NBA: *** NBA Playoffs Thread V2.0 ***

[jbindm]

I wonder what Pop will do if Manu continues to struggle as badly as he has for most of the series. His options aren't good. Stick with Manu and hope he can turn it around, or dig deep into the bench and hope for a spark. Maybe a Tracy McGrady sighting tonight? Doubtful, but that'd be kind of cool to see him get just one chance on the big stage.

 

[CyJack13]

I wonder what Pop will do if Manu continues to struggle as badly as he has for most of the series. His options aren't good. Stick with Manu and hope he can turn it around, or dig deep into the bench and hope for a spark. Maybe a Tracy McGrady sighting tonight? Doubtful, but that'd be kind of cool to see him get just one chance on the big stage.

I can't see anyway they throw McGrady out there, he looks out of shape and a little chubby. Playing your first serious NBA minutes in years in Game 7 of the Finals would be a rough way to get back in the rotation. Do you think Pop regrets cutting Captain Jack at all now? He was a guy who has been through some playoff wars and could definitely give you 15-20 mins and not be afraid of the stage.

 

[jbindm]

I can't see anyway they throw McGrady out there, he looks out of shape and a little chubby. Playing your first serious NBA minutes in years in Game 7 of the Finals would be a rough way to get back in the rotation. Do you think Pop regrets cutting Captain Jack at all now? He was a guy who has been through some playoff wars and could definitely give you 15-20 mins and not be afraid of the stage.

So does Boris Diaw, but it hasn't stopped him from giving them 10-15 quality minutes the last few games. Like I said, it's doubtful but if Manu continues to stink up the place then you to have to at least look at your bench options. And as far as Stephen Jasckson goes, my understanding of the situation was that Jackson was the root of some team chemistry issues. If that's the case then they made the right move to dump him.

 

[CyJack13]

So does Boris Diaw, but it hasn't stopped him from giving them 10-15 quality minutes the last few games. Like I said, it's doubtful but if Manu continues to stink up the place then you to have to at least look at your bench options. And as far as Stephen Jasckson goes, my understanding of the situation was that Jackson was the root of some team chemistry issues. If that's the case then they made the right move to dump him.

Diaw has never been a physical specimen, and he's been playing 25 mins a game all year. McGrady hasn't played meaningful NBA minutes in a year, there's a big difference. I can't imagine him having a positive impact on the game, if they're that desperate for help I would think Cory Joseph gets the nod before Ginobili. I expect the Heat will have a lot of Chalmers and Allen on the floor together so the Spurs could get away with playing Joseph for a few minutes here and there.

Supposedly Jackson got released because he wouldn't admit that Danny Green and Ginobili were better than him. He was on the Spurs basically the entire regular season and it didn't seem to cause many problems. I can't think he would have disrupted their playoff run through the West either, as they lucked out playing a 7, 6 and 5 seed to get to the Finals. Last season, Jackson had some huge games against OKC, it seems silly to cut a valuable assset like that right before the playoffs just to give T-Mac a chance to finally get past the first round.

 

[Goothrey]

"I’m honestly not sure how many people who screamed about Popovich’s Timmy-related decisions realized that on the first Miami possession in question — the one that ended with LeBron’s 3-pointer to cut the Spurs’ lead to 94-92 — Bosh was not in the game. The Heat had zero big men on the floor, meaning Duncan, with lots of time on the clock, was going to have to chase either an elite ball handler or an elite shooter (or Dwyane Wade). And the rebound Duncan supposedly would have gotten on that possession was one of those turbo-speed, downward-moving line drives that will hit some poor dude in the face during a pickup game. LeBron missed his first 3-pointer so badly the rebound went shooting down toward the floor, and into the area between the heads of Leonard and Wade. The Heat only got it back after a battle of leaping tips between Leonard and Wade, a hustle play Wade won."

 

[Clark]

"I’m honestly not sure how many people who screamed about Popovich’s Timmy-related decisions realized that on the first Miami possession in question — the one that ended with LeBron’s 3-pointer to cut the Spurs’ lead to 94-92 — Bosh was not in the game. The Heat had zero big men on the floor, meaning Duncan, with lots of time on the clock, was going to have to chase either an elite ball handler or an elite shooter (or Dwyane Wade). And the rebound Duncan supposedly would have gotten on that possession was one of those turbo-speed, downward-moving line drives that will hit some poor dude in the face during a pickup game. LeBron missed his first 3-pointer so badly the rebound went shooting down toward the floor, and into the area between the heads of Leonard and Wade. The Heat only got it back after a battle of leaping tips between Leonard and Wade, a hustle play Wade won."

please attribute that to the author you quoted that from. Pretty sure that's from Zach Lowe's most recent piece but could have been another NBA writer I've read recently.

