lol what? they should have won the first 4 games, and you don't know how the heat can win with lebron and wade? are you telling me there is a way to overcome lebron's choking in the 4th quarter with roster changes?
That's what I never understood about the formation of the big three. If it was really about winning why not all of them take something in the neighborhood of $10 mil a season and play that way. Miami would have had another $18 mil to play with. They could have enticed players like DFish to come and win with them. ESPN made it seem like these players took massive paycuts, but to be fair, if it was truly about the rings not the bucks they would have taken more of a cut, at least in my book. It's not like they couldn't make up the cut in advertising opportunities. Bosh is a really good player, but damn he's overpriced. Plus, what kind of team would pick up his contract now?
I'm sure someone has mentioned this already but the thread is way too long to search. The Heat losing wasn't the fault of Wade, LeBron, or Bosh. It's simply the curse of Juwan Howard.
What I've learned over the years is a 2 point loss, in real terms is much larger gap than just 2 points. I mean it is better than getting blown out. However, the team that wins by 2 is much better than a team that only is able to compete in a 2 point loss. So, the shoulda woulda coulda argument falls short. Besides that, next year it is going to be even harder for them to win when New York gets better, Indiana gets better, Chicago gets better, the bucks are going to be a team on the rise. Lebron was spent in the final two games, so how is he going to fair when the conference gets harder?
Agree 100% i think they took an on paper paycut but after factoring in no state income tax in florida i think the actual 'take home' pay was similar to what james and bosh received in cleveland and toronto. the only one that was worse off was wade but even then its not by much i am sure there were things like playoffs/finals incentives that more than made up for the difference..could be the same for james and bosh as well. if they actually took substantial (10-13 mil) paycuts they could have had another legit starter on that team locked up for their prime years
the big 3 would have won if they played like the big 3.. but instead one of them dissapeared in the 4th.. the other tried to do too much and ruined any flow and the 3rd .. well should never have been considered as BIG in the first place
the heat had at least a 6pt 4th quarter lead in every game for the first 4 games. and they had 2 guys (wade/lebron) who have been closing games out well the entire playoff. nobody expected them (specifically lebron) to choke like this. if lebron played 80% like he can, they would have beaten the mavs in 5. lebron was a ghost in the 4th quarter in EVERY game in the finals, not just the past few games. and it wasn't just not scoring, he was simply being passive and REFUSES to shoot at times. roster changes don't fix that type of mentality. it's a matter of will, and forcing the issue. lebron didn't do that at all vs the mavs. he wasn't worn out or anything, from what i saw. i believe this series was a huge upset, the way the pistons upset the lakers NY? they play zero defense. if they get chris paul, they may challenge. indiana? no bucks? say what? chicago is miami's real threat in the east. if they can somehow get dwight howard over there or a legit all-star SG, then they will be able to beat the heat.
Problem wasn't depth, the problem was one of the big 3 not showing up in the 4th qt for most of the series.
exactly, people forgot that the games were close vs boston and chicago in the 4th too. the difference was the heat closed the deal in the 4th on both ends. they didn't vs dallas. but now we have people pointing to lack of chemistry and poor mentality as the reasons for why they lost.
I don't agree. Mainly because Dirk was the best player BY FAR in the series. The pistons did it by committee. Any team that has the best player on it can't be considered an upset. Dirk played so high about the heat in the fourth quarter that he simultaneous lowered the heat a notch while making his guys better. It didn't matter what the lead was because Dirk knew he could bring his team back and he did it.
It surprised me when he said this, but it makes sense. I said to my son (and posted in the series thread during halftime of Game 1) that if the Heat could keep up that level of defense the entire 48 minutes, major props to them. I didn't think they could and was shocked when they proved me wrong. But over the course of the series, there is no doubt their energy level on D slipped and may have contributed to their 4th quarter collapses. The Heat just didn't have enough quality rotation bodies to soak up minutes and it caught up with them in the Finals. t_mac1, I don't think the Bulls necessarily need an All-Star SG to beat the Heat. They need a significant upgrade (which wouldn't take much), preferably someone who is able to create their own shot. Keith Bogans was a flat tire for them.
No. Wade was the best player in the series. Easily. Dirk was a damn close second, but come on. What I saw of DWade made me start to regret my hatred of that team...
<TABLE class=ts><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-TOP: 2px" vAlign=top> <TD vAlign=top>KingJames: The Greater Man upstairs know when it's my time. Right now isn't the time. 1 hour ago </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
wade was the best player in this series BY FAR. dirk didn't do jack squat defensively, and dallas was able to hide him with the zone or else he would be exposed a ton. wade dominated every game, except for this game. and he played both ends and had to do some playmaking also. both teams' defensive intensity slipped as the series went on. but one team has shot makers, the other team doesn't. lebron wasn't fatigued or got worn down, the guy is 26 years old. he choked. the bulls need another all-star to beat the heat. the heat you saw this year is the first year version. and their offense is still very rudimentary, and they didn't have 3pt shooters to spread the floor all the time b/c mike miller was injured. so no, the bulls need all-star help to even challenge the heat. i expect the heat to be even stronger next year on both ends, and more motivated b/c they finally tasted defeat together (and being embarrassed no less). so expect the heat to take go to another level next year when the playoffs roll around. that's why i don't see any team in the east challenging them unless the bulls trade for dwight or get a legit all-star guard to team up with drose.
Wow, the whole ESPN panal is killing LBJ! Stuatt Scott, Barry, Wilbon and even Magic all had something to say to James. That was crazy...they all said he talks and tweet too much and not much backing them up. LOL
He doesn't hate losing like a great competitor should. "Its just not my time" ... really? And someone upstairs has a "time" for you? Seems like he's still buying into this "Chosen One" nonsense.
Ha, thats what Wilbon said. Said God has or better have better things to worry about than basketball. Something like that.
