being all that passionate about the NBA, I never really saw the Spurs great team and I think this will be their last year. Someone told me Ginobili might retire and Duncan is getting even ancient.

Then it dawned on me the Spurs might be one of the Top 4-6 teams in the entire history of the NBA.

So, I watched bits and pieces of Game 1. I returned to the game at 5m left. I think the Spurs were up by 2 and told myself I had to watch it.

What a great finish. What a great shot by Parker.

And what a great franchise from the top down. Were I to essentially overlook this finals, I think I'd regret it. Just one time I want to really take in watching the Spurs and as said, I think this very well might be the final time for one of the great teams of all time for the NBA.

I didn't have access to the site until tonight.

The Heat did their blitzkrieg number tonight. But the Spurs got what they needed- a win in Miami. The Spurs turned the ball over 111 times tonight, so that was pretty much the game.

I saw bits and pieces and thought the Spurs looked slow.

The Neal and Green show... Holy moly!

Did you see Duncan's 3/4 court outlet pass? Or the save he made (from the ball going out of bounce) which resulted in a transition layup.

Man, one of the all time greats.

Yeah, Duncan did have a lot of no box score plays. 92% of game 3 winners to go up 2-1 win the series.

Parker to Dwane " a Hammy". Besides suck it up?

Positive Dosen't matter where they play.

They go back to MIA... And somehow I just think there's no chance the Spurs can close out in MIA...

San Antonio doing what they do. Popovich schemes you to death and makes the adjustments.

Don't expect them to close out Miami on the road but wouldnt be surprised if they did either.

Yeah, my intuition is I have none. No idea.

Spurs played a marvelous game. I actually thought Miami did themselves pretty well. They hung in. Didn't fold like a cheap suit.

Vince McMahoStern will not allow this NOT to go 7 games. They let MIA flop and cheap shot their way to another title and everyone will fawn over their resiliency. Truth is they aren't the better team...

Joey Crawford tonight. Didn't see that coming. He just T'd up Duncan in the locker room and called personals on Manu and Parker during warm-ups.

If Disney really does stand to make $110 million off a game 7 does Crawford get a "closers" fee?

Miami may want to think about doubling this Duncan guy. His low post game looks pretty sound.

Ray Allen with one of the biggest clutch shots you'll ever see. I can't believe we essentially traded him for 3 months of Gary Payton.

Convenient that Ginobili gets raped by Ray Allen and they swallow their whistles. But if they make their FTs, the Spurs win it. Just sucks the way it happened...

Big shocker - a game 7

Listening to ESPN radio this morning, you'd think Lebron James pulled a Michael Jordan last night. The guy did have a triple double, but he went 11-26 and looked like a deer in the headlights the last minute of regulation. He had two terrible turnovers and missed two of three 3 pointers. The only three pointer he made was when he didn't have to think about it and shot after an offensive rebound was thrown back to him. He clearly shoots reluctantly in those situations. He's a great player but he isn't a guy who wants the ball at the end.

Contrast that with Ray Allen who hit one of the biggest clutch shots in NBA history last night. Backing up to get to the three point line and then just hitting it pure.

In terms of the officiating, I didn't think the Ginobili play was that bad. He might have even travelled before the strip/foul. The bigger question is why not set up the play for Parker? Why leave him on the bench? And why isn't Duncan, one of the top 5 big men in NBA history on the floor to rebound at the end? I guess they were worried about switching on picks to guard 3s, but if I'm SA I'll live with Chris Bosh shooting an open three.

I thought the officiating was excellent. There were lots of no calls and if anything, I felt the Spurs had the better breaks on the calls last night.

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Originally posted by Music City:
Convenient that Ginobili gets raped by Ray Allen and they swallow their whistles. But if they make their FTs, the Spurs win it. Just sucks the way it happened...

Both FT misses were so &*$#'ing close.

I got nothing against James, but I want the Spurs.

By the way, did Bosh bigtime step up when it mattered.

Between the missed FT's by Ginobili and Leanard and Miami getting two offensive rebounds and Allen jacking the 3, that is about as tough as a loss can get.

I was pleasantly surprised that the officials were of virtually no impact last night. The Heat won because LeBron made shots and then played great defense. Well played game, fantastic finish.

And then Complain Wade does what he does... broadcasting to all a reminder that this is his 3rd title. Then sinking to greater levels of douchebaggery by insisting the media call him 3 instead of his name. This f-er doesn't deserve to be called anything by a-hole with the punk-ass way he behaves on and off the court. I hope he shreds his knee and never plays again. What a jerk...

Lebron obviously played great and was the MVP. But I think the big difference in the game last night was that Danny Green missed a lot of shots he'd been hitting the first 5 games of the series and Shane Battier hit 6 of 8 threes. That allowed Spoelstra to leave Battier out there in the 4th quarter to play defense. Points are much harder to come by for the other team when Battier is out there instead of Mike Miller.

Wade and LeBron played like the superstars they are and when a guy like Battier nails 75% of his 3's you will have your work cut out for you. Still, San Antonio was right there at the end but credit to the Heat for closing them out.