Miami Wins Game 1; Wade & LeBron Are The Difference
D-Wade (photo. Mannion)
There’s a difference between LeBron and D-Wade and everybody else. Last night, they showed it, taking over in the final five minutes the way very few players (and even fewer teammates) can. It wasn’t the prettiest game, but the Heat will take it, going up 1-0 over Dallas with a 92-84 win. Late in the game, all we wanted to see were some baskets. The first half was ugly, but the fourth quarter was one hideous fadeaway after one missed free throw after one off-ball foul after one annoying commentator comment. It didn’t really feel like Game 1 of the Finals. It didn’t feel like the biggest game of LeBron and Dirk‘s lives. But then D-Wade (22 points, 10 rebounds, six assists) came out of his week-long slumber, first hitting a J, then blocking Shawn Marion‘s “shot” (16 points, 10 rebounds) before dropping a pull-up trey. Then a few possessions later, LeBron (24 points, nine rebounds, five assists) caught Dallas peeking and threw down a three-point haymaker on the Mavs’ heads. After that, Wade nearly went coast-to-coast and fed Chris Bosh (19 points, nine rebounds) for a dunk. Up 10 with a minute left, Wade drove and lofted a shovel lob that LeBron punched down for punctuation. Game time … The crew from “Men of a Certain Age” was in the house last night, filming Mike Bibby, Juwan Howard and Jason Kidd. After Howard got a rebound (and a standing O from the crowd) and made a free throw, Van Gundy started drawing parallels between the Fab Five and these Miami Heat. He called Howard “the voice of reason.” Yeah, we’re sure the Big Three listen to Howard and his tales of peach baskets and hi-top fades … In the opening minutes, there were cross matches galore. Joel Anthony on Dirk. Marion on D-Wade. Even DeShawn Stevenson was matching up with LeBron. Dallas’ starting lineup, ironically one of their worst lineups in the playoffs, once again fell behind early. Before Kidd‘s back-to-back threes at the four-minute mark, they had just five points. Still, for much of the first half, the Heat were playing in the mud, so frantic that it ended up hurting them. Against Dallas’ zone to start the second quarter, they didn’t look anything like the team that steamrolled through the East. They were too anxious. But their defense was ridiculous, holding the best offensive team in the playoffs to just 44 first-half points. With Dirk struggling, the Mavs were just as bad. Outside of Jason Terry (12 points) playing with tattoo money, the team couldn’t hit a damn shot. But just before the half, Dirk (27 points) did his German Jesus thing, hitting two buckets in a row before setting up a Marion dunk and Dallas pulled back ahead. The score would’ve been even lower had it not been for a combined 12 three-pointers … Did they really plug in a commercial in between the starting lineup introductions? If they were trying to build up the drama, it wasn’t working. It just made us mad. Kudos though to whomever set up Cee Lo‘s “F#$% You” to help ring in Dallas … The Mavs started the second half on a 7-0 run and controlled the third quarter until a James trey put Miami up one late in the frame. Then, he made a crazy fallaway three at the buzzer to put the Heat up four going into the fourth, even more unbelievable because he seemed to be going for it. A falling-out-of-bounds, heavily-contested trey was what he wanted? Unreal … Where was Terry in the second half? Where was Tyson Chandler (four rebounds)? J.J. Barea (1-for-8 shooting)? Peja (zero points)? Dallas doesn’t have a chance if it’s gonna be Dirk creating/finishing and no one else. Dirk also said that he tore a tendon in his finger last night and will have to wear a splint the rest of the series. Hopefully it wasn’t his ring finger … We had dozens of people hit us up last night complaining about the refs. Listen, it’s just getting annoying now. If you think it’s that bad, and are convinced the NBA won’t allow certain people to lose, then why watch? You had fans wildin’ out on both sides, absolutely convinced the NBA was screwing them over. There were a few questionable calls both ways last night … Mark Jackson was in rare form last night, so we couldn’t not give a shout out to this video. … Dwight Howard said he doesn’t want to be like Shaq. Yeah okay. But at least he did give his first real indication yesterday that he wants to be in Orlando longterm. Do you believe him? … The NBA Board of Governors have unanimously approved the sale of the Detroit Pistons to Tom Gore. Now after days of flip-flopping with John Kuester, they can officially move on without him … The Jazz still haven’t decided whether they will pick up C.J. Miles’ option for $3.7 million. If they don’t, expect some contending teams to make a run at the six-year vet because of his size and shooting ability … And as long as the move is approved by some suits, former NBA player Damon Stoudamire will move from the NBA sideline to the college game, joining the University of Memphis coaching staff … We’re out like Michael McDonald.
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June 1st, 2011 at 1:13 am
Celts Fan says:
Am I the only one that caught the press conference and thought Bron looked like he was bout to host Family Feud? Corny ass
June 1st, 2011 at 1:35 am
control says:
People were complaining about the refs because they absolutely ruined the fucking game. The reffing was a disaster, I don’t think I’ve seen such bullshit since 2006. Completely killed the Mavs when they were making runs, then giving them weak ass make up calls so the total fouls lined up.
I didn’t order league pass this year (usually I order 2-3 packages) because of the horrible state of the officiating in the league, but this shit seriously turns me off as a fan. Stern really has to step the fuck up and fix this issue, or get the fuck out of the commish’s office and let a real man with real fucking balls take over this shit.
Even fucking JVG was talking shit on the refs in real time, and he’s the only guy with the balls to bad mouth the league on tv. The other announcers are trying to hush him the entire game, when he’s the only guy who is talking like a fucking man.
How did Haywood get rejected by the rim on an open dunk? The guy is 7 fucking feet tall, he only needs to jump an asian cock length to dunk, and he STILL missed, wtf? I’m only 6’8, but if I missed an open dunk like that, my 4 year old daughter would spit in my face and “boom” me in the junk.
