Fisher is really strong like a bull and he hit Wade and knocked the ball away with that shoulder check. I replayed it a few times on my TV and it would be tough for the ref to call that but Fisher did knock the crap out of him.
lebron should never leave the post. he's cooking dudes down there. ps. thabo is a tremendous defender.
I was hoping they would have gone for a three and not let it go into overtime because the Heat has an advantage in those kind of situations, especially with Durant's foul and all. :grin:
That's where the game turned. Lebron and Spo must make it a concerted effort to get Lebron in the post every other play.
Spo deserves some serious credit for a solid gameplan and his players delivered. Wade, Bosh and Battier followed LeBron's lead they got the win. OKC's turn to react and adjust.
One of the most surprising things for me was that Lebron hit all of his free throws and I think Wade missed just 1.
his 17 in the first half helped keep okc in the game, he cooled down though in the 2nd half unfortunately..
Good free throw shooting for Miami to be honest in this one. Those seven missed free throws for OKC clearly hurt them too considering they were able to cut the lead just down to 2.
My thoughts: The Thunder need to stop the slow starts. They aren't just falling behind, they are digging massive holes to come back from in every game. Wade and Bosh stepped up to give LeBron help. Wade got into the paint repeatedly in the first half, unlike game 1. Battier is on some kind of roll from three. I figure he cools off eventually, but if he doesn't, Miami is going to be tough to beat. Either Harden, Fisher, or Collison needs to start for Perkins with Spoelstra going to a Battier-Bosh PF/C combo. Any of those players gives OKC a better chance to not fall behind early. Nick Collison needs to play more, period. He's doing a lot of little things to help the Thunder when he's in the game. Lastly, the next three games in Miami will be fun. OKC won't be intimidated playing there, and as long as they play a full 48 minute game they get at least 1 of the 3, if not 2.
I'm still trying to find out how people didn't think Miami had much of chance in this series. They match up fairly well in most spots, while I don't think OKC is what you would call overwhelming on the front line, at least not offensively or on the boards. Westbrook and Wade is about even at this point in their careers, but Wade is little more consistent. Chris Bosh is still getting back from an injury and getting back into playing shape. The Thunder have Harden off the bench, but outside of the him their bench isn't necessarily special. The Spurs being a better team than the Heat, possibly, but the Spurs do not have the same kind of play makers as Miami. Stopping Ginobili and Parker is one thing, stopping LeBron and DWade is a whole another larger obstacle.
Because OKC had more guys "playing well" going in to the series. If Wade and Bosh also play to their standards, MIami wins this series hands down. Nobody on OKC should be able to stop a healthy Wade, esp. with Thabo guarding Lebron exclusively now when he's on the floor. But still in this game, he struggles to beat his man off the dribble still. But Wade struggled mightily. And Bosh isn't 100%. Lebron was the only one who played consistent basketball offensively. And now you face the best offensive team in the league? You need more players on a roll to have a chance.
For me, it had nothing to do with Bosh. Wade, up until tonight, was holding Miami back. Westbrook had been the better postseason player other than the 41 point outburst Wade threw up in Indiana. If Wade consistently plays this way the rest of the series, it will be a dogfight and a long series. If the Wade of game 1 shows up, OKC is easily the better team.
Lebron got away with 2 fouls at the end...but fortune favors the brave. He went 12/12 from the free throw line. kudos
i really hate when they run "mike brown" offense at the end of games. it's too predictable. lebron in the post/wade& lebron PnR is money.
