NBA Playoffs

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

What is there to admit? I had the Mavs in 6. Its too simplistic to say that an entire team "tightened up" in every game in the final six minutes with the exception of the two games they won. How does that really make any sense? How does Dwyane Wade tightening up make any sense?

Dirk was lights out. So was Terry for that matter in the last few games. If I am reading you right, the final six minutes is all that mattered and the mavs were better for more games during the final six minutes than the heat were and that is because they are better "closers". Is that right? And does that make sense to someone like yourself who obviously understands the game?

The closing is just the product of what happened during the beginning and middle games. Same with football, boxing, chess or any other game that tests stamina of the mind and/or body. Only an idiot would deny this indelible truth.

Obviously other factors contributed to the result, but in basketball, more than any other sport, the final stages of the game are of extreme importance. What you do when the game is hanging in the balance decides your fate in the NBA playoffs more often than not. The Mavs did just about everything right late in games and the Heat did just about everything wrong. The other angles are nice, but the fourth quarter performance decided this series. The Mavs owned it.

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Obviously other factors contributed to the result, but in basketball, more than any other sport, the final stages of the game are of extreme importance. What you do when the game is hanging in the balance decides your fate in the NBA playoffs more often than not. The Mavs did just about everything right late in games and the Heat did just about everything wrong. The other angles are nice, but the fourth quarter performance decided this series. The Mavs owned it.

I think its safe to say Lebron played more minutes than anyone else in that series. In the process, he spent a good deal of time covering Jason Terry while Dirk got to cover Mike Miller or Udonis Haslem or whatever stiff the Heat threw out there.

Dirk got to play in a real offense that actually ran sets and got him shots in spots where he was comfortable (which he nailed!). Lebron had to improvise while being chased by three guys that wouldn't just "show" most of the time while playing in an offense devoid of any sets.

Lebron is still trying to figure out his role in conjunction with Wade and his other teammates. Dirk is the undisputed Alpha on his team and despite some of the new additions, they all know they have to play off of dirk.

Dirk is playing on a team with a coach that played for an NBA dynasty and has earned is stripes as a professional while coaching some pretty decent playoff teams. Lebron is on a team with a coach that never played pro ball and got his break because of his daddy.

Dirk delivered this year (unlike other years) and I was ecstatic to see the heat lose. I really do not like them and i think they set a poor example. At the same time, is it not fair to say that Dirk was set up a little better to succeed than Lebron was here?

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

No doubt...the mavs outplayed the Heat in the late stages of four of those games. However we arrived at that point is subject to debate, but the difference in play was clear. Dirk played out of his mind and he proved to be one of the toughest players to match up against in the NBA.

Do you think the result is the same if Pat Riley was on the sideline instead of Erik Spoelstra? Not necessarily meaning do the Mavs still win the series, but do you think that maybe lebron and company play a little differently?

I know its speculation but its an internet message board.

Not in LeBron's case. LeBron is an egotistical tool who goes into a shell at the first sign of adversity. God himself couldn't have coached a dominant series out of him after that Mavs comeback in Game 2.

Originally Posted by dalakhani

I think its safe to say Lebron played more minutes than anyone else in that series. In the process, he spent a good deal of time covering Jason Terry while Dirk got to cover Mike Miller or Udonis Haslem or whatever stiff the Heat threw out there.

Dirk got to play in a real offense that actually ran sets and got him shots in spots where he was comfortable (which he nailed!). Lebron had to improvise while being chased by three guys that wouldn't just "show" most of the time while playing in an offense devoid of any sets.

Lebron is still trying to figure out his role in conjunction with Wade and his other teammates. Dirk is the undisputed Alpha on his team and despite some of the new additions, they all know they have to play off of dirk.

Dirk is playing on a team with a coach that played for an NBA dynasty and has earned is stripes as a professional while coaching some pretty decent playoff teams. Lebron is on a team with a coach that never played pro ball and got his break because of his daddy.

Dirk delivered this year (unlike other years) and I was ecstatic to see the heat lose. I really do not like them and i think they set a poor example. At the same time, is it not fair to say that Dirk was set up a little better to succeed than Lebron was here?

Your points would be more valid if LeBron James weren't a zillion times better athlete than Dirk. He can do just about whatever he wants on the court. And have you even watched Dirk play? The amount of easy shots he gets per game is maybe two or three. He works his ass off to hit impossible shot after impossible shot while LeBron is clanging wide open jumpers.

There's no way in hell Erik Spoelstra is to blame for LeBron's performance in this series. Not one little bit. LeBron didn't want any part of the ball for most of the series and he's rightfully being ridiculed for it.