June 1st, 2011 at 1:41 am
!!! says:
i dont care what he wear as long as they’re winnin… lol
June 1st, 2011 at 2:29 am
dcyrilcasa says:
The Miami Heat was on fire. Offensively and Defensively. Wade and James chemistry at the paint is ridiculously awesome. Giving love in every play.
June 1st, 2011 at 2:30 am
yoda says:
i haven’t watched the game, but it seems that again dirk did his thing and his teammates failed to show up. and once again, if mavs lose, it would be all dirk’s fault. he may even been called soft and what not…
June 1st, 2011 at 2:50 am
beiber newz says:
miami heat don’t cheat they go out and compete
it’s your pride they seek, your heart they eat.
dallas was the baddest in round 1, 2 and 3
but this is the finals and they playing the heat
mark cuban sounds the ringer cuz dirk hurt a finger
lebron hitting 3s betta than alicia keys is a singer
batman or robin who cares who’s the winger
cuz they both fight hard but it aint jerry springer
deshawn was a pawn of jay-z’s diss song
so lebron flexed his arm and played like a don
wade caught fire in the 4th and went so far gone
who’s gonna stop these heat when their games are on ?
June 1st, 2011 at 3:02 am
Me says:
lame.
peja hitting is a bonus. you can’t count on that. never could.
Told you Barea was getting shut the fuck down this series. the fact he scores at all in this league just shows the lack of effort/talent on defense NBA players have. No way he should be driving to the lane.
Stern won’t let Cuban get a ring. he holds grudges man. say what you want but them refs are employed by stern. Stern don’t play.
June 1st, 2011 at 3:09 am
Soopa says:
@ bieber
lol
The game:
Ive seen all of Dallas’ games since the 1st round (the Heats as well – hurray for university lol!). It was clear that Dallas was out of their comfort zone while Miami played the game exactly like they’ve done all playoffs long.
The Heat didnt adjust their game, then came out and willed their style of basketball on Dallas making the Mavs the team that needs to adjust which isnt exactly a confidence boost.
As i wrote yesteday game 1 was huge. There are bound to be some good games still to be played, but everyone with a bit of common sense can see which way this series is going.
June 1st, 2011 at 3:57 am
b says:
man – james is unbelieveable right now. if he’s hitting those long 2′s and 3′s consistantly last year… lets not get into that.
mark cuban can’t catch a break. he shuts the f up and david stern still trying to screw him. some of those calls definately swung momentum to miami, but when lebron is hittin turnaround fadeaway 3′s like at the end of the 3rd, as much as i hate to say it, it don’t matter.
question for ya’ll – is lebron playing (shooting) better now because he’s got other stars to feed off or is it just experiance and adjustments to his form?
mav’s can still steal game 2 – be a more interesting series if they do, otherwise it could be a sweep
June 1st, 2011 at 5:19 am
sh!tfaced says:
Ugly. Weak. Boring. Fixed. So lousy it felt scripted. Cheesy as hell. Like 80′s wrestling.
And those were just the intros.
The game was pretty much the same.
It felt like watching ‘sports entertainment’. lol
June 1st, 2011 at 5:44 am
Austin Burton says:
…And here we go with the referee crap. At least the last few days off spared me from hearing people come up with crazy conspiracy theories and whine about calls and no-calls.
Look, if Stern was having all of this “fixed,” why on Earth would he NOT have it be Heat/Lakers right now? That would have been the highest-rated Finals series easily. Or why wouldn’t he have fixed the WCF to have OKC and shiny new superstar Kevin Durant beat Dallas? Why would he allow the Hawks to beat the Magic? Or why allow the ECF to only go 5 games when he could have made it go 7 games and get more money for the League?
Funny how people pick and choose when they think Stern is fixing games and when the players are deciding the outcome. If you really think the NBA is fixed, then don’t ever refer to a player as “clutch” again. Because if the outcome is predetermined, there’s no such thing as a pressure moment. You’ve never heard of a “clutch” pro wrestler, have you?
June 1st, 2011 at 6:57 am
control says:
AB
Personally, I don’t think it is “scripted”, but more like the reffing is just straight out BAD. First half, the game was called really loose, second half there was phantom foul after phantom foul. It isn’t fixed, but the refs completely alter the game and leave their fingerprints all over it, I’m not saying they are doing it in a manner that indicates a desired outcome, but can you deny that the refs are fucking with the result, even if it is random like a force of nature?
June 1st, 2011 at 6:59 am
john says:
Its funny how Dallas fans complain about the Reffs … The only reason it was a 10 point game was the reffs … Other wise would be a 25 piece … The white european shoot first drive second team got 10 more FT than the brothers I’m gonna dunk everytime that got the ball team …
June 1st, 2011 at 7:01 am
ToAn says:
@Austin B…..I agree with you regarding the clutch argument. You HAVE to make the shots first before a match is over. but i guess a lot of people here complain that some players, mainly superstars, get an unfair help from referees, so that they have to work less for their points. but i agree that it’s not predetermined, that is impossible to achieve in my opinion. the game is just too complex to be able to determine who will get to the finals.
P.S. I didn’t see the game last night, so I can’t say for sure if the referees sucked. but i guess there were several BS calls on both sides as always.
GO MAVS
June 1st, 2011 at 7:50 am
Diggity Dave says:
The Mavs had the advantage at the free throw line, shooting 32 free throws to Miami’s 26. Anyone saying the refs screwed the Mavs again is just making excuses for them.
