Real Deal

Wade may turn it up in the playoffs, but Miami was lucky to have HCA last season, also. They didn't have to go four on the road in any series out East, and I think that Chicago would have toppled them if Rose was healthy (especially considering Bosh's injury, missing games up to Game 6 of the ECF's). This year, it's a bit different. Wade isn't the same, and it's clear. Haslem isn't contributing much...didn't shoot well last year, but at least he rebounded the ball and played defense. LeBron does seem like the only one that wants it, but Bosh isn't playing THAT bad. He's just not a defensive player, and never will be. I know the Lakers aren't looking great right now, but they did hold the Spurs to 84 points and 39% FG...all without a defensive system in place, and Bickerstaff as the coach. It's still November. I can't really see the Thunder beating Miami in a rematch, but a team like the Lakers can get it done, especially considering the fact that Miami has trouble with true big men AND doesn't defend the three well at all. We aren't a stellar three-point shooting team...yet...because we don't get open right now. I'm going to guess that will change, though. And, even then, there's a Chicago team that is still playing decent basketball...top ten defensively right now, and I believe 12th back on offense (which is shocking, without Rose), and pending injuries, Boston can only get better. Repeating is difficult. Since 1990, only the Bulls and Lakers have done it...both coached by Phil Jackson, both legendary dynasties. With that considered, but more importantly, seeing how this team is playing defense and how much older Wade looks as he's coming off that surgery, it's hard to imagine a scenario where we can basically say Miami are the favorites.

Anyone noticing it yet? 2nd in Offensive Rating (points per 100 possessions) 28th in Defensive Rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) Here are a few more defensive rankings for the Heat... 22nd in allowed FG% (44.8%) 28th in allowed 3PT% (39.4%) 23rd in allowed FTA 24th in allowed rebounds 27th in allowed assists 11th in steals 12th in blocks 28th in allowed PPG Last year's rankings... 4th in Defensive Rating 5th in allowed FG% (43.4%) 26th in allowed 3PT% (36.3%) 12th in allowed FTA 1st in allowed rebounds 8th in allowed assists 3rd in steals 10th in blocks 4th in allowed PPG Is it fair to say that Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis are a big chunk of this team's issues back on the defensive end? How much blame can be shifted over to Dwyane Wade? Can Miami even get to the Finals playing defense like this?

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdca8l9VJe1qdlh1io1_400.gif

The referees are scared of LeBron...don't want to give him a technical for all of the yelling he's doing. I can think of many players who would have gotten hit with one in the first quarter.

Bledsoe shoots a 20-footer, misses, and chases down his own board without a single player touching the ball, getting a layup underneath the rim. WTF?

CP3 reached in and found his inner Kobe on that long three, lol. And yeah, JVG is pretty disappointed about the firing of Mike Brown, haha...he wouldn't shut up about that, and then coaches and teams adjusting to each other.

Whoa...

http://i46.tinypic.com/idemw4.jpg Okay, I'm done.

Had to... http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdiat07dNB1qzc69yo1_1280.png http://i50.tinypic.com/fbgn4o.jpg

Haha, two idiots. Perk took off running to the locker room, probably so he could catch up to Z-Bo, lol. I was wondering why he was sprinting back there.

LOL...I was hoping this topic would last until the 25th, where the Pistons would upset the Knicks. Then again, that would have been outstanding, to see two winless teams, and an undefeated team, for nearly a month into the season.

Westbrick needs to take about 10 of his shots, and pass them out to Kevin Martin. Seriously, he's going to crush this franchise.

Aside from Webber/Ibaka, none of the match-ups favor the Kings...and it's good that Ibaka is going to be the one defending Webber, since he can step away from the rim. Durant, Westbrook and Harden would be nearly impossible to defend, if you're the Kings...Bibby, Peja and Hedo aren't going to do anything about those three, and while Christie was a good defensive player, he's the only guy in that backcourt that can defend the likes of Durant and Harden. It would be a little different if Gerald Wallace was older back then, but he was barely getting time off the bench (not even a quarter of basketball). The Kings weren't that bad defensively, but it was only because they rebounded the ball extremely well and fouled like CRAZY if you were about to get to the rim (I know they were one of the worst fouling teams that season, and Adelman once noted that he preaches not giving up the easy two, no matter what). So, against a team that will pick and roll you to death, and that can shoot or get to the rim...with match-ups in their favor...I have to go with the Thunder in a seven-gamer.

Looks like an angry Sixers fan just blasted the back of his head with a balloon filled with canola oil.

wut http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/575166_530641250281813_1224797063_n.jpg

By the numbers, they are, but I don't trust VDN in the playoffs, nor do I put that much faith into what they have up front. The team, as a whole, is playing MUCH better defense, though. Today, sure. In late April? Probably not. Let me just put it this way: I ask myself if I would be stunned to see them in the NBA Finals, and my answer is yes. I don't see how the Clippers can beat out the Thunder, Spurs, or even the Lakers (once LA gets going) in a seven-game series.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20121113_WAS@CHA

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20121113_POR@SAC

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20121112_MIL@PHI

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20121112_BOS@CHI

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20121112_MIN@DAL

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20121112_DEN@PHO

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20121112_ATL@POR

Yeah, Pau had the pass right there, and he's one of the best passing bigs in the league. Not sure why he didn't hit Kobe with it. But, again, another reason why Kobe is the guy always taking the last shot. We don't have Fish anymore, and for the big shot Ron hit in Game 7 against Boston, he has missed far too many.

Well, we had a king-sized chair out there for Phil...so why not stick a Craftmatic adjustable bed out there for Mike? That could be sick. And when Mike D's knee heals up, leave the bed out there for Steve Nash, so he doesn't have to lay on the floor anymore. ANYTHING can happen in LA.