2011-2012 NBA Season

[SouthSideRyan]

9:1 odds is pretty generous for something that's never happened

 

A team beating another team 3 games in a row has happened a lot of times in the NBA playoffs.

 

To be clear, those were my odds, not Vegas, I imagine those are closer to 12-15

[Derwood]

9:1 odds is pretty generous for something that's never happened

 

A team beating another team 3 games in a row has happened a lot of times in the NBA playoffs.

 

To be clear, those were my odds, not Vegas, I imagine those are closer to 12-15

 

Its just never happened in the finals

[SouthSideRyan]

9:1 odds is pretty generous for something that's never happened

 

A team beating another team 3 games in a row has happened a lot of times in the NBA playoffs.

 

To be clear, those were my odds, not Vegas, I imagine those are closer to 12-15

 

Its just never happened in the finals

 

What makes the finals unique?

[Formerly Snayke]

If by killing themselves you mean that the Heat are clearly the better basketball team, then yes I agree.

 

Short series' prove nothing, but it's pretty ridiculous to say that the team which has had bonkers, once-in-a-lifetime performances from Shane Battier in Game 2 and Mario Chalmers in Game 4 is better. Miami has had nothing to do with Harden missing layups or not knowing if he should shoot.

[Ryne Ween]

Miami has held the lead, it seems, for about 90% of the series' gameclock thus far and has a 3-1 lead. Shane Battier is getting wide open looks, mario chalmers (who has big games like last night from time to time) is the benficiary of playing with some premier offensive players.

[Derwood]

9:1 odds is pretty generous for something that's never happened

 

A team beating another team 3 games in a row has happened a lot of times in the NBA playoffs.

 

To be clear, those were my odds, not Vegas, I imagine those are closer to 12-15

 

Its just never happened in the finals

 

What makes the finals unique?

 

no idea. Maybe the switch to the 2-3-2 format? All I know is that teams that go up 3-1 in the finals are 30-0 all time

[Formerly Snayke]

Miami has held the lead, it seems, for about 90% of the series' gameclock thus far and has a 3-1 lead. Shane Battier is getting wide open looks, mario chalmers (who has big games like last night from time to time) is the benficiary of playing with some premier offensive players.

 

OKC held opponents to 34 percent 3-point shooting during the regular season, which was 9th in the league. Since Game 2 they've held Miami's best 3-point shooters (Miller, Chalmers, Jones) to 6-22 shooting. I somehow doubt one of the better teams in the league at stopping those 3's suddenly forgot how to do it when the Finals started last week.

[Ryne Ween]

Miami has held the lead, it seems, for about 90% of the series' gameclock thus far and has a 3-1 lead. Shane Battier is getting wide open looks, mario chalmers (who has big games like last night from time to time) is the benficiary of playing with some premier offensive players.

 

OKC held opponents to 34 percent 3-point shooting during the regular season, which was 9th in the league. Since Game 2 they've held Miami's best 3-point shooters (Miller, Chalmers, Jones) to 6-22 shooting. I somehow doubt one of the better teams in the league at stopping those 3's suddenly forgot how to do it when the Finals started last week.

 

Is your argument that OKC is the better team and that the heat are up 3-1 based on fluky 3 point shooting from shane battier?

[SouthSideRyan]

9:1 odds is pretty generous for something that's never happened

 

A team beating another team 3 games in a row has happened a lot of times in the NBA playoffs.

 

To be clear, those were my odds, not Vegas, I imagine those are closer to 12-15

 

Its just never happened in the finals

 

What makes the finals unique?

 

no idea. Maybe the switch to the 2-3-2 format? All I know is that teams that go up 3-1 in the finals are 30-0 all time

 

That's not really statistically significant when you'd expect them to be 28-2 all time.

[Vanilla Ice]

Also, everything in here http://www.basketballprospectus.com/unfiltered/?p=929

[Soul]

If by killing themselves you mean that the Heat are clearly the better basketball team, then yes I agree.

 

Short series' prove nothing, but it's pretty ridiculous to say that the team which has had bonkers, once-in-a-lifetime performances from Shane Battier in Game 2 and Mario Chalmers in Game 4 is better. Miami has had nothing to do with Harden missing layups or not knowing if he should shoot.