June 1st, 2011 at 8:04 am
sh!tfaced says:
The Undertaker. 19-0 in Wrestlemania. As ‘clutch’ as a pro wrestler can be. hehehe
June 1st, 2011 at 8:08 am
trollne1 says:
Are free throws the only basis for saying the refs screwed the game? Why does everyone compare FTAs when someone says the refs messed with the game? JFC.
June 1st, 2011 at 8:11 am
Diggity Dave says:
FTA was the basis of the Cuban Whistle Crisis of ’06. Obviously there are other ways to screw a game, but that’s not what happened last night.
June 1st, 2011 at 8:26 am
heckler says:
I didnt notice anything peculiar with the officiating last night. nothing out of the ordinary that we havent all seen before.
…but just like other major businesses (and sports), there IS organized crime in the nba.
June 1st, 2011 at 8:35 am
BUFFALO BRAVE says:
Word Austin
I actually had a buddy, a Lakers fan as I am, crying that the playoffs were fixed.
The heat and mavs both only lost THREE games in route to the finals that not fixing it’s ASS kicking
Obviously they would’ve fixed it for the Lakers
People are lost find something else to whine about I don’t want to hear it
June 1st, 2011 at 8:46 am
JAY says:
That wasn’t the prettiest game but Wade and LBJ stepped up at the end and got some highlights worth watching on Sports Center. If not for those 2 guys, the highlight reel would have been 4 seconds.
I don’t think the refs intentionally leaned one way last night. They just missed calls…. for both sides.
I have a question though. When a player retrieves a loose ball on the floor and is on his knees…. if he gets up, THAT’s a travel, right?? To my knowledge, if a player is on his knees or sitting on his ass, that becomes their “pivot foot”. It doesn’t matter if the player’s feet are touchgin the ground also… the knee or ass becomes the pivot. I ask this question because it happened with 2 minutes into the game. There was a loose ball and Lebron got control of it while he was on his knees and wasn’t dribbling. He stood up from his knees, again no dribbling, and the refs didn’t blow a whistle. To my knowledge, that should have been a travel, and it was a blatant one. It didn’t affect anything but still, that was a bad missed call. Can someone else confirm, or debunk? Thanks
June 1st, 2011 at 8:50 am
JAY says:
^^^^ …and just to clarify, I would have asked the same question if it was Jason Kidd who got the loose ball on his knees, and stood up without dribbling.
June 1st, 2011 at 8:55 am
control says:
JAY
You are a hater…refs would NEVER miss a call…
June 1st, 2011 at 9:06 am
Mobetforu says:
@Jay
Your right that is a travel .. I couldn’t understand why it wasn’t called.
June 1st, 2011 at 9:08 am
AllThatAmar says:
Austin Burton, obviously, is david $tern doing a rope-a-dope.
June 1st, 2011 at 9:15 am
JoshG says:
@JAY
In the NBA players are allowed to stand up and it is not traveling. I believe it is a travel in NCAA.
June 1st, 2011 at 9:56 am
north says:
Is anyone else sick of Chris Bosh’s act now? He doesn’t get back on D so he cherry picks an open dunk and then screams like he just emerged from a gladiator duel… he gets fouled lightly going to the hoop but can’t finish but thumps his chest like he’s just won them the ‘ship. In less minutes his SG and SF had more rebounds than him… I’m done with that fool. I hope Miami doesn’t win just so he isn’t wearing a ring.
June 1st, 2011 at 9:59 am
follow thru says:
i guess we all play b-ball here…as our coach used to say…the only people who complain about the refs are those who lose the game
players make the shots, make the shots and the refs can’t eff it up for you.
June 1st, 2011 at 10:03 am
dagwaller says:
Tight game last night, let’s see 6 more just like it, only with better shooting.
I’m a huge Mavs fan and I thought the foul situation was more or less even. Heck, the Mavs shot more FTs than the Heat.
June 1st, 2011 at 10:25 am
JAY says:
JoshG
No, that rule is across the board. HS, to College, to FIBA, to NBA. I’ve seen it called correctly at all levels.
Why do you think guys dive for balls and don’t get up? It’s simple… it’s not allowed. The knee becomes a pivot, like a player’s butt is a pivot if he’s sitting, or his stomach if he’s lying face first. It’s a different story if a player gathers the ball while sitting/kneeling, then starts to dribble before standing up. <–that's legal.
The only exemption to the rule is if a player dives for the ball and starts to slide… that movement is not a travel. HOWEVER, if that sliding player comes to a stop, and makes any attempt to stand up, or rolls over, it's a travel. I've seen it called in the NBA a few occasions as recently as this past regular season.
Unless the NBA has a different set of rules for the Finals, that should have been a travel.
June 1st, 2011 at 10:26 am
darko's doughnuts says:
@beiber newz: you are a fag
June 1st, 2011 at 10:26 am
control says:
JAY
They don’t actually have anything called “traveling” in the nba…and since it was LeBron, it was actually just a new rule called “crap dribble”.
June 1st, 2011 at 10:34 am
JAY says:
LOL @ control
Basturd.
Holla @ Mrs. Sogga.
June 1st, 2011 at 10:40 am
Jear18 says:
Complaining about the refs again lol … I thought both teams had some bad calls .. And dallas got more FT attempts …
But like i have said before .. Dallas has not faced a defense like this … First half .. They knocked down some shots .. Then the heat defense kicked in …
June 1st, 2011 at 10:42 am
JAY says:
“They don’t actually have anything called “traveling” in the nba…”
I’m starting to believe that. It’s nuts. i don’t know if the refs are just not calling them, or they just don’t see them. I was leaning towards ‘them not seeing it’, until Lebron stood up. You could even see it in his face and body language. He couldn’t believe it wasn’t called. He got up, looked at the ref who just stared back, then passed it. The ref saw it, they just didn’t call it. Ridiculous.
