If the Pacers win game 4, that's just about a knockout blow. With their fragile psyche, I can't see the Heat ripping off three straight against the Pacers. Even if the Heat sneak a game 4 win, I think it's still the Pacers' series to lose. They look like a team that knows it can win now. I don't think they'll shrink from taking control of the series. I cannot wait to see the knockout game for the Pacers. I expect some epic meltdown action by the Heat in the second half. Maybe not as bad as the Lakers getting ejected left and right last year, but definitely sulking and shrinking in the finale ala LeBron's last game in Cleveland. I saw your cousin at the store. He said to tell you hello. Spoiler I told him "Put on some damn clothes, hippy troll!"
Oh wow. The Heat canceled practice today so they could avoid having to face the media. That's freaking pathetic. This team is about to come apart at the seams. I need some popcorn. It's riveting watching prima donnas psyches burst like tiny little bubbles.
I blame Riley. Miller and Battier were terrible signings. Battier doesn't work as hard as everyone thinks. He's always out drinking.
Miller's buddy Haslem isn't doing too well either. Both guys are locked up for 3 more years at about $10 million/year total. I never liked the Battier signing. Someone else here argued Shane was the best they could get so they had to do it. He's got 2 more years left.
Hollinger's PER Diem: http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/play...iami-heat-lebron-james-shouldering-heavy-load
Like pacertom himself said, Game 4 is critical for both teams. No way is this series decided yet, but after Sunday? We'll either have the Pacers with 3 chances to close out the series or the Heat rebooting the series to a best of 3 with homecourt again. Momentum is massive. Nothing's saving the Heat if they lose 3 straight. Pacers will have a daunting task if Miami gets some swagger back. Nothing Dakich said wasn't already evident by watching the game and the Heat during timeouts. And this isn't new, either. It was only 14 months ago that it was widely assumed Spoelstra was gone the second the season finished. Wade and Lebron gave kiss of death diplomatic responses about him and openly ignored him. They were pissed when he told the media about crying in the locker room. The trip to the Finals and all the attention LeBron got for choking saved Spoelstra's job. Lebron and Wade both consider themselves above coaching. They're only willing to "play along" with the notion that Spoelstra is the coach there. What this team is starting to remind me of is the pre-Phil Lakers. The guys that sent the entire lineup to the All Star Game but kept getting clowned by the Jazz in the postseason. For all the flak he gets about only coaching top 3 talent, Phil Jackson takes stars that can't get out of the way of their own ego and turns them into champions. He and Riles hate each other, but Miami's GOT to find someone that can command the respect of Wade and LeBron. Watching last night, they desperately needed someone in the huddle to say "I will bleed out the next **** that clangs a 3 instead of taking it to the hole"
This seems nothing like the pre-phil Lakers. Their biggest problem was that kobe and shaq both had huge ego's. LeBron has no problem taking a back seat to wade. I also think Shaq entering the prime of his career had a lot with the Lakers winning. Phil is a great motivator, but do you honestly believe LeBron needs motivation. He isn't fat like Shaq and he obviously cares a lot about winning.
LeBron also would have twice as many assists if any of his teammates could make a shot. Here's an amazing stat from ESPN's Stats & Info group: The Heat are 3-for-19 on unguarded, catch-and-shoot jumpers this series, including 2-of-12 in Game 3. That's like striking out in batting practice.
It wasn't like Battier and Haslem couldn't make open shots in the past. If they can't now, most likely they lack practice. As a leader, you need to understand championship is hard and you have to lead by example and push your teammates to follow you. LeBron obviously believes Basketball is all about money and fun. And once he joins the superfriends, it will be easy. So no, if his teammates can't make open shots, he doesn't make them better and he's at fault too.
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Haslem has really deteriorated as a player. Not sure what the issue is with him. I know he had a major injury last year, but he came back to be a non-factor in the playoffs a year ago and is still a non-factor. I guess he's past his prime. As far as Battier and Miller, they're doing exactly what they did when they both were playing for Memphis at the same time, which is help the team lose. Shane "giggles" Battier...where is that veteran leadership presence? That scrub might have fooled a lot of people, but he never fooled me with his fake "leadership." What a trash player. You've pretty much done nothing but troll during this entire thread. Take some of your own advice and stop being a hypocrite and acting like a troll yourself.