 

[Clark]

As for tonight's game, I can't decide which way I'm leaning. Before Tuesday's game I said if the Heat win game 6 they'd blow out the Spurs but that was assuming a regular victory where the Heat win by 6 or so in regulation. I can't shake the feeling that the Spurs will rebound from that disaster and pull this game out. Or they will get their butts kicked. I don't think the Spurs will win big or that the Heat will win close.

 

[Goothrey]

please attribute that to the author you quoted that from. Pretty sure that's from Zach Lowe's most recent piece but could have been another NBA writer I've read recently.

Correct. It is from this Everything Matters: How to Understand (and Enjoy) Game 7 of the NBA Finals - The Triangle Blog - Grantland

 

[Cy$]

Correct. It is from this Everything Matters: How to Understand (and Enjoy) Game 7 of the NBA Finals - The Triangle Blog - Grantland

but poppovich doesn't know what he's doing!!!!

 

[klamath632]

I'm afraid the Spurs are going to get blown out. I'll be pleasantly surprised if they keep it close, and ecstatic if they win, but history just isn't on their side.

 

[Clark]

I'm afraid the Spurs are going to get blown out. I'll be pleasantly surprised if they keep it close, and ecstatic if they win, but history just isn't on their side.

The Heat are going to make a run in the 3rd Quarter. If the Spurs can withstand that and still be close (or even better, ahead) I think they win this game. If they don't, it could get OKC/Miami game 5 ugly.

 

[Goothrey]

I'm afraid the Spurs are going to get blown out. I'll be pleasantly surprised if they keep it close, and ecstatic if they win, but history just isn't on their side.

I give all outcomes an equal chance of happening.

Spurs have proven they can win big.
Miami has proven they can win big
Spurs have proven they can win a close one.
Miami has proven they can win a close one.

Though not all the finishes have been close, I think what we have seen so far just proves these teams are about as equal as it gets. Look no further than the series being tied 3-3.

 

[jbhtexas]

Correct. It is from this Everything Matters: How to Understand (and Enjoy) Game 7 of the NBA Finals - The Triangle Blog - Grantland

I agree that Popovich's decisions at the end of the game were just one of many events that caused the outcome of that game. That doesn't make those decisions unimportant or beyond criticism.

Furthermore, if somebody makes a mistake or scores a lucky basket in the middle of the first quarter, there is still 7/8 of the game left in which to overcome that event. If somebody makes a mistake with 15 seconds left in the game, there is very little of the game left in which to overcome that event.

 

[Goothrey]

I agree that Popovich's decisions at the end of the game were just one of many events that caused the outcome of that game. That doesn't make those decisions unimportant or beyond criticism.

Furthermore, if somebody makes a mistake or scores a lucky basket in the middle of the first quarter, there is still 7/8 of the game left in which to overcome that event. If somebody makes a mistake with 15 seconds left, there is very little of the game left in which to overcome that event.

I don't disagree. In fact I completely agree with that second paragraph.
But a lot of the "narratives" throughout this series have been very superficial.

 

[Clark]

I don't disagree. In fact I completely agree with that second paragraph.
But a lot of the "narratives" throughout this series have been very superficial.

you mean like LeBron gaining super strength after the loss of his headband?

 

[CyJack13]

but poppovich doesn't know what he's doing!!!!

So if you agree with Zach Lowe on that, I'm sure you'll agree with his assessment of Spoelstra's coaching ability as well?

 

[Goothrey]

you mean like LeBron gaining super strength after the loss of his headband?

That was definitely silly.

 

[letsCYber]

***OFFICIAL NBA FINALS GAME 7 DISCUSSION***

The Spurs are gonna pull it off. LeBron haters will rejoice. MJ worshipers will have all off-season to talk about how much better Jordan is in big games than LeBrick.

 

[ISUKyro]

Re: ***OFFICIAL NBA FINALS GAME 7 DISCUSSION***

I'm by no means a big NBA fan, but I would love to see the Spurs win. Something about the the big 3 and the arrogance of some MIA fans.... it would just be nice to see that sometimes you can't buy all the championships that you want.

 

[Mumbai1986]

They key for this game is can Danny Granger get semi-open three point looks and can he make them.