I don’t blame LBJ for traveling all the time though… if it’s not being called, then keep doing it.
June 1st, 2011 at 10:47 am
JAY says:
@sh!tfaced
Are you serious? Undertaker is 19-0 in Wrestlemania’s??
He’s been in NINETEEN Wrestlemanias?!?! That’s crazy. I bet Undertaker’s Wrestlemania experience is older than some Dime posters. Lol. I remember his frikkin debut with Paul Bearer and his casket entrances. Damn, I feel old.
June 1st, 2011 at 10:52 am
control says:
It’s natural to complain about refs when they ruined the game completely. How many touch fouls were called, and then completely clean defensive plays WERE called? The refs were SOOO inconsistent with how they called the game, Marion slams into Miller 6 times while in the post, then Miller doesn’t even touch him and gets called for a foul, wtf is that shit? The reffing was equally bad for both sides, it’s not that they weighted it one way or another, but it was just BAD all around. It was inconsistent, horrible no calls, and horrible calls on clean defense. Anyone who has ever played ball should know that having the refs not call the game consistently is one of the most frustrating things that can happen, short of being on the court with someone who thinks they are AI.
LeBron, after his 4th foul (on Chandler) went over to the refs, and you can read his lips saying “that wasn’t no foul, call the Commish and ask him” (I’m guessing that is what he said).
June 1st, 2011 at 11:05 am
Big Island says:
I don’t think anyone really thinks the games are fixed, but the officials make calls seemingly at random. One play, Lebron runs into a Tyson Chandler screen, puts his arms inside of Chandler, runs through him, and is a foul on Chandler. 6 minutes later, exact same play, and it’s a foul on Lebron. If the refs made every call throughout the whole game, nobody could say anything. But they pick and choose how they are calling the game. LEt em play, uh oh, better tighten it up. It’s bullcrap.
@AB – I actually did stop watching basketball because of the officiating for a couple of years.
June 1st, 2011 at 11:27 am
NYReferee says:
JAY – in Pro/NBA Rules a player can stand up from the floor and it is not a travel. In college and high school, this rule is different.
Review Rule 10 Section XIII if you have any questions.
June 1st, 2011 at 11:35 am
control says:
JAY
Don’t listen to that NYreferee guy, he’s from NY and things from NY suck.
June 1st, 2011 at 11:44 am
Underboss says:
I take my hat off to Spols for his excellent defensive plan. Yes Dirk scored 27 points, but they were hard earned & off mostly contested shots. Dirk”s performance last night reminded me of the last time he saw the Heat in the finals: he got punked & looked confused. I’m not sure Dallas will be able to score enough points against the Heat’s defense. Their athletic ability is scary & their rotations are always on point. Again, LBJ controlled the whole game without putting up big numbers.
June 1st, 2011 at 12:08 pm
CLAW says:
Actually section XIV of Rule 10 reads:
g. If a player, with the ball in his possession, raises his pivot foot off the floor, he must pass or shoot before his pivot foot returns to the floor. If he drops the ball while in the air, he may not be the first to touch the ball.
You wouldn’t be able to stand up since he raised his pivot foot and put it down to stand up – obvious travelling that EVERY ref missed.
Refs did suck. The strip on Bosh, I still haven’t seen why Chalmers was shooting FTs toward the end of the game (no replay on TV) and Wade knocking the ball out of bounds (no review?). Wade did hit some clutch shots you just wish that refs didn’t dictate a game and let the players do so. Could they have reviewed that out of bounds play on the monitor? That was a key play.
Dallas didn’t play well, they played into Miami’s hands instead of doing their thing. Game 2 will be interesting and see if Dirk becomes more aggressive and somebody else steps up.
June 1st, 2011 at 12:41 pm
QQ says:
Can’t side with the haters this time.
And I’M A HATER.
My point is this:
It’s the hater goggles.
I ALSO tried my best to see the refs screwing the game, but I just can’t see it. I wanted to see the refs favor the Heat so bad just so I can hate on Lebron again, but I just can’t see it.
We haters were subconsciously hardwired by the 2006 Finals that we’re just SO sure that every Mavs loss will be the refs’ doing, just like 06.
But frankly, IT’S NOT.
Come on now. HATERS UNITE.
Do yall want to be have Austin Burton’s bias?
That whatever Lebron James does, he would defend it WITH FUCKING BLIND EYES NO MATTER WHAT? (And to clarify, yes. I fucking hate Burton’s bias. Not AB himself. But his bias. I can’t stomach that blatant kiss-assery)
That’s the ‘Lebron’s balls on my face’ goggles.
The hater goggles are essentially the same thing.
Come on now haters. As Mark Jackson says…
YOU’RE BETTER THAN THAT.
It’s not the refs. It’s the Heat doing their thang. And the Mavs NOT doing theirs.
June 1st, 2011 at 12:44 pm
UncheckedAggression says:
Claw–The Mavs got the ball back on that out of bounds play.
The Heat defense is too good. They wear teams out and in the fourth just take over. Lebron has done an amazing job playing the facilitator and picking key moments to put things away. I really don’t see the Mavs winning this series. I feel bad for Nowitzki and Kidd already.
June 1st, 2011 at 1:09 pm
bookkwormmaster says:
@ Jay & the Dime Board. What about the play (last year I think) in the playoffs where Rondo dived on a loose ball, slid a little,jumped up, dribbled to the basket and then scored?
June 1st, 2011 at 1:12 pm
LeRoy Green says:
he only needs to jump an asian cock length to dunk, and he STILL missed, wtf?
