2014 NBA Finals

[D.o.s.]

Am I the only one who doesn't like Miami using our plays to get Ray open?

You may not like it but it makes sense for MIA. You are saying they should not?

They've never really run many plays for Ray.  He just gets buckets off of ball movement and guys doubling.

They run a variation on the misdirection screen and/or the double screen pin down at least 4-5 times a game, if I had to guess.

Also Tony Parker! that 3.

Right, vs. the 20 or so times a game that Doc ran.  Even if Ray didn't get a shot, it would drive defenses crazy.

Fair point -- Ray was much more integral to our offense than he is to Miami's, but i think 4-5 players a game for a role player is a lot.

[Waew]

The bad thing is, LeBron had a good, efficient game but he knows - without even having to look at the film - that he wasn't aggressive enough.  I expect another monster game from him in game 4.

is it just me or does he look like he runs out of gas near the end of games. He looks like he has bursts but it wears off on both defense and offense

the same thing happened with dallas in 2011. i think the key versus the heat is outperforming their bench with a loaded bench of your own.

[Endless Paradise]

Heat expended waaaay too much energy just to come back from that deficit, I didn't think they had a shot of winning at all.

[Surferdad]

Heat expended waaaay too much energy just to come back from that deficit, I didn't think they had a shot of winning at all.

Oh I disagree. They made their 3rd quarter run with James on the bench, and generally dominated the 2nd half until the last 5 minutes. They had a golden opportunity to pull ahead when James came back in with the crowd on their side. Instead they didn't try to go to James enough and the Spurs kept double and triple teaming him forcing him to pass the ball.

I credit Pop with a brilliant coaching job and Spoelstra with not recognizing what had to be done.

[Waew]

These NBA Finals are mirroring last year's exactly so far:
Game 1: Spurs W
 Game 2: Heat W
 Game 3: Spurs W

magic johnson: The Spurs hot shooting in the 1st half reminded me of the 1985 NBA Finals when the Celtics led by Larry Bird blew out my ?Showtime? Lakers!

[RockinRyA]

These NBA Finals are mirroring last year's exactly so far:
Game 1: Spurs W
 Game 2: Heat W
 Game 3: Spurs W

magic johnson: The Spurs hot shooting in the 1st half reminded me of the 1985 NBA Finals when the Celtics led by Larry Bird blew out my ?Showtime? Lakers!

unlike last year though, games 6 and 7 would be in San Antonio

[fairweatherfan]

These NBA Finals are mirroring last year's exactly so far:
Game 1: Spurs W
 Game 2: Heat W
 Game 3: Spurs W

magic johnson: The Spurs hot shooting in the 1st half reminded me of the 1985 NBA Finals when the Celtics led by Larry Bird blew out my ?Showtime? Lakers!

unlike last year though, games 6 and 7 would be in San Antonio

5 + 7, they finally switched back to the 2-2-1-1-1 this year.  But yeah, homecourt could be huge for the Spurs.

[MBunge]

The bad thing is, LeBron had a good, efficient game but he knows - without even having to look at the film - that he wasn't aggressive enough.  I expect another monster game from him in game 4.

is it just me or does he look like he runs out of gas near the end of games. He looks like he has bursts but it wears off on both defense and offense

the same thing happened with dallas in 2011. i think the key versus the heat is outperforming their bench with a loaded bench of your own.

Even with a reasonably healthy Wade, Miami still depends on LeBron to do just about everything.  Chris Bosh is a 20-10 guy who's basically been reduced to playing the same role as Udonis Haslem.  That's the reason the Heat have not been as dominant in either the regular season or playoffs as people thought they would be. 

I also wonder if we're not seeing the first signs of all the mileage LeBron has put on his tires.  Dude's still going to be in his prime for a while but I don't think Bron has the fanatical desire to win that will force him to adjust his game the way Jordan and, to a lesser extent, Kobe did as they aged.

Mike

[RockinRyA]

These NBA Finals are mirroring last year's exactly so far:
Game 1: Spurs W
 Game 2: Heat W
 Game 3: Spurs W

magic johnson: The Spurs hot shooting in the 1st half reminded me of the 1985 NBA Finals when the Celtics led by Larry Bird blew out my ?Showtime? Lakers!

unlike last year though, games 6 and 7 would be in San Antonio

5 + 7, they finally switched back to the 2-2-1-1-1 this year.  But yeah, homecourt could be huge for the Spurs.

didnt know that, thanks.

[Celtics18]

Heroic effort by Kawhii Leonard tonight on both ends of the floor.  That was some of the best defense I've seen against Lebron James in a long time. 

[SparzWizard]

Great win by the Spurs. Thought they would not have pulled this one out.

Looks like they reclaimed home court advantage again. If SAS wins Game 4, this series is as good as done. But expect the Heat to make lots of adjustments.

Besides your original Big 3 in San Antonio, the Spurs also got themselves a new, young Big 3 of their own...Danny Green, Tiago Splitter, and Kawhi Leonard! 

[D.o.s.]

Wait wait aren't we supposed to be complaining about the officiating?

THAT WAS A BOGUS CALL ON WADE! THE NBA IS RIGGED! REFS GIVING THIS GAME TO SAN ANTONIO

It's only cheating when it's the bad guys that are cheating.  I hardly remember such gnashing of teeth when KG would get away with a handful of moving screens per game.

Yeah, right,  Next you'll be telling me that Kendrick Perkins has been getting away with moving screens for his entire career.

Glad some of Miami's fans are showing the world how lame they are, again.

Definitely puts that hideous seven nation army 'chant' in perspective.

No kidding.  How did that horrendous, no-talent required to write song ever become a chant?

Imagine if LeBroid, Wade, and Boshtrich decided to form their superteam in a city with a real fan base.  Golden State.  Portland.  NYK.  Boston.  It would have been so much more worth it.

I know this is kind of gross, but I think the basketball universe is a better place when the Knicks have a winning team.

(also, that riff is a great riff -- its just an awful soccer chant)

[SHAQATTACK]

Might as well count game four a Heat win. 

James looked a bit tired last night .   Only a normal human output

If he can recoup his energy , he'll go off Thursday with 45 points and 12 assists

Spurs had the energy advantage last night.

When the Heat need a win , like Thur. ,  James , Wade and Bosh will have 80 points between them

I'm not getting my hopes up at all , at least until the Spurs take a two game lead.

[2short]

Heroic effort by Kawhii Leonard tonight on both ends of the floor.  That was some of the best defense I've seen against Lebron James in a long time.

agree, see a game like that and makes me wonder if leonard is going to end up a better sf than paul george?

[hpantazo]

Might as well count game four a Heat win. 

James looked a bit tired last night .   Only a normal human output

If he can recoup his energy , he'll go off Thursday with 45 points and 12 assists

Spurs had the energy advantage last night.

When the Heat need a win , like Thur. ,  James , Wade and Bosh will have 80 points between them

I'm not getting my hopes up at all , at least until the Spurs take a two game lead.

Really? This is what you took away from game 3? I mean, did the tv commentators wear you down or something? Lebron looked tired and the Spurs had more energy?

I mean, both teams played the same game on sunday, both teams had monday off and traveled from san antonio to miami, both teams played last night. What kind of excuse is that? The spurs are also the older, less athletic team on top of everything.

The difference last night was not Lebron or Miami being 'tired'. It was the spurs hitting the shots that they missed in game 2, and Leonard being able to make a difference because he was not in constant foul trouble from ghost fouls and flopping. The heat got outplayed, and should be very worried, they don't have the inside presence or team defense to stop the spurs.