bigdaddy2003;1194831 wrote:Yeah, I mean I'm not saying he is going to get punked off of the floor. I just meant I didn't think he will do enough to consider him an advantage.

Correct.

If Miami loses again this year, what do they do? Last year you could justify the loss by needing more time to gel, needing another off-season to add supporting cast, maybe just an aberration. But if they lose this year, it's pretty clear their Big 3 isn't the solution to a title, especially if they lose to a young team in OKC who will be in their way for years to come.

Is Spoelstra gone? Bosh? Wade?

2kool4skool;1194844 wrote:If Miami loses again this year, what do they do? Last year you could justify the loss by needing more time to gel, needing another off-season to add supporting cast, maybe just an aberration. But if they lose this year, it's pretty clear their Big 3 isn't the solution to a title, especially if they lose to a young team in OKC who will be in their way for years to come.

Is Spoelstra gone? Bosh? Wade?

Other than maybe spoelstra, I think they will try to keep it together for one more year

2kool4skool;1194844 wrote:If Miami loses again this year, what do they do? Last year you could justify the loss by needing more time to gel, needing another off-season to add supporting cast, maybe just an aberration. But if they lose this year, it's pretty clear their Big 3 isn't the solution to a title, especially if they lose to a young team in OKC who will be in their way for years to come.

Is Spoelstra gone? Bosh? Wade?

I think Spoelstra would be the first to go of any of them. But I think they'd keep the nucleus together mainly because of how weak the east will probably still be. Chicago will be getting Rose back off his knee tear. God only knows what Orlando will do. Miami just survived Boston's best shot and that team will only get worse barring a major change somewhere. Philadelphia and Indiana will continue to improve but lack the starpower to match Wade or Lebron. I hate to say it, but as long as they stay healthy and the other eastern teams continue to move sideways instead of up, they should have a relatively clear path to the finals every year. Good thing there's a few teams in the west that can beat them in a series,though.

Game 1: OKC
Game 2: OKC
Game 3: MIA
Game 4: OKC
Game 5: OKC

dlazz;1194929 wrote:Game 1: OKC
Game 2: OKC
Game 3: MIA
Game 4: OKC
Game 5: OKC

You really think Miami will only win one?

I can't imagine Miami only winning 1 game.

OKC in 6.

OKC takes Game 1-2.
Miami takes Game 3.
OKC takes game 4.
Miami takes game 5.
OKC takes game 6.

bigdaddy2003;1195116 wrote:I can't imagine Miami only winning 1 game.

Compare their benches and get back to me.

As Bart Scott once said, "Can't Wait!". This is a finals that has everything you could want-- I'm speaking directly to you David Stern. On paper, I think the Thunder are a favorite to win in 6 games. They've got the legs, swagger, and have been playing much better team ball and taking care of it as well. There's ton of adjustments to be made and story lines to be followed, but there's a handful of them I'm anxious to watch. I think one of the biggest keys in the series is how Westbrook handles himself. His biggest flaw is that he forgets at times that he isn't the alpha male on the team. So what does Miami do to test that? They throw Mario Chalmers at him for bait. Will Westbrook become so aggressive to make Miami pay that he takes his team out of a flow? I also think the rotations are huge. Does Miami make Bosh come off the bench? When does Wade guard Westbrook/Harden? When does LBJ check KD? Coaching will really play a huge role because both teams may have parts of their Big 3 coming off the bench, and that isn't something that can be said for many NBA finals in history. Pressure is also a huge one. Does LBJ prove us fans right again? How do the young stars play under the bright lights? OKC cannot come out for game one testing the waters and show their nerves and lose. With the setup, momentum can swing greatly when you allow a road team the chance to possible close during that 3 game span. I don't see either team winning in 5, but Miami stealing game one would give them a lot of confidence when coming back home. My two players to key in aren't the superstars in LBJ and KD, but rather Ibaka and Bosh. They're the biggest x factors. I expect the stars to play like stars. For Miami to win, Bosh will have to score on the outside to allow Wade and LBJ to attack inside. If Ibaka doesn't get drawn out, the Heat don't win. I see Ibaka as more of a Camby type protector instead of a Howard type protector, but he's still good enough to make Wade and LBJ think twice about going to the hole (maybe even good enough for LBJ to not try...again). In the end, I see the games going like this--- Miami, OKC, Miami, OKC, Miami, and Miami. I'm making the homer pick, but my confidence is quite low. I know it's only one game, but I really feel whoever wins game 1 goes and gets it done.

Fuck lebron fuck wade and fuck miami - Go OKC.

I don't know what would be more fun to watch: Lebron haters QQing that he won a title or Lebron QQing that he didn't.

dlazz;1195153 wrote:Compare their benches and get back to me.

I recognize that OKC's bench is better. I just think Miami has enough to win more than 1 game.

Raw Dawgin' it;1195264 wrote:Fuck lebron fuck wade and fuck miami - Go OKC.

This

I want to see a good series

Won't be disappointed if OKC wins in 5

These two teams seem like they're gonna turn into a modern day version of Lakers/Celtics. OKC just seems like they're about to go on a decade long tear, and Miami despite a bigger hater base than fanbase are an elite team. I cannot wait to see what Lebron and Durant will do in this series though

Classyposter58;1195320 wrote:These two teams seem like they're gonna turn into a modern day version of Lakers/Celtics. OKC just seems like they're about to go on a decade long tear, and Miami despite a bigger hater base than fanbase are an elite team. I cannot wait to see what Lebron and Durant will do in this series though

I wouldn't call the Heat an elite team. When their players who AREN'T the big 3 don't show up they almost always lose.

OKC is more stable/consistent as a whole.

Do they have elite players? Yes. Are they an elite team? No.

dlazz;1195329 wrote:I wouldn't call the Heat an elite team. When their players who AREN'T the big 3 don't show up they almost always lose.

OKC is more stable/consistent as a whole.

Do they have elite players? Yes. Are they an elite team? No.

Making the finals 2 seasons in a row, yet not an elite team? :laugh:

I think its going 7 and at this point I have no clue who will win.

if there was ever a "good vs. evil" finale, this is it

OKC = America's Team

OKC in 6, maybe 5. Really hard for the home team to win all 3 games in the middle.

Automatik;1195370 wrote:Making the finals 2 seasons in a row, yet not an elite team? :laugh:

Nope. They are too top-heavy. The drop off from their 3rd player to their 4th player is huge.

Automatik;1195370 wrote:Making the finals 2 seasons in a row, yet not an elite team? :laugh:

I think its going 7 and at this point I have no clue who will win.

Making the finals out of the east this year doesnt equal elite. The conference turned pretty weak once Rose and Howard went down.

Automatik;1195370 wrote:Making the finals 2 seasons in a row, yet not an elite team? :laugh:

I think its going 7 and at this point I have no clue who will win.

i do think they are an elite team but i don't think making it out the east should be the deciding factor as to whether they are elite or not. the conference was really bad this season

OKC in 6. Maybe 5 if Westbrook plays well.

No one.

After the Thunder win the first 2 games, the city of Seattle starts a holy war against Oklahoma City and lays siege to the city and takes the whole team hostage. Meanwhile LeBron once again decides to quit on a team mid-series, but this time instead of waiting to the end he quits after game 2. He then announces he is taking his talents to the Euro leagues where he figures everyone will love him and he will dominate. And in light of the simultaneous events the NBA cancels the series and names Boston the winners of the 2011-2012 season.