^^^^^^
WOWWWWWWWWW
LLLMMMAAAOOO comment of the day lol/smh
damn near in tears right now LOL
June 1st, 2011 at 1:13 pm
JAY says:
@QQ
I don’t think any of us are calling a fix. At least I’m not, and I know control and Claw aren’t either. I think we can all agree that the refereeing job last night was terrible for both sides. That travelling call is just an example, there were plenty more. IMO, it was possibly the worst no-call on a travel I’ve ever seen because it happened in slow-pace, and directly in front of the ref who was staring right at Lebron, and Lebron stared back at him. Lol.
@ NYReferee
Thanks, but no thanks. That doesn’t say anything about standing up being legal.
This part is interesting though… and I think it’s the grounds for calling travel when standing up.
“h. A player who falls to the floor while holding the ball, or while coming to a stop, may not gain an advantage by sliding.”
I could see the parallel with ‘sliding’ and ‘trying to stand up’. If a player stands, they are gaining an advantage from their original position (being on the ground). It’s basically the same thing as sliding away for an advantage. Same with rolling away from a defender to hold onto the ball. It doesn’t mention “rolling” around being illegal but it is. The section talks a lot about ‘pivot feet’ but just because there’s no “foot”, doesn’t mean there’s no point to pivot. If a player lands on his knees, or ass, or stomach, THAT becomes his pivot. Thanks NYRef, for pointing out the section of the rulebook for me.
The traveling section of the NBA rulebook is exactly the same as the NCAA rulebook. So if it’s called and explained to players at the collegiate level, the pro players and the pro refs SHOULD know. Seriously, how the hell do I know, and the NBA players and refs have no clue… My explanation is that they DO know, but they just didn’t call it. and that goes back to what we’ve all been saying. The refs were horrible.
June 1st, 2011 at 1:17 pm
Ian says:
Jay
Survivor series 91 I think was his debut damnn I shouldn’t remember this.
June 1st, 2011 at 1:22 pm
LeRoy Green says:
yall can all STFU about the refs. Lebron will get his touch fouls and Dirk will too. The refs didn’t play a part in the Mavs loss, the Heat DEFENSE is what did it.
Barea + Terry + Peja = 4 of 21 shooting????
Its gonna be a short, quick and easy series if the Mavs keep this up.
What hurt most about last nights loss is this: it started to look like an EXACT replay of 06. Dirk was gettin his (tho he STILL could have been more aggressive and had more touches) and NOBODY steps up to help him out. The final stat sheet showed the evidence of what we already knew: James = 20+ points, Wade = 20+ points, Bosh had about 20, Dirk = 20+ points………and no other Maverick to follow. Marion played a good game but he’s really not a potent offensive threat. When Dirk goes to the bench our offense looks UGLY and CONFUSED. As a life long Mavs fan I still think this is the best team we’ve ever had, but Butlers absense is REALLY showin how bad it hurts us right now. I can’t see Dallas doing this without a dependable second scorer (same problem the Bulls had). Hopefully we can get at least one at home and extend the series somewhat but the Heat are for real.
Just imagine when Miami tweaks its roster this summer and gets rid of dead weight (Bibby who was beyond atrocious last night, Magloire and big Z) and replace them with solid role players….DYNASTY. I’m not mad at Miami either, Lebron has put in WORK to get to this point. How are ppl mad at the best player takin a 15 million dollar pay cut, sacrificing personal stats and playing TEAM ball to better his legacy?? Ppl gotta get off that mans nuts and let him win his rings, it’ll be fun to watch diff teams in the league put together teams to beat the Heat for the next 5-8 yrs.
June 1st, 2011 at 1:37 pm
Austin Burton says:
@QQ — If anything, your bias against LeBron (“I want to hate him”) makes you see anybody defending LeBron’s actions as an ass-kisser. I’ve made my stance clear: Whoever is getting what I feel is unfair criticism or being held to an unfair double standard, I’ll defend them. LBJ, Melo, Joe Johnson, Vince, T-Mac, all the same. Because LBJ gets more criticism than anybody in the League, naturally I end up defending him a lot. But not blindly.
Remember when LeBron skipped the pre-game intros during Miami’s second trip to Cleveland? He said he was in the bathroom. I said all we can do is take the man at his word. You were demanding to see a stool sample.
June 1st, 2011 at 2:02 pm
CLAW says:
@AB: That is why you are an apologist. Lebron just happened to miss the intro because he was in the bathroom and you believe that shit????? Damn, took off your Lebron nuts glasses.
Lebron killed Dallas, the 3 at the end of the 3rd was a dagger, Dallas was staying close and he hit that was tough.
I don’t think game 2 will be like the Hangover 2, the game will be different and adjustments made, I don’t think Miami dominated as much as Dallas didn’t look to be focused in on what they needed to do.
June 1st, 2011 at 2:03 pm
QQ says:
Well, my bias against Lebron?
I’m the first one to say that I’m a Bron hater, but have you seen my last few posts?
It’s basically ‘Bron has been doing stuff that makes us hater shut up, and I’m gonna give him props.’
Cause that’s what you do if you want to be taken seriously and to make your arguments relevant.
You grow as a hater.
You don’t stick to ‘ LOLOLO Lebron is a piece of shit. kthnxbye’ cause you don’t want to be like a 14 year old who just hates because it’s the ‘in’ thing.
I hate Bron because he’s a douche and all the hype that surrounds him that makes him feel entitles even though he has not won a ring.
Seeing this playoffs, I see him do things that I don’t think he would do (seriously, look at my posts. I even stated ‘I can feel my Bron hate go down two levels’).
And he’s proving me wrong.
So even if I am a hater, I have to acknowledge that. I have to be objective about that. I have to see that this player is proving me wrong.
That’s GROWING.
Have you ever done that AB?
Seriously?
Come on now. Ask anyone on these boards. Not being sarcastic here. Just ask anyone.
