I’m not going to blow this out of proportion and say the Bulls are going to win the series. But the Bulls walking into Miami and taking game 1 from the defending champions, the NBA favorites to win it all, the team led by this year’s MVP, is a major statement. Even if the Bulls go on to lose the next four games, they have just announced and proven they are a team to be reckoned with.
Much respect to Coach Thibodeau and his team. They are proof that coaching, heart, and guts do go a long way.
Post with 1 note
Game. Series. Ring.
The Heat are destroying the Oklahoma City Thunder right now. I guess Lebron will get one of the seven he promised.
I still don’t like Miami or James. But give credit where credit is due. Basketball requires you win series. You don’t get lucky four times. The Heat outplayed the Thunder and will win this series. Congrats to the Heat.
Damn. No more basketball until the Fall.
Post with 1 note
A flagrant foul? Don’t get me wrong, it looks like the Heat will win tonight. That said, that is a terrible call. Anybody who thinks that’s a flagrant foul on Fisher has either never played tough basketball, or is watching this with Heat blinders on.
Photo with 1,130 notes
2012 Oklahoma City Thunder
On paper, they are a better TEAM than the Miami Heat. Unfortunately, their inexperience is getting the best of them. The Thunder beat the veteran (read, old) Mavericks, the veteran Lakers, and the veteran Spurs to represent the Western Conference.
The thought was the Finals would be a track meet between the two fastest teams in the league, resulting in a high-scoring, high-flying series made for the SportsCenter Top 10 crowd. Instead the Heat have turned up the defense and forced the Thunder into mistakes often made by NBA rookies.
Kevin Durant can only foul Lebron James in hopes of stopping him. Forcing Coach Brooks to adjust the defensive scheme so that his shooting guard defends the 6’9”, 260 lb. James. Durant is an excellent player but it’s clear he’ll need to work hard this off-season to improve his defense.
James Harden has absolutely disappeared this series. He is the NBA 6th Man of the Year and the Thunder count on him to provide a spark off the bench when things aren’t going their way. He’s missed shot after shot this series and has simply looked uncomfortable. After missing a number of jump shots tonight, he even blew a break away layup that could have ignited their offense late in the game. By the end, he was simply taking passes and immediately looking to pass the ball away.
In fact, the only player that has kept the Thunder in the series is the guy that has taken the most criticism from the media and public. Russell Westbrook has played without fear. He’s been agressive every game, even when the shot hasn’t fallen for him. He goes to the hoop and gets knocked down, only so he can get up and do it all over again. Say what you want about his attitude, his clothes, his fashion statement glasses. This kid has kept it together and kept the team in it. He’s heard the criticism and silenced the critics—by not changing his game.
At the beginning of the series, I picked the Thunder. Now they sit one game away from elimination. No team in NBA Finals history has ever come back from a 3-1 deficit and based on these four games, I don’t think the Thunder will be the first. This team is built to win championships. This Finals defeat will be the chip on the shoulder they need to possibly tear through the 2013 playoffs and win it next year.
Post with 4 notes
The Finals will begin this Tuesday in Oklahoma City. Stern has been wanting Durant and James to shine and his wish has come true.
This should be a good matchup but I still don’t think it will go Lebron’s way.
The Thunder have been BUILT from the ground up to win championships. Each player was drafted or otherwise brought in to serve a specific purpose.
On the other hand, the Heat simply brought in the two best known free agents in hopes they would gel and succeed.
Everything will be settled on the court but when it’s all said and done we’ll see it takes years to play like a family. The Thunder have battled together and gone through the ups and downs. Lebron will have to wait at least one more year before getting the first of the multiple championships he promised the city of Miami.
Well, it looks like this is it for Boston. They’ve gone cold and have no answer for this Heat 4th quarter surge.
I don’t like Lebron but you gotta give credit where credit is due. He played the best game I’ve ever seen from him. On to game 7.
The Celtics will have an elimination game at Boston. Wow.
Both the western and eastern series are tied at 2 games a piece. This will be a great week of basketball.
The last play of the 4th quarter is a clear indication the Heat’s biggest issue is actually their coach. The Heat had the final play and what did they run? An isolation play for Lebron. Lebron James has shown time and time again that he wants options when he has the ball. James is not a “give me the ball and get out my way” type of player. Set up movement for him and let him decide what the best option is. A coach should know his players and their tendencies.
Page 1 of 2