The NBA Thread

The refs messed up by not calling the KG illegal screens all game (which he does every game), but to say that the refs decided the game is dumb. The Celtics lost the game themselves. Even if the illegal screen isn't called, Paul Pierce is a 37% 3 PT shooter, and if he makes it, the game is tied with Philly having a chance to win it. Let's ignore the fact that Brandon Bass took more shots than anyone else on Boston (15, tied for the most in the game), Boston scored 24 points combined in the 2nd and 3rd quarter, and Boston waited 12 seconds to foul the Sixers. These things were a bigger reason for the loss than a foul call, but it is easier to blame the refs than to blame your own team.

[QUOTE=Bacchus;304735]It's clear you are pulling for the Sixers (aka anyone but the Celtics because they can beat the Heat) so I guess from your perspective you are right. As a fan of the NBA, I think most people would like to see the last seconds actually played by the players. I am sure that ref feels great! He let a call go for an entire game (basically saying it was legal) and then was able to become the star of the game by winning it for the Sixers. He has to be the game MVP.[/QUOTE] To what extent do you let the players decide it? At what point does a foul become severe enough that you have to call it? If you decide to not call fouls in the last seconds of a game, you just have players mugging one another and not playing basketball. Also, if you think I am rooting for Philly because I am a Heat fan, you are mistaken. I just hate it when people complain about the refs in any game. I was going to comment on how ugly the game was, but you had already posted complaining about the refs. Boston lost the game on their own, but as I already said, it is easier for you as a fan to blame the ref than your own team's shortcomings in the game. I think that whoever comes out of the West (probably San Antonio) will win the NBA title, provided that they don't lose a key player. Edit: Also, when the Lakers quit, they quit.

Can the Lakers just wave the white flag in this series? I can't remember the last time I just turned off a playoff game. Now I'm going to go to sleep agitated.

There is playoff traffic in LA since so many LA teams made it to the playoffs.

[QUOTE=Bacchus;304739] In the last 10 seconds of the game, you let the players play unless it is an egregious foul or a shooting foul. You don't make an off the ball foul the call that decides an NBA playoff game.[/QUOTE] Didn't catch the games last night but I'm not surprised. If you follow the NBA you have to accept bad officiating (to the point of posturing) as a fact of life. Just ask Mark Cuban about that during the 2006 Finals. And my comment applies to the discussion as of the last few posts as well. I think the majority of complaints over NBA officiating is legit, mainly because it is an ongoing problem the league has never seriously addressed, even in the face of the Tim Donaghy scandal. And despite the Lakers getting routed I just can't count out the Lakers as led by Kobe out of any playoff series.

Anyone watch LeChoke last night?

[QUOTE=Bacchus;305023]Speaking of clutch - Celtics game 3.[/QUOTE] Very impressive win. KG looked like he was 25 again tonight. I've always been biased toward the Celtics due to the Larry factor. I'm definitely looking forward to attending game three tomorrow in the Pacers/Heat series.

Anyone else think that the remaining schedule for the second round is weird and kinda ****** for the west teams? The Lakers and the Clippers both have back to backs this weekend (which I don't think I've ever seen in the playoffs) but then, for some reason, the Lakers have three days off between game six and seven. I know it's probably partially because the west teams have a team that went 7 in the first round, but I don't get why they're changing things up from Celts/76ers/Lakers/Thunder one night and Heat/Pacers/Clips/Spurs the next. Here's what it looks like: [url=http://vevmo.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=13565][img]http://vevmo.com/imagehosting/41884fb479ce27aef.png[/img][/url] The west teams both play three times in the next four days, but the Heat/Pacers play twice and the Celtics/76ers play once.

I would think it would be because of TV scheduling. If Lakers-Thunder goes 7 then it's on ABC Sunday afternoon.

[QUOTE=TheFeedMachi;304736]To what extent do you let the players decide it? At what point does a foul become severe enough that you have to call it? If you decide to not call fouls in the last seconds of a game, you just have players mugging one another and not playing basketball. Also, if you think I am rooting for Philly because I am a Heat fan, you are mistaken. I just hate it when people complain about the refs in any game. I was going to comment on how ugly the game was, but you had already posted complaining about the refs. Boston lost the game on their own, but as I already said, it is easier for you as a fan to blame the ref than your own team's shortcomings in the game. I think that whoever comes out of the West (probably San Antonio) will win the NBA title, provided that they don't lose a key player. Edit: Also, when the Lakers quit, they quit.[/QUOTE] In the Miami/Indiana series, the officials have made their best effort to not allow the players to decide the game. As a fan, all I ask for out of officials/umpires/etc. is consistency. At least the officials in this series have been consistent..............consistently biased. Here is an excerpt from game one. Miami Heat: "We are getting outplayed. What are we going to do?" NBA Officials: "No worries Miami. We got this. We have your back."