It gets to the point where you see ‘Lebron assraped a bear’ and you’ll still say ‘Settle down… Other people do that sometimes, too’.
There’s a line where you have to say ‘I’m supporting this player, but I aint blind. SOMETIMES, they mess up too, and I’m not gonna defend them.’
And I NEVER see you do that.
The thing is, you used to be a writer in these boards that I frequent. Naturally, I respect you.
But seriously, respecting someone with that blatant bias is tiring.
And here comes another point: You won’t EVER admit you have a bias. That’s frustrating as hell to see over and over again.
That’s like me saying ‘I AINT EVEN A MAGIC FAN’.
Sometimes being objective has line too.
When I see you post, how matter I want to see it objectively… all I see is blatant Lebron kiss-assery.
Can you really fault me?
June 1st, 2011 at 2:07 pm
control says:
QQ
Assraping bears is wrong? Fuck that bear, if it doesn’t want to be assraped, it should keep itself up in forests and mountains.
June 1st, 2011 at 2:13 pm
s.bucketz says:
that was some pretty shitty officiating..i duno how any1 can argue that it was good in the last 5 mins of the game..dirk gets called for an over the back???!!!are u effin kiddin me…look at half the comments on here..dirk is a white boy who jus shoots jumpers blah blah blah…so how the hell did he get called for a over the back??and then he slaps the ball clean out of bosh’s hand..tears a tendon in his finger…and foul on him???!!that was some great officiating…
im sure u thought boston-ny was perfectly officiated as well..u can tell something is up..honestly..if i was in some of these series i wood jus sit my ass on the floor cuz someone already knows who is gunna win..i aint gunna waste my time playing
June 1st, 2011 at 2:17 pm
QQ says:
Well, assraping bears is wrong…
But fuck that, no one tells Lebron what’s wrong!
Hell he could assrape Chris Bosh assraping a bear if he wants to.
No one talks shit about Lebron!
June 1st, 2011 at 2:40 pm
CLAW says:
@control – Just had that image from Hangover 2 with Stu getting it from behind from the shemale LMAO!
Lebron is still a douche, he can ball and is a dominant force but is still a douche. Local sports radio guy was a columnist for Chicago Tribune back during the MJ days and talking about the Olympics and the press had 45 minutes after practice to talk to players as Colangelo wanted to change their image as a bunch of spoiled prima donnas. The one player that had a trainer stretch him out and had his skulls on for nearly the entire time except the last 10 minutes was you guessed it – Lebron.
He was asked didn’t MJ do the same thing, he said quite the opposite, he was accomodating and knew his place in the NBA as an ambassador and would look at history and all those before him that went through more struggles than him and felt blessed to be in the position he was in.
That might be difficult comparing somebody that went to college and gained perspective compared to somebody coming straight from HS that had everybody catering to you and continued that into the NBA by giving all his “boys” access like players. Lebron doesn’t get it and I doubt every will, he’s surrounded by his HS friends that always agree with him. That is why all his decisions suck.
June 1st, 2011 at 2:54 pm
Austin Burton says:
@CLAW — About the Miami/Cleveland intro, what’s my reason not to believe what LeBron said? I wasn’t there. I don’t know what he was doing in the locker room. And I don’t really care. If it came out later that he really was just ducking the intro, I wouldn’t defend him. But I thought it was crazy how people automatically didn’t believe the bathroom story, as if they knew better. It reminded me of the Obama birth certificate fanatics. Maybe you should be called “deucers.”
@QQ — You’ve been calling LeBron a loser who can’t lead a title team, and now that he’s closing in on a chip, your tone is changing? Never seen that before…
“Cause that’s what you do if you want to be taken seriously and to make your arguments relevant.”
I’m not gonna take a stance I don’t believe in just to be “taken seriously.” I didn’t have a problem with LeBron not shaking hands with the Magic players in 2009 … didn’t think he should have been blamed for the 09 ECF series loss … didn’t think he personally confiscated the Jordan Crawford tape … didn’t think anything about The Decision was wrong … didn’t think going to Miami showed any lack of heart or leadership … don’t think LeBron isn’t clutch … don’t have a reason to believe he was scared of Cleveland’s crowd after being booed by every crowd in every city this season … So what do you want me to do? Pretend to wag my finger at something LeBron did just so there appears to be a balance? I also haven’t had a problem with anything Derrick Rose has done in the last couple of years. Am I a D-Rose ass-kisser now too?
June 1st, 2011 at 3:04 pm
JAY says:
IwouldasktoseeastoolsampleburtABeatsallthatshitthatlebronfeedshim
June 1st, 2011 at 3:06 pm
s.bucketz says:
@ AB
ur irrational love for another man simultaneously frightens and confuses me man…u need a girl
June 1st, 2011 at 4:02 pm
CLAW says:
@AB – You are incorrect, you are saying Lebron is leading them to a title? I think Wade finished that game off, that’s the problem you have two closers and Lebron might not be the man in games, Wade could be it. That is why even if they win they will still question Lebron, he couldn’t do it on his own and quit to go to an easier situation and share the load instead of being the unquestioned alpha male.
June 1st, 2011 at 4:06 pm
the truth says:
Everyone bitching about the refs, try to do it yourself. These motherfuckers are fast, very hard to officiate. And there were bad calls both sides, stop bitching. any time someone’s team doesn’t win it’s the refs’ fault. Play some fuckin defense and hit some shots and take the game outta the refs’ hands. And Austin Burton owns you fools why even argue with him? Makes most cats on here look stupid.
June 1st, 2011 at 4:08 pm
Austin Burton says:
@CLAW – You still believe that? Again, NO SUPERSTAR wins a title “on his own.” It’s never happened. And once again, leaving as a free agent is not “quitting.” Once again, NO championship has EVER come “easy,” but if you insist, EVERY superstar with a ring was in a “easy situation” in that they played on a great team. Funny how we say we want athletes to value winning over personal ego, yet LeBron, Wade and Bosh (but mostly LBJ) are criticized for not choosing personal glory over team success.
