Cleveland Cavaliers & The NBA

by **OldDawg** » Fri May 27, 2011 10:28 pm

My heart tells me Dallas.
But I would be surprised if that happens.

I think Miami and the Bulls play much better D than either OKC or Dallas.

And I think the NBA title is often about toughness. And defense.
I love the toughness of Kidd and Dirk (although Dirk wasn't always considered tough)
But I think the Heat has shown some real toughness in the playoffs.
They showed a lot of grit beating the Celtics, who were their perennial Achilles heal, and who understand championship playoff basketball.
And then they beat the Bulls who owned the best record in the NBA. A team that was just supposed to physically manhandle the Heat, particularly on the boards.

The Mavs beat a Lakers team whose almost entirely played like LeQuit did vs the Celts last year. Was not a battle at all. And then they beat a young and upcoming, but not really battle-tough, OKC.
As I watched the OKC-Dallas series, it seemed points came too easy. I think the East was more about D. The freaking MVP seemingly could never get a shot off when the game was on the line.

And the freaking re-emergence of Haslem gives the Heat a different dimension.

But I certainly hope the Mavs can put their foot on the throat of the Heat.

by **peeker643** » Tue May 31, 2011 11:18 pm

Picture of Joel Anthony taking a pre-game swim:

Yeah... that's an actual fish. Saw it in Disney's "Oceans" (which was tremendous btw).

by **Larvell Blanks** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 8:22 am

peeker643 wrote:Picture of Joel Anthony taking a pre-game swim:

Yeah... that's an actual fish. Saw it in Disney's "Oceans" (which was tremendous btw).

Looks like the pimple I had just before the Homecoming Dance my senior year. Walking around praying that no one would notice. My friends wanted to name it Kuato but that movie was still 4 years away.

by **Triple-S** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 8:12 pm

http://deadspin.com/5807464/tim-donaghy ... s/gallery/

just going to leave this here.

by **dmiles** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 11:50 pm

I don't really disagree with anything he says. I didn't care for the officiating whatsoever. Not that it's an excuse, Dallas just needed to hit some open looks really. However the tone was clear.

And hearing Van Gundy blather on when Chalmers stepped out of bounds? Are you kidding me. Glad that the bozo Donaghy pointed this out as well.

by **e0y2e3** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 10:54 am

Yay, Cleveland Fans... where when the game doesn't go your way it was fixed!!!!

I fucking hate Sterners.

Dallas has been what they are in the playoffs because Terry - Peja - Barea have been the best scoring bench in the playoffs. When those guys miss open looks like they did (and Dirk missed some) they deserve to lose.

Really simple story to Game 1.

Best scoring bench falls apart and is outscored by the Heat bench and you lose.

by **OldDawg** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 11:05 am

Agreed. Dallas missed shots they had been making in the playoffs. This is a game they coulda won. It would have been huge for them to do so. To win game 1 on the road, particularly putting a kink in Miami's armor since they hadn't lost at home yet.

I didn't watch the whole game (switched back and forth from Tribe), but it seemed to me that when Dirk made his quick attack move at the rim when guys flew at him, he was often bumped hard or grabbed by the D, and those were no calls. I can almost see a ref thinking soccer rules, and saying "play on" because Dirk still has the opportunity to go finish and often does. And then when he didn't finish, its too late to make the call.

by **e0y2e3** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 11:22 am

Dirk went to the rim and got calls multiple (at least five I remember off-hand) times at the end of the third and in the fourth.

Off of those exact quick drives you mention.

by **dmiles** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 12:02 pm

I am still pissed at a play where they called a foul on bron as terry was driving for a layup. Van gundy starts bothering about terry possibly pushing off with his arm despite bron knocking him about 5 feet with the body. I guess I was more tuned into the van gundy is an idiot part as far as liking what the guy had to say.

by **dmiles** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 12:05 pm

I am still pissed at a play where they called a foul on bron as terry was driving for a layup. Van gundy starts bothering about terry possibly pushing off with his arm despite bron knocking him about 5 feet with the body. I guess I was more tuned into the van gundy is an idiot part as far as liking what the guy had to say.

by **Orenthal** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 3:08 pm

Van Gundy is hit and miss, and they are extreme hits and misses. Breen is about as vanilla as they come, and I pray to God/Allah/YHWH/Jupiter every night hoping Marc Jackson gets a coaching job. I literally turn the channel during halftime ESPN's crew is so awful.

btw ESPN Radio has Tirico and Brown calling the action. Too bad the delay used for TV is just so much longer...

by **peeker643** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 3:15 pm

Orenthal wrote:Van Gundy is hit and miss, and they are extreme hits and misses. Breen is about as vanilla as they come, and I pray to God/Allah/YHWH/Jupiter every night hoping Marc Jackson gets a coaching job. I literally turn the channel during halftime ESPN's crew is so awful.

btw ESPN Radio has Tirico and Brown calling the action. Too bad the delay used for TV is just so much longer...