[QUOTE=Help Desk;305057]I would think it would be because of TV scheduling. If Lakers-Thunder goes 7 then it's on ABC Sunday afternoon.[/QUOTE] It is because of the Staples Center having to host 3 teams in the playoffs at the same time. They could have put the Game 7s on ABC Sunday afternoon without the double header by just eliminating one of the off days. [QUOTE=Treetrunk;305064]In the Miami/Indiana series, the officials have made their best effort to not allow the players to decide the game. As a fan, all I ask for out of officials/umpires/etc. is consistency. At least the officials in this series have been consistent..............consistently biased. Here is an excerpt from game one. Miami Heat: "We are getting outplayed. What are we going to do?" NBA Officials: "No worries Miami. We got this. We have your back."[/QUOTE] What on earth are you talking about? The Pacers shot 28 FTs in that game. It was just a tight whistle and the Heat attacked the basket, while the Pacers shot jumpers. Here is a shot chart for you to see. [url]http://espn.go.com/nba/shotchart?gameId=320513014[/url] When you shoot more jumpers and take fewer shots in the paint than your opponent, you can't expect to get as many FTs. If we do it on a FT per shot in the paint basis, it looks like Indiana got more FTs per shot attempt in the paint, but that is just an estimation.

[QUOTE=TheFeedMachi;305080]It is because of the Staples Center having to host 3 teams in the playoffs at the same time. They could have put the Game 7s on ABC Sunday afternoon without the double header by just eliminating one of the off days. What on earth are you talking about? The Pacers shot 28 FTs in that game. It was just a tight whistle and the Heat attacked the basket, while the Pacers shot jumpers. Here is a shot chart for you to see. [url=http://espn.go.com/nba/shotchart?gameId=320513014]Indiana Pacers vs. Miami Heat - Shot Chart - May 13, 2012 - ESPN[/url] When you shoot more jumpers and take fewer shots in the paint than your opponent, you can't expect to get as many FTs. If we do it on a FT per shot in the paint basis, it looks like Indiana got more FTs per shot attempt in the paint, but that is just an estimation.[/QUOTE] Why do you suppose the Heat had the ability to continually attack the basket while the Pacers had to settle for jumpers? It's quite simple really.

[QUOTE=Treetrunk;305064]In the Miami/Indiana series, the officials have made their best effort to not allow the players to decide the game. As a fan, all I ask for out of officials/umpires/etc. is consistency. At least the officials in this series have been consistent..............consistently biased. Here is an excerpt from game one. Miami Heat: "We are getting outplayed. What are we going to do?" NBA Officials: "No worries Miami. We got this. We have your back."[/QUOTE] What about Wade getting fouled in game 2 and it not being called, which led to Wade being pissed off and elbowing that guy in the back? Take that away and Miami may have won.

[QUOTE=Nightwolf;305109]What about Wade getting fouled in game 2 and it not being called, which led to Wade being pissed off and elbowing that guy in the back? Take that away and Miami may have won.[/QUOTE] The play where Wade jumped into a guy going straight up into the air or the uncontested layup Wade missed with 14 seconds left? Are you referring to the elbow Wade threw in which should have drawn a suspension?

Did the Refs show Miami bias in this last game also? The Heat really miss Bosh. Their best offensive big man without Bosh is Joel Anthony which is really really sad considering he is a defensive specialist. They have no answer for Roy Hibbert. The one positive for the Heat is that Mario Chalmers was really good. The only problem is that Indiana has all momentum and confidence now and even if Wade shows up in the next game, it might not be enough.