June 1st, 2011 at 4:15 pm
Austin Burton says:
@CLAW – By the way, if Dirk wins the title this year, are you going to say he did it “on his own”? Because I’m looking at Dallas’ roster and I’m seeing TWO Hall of Famers (Dirk and Kidd), two multiple-time All-Stars (Marion and Peja), one member of the 2010 FIBA World Champions (Chandler), and one Sixth Man winner who used to be the “unquestioned leader” of a team (Terry) in their regular rotation. Oh, and Dirk is being coached by a former Coach of the Year winner and he has an owner with deep pockets who will spend money to bring in talent. So it looks like Dirk is taking the easy way out, too.
June 1st, 2011 at 4:21 pm
Skeeter McGee says:
and…
To add on to CLAW’s post…
LeBron now doesn’t have to exert himself as much throughout the whole duration of the game (much as he did when playing for Cleveland), meaning he is either much more rested for the closing crunch time minutes or he is doing work throughout the game (and someone like Wade closes at the end for them).
As great as LeBron has been in these playoffs, he was just as much as a quitter last year for Cleveland in the playoffs. He knew it was time for greener pastures and gave in, seeing what was around him on the floor and bench in CLE. The greats wouldn’t have done that…
June 1st, 2011 at 4:23 pm
Skeeter McGee says:
… and by the way I’d like to think I’m one of the more reasonable people that post on here.
June 1st, 2011 at 5:08 pm
Mt. Pleasant says:
I agree with AB that you don’t win it by yourself. You need a supporting cast. Which is why I don’t think Dirk will win, because his cast isn’t good enough.
I disagree with AB about his help. Reread that supporting cast, even with all those accolades included (old), if he wins he had less help than anyone in recent memory other than when Wade beat him in 06.
June 1st, 2011 at 5:35 pm
control says:
the truth
Your argument is as weak as your namesake, it needs a wheelchair to get around. If these players are so strong and fast, and the refs have such a hard job, then use some fucking technology to improve the job being done, and get some new personal who can handle the requirements.
The current crop of refs are older than dirt, some of them could be ww1 vets. They are also very biased against certain players, like Dwight, Perkins, Tyson Chandler, Arrtest, etc. Like EVERY fucking job in theworld, use fucking computers tomake shit better.
Ain’t noone can watch a game and not see at least 50% of the calls made by the refs are bullshit. PP sucks and is a douche, fyi.
June 1st, 2011 at 6:14 pm
sh!tfaced says:
We should stop calling refs “officials”. The only thing official about these scumbags are their bias, ‘rug-munching nature and horrid calls.’
north @ 27 said it. That is damn spot on haha. Fuck that softie.
Bosh blows and is a bigger douche.
June 1st, 2011 at 6:21 pm
sh!tfaced says:
@ ian and jay
lol. that wasn’t the intention but, damn, didn’t know that posting a pro wrestling reference would suddenly make me feel old…
June 1st, 2011 at 6:38 pm
Skeeter McGee says:
Perfect example of a referee having personal bias against a player: Timmy Duncan and Joey Crawford. He just ejected a player from a game for no reason (granted it was a reg. season game, but still…). If that ain’t abuse of power then I don’t know what that is.
June 1st, 2011 at 6:49 pm
The Hollinger says:
Austin you shouldn’t bother arguing with people who can’t even make a solid argument. Everyone saying that the greats wouldn’t have left are freaking idiots. People always bring up the point saying Jordan never would have left to team up with Magic or Bird. So wait a minute, are you guys saying that Wade and Bosh are the Magic and Bird of this league or as good as those 2? What about the great supporting casts those players had. Jordan had Scottie Pippen (one of the greatest players of all time) and Rodman (possible the greatest rebounder of all time). James had Mo Will and Varejao. Why the hell would Jordan want to leave Chicago? He had amazing teammates. Lebron did not.
Everyone here just penalizes Lebron for leaving when his CONTRACT WAS UP and yet praise moves by GMs for bringing in talents (like the Celtics or Lakers). Why should the player have to suffer due to an incompetent GM (Danny Ferry). Cleveland failed to surround Lebron with talent when that was their only job. It’s the front offices job to surround a player with talent. Did Lebron run the strings in Cleveland? Maybe he did, who knows. BUT that was NOT his job. That was Danny Ferrys job and Danny failed.
People hate on Lebron for leaving when he did the same thing GMs have been doing to players for decades. I personally loved the decision and the big F U he gave to all the moronic fans and the GMs round the league.
The biggest reason people hate on Lebron though is because its happening right now. No one remembers all of Jordan’s playoff failures or all the games he did bad in. People only remember the highlights. People like to look at one flaw in one game from Lebron and use it show how bad he is but at the same time use one highlight from one game for Jordan to show how much better Jordan is. Do I think Lebron is better than Jordan. Right now hell no. Do I think by the time Lebron retires he will still be worse? HELL NO. By the time Lebron retires, he will have had a far greater career and better player than Jordan ever was. He still has a long way to go, but if anyone can do it, its Lebron James. Anyone who thinks he doesn’t atleast have a chance to get on Jordan’s level is just plain blind.
June 1st, 2011 at 7:02 pm
Skeeter McGee says:
I never hated on him leaving, I hated him on quitting before leaving. Two different things…
June 1st, 2011 at 7:13 pm
CLAW says:
@Hollinger: Can somebody help me find a braille keyboard since I must be going blind!