 

That's ridiculous. Miami is beating OKC on the court. 3 games in a row. Miami has had everything to do with winning those games. Nothing is being handed to them.

[Sammy Sofa]

How on Earth does that response have anything to do with what you quoted?

[Soul]

Seems very clear to me.

[Formerly Snayke]

Is your argument that OKC is the better team and that the heat are up 3-1 based on fluky 3 point shooting from shane battier?

 

They're up 3-1 because of anomalies that occur in four games.

[Formerly Snayke]

Seems very clear to me.

 

Not really.

[Ryne Ween]

Is your argument that OKC is the better team and that the heat are up 3-1 based on fluky 3 point shooting from shane battier?

 

They're up 3-1 because of anomalies that occur in four games.

 

Roll players exceeding their typical production in big playoff games on great teams is not an anomaly. Its typical.

[Guest]

Roll players exceeding their typical production...

Isn't that traveling?

[wolf stansson]

I could be wrong, but I feel that, at their best, when their players are playing to expectations, the Thunder are the better team. When the Thunder are doing strange things like Harden sucking, Scott Brooks biffing substitutions and player match-ups or the team shooting free throws below their expected rate, Close games can tilt to the Heat's favor. Especially when you get historically good 3 point shooting from Shane Battier or 25 points on extremely efficient shooting from Mario Chalmers.

 

Miami's perimeter defense, especially Battier and LeBron's ability to deny Durant positioning in his comfort areas, has been the equalizer and then the various unpredictable factors that come with short series like Snayke mentioned has been the difference imo.

[Guest]

I think the defensive matchups are part of why you're seeing that too. Durant and Harden are offense-first guys, and one or both of them has to spend a lot of energy guarding the best player in the NBA. A lot more than their other playoff opponents, none of whom had an all-star at the 3. I don't think it's a coincidence that it's those two that are the OKC stars that have faltered at times in the series. OKC requires defensive effort as well from that spot, but that's not really anything new for LeBron, who defends a variety of different guys depending on need.

[Guest]

Can you imagine if Lebron had two straight soft-ass games like Durant's put up in games 3 and 4? Skip Bayless would immolate himself.

 

Bayless would rip Durant, but he's too busy killing Westbrook to notice Durant.

[imb]

LeBron bodies durant out past the 3-point line for a quarter and durant gives up and floats around for the next 36 minutes.

[ELCABALLO45]

I don't understand how people can claim the Thunder are still a better team. Miami has outplayed them for basically the entire series. It was a close game in Game 1 till the final 4 min I believe? They are up 3-1 because they are just a better team. It's unfortunate that so many people hate LeBron and can't just accept him at what he is. The best player on the planet. His defense on Durant has been unreal.

 

But I am sure despite winning Finals MVP, some meat-heads will find another made up bogus reason to hate on him.

[Vanilla Ice]

I don't understand how people can claim the Thunder are still a better team. Miami has outplayed them for basically the entire series. It was a close game in Game 1 till the final 4 min I believe? They are up 3-1 because they are just a better team. It's unfortunate that so many people hate LeBron and can't just accept him at what he is. The best player on the planet. His defense on Durant has been unreal.

 

But I am sure despite winning Finals MVP, some meat-heads will find another made up bogus reason to hate on him.

Over 4 games, the Heat have outscored the Thunder by 5 points.

 

I don't think 5 points over 4 games is enough to definitely say one way or the other. Before the series, I thought the Thunder were a better team than the Heat and I still think so.

 

LeBron is obviously incredible, the best player on the planet, etc., but this series has not been completely one-sided.

[17 Seconds]

I don't understand how people can claim the Thunder are still a better team. Miami has outplayed them for basically the entire series. It was a close game in Game 1 till the final 4 min I believe? They are up 3-1 because they are just a better team. It's unfortunate that so many people hate LeBron and can't just accept him at what he is. The best player on the planet. His defense on Durant has been unreal.

 

But I am sure despite winning Finals MVP, some meat-heads will find another made up bogus reason to hate on him.

 

i'm pretty sure just about everyone in here would tell you lebron is the best player in the nba.

 

but i get it, rooting for the heat is trendy now and people are meatballs if they don't.

[Vanilla Ice]

I just searched my posts to see what I said about LeBron on here in the past. Led me to this gem from 2010.

 

no way Durant and Roy could play together. Given the choice, Roy is my guy