[QUOTE=Bacchus;305134]Excuses...[/QUOTE] Says the guy who kept blaming the refs for the Celtics loss

[QUOTE=Bacchus;305134]Excuses... They got owned. They got trounced. They were destroyed by the Pacers. Bosh or no Bosh, such is life in the NBA. The only time you will see an NBA team 100% healthy 100% of the time is on XBOX. So much for 12 and 0 our great Vevmovian prognosticator. :wink2:[/QUOTE] I never made excuses. Just pointing out the facts. Wade was so bad that they had no shot with or without Bosh in this game. It is just that the lack of Bosh amplifies the effects of a poor game by Wade. You don't expect a team to be 100% healthy but you also don't expect them to lose their most irreplaceable player (based on depth at the position) early in game 1 of a series. Even on XBOX they have fatigue and injuries in the game so you are never 100% healthy (unless you turn it off). [QUOTE=Bacchus;305143]Loss? I swear we won last night and have a commanding lead in the series. That said, there is a difference between a single call deciding a one point game and a blowout. As I stated clearly, I don't think off the ball fouls should decide a playoff game in the last 10 seconds. I believe that should be written into the NBA referee manual. Let the players, play. As for Miami, Bosh could have played to his heart's content tonight. I don't think it would have mattered. They lost by 19 and we are once again reminded of how this team wilts under pressure when they had the opportunity to take command of the series. When your star and NBA MVP is scared to touch the ball in clutch situations, you are doomed. He can score all day when it doesn't matter, but when it does he is one of the worst players in the NBA. The Celtics have FOUR guys that will not only take a clutch shot, THEY DEMAND THE BALL. Three of them are getting up there in age, but they have heart. I have a feeling the East is going to turn out "Greener" than all the experts anticipated.[/QUOTE] I don't trust Rondo taking a shot in the clutch. I would just foul him if he got into the lane and make him hit FTs. Give him the Blake Griffin/Dwight Howard/Shaq treatment. If the Heat lose to the Pacers, I think the Pacers represent the East. If the Heat beat the Pacers but are still hobbled, I think the Celtics represent the East. I haven't seen enough consistency from the Celtics to definitively crown them as the team to beat in the East. If they play like they did last night on every night, then they would be the pick, but they have only played like that twice in the playoffs.

Who else is stoked for an Eastern Conference Finals featuring the Sixers and Pacers?

[QUOTE=usanike;305147]Who else is stoked for an Eastern Conference Finals featuring the Sixers and Pacers?[/QUOTE] Even though I'm a Laker fan (albeit one who is anticipating a four game series with the Thunder), I wouldn't mind seeing that because I want to see different guys (other than Lebron) win a ring. The Spurs, Celtics, and Lakers have seven of the last ten chips and I hated two of the other 3 (a Mark Cuban team and a Shaq team). I wouldn't mind watching a feel good team like the Pacers win it, or even the Thunder or Clippers.

[QUOTE=TheFeedMachi;305133]Did the Refs show Miami bias in this last game also? The Heat really miss Bosh. Their best offensive big man without Bosh is Joel Anthony which is really really sad considering he is a defensive specialist. They have no answer for Roy Hibbert. The one positive for the Heat is that Mario Chalmers was really good. The only problem is that Indiana has all momentum and confidence now and even if Wade shows up in the next game, it might not be enough.[/QUOTE] Not even Tim Donaghy could have saved the Heat from this beat down. I do expect the Heat to come out with a better effort in game four. The atmosphere at the game tonight took me back to the 1990's MSA atmosphere and the early Conseco days B.F.C. (before the flying cup). I'm thinking this one goes seven with the well-rested Celtics taking on the winner in the finals.

El Heat goin' down to Team Larry Legend, baby! They need to be broken up. Bron has to be the #1 option for a team, the same for Wade. That team is basically Bron/Wade and hope for the best because there's not much else.

I think the Heat will have to give the team another shot with a healthy Bosh before they decide to break it up. The Heat are in a no win situation with who they trade, if they do decide to trade someone. If you trade Bosh, you still have the problem of Wade and LeBron not being the best fit together. If you trade Wade, the local fans will be extremely angry because he is the one who won them a ring. If you trade LeBron, you are giving up the best player in the NBA. [QUOTE=Bacchus;305149]Definitively not ABC, ESPN or TNT. That would be an absolute ratings nightmare, lol. I can see it now: Thunder vs. Pacers final game 1 - a rerun of Fringe crushes it in the ratings.[/QUOTE] Thunder-Pacers wouldn't be a bad series for ABC in the Finals because OKC would still draw the casual fans in and it would be a fun series. Worst case scenario is Spurs-Sixers. It isn't appealing to the NBA fan, and it wouldn't have any star power to draw in the casual fan. Spurs-Pacers would be bad for ratings, but it would be a really fun series to watch.