GTFOH
People don’t talk about Dirk as the greatest ever, that is held for those such as Kobe or Lebron. When Lebron went to another team to have to win I think he gave up that title of being one of the greatest ever IMO.
June 1st, 2011 at 7:16 pm
The Hollinger says:
Thats just the thing though. We can’t compare his situation to Jordan and say that Jordan never would have quit on his team like that because Jordan never had such a crappy team. Lebron carried his team every single game for every year he was on the Cavs. We still don’t know that he quit as much as he just had a bad game (okay I think he mentally checked out a bit in that game by his lack of effort). Teams like the old Bulls and the recent Lakers weren’t built around 1 person. If Jordan had a bad game, the Bulls could still pull out a win. When Kobe had a horrible game 7 against the Celtics in the finals the Lakers still won the title. The Cavs could not survive a bad game from Lebron. EVERYTIME he did bad the Cavs got blown out. Maybe after 7 years of carrying the team everyday Lebrons body slowly began to get tired.
Whats even more likely is that Lebron got tired psychologically. He probably saw in that series that he was going all out and yet the Celtics wouldn’t just roll over. Whats worse is that it was only the 2nd round. He’d have to play at a superhuman level for 2 more rounds. Did he blatantly quit? I highly doubt that. What I think is that he subconsciously began doubting himself and if his body could keep up the level for 2 more rounds. All you need is a little bit of doubt when you’re playing at such a high level to make a huge difference.
Now to everyone saying Jordan would never have done that, what makes you say that? The fact that Jordan won 6 titles? Does that mean if the Heat win the next 6 titles, then Lebron never quit in that game? Jordan’s situation was completely different than Lebrons. Before anyone brings in the bad boy pistons in late 80s, remember that Jordan still had Pippen who was beginning to develop into one of the premier players of the league. Who did Lebron have? Jordan had a good cast around him. Lebron did not. Lebrons ceiling on the Cavs wasn’t very high and Lebron probably knew this. This probably did affect his game unknowingly, but I really doubt he flat out quit.
June 1st, 2011 at 7:30 pm
new guy says:
the game was fixed. the outcome is pre-determined. dallas may as well sit on the bench and let it run its course.
its not the refs or stern though. its lebron. we already won.
June 1st, 2011 at 8:33 pm
K Dizzle says:
@ “The Hollinger”
When you done preachin, please review Michael’s first 7 seasons, then review Lebron’s first 7, then tell us who had more success, who got crushed by Detroit 3 seasons in a row and who only lost to Boston twice before deciding that “I had to leave Cleveland cuz I couldn’t do it on my own…” then who jumped to another team with another top star in his prime….thanks
Mike coulda left. Kobe coulda left. Neither did.
June 1st, 2011 at 9:09 pm
beiber newz says:
@31: fag: feeling all girls
June 1st, 2011 at 9:26 pm
top_gun says:
Jordan’s big three was him, Pippen and Horace f*ckin Grant! Rodman was acquired by trade during the second three peat. Jordan failed to best the Pistons 3 years straight, do you think he thought about switching teams ?!?! Pippen was drafted fifth and was molded into a great player by Jordan. Its not like Jordan got an instant star in Pippen.
@AB, Your saying Nowitzky has another future hall of famer on his team. You do know that, this hall of famer is now 38+ years old, and is incapable of driving past is defender? If you look at it that way, you can say the Celtics had four future hall of famers, possibly 5(Rondo) and they lost easily to the Heat.
June 1st, 2011 at 9:39 pm
The Hollinger says:
Okay lets compare them. Lebron already made the finals in his first 7 seasons. Lebron never lost in the first round either. So what are we looking for? Oh thats right Lebron left Cleveland. Like I said earlier, it was very obvious that Jordans team was getting better. Pippen was beginning to get better and it was becoming clear it was a great team. Oh and one more major difference. Jordan wasn’t a free agent. Lebrons contract was up with the team. He played till the end of his contract and then left. Jordan was still under contract. Now as for Kobe? Really thats who you ask? Kobe was the one who demanded a trade, demanded Bynum be traded, and almost left the Lakers (for the Clippers when his contract was up). Kobe got lucky he was gifted Pau Gasol. Like I said earlier, are you guys saying that players should have to suffer at the hands of incompetent GMs. Lebron had a useless GM and decided to leave (and what 25 year old millionaire wouldn’t want to leave Cleveland for Miami). Kobe left because he COULDN’T. He was under contract. Lebron left because he COULD. Big difference
June 1st, 2011 at 11:12 pm
beiber newz says:
beiber newz: ricky rubio welcome to the nba !!!!!!!!!!!
June 2nd, 2011 at 1:11 am
NYReferee says:
Of course it doesn’t say anything in the rule about standing up from being on the floor….because its NOT ILLEGAL. If it was illegal, it would say so explicitly in the rulebook.
The college rulebook DOES mention that standing up is traveling in very clear language.
June 2nd, 2011 at 8:29 am
fiyaman says:
I’m not gonna take a stance I don’t believe in just to be “taken seriously.” I didn’t have a problem with LeBron not shaking hands with the Magic players in 2009 … didn’t think he should have been blamed for the 09 ECF series loss … didn’t think he personally confiscated the Jordan Crawford tape … didn’t think anything about The Decision was wrong … didn’t think going to Miami showed any lack of heart or leadership … don’t think LeBron isn’t clutch … don’t have a reason to believe he was scared of Cleveland’s crowd after being booed by every crowd in every city this season … So what do you want me to do? Pretend to wag my finger at something LeBron did just so there appears to be a balance? I also haven’t had a problem with anything Derrick Rose has done in the last couple of years. Am I a D-Rose ass-kisser now too?
aft that rant I dont think I can see he as an objectional reporter u seem to just agree with whatever ur told.. lost a lot of respect for u