NBA Draft, Smack / Mar 11, 2011 / 7:44 am

Dwyane Wade and the Heat Figure Out How to Win; Kobe Bryant Proves He’s the Hardest Working Man in the NBA

Did anyone else see this one coming? New York walked into a setup in Dallas as they got crushed by the Mavs 127-109. Kevin Harlan hit it perfectly during the first half when he said the Knicks had the look of a tired team. They did just come off a grueling buzzer-beating win in Memphis the night before so in the first half, guys were giving up driving lanes, weren’t hitting open shots and Amar’e Stoudemire left with a stinger to his shoulder. The Knicks went 22-22 from the free-throw line and scored 51 points in the half and yet were still getting blown out. Dallas had 72 at the break! … Is there a deeper team in the league than the Mavs? Last night, all 10 players who saw legit game action scored at least five points, led by Shawn Marion’s 22 and Dirk Nowitzki’s 23. They had the EZPass working, driving around, through and over the Knicks and were never seriously challenged. Still, the question remains: do they have the go-to offensive players to get them buckets when it gets tight in the playoffs? Outside of Dirk, we aren’t sure if they do … In the third game of the night, Denver blew it open during a crazy third-quarter run to beat Phoenix by 19. Nene (22 points) was a beast for the Nuggets as was Ty Lawson (20 points, 11 assists). Things were going so well in the third quarter that the Nuggets color guys jokingly asked J.R. Smith to hit a buzzer-beater for them to end it. Of course, he did from about 24 feet away … It was interesting to watch two teams with eerily similar styles go at it. They both wanted to do the same things, but the difference in talent levels was obvious. The Suns have three or four players that could get floor time on Denver. For the Nuggets, all 10 of their rotation guys would play big minutes in Phoenix … This was actually Denver’s first win in the Valley of the Sun in almost seven yearsYesterday afternoon, Kemba Walker (24 points) dished out something ferocious against Pitt on the final play of UConn’s two-point Big East Tournament win. One on one with Pitt’s Gary McGhee, Walker put a step-back move on him that had the big man doing the Cupid Shuffle just as Walker’s game-winner was going through the net … The Miami Hurricanes are sitting desperately on the bubble right now and played like it during their seven-point overtime win against Virginia in the ACC Tournament. The ‘Canes somehow forced OT after furiously coming back from 10 down with just one minute left in regulation … We wonder if Billy Packer is going to respond after Barkley called him out for his TNT bashing. The Chuckster heard Packer diss TNT’s tournament coverage, saying they don’t know college ball. Charles and told Packer to “shut the Hell up” and to “stop being a jackass!” … We’re out like playing second fiddle.

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  • LakeShow84

    Gimme my f#$kin stamp man!!!!!!!

    lmao

  • Stunnaboy2k11

    Game Set Match, Wade for closing out the game haha

  • http://www.dimemag.com Austin Burton

    You still don’t think Miami even has a CHANCE to make it out of the East? Be serious now. All three of their games against Boston have been close, and Wade has been terrible in each one. So if Wade improves to playing just average or above-average in a playoff series, Miami at least has a CHANCE to beat Boston. All three Miami losses to Chicago were also close, and LeBron didn’t play in one of those games. So again, they at least have a CHANCE to beat Chicago. They’ve already registered wins against Orlando and Atlanta, so obviously they have a CHANCE to beat them in a series. You really think the team with the 3rd-best record in the East has ZERO CHANCE of making the Finals?

    (And if they do make it and play L.A., well, the 2-0 record shows they have a CHANCE to beat the Lakers too.)

  • K Dizzle

    @ A.B.
    Did Bynum play the first game against Miami? I don’t recall, but I doubt it. I’m not hatin on Bosh. All i’m sayin is in 7 seasons in Toronto, what playoff memory do you have of him? Bosh got his numbers and the Heat got every lucky bounce, every no call, Kobe’s ridic 30 footer attempt when a layup and foul woulda been good, andd the Heat still barely got by.
    Pretty obvious that the Heat can’t deal with Bynum, but that’s squarely on Kobe for ignoring the bigs to try to kill Bron n Wade solo.
    It won’t happen in the playoffs.

  • LakeShow84

    Nah i wouldnt say they have NO chance..

    But i dont think their chances are any better just because of last night.. i still have the same opinion on them..

    If i said they had no chance with that record it would be ridiculous.. all im saying is they’ve played 6 games against the 2 teams above them and have lost ALL 6.. So while they have a chance..

