Just looked at my postings and lots has happened since my last post. Mainly, the Thunder have come through hell and high water (Mavs, Lakers, Spurs) to get to the NBA Finals. The Heat struggled but made it through their own challenges (Knicks, Pacers, Celtics), most of them self-inflicted. This Finals is pretty much what many wanted from the beginning of this lockout shortened season, so let's take a look at the matchups and then I'll give you my pick.
Oklahoma City Thunder - Of course this comes down to Big 3's, so let's take a look at them first. Westbrook, other than a few bad shots here and there and the Gordon Gartrell shirts, is the linchpin for this Thunder team. Westbrook has shown more willingness to get KD the ball but also stay aggressive. Westbrook is the matchup nightmare for the Heat because there is no way that Chalmers can cover him and isn't called upon enough to score to balance this matchup out. KD is the scorer and we all know that. He has shown in these playoffs that he wants to be that man and has effectively mature right in front of our eyes, but I think in this series, IF he guards LeBron, he's gonna have to play some defense. The lefty killer, Harden, is going to play a big role, because Miami doesn't really have many people that can guard him if he's on the floor at the same time that Westbrook and KD are. If Wade has to slide over and guard Westbrook, then Chalmers/Battier would have to contain Harden. I can already see him getting to the lane.
Outside of the Thunder Big 3, the Thunder are deeper and better. Perkins brings defense, Ibaka brings defense, blocked shots and an iffy 16ft/17ft jumper, but past them you still have Collison, Cook, Sefolosha (starter), Derek Fisher and even Nazr Mohammed.
Who has to step up: Harden, Sefolosha, Fisher. Harden has got to get buckets against a Heat bench that has problems getting people on the floor. Sefolosha is going to be guarding Wade and LBJ during different times of the game. He's going to have to make them work for everything they get and make things hard. He might be giving up too much weight against LBJ, but that's why they pay him big dollars. Did I mention that he's going to have to hit some shots too? Fisher had an opportunity to go to the Thunder or the Heat and chose the Thunder. People say Fish is too old and he's not this and that, but I think Fish's experience might help this young Thunder team in this moment.
Miami Heat:- This is it. We're back to where we were last year, in the Finals and an opportunity to not repeat that performance from last year. LBJ may have exercised some demons with his performance in the playoffs thus far, but the big question starts tonight. Can he get it done? The heat Big 3 will have a lot of say so as it relates to that question. Wade has got to prove to us that even if he is hurt, that he can suck it up and play for at least the next 7 games. I know it's easy saying that from the chair I'm sitting in, but he can not have games in the first halves like he did against the Celtics or this series is over quickly. He may need to fly Tom Crean in and have a talk with him again since it seemed to work during the Indy series. Bosh is still recovering from his injury but he was the reason the Heat won Game 7 against the Celtics. He'll be counted on in this series to keep Ibaka at bay. Finally, LBJ. I always point back to the night that Charles Barkley was on national TV and sent a message to LBJ, saying 'take over'. What he did in Game 6 is still memorizing, but he's going to have to step it up in this series too.
On the bench, someone has got to make some plays. I do like seeing Norris Cole playing a little more and I think that Ronny Turiaf can help on the boards with the active Ibaka. Jones and Miller have got to hit some shots or the Heat are done.
Who has to step up: Coach Spo, Everyone besides Big 3. Spo is always referred to as someone that puts time in and reviews tape and all of that,...he's going to have to do a lot of that on the fly. He's going to have to put a plan together that will get his team in position to win. If I see ANY plays where LBJ is standing in the corner while anyone dribble drives and hands off I will do my best to get to Miami and kick Spo in the shin. Someone besides the Big 3 has got to step up. I mean I'm not asking for 20 points or anything like that, but if Battier gets 10, Chalmers gets 10, Haslem gets 8, Anthony gets 6, that's what I'm talking about (FYI, those are per game numbers, not series total numbers). Mike Miller I know you're hurting, but get two shots or something and give it all you can.
Prediction: This has been the hardest one of the year. I mean I am from the old school where a team with their first arrival to the Finals means you lose and it helps prepare you for next year, but I've watched this Thunder team ball throughout the playoffs. They are not only ready, but they are hungry and there's a quiet confidence around them. This Heat team thought everyone was going to lay down to them last year and this year, but they have also learned how to fight for what they want. They are not at full strength (healthwise) but this team seems ready to handle this challenge. The Thunder are favored by most, my head says Thunder, but my heart says Heat.
Winner - Miami Heat. Hulk Smash (focused) Lebron >>>>> anything.
Side note: Can ya'll please get off of LBJ's jock? He is a baller who will more than likely make HOF even if he doesn't win a ring. And before you go that far,...look at all the dudes that have never won the Finals. Admire his greatness and let him get past 'the Decision' and any other tomfoolery.
Who you got?!?!?!?
Showing posts with label LeBron James. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LeBron James. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Friday, April 13, 2012
Miami Heat Just Like Mike (Tyson)?
I don't claim to be the driver behind this write up, but after talking with one of my guys this morning (Thanks Senior Pullen) I felt like I needed to expound on our conversation. First let me take a step back, I have been on the Heat bandwagon since early this season with the way this team and in particular LBJ has played. I have gotten a little worried during some of these lulls that the Heat have had this year, but I'm still riding with them.
