NBA Playoffs 2012 Running thread

I don't necessarily disagree with this, I just think some people have lost any objectivity when it comes to some the criticisms he receives.

I actually think the Celtics will win Saturday, for some, regardless of how he plays this will automatically become Lebron's fault.

 

I know. And I feel like an utter sports talk radio meathead criticizing him. It's just that I see those stats, and I watch a game last night, and I see him lead a Cleveland team with him, the Three Stooges, and a young Shirley Temple as the starting five to 66 victories ... and there is this cognitive dissonance that goes on when I watch him defer at times.

 

Was LeBron "clutch" last night?

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/29055/lebron-james-and-the-question-of-clutch

 

That was an intelligent take on James.

Now here is the other side of it. Skip Bayless and some of his many moronic tweets.

"'m still waiting for LeBron to close a close big playoff game that goes to the last shot."

How clutch was LeBron last nite when it matters most, in the 4th q? None. DWade drove in final nails early 4th. Game over.

Doc has been doubling DWade, leaving Pierce or Pietrus alone on LeBron. Should he switch that? NO. LeBron more cold than hot. DWade: killer.

I've long said LeBron greatest 3 1/2 quarter player ever. Last nite did what often does, just little more spectacularly for 3 qs, more Js

 

He's an idiot.

 

Indeed, but there are more people than there should be who actually think like this.

 

Which is unfortunate.

 

On "First Take" yesterday, Skip was the one defending the Heat.

I can't keep track.

I texted someone during last night's game that it was an all-time great individual performance, considering the stakes, and it absolutely was.

I guess Bayless has the kernel of a point there somewhere - there are different kinds of "clutch." One is burying a team from the opening tip like he did last night, with the stakes raised incredibly high. The other is the last-minute heroics. Where Bayless goes wrong is trying to diminish last night's performance because it wasn't in the second category.

The following statements can co-exist:

(1) LeBron James was clutch last night.
(2) LeBron James has not yet shown whether he can consistently be clutch in the final minutes of key playoff games.

 

The Celtics did not hit every big shot in Game 5. In fact, that's what was remarkable about that game--that they won in Miami DESPITE having a horrible shooting night. Rondo, Pierce and Allen were a combined 22 percent in that game. Pierce did nail the big 3 at the end, but he couldn't throw it in the ocean before that moment. A weird game that Miami never should've lost.

And I don't think Magic's comments were entirely off base. I think the Celts have showing signs of their older legs throughout these playoffs (the Sixers' younger legs and higher energy level was VERY evident in that series), despite continuing to advance. That it would manifest itself two days after a big win? Not shocking, that's how old legs work, they take longer to re-generate after intense exertion. The Celts are heavily dependent on three extremely old men (by NBA standards) in Allen, Garnett and Pierce playing ridiculous minutes without any quality backups for those players (honestly, how can the Celts bench not have a single usable big man better than never-even-started-in-college Greg Stiesma?). Eventually that's gonna take it's toll.

The fact is, when Miami turns it up, their core players can hit an energy level that Boston's core (minus Rondo) is simply no longer physically capable of matching. I think that's what we saw happen when OKC really turned up the defensive intensity vs. the old-legged Spurs, and it may end up being the difference in this series as well.

 

I totally agree they can co-exist. Well-stated and a very concise summary of things.

 

Dick, I'd amend your statement 2. to read "LeBron James has had some shockingly passive and poor playoff performances when his team really needed the opposite."

 

I think that reads much better. It is what makes him such an enigma.