    Its mighty slim..

    And im with KDizzle..

    That shit wont happen in the playoffs.. Like i said we damn near a different team in the playoffs coaching all the way down..

  • http://www.dimemag.com Austin Burton

    @KDizzle — Bynum came off the bench in the Christmas game. The only significant absence was Haslem.

    Bosh’s career playoff averages are 20 points and 9 rebounds. But you saw the teams he was playing on, right? He could only do so much. I’m not saying he’s Bill Russell or anything, but it’s not like he suddenly stinks in the postseason.

    You don’t have to downplay Miami’s win. Kobe being unable to contain Wade, LeBron being simply better than anybody LA has to face him, and Bosh outplaying LA’s front line have nothing to do with lucky bounces or the refs.

  • Ian

    Lakeshow
    Cocky?? Wtf?? You r the one talkin about finals already. Yeah u gave up 13 offensive boards so?? Every team losses because of something. Was game 1 close ?? No. Excuseme u don’t need homecourt?? How many series without home court have u gusy won since shaq left?? Zerooooo

  • LakeShow84

    Well for all that happened it was still a tie game with under 2minutes left

    Ud think if the picture was really painted that color we would have lost wayyyyyy worst..

    And as it stands there were still some mighty questionable calls namely the game tying goaltending sooooo

    Aye if thats what it takes im sure we will be fine :)

  • LakeShow84

    @ Ian

    your cocky and smug and i can smell it all over you bruh!!! lol

    And i think all references to the Shaq era can be buried under the bridge.. i mean seriously we’ve moved on lol

    2 championships speak directly to that

  • LakeShow84

    And technically we lost homecourt advantage to the C’s in the Finals last year..

    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

    How did that end again??????

  • http://www.dimemag.com Austin Burton

    It ended with Game 7 on your home court. What’s your point?

  • LakeShow84

    We lost game 2 and lost homecourt advantage..

    If we were a team that TRULY needed homecourt advantage we wouldve lost that series seeing we shouldtna/couldnta/wouldnta have won in Boston..

    Anymore questions???

  • LakeShow84

    Today..

    Belongs to us Laker fans AB..

    Admit it..

  • http://www.dimemag.com Austin Burton

    The day after a loss? Suuuuure…

  • http://www.dimemag.com Austin Burton

    (And the Lakers were 1-2 in Boston in last year’s Finals)

  • LakeShow84

    Lmao we gotta have something right??????????

    And that ONE (game 3 mind u) win got us exactly where we needed to be.. i dont need to say it do i???

  • Ian

    lakeshow
    u now we get along and i never insult u but damn you technically didnt have homecourt cuz u lost it??? wtf is that shit that is stupid?? game 7 where was it?

    again the lakers will destroy the universe according to u hehehe so why even watch the nba if the spurs , heat and everyone else arent a match.

  • Stunnaboy2K11

    Aight I’ma throw in my two cents

    Miami are still an amazing team, in fact shit this even shows it. To have your 2 bests players play bad games and then they come back and win. Rule of thumb says when you have the best player in a series you always have a good chance to win. And they have that over every team in the league.

    Lakers? They’ll be aight. They always find this way off flipping the switch when it matters most. Annoys the fuck out of me to. Kobe needed to call all his big men and pass them the goddamn ball. Your not 24 anymore, no need to prove your the best every night. Some times a W says that just as much as you pulling up for a 35 footer, or a 3 with 24 seconds left on the shot clock.

  • LakeShow84

    @ Ian

    Because i want to watch it >:)

    And homecourt advantage is basically WHOEVER having 4 home games in a 7 game series..

    If you lose ONE home game and the team holds serve on THEIR home games YOU LOSE.. so yes by losing one home game you technically lost your homecourt advantage.. Now the last home game goes to the better record team regardless but its all about holdin serve am i right???

  • Stunnaboy2K11

    Also, one thing the Lakers constantly need is home court (and referee) advantage. Ian is right in bringing up Shaq, without him you haven’t won a series without it. If Game 7 was in Boston swear to god no way we don’t close out on our home court.

    @AB
    You should just switch over and be a Miami fan, you do a better job hyping/defending them (rightfully so) than you do with your Pacers haha

  • http://www.dimemag.com Austin Burton

    You make a good case. Since I moved a couple weeks ago and don’t have League Pass anymore, I haven’t seen the Pacers play once. Miami would be the move for somebody with basic cable LOL.

