2011 NBA Playoffs Thread

[Guest]

The point is that LeBron has the ability to score even when everybody knows he's the one to take the shot, and he's done so at points in his career. That fits your criteria.

 

He just chooses not to, which is something different.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I thought for sure Dallas had lost that game. Dirk is amazing.

 

I'm going to break dress code and rock out this shirt at work tomorrow.

http://cache0.bigcartel.com/product_images/36001710/300.jpg

[Mike Aller]

Dirk is a freaking beast.

He is at the point where he can single handedly carry a team offensively when everyone knows he's getting the ball. Only truly elite players can do that.

 

Switch LeBron and Dirk right now, and I can honestly think that Miami gets better and Dallas gets worse.

 

I think that's a little crazy considering LeBron is playing great defense right now, and Dirk, for all his awesomeness, has his issues on the defensive end.

 

And offensively, Dirk has been absolutely amazing, but LeBron has quietly been pretty damn good too. Not as much as Dirk but the difference isn't enough to overcome Dirk's D

 

 

No doubt you're right about the defense. But I don't think you overvalue the trait of being able to carry the team offensively when everyone knows you're going to be the one to score. Only a handful of players in history could do that, and LeBron isn't one of them.

That's just ridiculous. LeBron is clutch time after time after time. He has improved his jumper dramatically. He had a few issues early in his career "closing games," and the entire Heat team decided to miss every late-game shot for about the first half of the season, but all of that has been way, way overblown.

 

While we watch guys like Kobe take double-teamed, contested 3 pointers that brick and continue to give him (them) a pass, LeBron making the right basketball move or taking a guy one on one still has the meaningless tag of not being a "closer." It's ridiculous. LeBron is the number one guy in the NBA who I would want to have the ball with the game on the line.

[hawkeyecub]

Where was Maynor?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I still can't get over how Dallas came back. With five minutes left, my wife banished me to my office to watch the rest of the game because I wouldn't stop shouting profane words at the TV.

 

As they chipped away, I watched in disbelief. That was such an awesome win. I hope the Mavs can put it away at home tomorrow night. I'd love to be there, but alas I can't take Wednesday and Thursday off work.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Bob Strum's take on the Mav's great comeback.

 

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-mavericks/headlines/20110524-sturm-miracle-comeback-shows-why-mavericks-can-win-it-all1.ece

 

In the last 15 years, no team has blown a 15-point lead with 5 minutes to play in a playoff game. The pace with which a collapse would have to take place makes it nearly impossible.

 

Before this series started, a few basketball wise men indicated to me what we were all thinking: Chances are, at some point of this series, when a game is close and time is running out - OKC will reveal itself as a very young team that is not quite prepared for the moment. When they were so flawless in Game 2, I recalled that discussion, and was quite impressed with the composure of the Thunder and their lack of fear for the moment.

 

[SouthSideRyan]

Bob Strum's take on the Mav's great comeback.

 

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-mavericks/headlines/20110524-sturm-miracle-comeback-shows-why-mavericks-can-win-it-all1.ece

 

In the last 15 years, no team has blown a 15-point lead with 5 minutes to play in a playoff game. The pace with which a collapse would have to take place makes it nearly impossible.

 

 

Well, not in an NBA playoff game at least.

 

http://cdn4.faniq.com/images/photos/photo_large/20/23220-1.jpg

[Productive Outs]

Bob Strum's take on the Mav's great comeback.

 

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-mavericks/headlines/20110524-sturm-miracle-comeback-shows-why-mavericks-can-win-it-all1.ece

 

In the last 15 years, no team has blown a 15-point lead with 5 minutes to play in a playoff game. The pace with which a collapse would have to take place makes it nearly impossible.

 

 

Well, not in an NBA playoff game at least.

 

it did happen in 1986:

[bcl412]

I could see Dallas beating Miami. They won't miss all the open shots that the Bulls miss, of course they probably won't defend at all like the Bulls either.

[17 Seconds]

only one man can save us now

 

 

http://chasing23.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/dirk-nowitzki.jpg

 

[17 Seconds]

I could see Dallas beating Miami. They won't miss all the open shots that the Bulls miss, of course they probably won't defend at all like the Bulls either.

 

miami will be favorites, but i actually like dallas. assuming they beat okc, they'd have beaten 3 very good teams. miami has faced philly, a broken down celtics team, and the bulls where rose played like westbrook.

 

dallas will be a much better team than anything miami has faced so far.

 

:beg:

[cubbyvirus00]

I could see Dallas beating Miami. They won't miss all the open shots that the Bulls miss, of course they probably won't defend at all like the Bulls either.

 

miami will be favorites, but i actually like dallas. assuming they beat okc, they'd have beaten 3 very good teams. miami has faced philly, a broken down celtics team, and the bulls where rose played like westbrook.

 

dallas will be a much better team than anything miami has faced so far.

 

:beg:

 

Dallas has seasoned vets, a deep bench and a frontcourt that will dominate the Heat badly. Bosh will not be able to contain Dirk, nor can he have his way with Chandler. LBJ and Dirk will be a wash, so Wade will have to play big every night for the Heat to have a chance imo.

[hawkeyecub]

only one man can save us now

 

 

http://chasing23.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/dirk-nowitzki.jpg

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hakmjXSTtY8&feature=related

[hawkeyecub]

LeBron will be guarding Dirk quite a bit in the 4th quarter, I imagine.

 

Fortunately the Heat will be facing a superstar that's an upgrade from the MVP and a coach that's an upgrade from the COY.

[Guest]

Not playoffs related but the Lakers reportedly hired Mike Brown to a 4 year, 18.25M deal.

[SouthSideRyan]

Not playoffs related but the Lakers reportedly hired Mike Brown to a 4 year, 18.25M deal.

 

I thought I heard that as I got out of the shower, but couldn't believe it was true. And for that money??

[Banedon]

Not playoffs related but the Lakers reportedly hired Mike Brown to a 4 year, 18.25M deal.

 

I thought I heard that as I got out of the shower, but couldn't believe it was true. And for that money??

 

And Kobe said he was surprised and that he wasn't consulted.

[Guest]

The meltdown over Mike Brown here is just as entertaining as the meltdown over the Mavs sweeping the Lakers.

 

Just got to hope Dwight doesn't sign with them.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

4 pt Mavs lead! Let's go!

[UMFan83]

I would criticize the Thunder's ability to close out games but....you know

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Bring on the Heat!

[shnsajax]

So is Westbrook a liability on this OKC team. Just curious if he is the right type of player for them.

[Guest]

Four more, Dallas (unless Chicago comes back to beat Miami and then I don't care).

[Guest]

When your season is on the line and Kevin Durant, James Harden and Russell Westbrook are on the court, it's a great idea to have Eric Maynor try to shoot over 7' Dirk Nowitzki.

[shnsajax]

I wish Cuban owned the Cubs.