Official 2013-2014 NBA Playoffs Thread

[DesiPower]

now now, no need for name calling, this is the internet, every has a right to speak their mind. IQ is irreverent

 

[dbk]

nah i think the Spurs will wrap it up tonight!

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I'm a Blazers fan, and they're finished. Spurs win tonight, and even barring some ridiculous scenario in which they don't, Portland isn't getting four in a row against Popovich's Spurs now or ever.

 

[lupi]

Amazing final 5 minutes by miami, just killing them from behind.

 

[HendrixFan]

Amazing final 5 minutes by miami, just killing them from behind.

They really ramped up their defense at the end. Brooklyn was leading but Miami had only hit 1-16 on threes. There was little chance that would sustain. Once Miami started finding the bottom of the net, between that and the amped up defensive intensity it was just too much for the Nets to overcome.

The younger teams in these playoffs should be paying close attention to this game. Good ball movement and stout defense are huge late in playoff games.

 

[Mermaidman]

Those rascally referees! :awe:

I can't believe the same problem occurred on consecutive nights. NBA is a farce.

 

[southkrn]

If Heat do not win a Final, I can see Lebron going to the Clippers after Magic buys the team during the off season.

 

[DesiPower]

Amazing final 5 minutes by miami, just killing them from behind.

It does look exiting and fans all get pumped up, but that Miami's natural game, keep the opponent within shooting distance and strike at the end.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I only got to see about a quarter and a half of the Miami game, and it was puzzling to me how LeBron seemed to be completely disinterested, like he lacked any confidence whatsoever. And then I see his statline; 29-9-5. It's rare that you get a player who is so dominant that even when he sleepwalks through a game, he puts up MVP numbers.

Sadly, I didn't get to see the finish; sounds like it was exciting (for different reasons depending on who you were rooting for).

 

[HendrixFan]

After Bosh's performance tonight he pushed up his 3pt shooting slightly for this postseason, he is now 17-35 in the nine games. That is an incredible percentage for any shooter, but for the 4 or 5 man who is drawing out the opposing team's rim protector that is just insane.

 

[HendrixFan]

I watched the last three quarters of the Heat game and it looked like Lebron was allowing Wade to get his and saving himself a little bit. The last few times Lebron put up 50+ish this season he seemed winded the next game. That could have been a big factor.

Just like the team in general during the regular season, Lebron was just picking his spots so he could finish at full strength. Also the Nets went all in on keeping Lebron out of the paint and daring the Heat to beat them at the 3pt line. Starting out 1-16 from range didn't help.

 

[toughtrasher]

Do you guys think Bosh improved his 3pt shot because he wasn't getting enough low-post touches? I know Miami likes to run offense through James and sometimes Wade, but I think Bosh got that 3 because he wasn't as involved and has taken a step back.

What do you guys think?

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Do you guys think Bosh improved his 3pt shot because he wasn't getting enough low-post touches? I know Miami likes to run offense through James and sometimes Wade, but I think Bosh got that 3 because he wasn't as involved and has taken a step back.

What do you guys think?

Bosh has always been a pretty good 3 point shooter, he's just taken three times as many this year as any other year in his career. I think the Heat realized what a weapon they have in a big who can space the floor and drain threes if defenders lag off him and have drawn up schemes specifically designed to get him open threes (not unlike the schemes they've used for Ray Allen, James Jones, Mike Miller, Rashard Lewis, and basically anyone who isn't James or Wade). Miami likes open shooters around the perimeter so they can have James, Wade or Chalmers drive the lane and kick out.

 

[toughtrasher]

Bosh has always been a pretty good 3 point shooter, he's just taken three times as many this year as any other year in his career. I think the Heat realized what a weapon they have in a big who can space the floor and drain threes if defenders lag off him and have drawn up schemes specifically designed to get him open threes (not unlike the schemes they've used for Ray Allen, James Jones, Mike Miller, Rashard Lewis, and basically anyone who isn't James or Wade). Miami likes open shooters around the perimeter so they can have James, Wade or Chalmers drive the lane and kick out.

Right, I knew he was capable of hitting the 3 spanning back to his Toronto days.

But I feel like he's adjusted his game and stepped back a little because of Miami's style of play.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Right, I knew he was capable of hitting the 3 spanning back to his Toronto days.

But I feel like he's adjusted his game and stepped back a little because of Miami's style of play.

Indeed. They've really taken advantage of using Bosh at the 5 and forcing opposing centers to either step out of the paint and leave the lane open for the drives of James/Wade/Chalmers, or defend the rim and leave Bosh the wide open three. It's a pretty damaging floor-spacing arrangement, though it gets somewhat stifled when you also have a traditional big like Andersen or Haslem or Oden who doesn't have that range and doesn't demand defenders abandon the paint. And Haslem actually has pretty decent range himself. Miami is just another team buying into the analytics of shots at the rim or threes, and Bosh fits that scheme perfectly.

 

[toughtrasher]

Indeed. They've really taken advantage of using Bosh at the 5 and forcing opposing centers to either step out of the paint and leave the lane open for the drives of James/Wade/Chalmers, or defend the rim and leave Bosh the wide open three. It's a pretty damaging floor-spacing arrangement, though it gets somewhat stifled when you also have a traditional big like Andersen or Haslem or Oden who doesn't have that range and doesn't demand defenders abandon the paint. And Haslem actually has pretty decent range himself. Miami is just another team buying into the analytics of shots at the rim or threes, and Bosh fits that scheme perfectly.

Bosh is also pretty mobile from what I've seen from him. Other shooting big men like Channing Frye aren't, so Bosh definitely helps fluidity in Miami's offense.

 

[dbk]

Get well soon TP....worried its a tear..

 

[HendrixFan]

Do you guys think Bosh improved his 3pt shot because he wasn't getting enough low-post touches? I know Miami likes to run offense through James and sometimes Wade, but I think Bosh got that 3 because he wasn't as involved and has taken a step back.

What do you guys think?

http://grantland.com/features/lebron-james-nba-most-highly-evolved-offense/

I've read article and watched snippets where the Heat guys have talked about Bosh devoting more practice time to extending his range. He was always reliable in the midrange (understatement - best in NBA actually) but recently became reliable from three.

His distance from the basket is key to the Heat offense but leaves Bosh far from the rebound action. They use Bosh to hedge and push out PNRs, switch out, and generally rotate defensively leaving Bosh far from the rebound action on defense too. He has sacrificed his numbers and role for the team. He has taken alot of flak for his rebounding performance over the last few seasons, most notably after losses.

Bosh keeps chugging along, doing the right thing and being key in the Heat's championship runs.

 

[lupi]

Looking like this year will be a rematch of last.

 

[preslove]

Any news on parker?

 

[DesiPower]

nope, I am sure they will have MRI or some test like that around 10:00 AM today and they announce something by early afternoon, that's the standard procedure. It has been bothering him for a while now, I wouldn't be surprised if is done for the season.

 

[darkewaffle]

Man, if the nets offense hadn't withered in the last three/four minutes of both of the last two games, a 3-2 nets series lead would not have been out of the question lol. Joe Johnson was having an excellent second half and basically got no touches during that drought until that last second three pointer and the Nets looked completely out of sorts in those final seconds - credit to Miami creating great pressure though.

Oh, and Kerr reportedly agreed to coaching position with Warriors.

 

[dbk]

Will the Warriors run the triangle?

 

[DesiPower]

nvm

 

[darkewaffle]

Oh wow, Kerr's contract is 5y/25m with GSW. I respect the guy but that seems like a pretty hefty contract for an inexperienced/untested (if promising) coach.