Marc Jackson is truly awful.

Breen's "Bang!" annoys me and Van Gundy tries too hard. They have moments when they drop the schtick but overall it's a tough listen.

by **e0y2e3** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 3:31 pm

I can live with JVG and Breen, agree with OJ.

Marc Jackson is a disease. Him and Miller, good lord.

I pray he gets a coaching job everytime I listen as well, because if he coaches half as dumb as he talks re: basketball it will be Must See TV.

And the ESPN Pre/Post/Half crew is intolerable.

ESPN also doesn't even use the same camera angles as TNT (TNT's are much superior).

All in all TNT walks all over the world-wide leader from a production standpoint.

And ESPN own Tirico and Brown as a crew and not putting them on TV is enough to make my head explode.

by **Triple-S** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 5:42 pm

Van Gundy and Co, treating the NBA like it's a slow ass baseball game rather than a high-paced game that it is, annoys the hell out of me.

agreed with Tirico and Brown, that tandem is far superior. I'd like to see how Musburger would do in the role of just calling the Finals for the network. I recall seeing that he used to do games for CBS back in the day, and even called a few finals for ESPN radio back in the 90's.

I will say it again, You're ESPN, you're the premier sports-broadcasting network in this country and the best you can do for your coverage of the association is guys like Tim Legler, Jon Barry, and Mark Jackson? Really?

I would like to see Wilbon and Barry tossed out of the pre/post/half-time show, and Simmons added in. Annoying Chowd-accent aside, dude has shown he obviously knows the game, and has more than earned the opportunity.

by **FortheWin** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 5:49 pm

I like listening to Marc Jackson.

by **FUDU** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 6:17 pm

Carlisle is the only coach in this series so I expect Dallas to thump em tonight.

by **Orenthal** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 11:05 pm

Hitting shots they missed game one. That really helps with the rebounding edge. Key difference between this timeout (Dallas up 9) and the 3rd quarter of game one (Dallas up 8) is LeBron being on the bench with 3 fouls.

Love the energy tonight by Dallas.

by **scrambler** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 11:54 pm

who's that number 6?? That guy's gonna win a few titles. Cleveland never gets guys like that.

:hide:

by **Orenthal** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 11:57 pm

Soon as I wrote that shit they come back from timeout and look satisfied. Its some point during the 3rd quarter now, but I have given up watching.

by **peeker643** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 12:11 am

Well, with 10 minutes left Dallas has survived a 15-1 Heat run at end of 2nd, start of 3rd to be down just 4 points.

by **peeker643** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 12:18 am

peeker643 wrote:Well, with 10 minutes left Dallas has survived a 15-1 Heat run at end of 2nd, start of 3rd to be down just 4 points.

Never mind. :hide:

by **Orenthal** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 12:24 am

I punched "NBA" into google, saw a 73-75 score for Miami. Turned the TV on to see it 73-79 Miami with Dallas taking a timeout. TV turned off. The DVR is working in the event Dallas...

I hate this.

by **Orenthal** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 12:40 am

Like a beaten wife, I come back yet again. This time I find the DVR not recording and glance over to make sure nothing crazy has happened. IT HAS. It is tied, and I am not recording what is supposed to be Newschannel 5 at 11. Muhaha 2 missed LBJ desperation 3's. Caurse i figured they were going in...

FUCK YOU MIAMI FAN DIE.

by **Orenthal** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 12:41 am

Dirk is a muthafucking nasty man. COLD BLOODED!

by **peeker643** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 12:43 am

Jason Kidd might kill Jason Terry.

by **peeker643** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 12:46 am

Wow.

Wow.

Wow.

by **Orenthal** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 12:46 am

After that Terry defense JESUS ty Dirk. You have made me a happy man.

by **motherscratcher** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 12:49 am

peeker643 wrote:Wow.

Wow.

Wow.

Wow

by **e0y2e3** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 12:51 am

Home laptop is in the shop so all you get after the craziest comeback ever !!!@!!%#!!!@#/!@#$*@?!@##@"_!@ DIRK. TERRY ALIVE@*#!!____!!!!!!

by **peeker643** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 12:55 am

e0y2e3 wrote:Home laptop is in the shop so all you get after the craziest comeback ever !!!@!!%#!!!@#/!@#$*@?!@##@"_!@ DIRK. TERRY ALIVE@*#!!____!!!!!!

