Comments on: NBA Finals Preview: Miami Heat vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

By: simonwelds

simonwelds — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 18:45:21 +0000

I think the last 2 games proved my point

By: passerby23

passerby23 — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 10:43:54 +0000

How did Miami’s bench look last night? Spoelstra sure had a lot of confidence to go with Jones, Turiaf, Anthony, and Cole. Oh wait, he shortened his bench because he can’t trust them.

With OKC, you can count on production from Collison, Harden, and Fisher. Mohammed and Cook are not regular contributors, but not bad when called upon. Does Juwan Howard give you that?

Total bench points last night: MIA 2 OKC 19

And that was with Cook inexplicably missing 2 FTS, Harden having an off night, and Mike Miller making a meaningless layup near the end of the game.

By: coopcoop86

coopcoop86 — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 16:03:59 +0000

Is anyone forgetting that KD has to guard lebron as well. Like thats an easy task, im telling all you new found OKC fans who want us to lose you have another thing coming if you think lebron is NOT going to get one of their key defenders in foul trouble. If Lebron catches the ball 15 feet or closer, which i think Spo will try to do, and wade is moving without the ball like we know he can…. its going to be trouble!!!! And now bosh is really understanding his roll as a spacer! UH-OH!!! and no ones commenting on how OKC can gets cold too, especially if Russell doesn’t take his ritalin! LOL anyway OKC doesn’t just have to worry about the turnovers we will create but the long rebounds off of missed shots…and everyone knows what we do with long rebounds…regardless HEAT in 5!!! HeatSquad!

By: mannyfresh209

mannyfresh209 — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 06:12:16 +0000

The Heat lost with CB out. Lol and c’mon now.. Indiana would smoke Dallas, and Boston would give LA and SA problems because of the way KG was playing off of Rondo.

By: mannyfresh209

mannyfresh209 — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 06:05:14 +0000

Passerby, I also left out Haslem. Cook might hit 3 buckets all series. Mohammed….no.

I mean seriously, people put a lotttt of stock in to OKC’s bench, but remember…Bosh looks like he could continue coming off the bench as well.

Again, I think it’ll be a really great series!

By: trimaster1

trimaster1 — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 19:55:06 +0000

You can’t compare how The Heat did against Boston to how they’ll do against the Thunder. Nor can you compare how OKC did against The Spurs to how they’ll do against the Heat. Boston was old, but their defense was solid. The Spurs had an excellent half court game, provided Tony parker was having a good game running the show.

The Thunder are a high octane, fast paced team. I’m not sure how they’ll do against a top defensive team like the Heat. They will have to run their half court offense to perfection. For Miami, Bosch is the key. Lebron may be the MVP of the league, but Bosch is just as crucial to the Heat, because he opens up the lane for Wade Lebron (and even Chalmers) to drive to the basket. If the Heat don’t have lapses defensively they can win the series in 6.

On the flipside, if The Thunder can shoot a high field goal percentage they can win in 7. But that comes back to their half court offense, becaue they won’t be able to run all game.

By: Louis Tumblin

Louis Tumblin — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 19:07:51 +0000

Do Pat Riley and Phil Jackson even like each? Can’t see Jackson coaching Heat if they lose this series.

By: simonwelds

simonwelds — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 18:05:30 +0000

Not saying wade is playing bad, he’s doing his job on defense and picking his offensive moments, the point is too keep up with Okc we need the ” flash” version of wade… He’s too good to succumb to being a role player, he’s still a top 5 player…..

By: heat256

heat256 — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:18:54 +0000

Canton can change his name to thelasttimeihadsexwasalongtimeago. Don’t feed the trolls. They grow like ponmd scum here. I won’t make a prediction because this could go either way and quick. Both teams have the talent to win it quick or going the distance. The little things will be what wins it. As an NBA fan, I want to see it go 7, with both teams not giving an inch. As a Heat fan, I’d love it to go 4 or 5 and watch them celebrate on their floor. I was out of the country in 2006 and had to listen to them win it on the phone with someone who knew little about basketball and I was robbed of the elation of watching them win it all. I would like to experience that firsthand if the gods allow it.

By: cantonbound13

cantonbound13 — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 11:51:06 +0000

20 years from now your new name will be 2006wasalongtimeago. LOL!!

By: cantonbound13

cantonbound13 — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 11:47:45 +0000

You obviously just started watching the NBA.

By: letangusespertplus

letangusespertplus — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 11:08:07 +0000

Fact is the Thunder lost 3 games to better teams all playoffs. Heat lost 3 last series…. meditate on that.

If LeBron has to play hero ball and get 50% of the scoring to keep his team in it they will get murked out there.

#thunderup

By: bigmeechy74

bigmeechy74 — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 07:34:50 +0000

yeah that is likely to happen. He always gets shut down. That’s why he leads the league in scoring every year. Plus they are just a one man team. Good analysis fanz928

By: duane888

duane888 — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 07:06:11 +0000

You have money to back that up??

