NBA Playoffs 2012 Running thread

[RickStain]

This game will go back into the "not when it counts" category unless Miami wins the title.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

As has been noted on this thread previously, Rick, that's because the general level of pro basketball opinion and commentary is very low, somewhere between silly and moronic.

 

[JackReacher]

But LeBron was at a completely different level last night. Isn't that what great players do?

Well, yes. But if it's that simple, that means the Celtics have no great players, and neither do the Spurs. How could the Celtics play like that, with a chance to clinch at home? How could the Spurs blow a 2-0 lead and home court?

Kobe Bryant was 6-of-24 in the Lakers' Game 7 victory over Boston in 2010. THAT was his next level? Is he not great? Or did the shots just not go in?

And that's what makes statements like that overly simplistic.

While I think you're minimizing the situation, I agree with most of your points. You'll probably enjoy this, much like I did.

http://deadspin.com/5916640/there-is-no-best-player-in-the-nba-the-problem-with-the-basketball-hero-industry

 

[RickStain]

As has been noted on this thread previously, Rick, that's because the general level of pro basketball opinion and commentary is very low, somewhere between silly and moronic.

Yep. Everything has to be crammed into a narrative about who has the most innate winnerness. It can't just be a team sport (and a highly probabilistic one, at that).

 

[BTExpress]

I think James found it for the first time last night.

I think he found it long before, most notably when he scored 48, including the team's final 25, to beat the Pistons in double-overtime in Game 6 of the the 2007 Eastern Conference finals.

But that's just me.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

As the team sport with the fewest players, it's inevitable observers will focus more on individuals than on teams. Doesn't make it any less silly, though.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

As the team sport with the fewest players, it's inevitable observers will focus more on individuals than on teams. Doesn't make it any less silly, though.

Well, one player can carry a team moreso than in baseball or football... But, you're right, even the great ones need help, but I've never gotten the sense that was LeBron's problem.

Go Celtics!

 

[Michael_ Gee]

It wouldn't surprise me at all if the Celtics won. The odds of both Garnett and Pierce having bad games again are long.

 

[amraeder]

It wouldn't surprise me at all if the Celtics won. The odds of both Garnett and Pierce having bad games again are long.

Agreed. The Celtics are likely to play much better than last night, and LeBron isn't likely to play as well as he did. (Though maybe Wade playing better will even it out a bit...)

 

[Dick Whitman]

I realize that the opinion is out of favor, but I do believe that basketball players, more than players in any other sport - except maybe pitchers in baseball - can will their team to victory. Has LeBron had great playoff performances in the past? Sure he has. Has he had enough of them for his talent level? No, he hasn't.

Last night was fun to watch.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Don't forget hockey goalies, deck. I will point out that prior to last night James was averaging over 30 points and 10 rebounds a game against Boston. That doesn't suck.

 

[LongTimeListener]

If LeBron goes down shooting, I have no problem with that. He puts up a 6-for-25 in Game 7, fine. Guys have bad days. He's supposed to shoot. That's how they built the team.

If they lose with him standing off in the corner not caring enough to get involved, that's the problem. He has done that at least twice in his career already. And that's something that simply cannot be said about any other great player.