I was tempted to turn that game off 5 times between the 10 minute mark and the 6 minute mark so I didn't have to see the coronation just yet. I'm really glad I didn't as I got the chance to watch the Heat slip back into late February/March mode.

by **OldDawg** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 12:57 am

motherscratcher wrote:
peeker643 wrote:Wow.

Wow.

Wow.

Wow

You see, MS, conserving words is something you are capable of. From 3 words to 1. I only asked to condense from 3 to 2 over in the Tribe forum.

Edit: Btw, Wo

by **Kingpin74** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 12:58 am

Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

by **Orenthal** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 1:06 am

DVR missed the biggest part of the comeback, but not the best part! Ahhhh nothing I love more then seeing Miami fan fucked. 3 @ Dallas. Please try to not lose the momo at home.

by **Madre Hill, Superstar** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 8:32 am

Holy shit.

by **Larvell Blanks** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 8:53 am

Wade doing his little Eff You stance after hitting his "dagger" 3 was a bit premature in hindsight. Don't know if that motivated Dallas or that Mia went into Roker offensive mode and let LeIso rule the last 5 minutes. There was a lot of stalled offense and too much James dribbling up top. How does Wade only get 3 shots off in the last 6:30? Did Miami really throw up 30 3's? Plus their FT shooting had a Cavalier smell to it. Just like game 1 for Dallas, Mia blew this one. Don't know how they could go in cruise control vs the Mavs seeing the Mavs have done this numerous times this playoff season.

by **OldDawg** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 11:50 am

Its funny, my son was at a wing place last night watching the game with a friend. They left the establishment when it appeared the Heat had it all wrapped up. When he stopped by afterwards, he refused to believe me that the Mavs had won. He thought I was pulling one over on him. His jaw was on the floor.

by **Madre Hill, Superstar** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 12:45 pm

A recap of the last seven and a half minutes, courtesy of Basketbawful:

Wade missed three-pointer (heat check); Mario Chalmers missed three-pointer; LeBron missed layup (he totally left it short and then hacked his own arm to the refs trying to indicate a foul that never happened); Chris Bosh missed 21-footer; LeBron 2-for-2 from the line; LeBron missed 16-footer; Bosh turnover; Udonis Haslem missed 15-footer; LeBron missed three-pointer; Wade offensive rebound; Lebron missed three-pointer; Haslem offensive rebound; Haslem turnover; Wade missed three-pointer; Mario Chalmers made three-pointer (more on this below); Wade missed three-pointer.

Ah, memories. Some days its like he never left.

by **Message Board User** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 3:26 pm

Wonderful analysis of the play that won Game 2 for the Mavs.

http://nbaplaybook.com/2011/06/03/the-p ... -comeback/

by **Message Board User** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 3:28 pm

High resolution photo of the Heat crowd while Dirk was shooting his final 3 of the game. The expression of the faces in the crowd are priceless:

http://uranus.ckt.net/~gochiefs/dirk3.jpg

by **FUDU** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 4:52 pm

Message Board User wrote:Wonderful analysis of the play that won Game 2 for the Mavs.

http://nbaplaybook.com/2011/06/03/the-p ... -comeback/

Carlisle is known to come up with this stuff quite often, you're right good break down of the play and how effective a simple move like that can be.

by **FUDU** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:10 pm

WOW what a horrible call on Terry when Wade totally flopped.

by **FUDU** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:45 pm

Damn are the Mavs playing good D the last 4 trips, no points to show for it, then Kidd gets huge.

by **FUDU** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:53 pm

Damn impressive run Mavs, just wow.

by **Orenthal** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:55 pm

That shot by Dirk to make it 57-55 was just silly. I have never seen that type of awesome eva,.

by **FUDU** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 11:03 pm

Barea walked on that 3 attempt, lucky no call.

by **FUDU** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 11:10 pm

Notice how many people it takes to get the job done for a beverage spill...freakin Obama admin.

by **FUDU** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 11:15 pm

Dallas is hell bent on getting a look from the pick and roll, even if it takes 4 attempts in one shot clock.

Too many 3 attempts by Dallas with guys open in transition, great if they go down but some other open options are being given up on too often.

Not even trying to get to the rim, just looking for long 3's now, not good.

by **FUDU** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 11:33 pm

Every 3 Wade hits is crap, he is awful from down town.

by **FUDU** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 11:40 pm

LeBron gets that call on Marion if he keeps his up more, coulda been a call for sure.

by **Cerebral_DownTime** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 11:43 pm

Cleveland Cavaliers & The NBA

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