Comments on: Does Miami’s championship prove that any system can work with the best talent?

By: michaeljordanseviltwin

michaeljordanseviltwin — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 21:33:34 +0000

True the Celtics realized first that they created problems with KG at the 5 while Miami only committed to small ball in the Finals when Bosh got healthy but Battier was playing well as a starter. The Heat are now committing to the smaller lineups while Boston drafted a couple big guys… so they may have KG back at the 4.

By: michaeljordanseviltwin

michaeljordanseviltwin — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 21:30:11 +0000

Indeed I meant to say Amare at the 5, typo.

I recently looked up the Knicks defensive efficiency and was shocked to learn that they were fifth in points per possession. NYK finished 21st the previous season so I’ll give some credit to Woodson but most to Tyson Chandler. As far as their future lineups; I’d stick with Amare at the 4 and Carmelo at the 3/4, leaving Chandler or Camby on the floor at all times to clean up their messes on D.

By: deiong

deiong — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 22:44:18 +0000

he thought they could win it themselves, but they were unable to. so yea thanks

By: paleihe

paleihe — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 15:26:49 +0000

Ohh, conspiracy theory. Please, let me know exactly how “sternie boy” scripted the Heat as the champions.

And why didn’t he script it the first year? Is it because he didn’t want it to look scripted, so he intentionally forced the Head to lose the first year? Or did he want the Mavs to win it?

This is just so intriguing!

By: deiong

deiong — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 00:27:27 +0000

only thing it proved is that the nba is now scripted even more so then before by sternie boy. move over wrestlilng here comes the paper champions of scripted basketball..

By: borderline1988

borderline1988 — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 22:57:24 +0000

Was all Chandler. Sorry, but I’m not giving any credit to Amare.

Chandler has the same impact on a defense as Dwight Howard does for Orlando. Orlando was a top 3 defensive team in 2009, and believe me, it wasn’t b/c of Turkoglu or Rashard Lewis.

By: manchestermiracle

manchestermiracle — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 16:36:06 +0000

All it really shows is that no system is successful without talent.

By: jimeejohnson

jimeejohnson — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 16:34:46 +0000

The Heat’s performance, and especially LeBron’s, was just too much for the Western Conference champ, the OKC Thunder. The only team to threaten the Heat’s run was the Celtics, thanks to a combination of talent and great coaching. Miami’s sweep of OKC was completely unexpected, but if the Thunder get back to the finals, expect them to play a lot better than they did in their first crack at a title. Durant is unbelievable, but LeBron IS the greatest basketball player in the world.

PS: not a Heat fan, but certainly respect and admire them.

By: tcclark

tcclark — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 15:05:27 +0000

The Sixers have been playing smallball for years, to make up for a lack of talent and size (thanks again Billy King for drafting 37 wings who can’t shoot). This isn’t a new thing. Teams have been able to win with Smallball. What I’m wondering is why so many other teams are moving toward this, as if the Heat won because of smallball and not because they have three of the best players in the NBA.

This i sthe trend now though, and I’m just Thankful that my Sixers continue to buck the trend. Now that everyone’s going small, they would lose their speed advantage, so now they’re going big. It’ll be interesting to see how these smallball teams play against the Sixers when they have Evan Turner playing the point and the shortest guy on the floor for them is 6’7. How will Bosh and Lebron at the 4 and 5 play against two 7 footers in Bynum and Hawes?

By: miamatt

miamatt — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 15:03:34 +0000

I like how concisely you were able to state your point, @sellah. Indeed, it really comes down to play your best five and make whatever strategic adjustments are necessary to make it work. And yes, it was as much about this LBJ guy taking his play to an historic level as anything else. It is a bit revisionist and overanalytical to get read too much into any one team’s championship(s). It pretty much always comes down to the most talented team that stays healthy, has some luck go their way, and playing their best basketball when it counts.

By: sellahh

sellahh — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 11:16:56 +0000

I agree sir. To an extent, because i dont like your statement ‘miami figured out who they were’. It’s true, really… but what Miami really figured out to me that basketball is a 5on5 game and even LeBron James himself cannot make up for the likes of Big Z, Pittman, Juwan Howard or Dampier. They simply put up their best 5 on the court and that’s why they won, to me.
And give this LBJ guy some credit, you’re acting like it’s all some ‘smallball system’ where in reality LBJ carried this team with his all-around, 1-5 ability.

By: sellahh

sellahh — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 11:13:13 +0000

And how this post goes 18-1 is beyond me. You guys obviously either don’t watch basketball or read this site after Saturday night’s fever.

By: sellahh

sellahh — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 11:12:12 +0000

You obviously mean Amar’e at the 5 because he’s actually a 4, sir.
But you’re just following cliches while the Knicks were actually a good defensive team last year, some of that has obviously was Chandler’s great impact but learn the basics.

By: mojosmagic

mojosmagic — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 03:02:24 +0000

It proves that talent trumps coaching.

By: proballerslounge

proballerslounge — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 01:37:25 +0000

http://proballerslounge.wordpress.com/2012/09/23/no-longer-with-their-drafted-teams-who-will-have-the-biggest-impact/

Dwight Howard and Lebron

By: eugenesaxe

eugenesaxe — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 00:42:46 +0000

It proves one system can work when you have one of the best players ever using it.
Seriously, are you guys outsourcing this weekend’s articles to the basketball-ignorant or something?

By: miamatt

miamatt — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 00:31:01 +0000

I don’t know what part of this article states or implies that Miami started this “small ball crap”. The reality is Miami really figured out who they were after Bosh went down and they put Battier in the starting lineup alongside James in sort of “combo forward” roles. When Bosh came back it was clear that Battier needed to start and that left the 5 as Bosh’s logical role on this team.

The reason the article focuses on Miami is that they actually WON A CHAMPIONSHIP with this approach as opposed to teams like the Celtics whom… didn’t. The point is that using a system that maximizes your talent is the key, rather than playing it safe by relying on cliched solutions. Traditional solutions led Miami to have guys like Ilgauskas and Dampier getting minutes in the playoffs two years ago, for gawd’s sake.

Besides the fact that it is ludicrous for YOU to imply that the CELTICS invented small ball, it’s not like Bosh never played the 5 for the Heat before. It’s just that after he missed time with injury it was obvious that the most important thing was for Miami to put their best players on the court, regardless of what their respective “ideal positions” were.

I can understand you being frustrated, though. After all, since Miami came into the league in ’88 they have been to more finals and won more championships than the Celtics. And that gap is going to get a lot wider before it gets narrower.

By: mikeewright7

mikeewright7 — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 22:18:38 +0000

I dont mean in general, like first ever, im saying as far as last season Bosh didnt go to the 5 until after KG was being the 5….Every PBT report makes it seem like boston and other teams are following that trend when its the other way around….

By: michaeljordanseviltwin

michaeljordanseviltwin — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 21:56:42 +0000

Ever heard of Don Nelson? Small ball has been around for a long time, fella.

By: mikeewright7

mikeewright7 — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 21:44:54 +0000

Im so tired of PBT writers making it seem like Miami started this small ball crap,
They took a page out of Boston Celtics book, The Celtics started it when KG (who is a PF) started at the 5 and Miami and whoever else
followed that trend!

By: michaeljordanseviltwin

michaeljordanseviltwin — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 21:43:30 +0000

Knicks with Amare at the 4? So the only two guys who play defense (Tyson Chandler & Camby) would be on the bench? Great idea.