By: duane888

duane888 — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 07:04:48 +0000

@xlith

Lebron is super-human. He doesn’t need to go to the bench for a rest. He does it on the floor. The beard will be cut down by Lebron.

By: connect2bh

connect2bh — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 06:59:30 +0000

You have battier guarding durant while lebron plays help on him, meanwhile, durant has to guard lebron on the other end..Miami matches up just a bit better. Plus Miami wont lose again in the finals two years in a row. Its Miamis year. Gottem next year Durant

By: gopokes0714

gopokes0714 — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 05:47:39 +0000

Thunder crushed the Heat and ran LBJ out of the gym in OKC.

LBJ and the Heat brought their “playoff” game to the game the week later in Miami and barely pulled it out.

the 2-3-2 favors the home court advantage team more than the 2-2-1-1-1. Being that is easier to grab an away game when it is 3 in a row.

Thunder went through the 3 previous western conference winners since 1998. Sweeping the defending world champions. Beating the franchise of the decade in 5, and beating the odds on favorites in 6.

The Heat were the heavy favorites once the Bulls were out, yet struggled to get there.

Hopefully this lives up to the hype and the Heat can make it a series.

I think Harden, Fisher, and Ibaka will be the key to the series, and the Thunder are just too much TEAM for the Heat. If Lebron goes off for 40+ the Heat lose.

Thunder in 5 #thunderup

#ThunderUp

By: scalfor3

scalfor3 — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 04:57:19 +0000

if wade doesn’t play better than he has, the heat wont have a chance. the wade that we saw take over against indy has to show up. the thunder have the scoring to keep up with miami, boston didn’t

By: passerby23

passerby23 — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 03:57:42 +0000

What Miami had going for them is that they simply had more individual talent to lean on to win series. That’s not the case here. Thunder can match them in talent and are playing better ball. Thunder in 6.

By: passerby23

passerby23 — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 03:55:16 +0000

First off, you forgot Perkins. Mohammed and Cook can also provide sporadic minutes.

I’m not sure I’d call Cole and Jones impact role players. They don’t play much and, yes, they have their moments, but if we’re comparing benches, Thunder is better. Mike Miller is half a player out there with his ailing back.

I think this prediction is bang on. Thunder in 6.

By: xLith

xLith — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 03:39:24 +0000

I understand fans supporting their team but do Heat fans REALLY think they stand a remote chance against the Thunder? They barely beat the Boston Relics.

By: xLith

xLith — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 03:35:41 +0000

It’s not the starting 5 that is a concern for the Heat. It’s what comes after. Fear the beard.

By: turnmymicup

turnmymicup — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 03:14:15 +0000

No not plain and simple at all. Far from it actually. Which “Dwayne Wade” are you talking about? I hope not the one thats been heating up in the second half and helping his team win games. You think he is hurting the team but thats far from reality. With LBJ going HAM the first two quarters Wade plays his part on the defensive end. Coming out in the 2nd half with energy and hungry to get his share. I love the adjustments Spo makes at half times. He finds a way to get Wade and the other guys focused. Spoelstra is a great coach. He doesn’t get enough credit for his work.

By: turnmymicup

turnmymicup — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 02:33:50 +0000

Over the past day i’ve been thinking the same thing. How are the Heat so outmatched? Besides for Westbrook vs Chalmers spots 2 through 5 are even. Everyone is putting pressure on the Heat’s stars to be excellent. Like the Thunder don’t have to do the same damn thing.

By: simonwelds

simonwelds — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 01:51:27 +0000

Heat haven’t seen an offense or player like Durant ..,. Okc hasn’t seen a defense or a player like LBJ…. I think the second superstar on each team will make the difference. If we see the erratic ball hog version of Westbrook the heat win… If we see the Dwayne Wade that we’ve seen over the past few games Okc wins… Plain and simple

By: 1972wasalongtimeago

1972wasalongtimeago — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 01:50:27 +0000

You know how much more fun you’re making this for us don’t you?

By: scalfor3

scalfor3 — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 01:21:13 +0000

the thunder’s role players are much more consistent than the heats. also, the thunder are far more balanced by having one of their stars come off the bench.

By: scalfor3

scalfor3 — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 01:17:44 +0000

lebron is a great defender, but durant will get his no matter who is on him. he’s the best pure scorer in the game. the best you can hope for is to slow him down and make him work hard for his points

By: turnmymicup

turnmymicup — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 01:07:39 +0000

Nobody said anything about easy but its very possible. If you could pick one small forward to guard Kevin Durant who would it be? Without even thinking your brain just said LeBron James. KEEP IT REAL. Even if I wasn’t a Heat fan my first choice would still be LeBron. He has the capability to make stars look like middle schoolers. Give respect where it is due. Their is a reason LBJ is MVP and its not his offense or silky smooth jumpshot. Miami’s defense will prevail this year. Go Heat!

By: turnmymicup

turnmymicup — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 00:51:29 +0000

Durant is just as important to the Thunder as LBJ/Wade are to the Heat. Don’t kid yourself.