With that said, the Heat are losing the thing that made them scary to me. They are losing their aura and they have proven to me that they are really the reincarnate of Mike Tyson as a basketball team. In other words, the Heat go for the knockout early in the game and expect to coast the rest of the time. If you're able to not succumb to their initial onslaught (i.e. Buster Douglas, Evander Holyfield, etc.) then you can grind on the Heat and win late.
Flash back to 1985 when a young 'Iron' Mike Tyson was introduced to the boxing world. He was the baddest dude on two feet. He wore blank trunks to go along with his black boots and he was never in the mood to converse with his foes. Tyson was not only beating people, he was knocking people TFO (we not trying to curse here, but you know what I'm talking about). Tyson's victories helped create the aura of Mike Tyson. Tyson was known for his quick knockouts to the point that some people were just hoping that they could get him to go past 6 or 7 rounds to see what kind of fighter he was. All of this grew and grew until a fateful night in February of 1990 when James 'Buster' Douglas put a permanent chink in the aura (armor if you must) of Tyson.
We digress back to the purpose of this posting. The Heat started this season with arguably one of the best defenses, outside of those MJ led Bulls teams or Bad Boys Pistons teams, in the history of the NBA. They had a way of playing teams and putting up big quarters to impose their will on their foes. They came out with these (sorry) ugly all black alternate unis and there was talk that they would only lose single digit games in this shortened NBA season. LBJ was the MVP by a landslide and all was good. As this season has progressed there have been teams that have put chinks in the aura/armor that is the Heat (Orlando, Milwaukee, LA (Clips and Lakers), Celtics and Bulls).
Most notably last night's Bulls game in Chicago. The Heat seemed to have everything going their way. They were up at the half by 5 points, Derrick Rose was having a horriawful night and all of this was without much help for LBJ. Then IT happened. The Bulls, instead of caving to the pressure or the attempted knock out blows, just kept coming back. Rose continued his terrible play, but the coach put in C.J. Watson and he played well. The Bulls bench, led by Watson, Korver, and Gibson, were the difference between a 'W' and a Heat win based purely off of talent.
As you watch the Heat for the rest of the season, look at them with Mike Tyson goggles on and see if what I'm saying is true. Tyson did win several championships (something this Heat unit hasn't) and continued being viable for years to come, but it seemed to go downhill fast for him and maybe just maybe, the Heat are heading in that downhill direction. Winning it all is the cure for all of this talk, but even I am a little more concerned about the ability of the Heat to do just that after last night's debacle.
Monday, April 02, 2012
NYSTOM NBA MVP Race
It's getting down to the wire and if you're talking MVP, we've got your updated MVP Race. Some things have changed since the last posting, but I'm almost in agreement that KD and LBJ are even at this point. Some may have KD ahead since he and the Thunder beat the Heat in a head to head matchup, but I'm still on the fence about this one. OKC seems to be playing better than any other team in the NBA right now.
NYSTOM - please remove Roy Hibbert from this list. I'm sorry, that almost invalidates all of the hard work you've put in.
Who you got?!?!?!
NYSTOM - please remove Roy Hibbert from this list. I'm sorry, that almost invalidates all of the hard work you've put in.
Who you got?!?!?!
NBA: Last Shot Taker
My guy NYSTOM is back with his player(s) that he thinks should have the ball in their hands for the last second shot. This weeks entry will definitely derive some feedback (and jokes) about his picks.
Comments? Who you got?!?!?!?
Who
I want taking the last-second shot:
|
LeBron James, MIA 483-for-903 0.535
|
Who
I want taking the last-second free throw:
|
Kevin Durant, OKC 317-for-374 0.848
|
Who
I want taking the last-second 3-pointer:
|
Ryan Anderson, ORL 147-for-353 0.416
|
Comments? Who you got?!?!?!?
Monday, February 20, 2012
NYSTOM NBA MVP Race
Here's our up to date look at the NBA MVP Race. We know that LBJ is leading the pack because he is BALLIN' and right now, everyone is playing for 2nd place in the MVP race. The interesting part will be watching to see who comes in second. I wonder what those Derrick Rose fans have to say about this one? Russell Westbrook.............
Who you got?!?!?!?
|
Player
of the Day count
|
Position-team
|
Total MVP points
|
|
|
1
|
LeBron
James (11)
|
SF-Heat
|
530
|
|
2
|
Chris
Bosh (3)
|
PF-Heat
|
137
|
|
3
|
Tony
Parker (2)
|
PG-Spurs
|
109
|
|
4
|
Russell
Westbrook (3)
|
PG-Thunder
|
104
|
|
5
|
Josh
Smith (2)
|
PF-Hawks
|
94
|
|
6
|
Derrick
Rose (2)
|
PG-Bulls
|
94
|
|
7
|
Ty
Lawson (2)
|
PG-Nuggets
|
78
|
|
8
|
Roy
Hibbert (2)
|
C-Pacers
|
75
|
|
9
|
Dwight
Howard (1)
|
C-Magic
|
63
|
|
10
|
Andre
Iguodala (2)
|
SF-Sixers
|
63
|
Who you got?!?!?!?
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