    It’s tough to have an argument with anybody about the Pacers right now anyway: “Indiana is mediocre.” Who’s gonna dispute that one way or the other?

  • LakeShow84

    Tyler Hansborough the truth!!! lol but i have always like Hibbert..

    And coming from a Boston fan.. id EXPECT you to say that Stunna lol but referee advantage??? wouldnt the team that did all the pushing and grabbing and shit talkin need all that??? And thatd be gang green..

    Dont think im not pulling for the LA/BOS rematch..

    As far as we concerned its 1-1 with the tie breaker coming up..

  • Stunnaboy2K11

    Hey, same goes for you

    @AB

    Partly because of you and partly because I hat seeing losing teams make the playoffs and partly becuz I have 3 Pacers (George, Hibbert Hansbrough) on my Fantasy teams I am actually watching Indiana games. Dunno still think they could win 45 ish if they put all their stock in Hibbert. And Hansbrough is the truth and that jsut aint the UNC in me talking

    Collison/George/Granger/Hansbrough/Hibbert I mean, come one.

    Random Tangent: I had this argument with my bro

    In their final years with their school, who got (or was offered) more pussy from their college hoes: Hansbrough/UNC or Steph Curry/Davidson? I’m still saying Hansbrough dude was Mr UNC by the time he left :P

  • Ian

    lakeshow
    0 road series wins for kobe as the man on the team good thing you guys dont need it. its all about where game 7 is goin to be played. when does the road team get a split on the first two games and then sweeps all three on their home court??? its rare and the last time if happened it was detroit doing it to the lakers. wow laker fans mad at refs???? really???

  • http://www.dimemag.com Austin Burton

    Don’t get me wrong, I like Indiana’s core, and I was one of the people saying Hansbrough would be a good pro. I was also aware of Paul George’s potential before a lot of people I know. I’m just saying this year they are fighting for a first-round exit at best, so it’s not good argument material. They’re not one of those polarizing teams like Miami or LA or Boston.

  • LakeShow84

    @ Ian

    Well we’ll just have to wait and see.. we aint catchin you guys so its already a given..

    Unless we get knocked out early.. but it’ll go 6.. better than 5 like last time :)

  • LakeShow84

    And coming from a Spurs fan you should already know Kobe been doing work on the Spurs..

    Shaq feasted on the Finals with the weak ass East frontcourts but Kobe CONSTANTLY put the tools to your Spurs.. and those Queens..

    Dont act like u dont remember my friend

  • Ian

    hahaha fine
    but what team made kobe cry??
    dont act like u dont remember buddy

  • LakeShow84

    ^^^^ OOOOOOOO ^^^^^

    Always will have that on us LMAO

  • Stunnaboy2K11

    Yeah, that’s why I applaud Cavs announcers, trying to sound optimistic in the pile of shit they wade in after they witnessed the king for 7 years. Must be a tough job.

    Indy could be good in 3-4 years, so when it does happen you’ll appreciate it.

  • Stunnaboy2K11

    @Ian

    Because its 2011, something is telling me Spurs do make a run. However the Spurs still need a big guy who can hang with the Laker bigs, maybe Pop can unearth one ahaha

  • Ian

    stunna i know man we are fuckin short and the splitter thing is gonna take years apparently.

    lakeshow
    my fav nba moment ever hehehe

  • Sporty-j

    Lets stop with this B.S. on how Kobe is the only Laker that wanted to win yesterday when everybody else was on cruise control. Im sure Paul Gasoft, Bynum, and everybody else wanted to beat the Heat yesterday just as bad as Kobe wanted to. If they were on this so called cruise control. Maybe it was because Kobe would not pass them the ball and 1 day they all are going to get tired of that s#$t like Shaq did. Bosh>>Gasoft I like how L.A. fans are sleeping on Dallas in the 2nd round…

  • the cynic

    @ lakeshow

    Having home court is about being able to make mistakes over a long series. Having to win one game on the road is cake for a good team; having to win multiple road games against good teams is a lot harder. Especially if you have to do it 3 rounds. This applies to the heat and the lakers, so we will find out how great they are soon enough

  • http://www.theresastatforthat.blogspot.com deron

    I don’t know what Kobe thought he was doing, but he needs to work on his shot selection not his shooting.

    http://theresastatforthat.blogspot.com/2011/03/kobes-shot-selection-driving-ability.html

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