LeBron in his first finals? He carried one of the worst teams in NBA history to the finals by going nuts against the pistons and scoring 48 points and closed the game with 25 straight points all on his own. He was the center of attention and got smothered by the Spurs in his first finals. Harden? He was simply a role player and he would never be the leader of the Thunder whether he was 22 or 32. It's not an equal comparison.
This was a total must win for the Heat...and they played like it...now if they are to win the series, they have to play just like this on Sunday... However, this series has been utterly confusing, and every game has had a separate identity...3 blowouts and 1 close game...really all the games have been close, but the key quarters have been late 3rd and early 4th...The Team that executes during this period of time so far have won... Game 5 is gonna be a dog fight... So far Game 1: Tony Parker buzzer beater Game 2: The Splitter rejection Game 3: Three's from the Heaven Game 4: The Miami Big Three and team D Game 5: ??? The Spurs are faced with a must win on their home court...they cant afford to go 1-2 on their home court and think they have a chance to beat Miami twice...They have to look to win 2 games in a row...Sunday and Tuesday...I think the Spurs can...They have been counted out all season long and even during the playoffs... Remember how the Lakers were begging for a match up with the aged Spurs:Result 4-0 Sweep (beat them in LA) Remember how GSW: almost won 2 on the Spurs in the first 2 games?? 4-2 (beat them in Golden State) Remember how Memphis had the size defense and ability to slow down Parker: Result 4-0 Sweep (beat them in Memphis) I am hoping for the same trend to continue...This Spurs team has played special basketball this postseason, and they each have a reason for wanting to win...Personally I think this is it for the Spurs...The Spurs Big three need to have a performance for the ages on Sunday...b/c I do believe their bench carries them once again in Game 6 in Miami...
You know the Heat dragged itself to the Finals last year too right? The Heat are a better team this year. The Heat are tied 2-2 v. the best in the West despite Lebron being pretty good in only 1 of the games.
It doesn't matter. To imply that he'd be the same player and everything would be the same is just foolish and NEVER happens in sports.
THIS YEARS heat team is better. Chris Anderson and Ray Allen have made this team so much better than last year's team and how can you say Wade/Bosh are not as good this year as they were last year? Did you watch tonights game? I'm not sure any single person on this bbs who watches the NBA would agree with you that the Heat were better last year than they are this year. If anyone agrees with this take, please stand up and elaborate.
So what are you saying? Now that the Heat have Ray Allen and Chris Anderson they would lose to a Durant, Westbrook, Harden team that they beat 4 games straight last year? Doesn't make much sense.
What he said was right...Lebron has been carrying this team to the Finals...Wade was a total no show during this postseason..Bosh has been so so...Tonight was the very first night that all the big three played like the big three...33, 32, 20 is gonna get it done. Period... But this is whats expected every night...Historically great teams do that every night...What makes me mad...and really despise them is that they seemingly turn it on whenever they want...Good teams dont even want their opponents to have confidence...ever...This Heat plays too many games...and I think, its gonna have a negative impact in this series...
Harden would have been better than Allen or Anderson could have hoped to be and Ibaka improved a bit too. My point is going by "Last year" is silly, saying "Harden played bad last year thus would do so this year." is also silly to me, it means 'why even play the games?' The Heat are worse than they are last year because Wade is older and the Thunder's young core would have improved. It doesn't matter in the end but it's not like the Heat dominated the Thunder, those were close games that the Heat just closed out better.
That's because the teams the Heat have played up to this point have been a joke. The eastern conference is a joke, including the Pacers. Wade and Bosh HAVEN'T NEEDED to show up much. They have been resting, coasting. Now they are playing a real team and they realized they gotta wake up and help out and this is where we stand 2-2. The Heat do what they need to do to get by and if that means putting 4 in a row against the Thunder in the NBA finals then so be it.
Harden was more than just a role player in OKC. Sure he wasn't like he in Houston but I wouldn't say he was just a role player
The Heat are better this year than they were last year. They won 27 games in a row in the regular season. They have the same team as they did last year plus Ray Allen and Chris Anderson. And they have the confidence and swagger of defending champs. An old, banged up Boston team took them to 7 games last year. That would have never happened this year.
Because coasting in the most important series of the year is totally A-ok. The HEAT are so GOAT, they don't even have to try. '13 Heat > 96-97 Bulls, 85-86 Celtics, 71-72 Lakers etc. Why even watch the NBA anymore? Lets just all become Heat fans and never have to worry about not winning, right guys?
Who said coasting is OK? And why do you have to be a Heat fan to realize it? Just be an objective NBA fan and see that the Heat can turn it on or off whenever they are motivated. It would be annoying as hell to be a Heat fan, I'm sure it is for Pat Riley and Spolestra.
When they lose: lel they weren't tryin When they win: GOAT team eva boi stop h8in And yeah, the bolded really does apply.
So Manu was a role player his whole career while coming off of the bench? Harden came off of the bench for a reason and it's not because he was a role player.
I think I made the mistake of assuming that although you are a Heat fan, and not a very objective one at that, one could perhaps have a reasonable discussion with you. I was terribly wrong. What you wrote above is one of the most asinine things I have read on this board in the last few weeks.
