Is it time to LOL at the Miami Heat?

Kevin T

Hall of Fame
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Finally, with the Knickerbockers (& St. John's resurgence to power), the Mecca of hoops is no longer about gawking in awe at the "visiting" team.


IF YOU CAN'T STAND THE HEAT, GET INTO THIS THREAD

lebron+cying.jpg

Good point, Dedan's. Seeing St. John's doing well reminds me of high school in the late 80's/early 90's, when NY-area and Big East bball was so solid.
 

goober

Legend
Good point, Dedan's. Seeing St. John's doing well reminds me of high school in the late 80's/early 90's, when NY-area and Big East bball was so solid.

Lavin's best year at UCLA was his first when he took over a senior-laden team with experience. Oh just kind of like St. John's is now:) He then proceded to drive UCLA bball team into the ground. He was a good recruiter (actually a very good recruiter), but terrible at X and O's and game management. Baron Davis famously said about getting to the second round the NCAA tournament that 'they did pretty good considering they don't have a coach' . Next year when all his seniors are gone, we will see if he actually has learned anything since his debacle at UCLA.
 

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
Agree with all except Dallas. Their track record of bombing in the playoffs makes me sour on them, though Chandler is playing well and should be an impact player in the playoffs. OKC is SO CLOSE but not sure they can beat the Lakers in a best of 7. I'm actually really interested in NBA ball for the first time in a long time.

Dallas is a tough one, but I feel the Lakers are weaker than the pat and Im not sure how the Spurs young talent will do in the playoffs. Based on thier record this season and Dirk I would not be surprised to see them make a run.
 

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
Lavin's best year at UCLA was his first when he took over a senior-laden team with experience. Oh just kind of like St. John's is now:) He then proceded to drive UCLA bball team into the ground. He was a good recruiter (actually a very good recruiter), but terrible at X and O's and game management. Baron Davis famously said about getting to the second round the NCAA tournament that 'they did pretty good considering they don't have a coach' . Next year when all his seniors are gone, we will see if he actually has learned anything since his debacle at UCLA.

If he is a such a good recruiter he wont have a problem. The NY area is loaded with Ballers and if he can get one or two of them to commit he should be fine.

St Johns is basically the opposite of Maryland. We have a great coach that cant recruit.

But it is good seeing the Knics back in the mix. It makes me miss C. Oakley and A. Mason
 

billsgwn

Banned
Good point, Dedan's. Seeing St. John's doing well reminds me of high school in the late 80's/early 90's, when NY-area and Big East bball was so solid.



The Big East was so awesome back in the mid 80s. It makes me laugh when some say this conference has never been as good as it is this year. Is there anyone who actually thinks any of todays teams could beat those top St Johns, Georgetown, or Syracuse teams from the mid to late 80s? Theres not one Center in college basketball anymore so Ewing, Seikaly, and even Wennignton would dominate todays big men. Even a one handed Greg Oden was able to almost win a Natl title because he was the only center in the entire country.
 

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
Saying the conference is as good if not better than ever has more to do with the depth of the league and not about the couple of teams at the top. They are saying 11 teams might make it into the dance. The only way that hapens is if Marqutte West virgina, and cincy win the tournament or at least make a deep run. 9 is probably what they end up putting in.

The game is different today. Centers are not as crucial as they once were. Even the NBA doesnt have many Centers in the Ewing, Mutumbo, Mourning mold.
 

Brettolius

Professional
Big East, overrated the past couple of years. They will get 11 teams in and 1 to the final four if they are lucky.
 
Lavin's best year at UCLA was his first when he took over a senior-laden team with experience. Oh just kind of like St. John's is now:) He then proceded to drive UCLA bball team into the ground. He was a good recruiter (actually a very good recruiter), but terrible at X and O's and game management. Baron Davis famously said about getting to the second round the NCAA tournament that 'they did pretty good considering they don't have a coach' . Next year when all his seniors are gone, we will see if he actually has learned anything since his debacle at UCLA.

Lavin got too much blame at UCLA. 6 20+ win seasons, the Sweet 16 5x and Elite 8 once. But I guess with the high standards of UCLA it's pretty much title or bust.

Anyways, back on topic - Miami needs to give the ball to DWade w/ the game on the line, LeBron chucking 3s and Bosh acting 'Like a Bosh (see vid) isn't cutting it.

Bosh flop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9oInCQNzvs

BTW Heat getting Bibby and Troy Murphy might help, but still not enough for the title.
 
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DCaicedo

Rookie
I agree- people are way too quick to see a new Coach as the coming of JC. The Johnnies are doing great this year, and hopefully they can keep it up throughout the Conference tourney next week- given that they've done so well at MSG.
NCAA's are a different story.

Given that SJU has the 2nd best recruting class in the country (according to ESPN), it will be interesting to see how well they replicate their success next year.

Back to the Knickerbockers, they'll surprise a few teams here and there, but they'll have to play some D (Exhibit A: Amare's block on Lebron) in order to do it.
 
Good to see you posting, Big. Wade and Lebron are basically two guys that play the same position and need the ball 99% of the time. You're dead-on about the need for a point, in addition to the need for inside play. Billups is suge a huge pick up for the Knicks come playoff time. At this point, I would certainly take Boston and Chicago over the Heat...I like the combo of D Rose, Noah and Booze in a best of seven against Miami. If the Knicks get the chemisty right, they can beat the Heat in a 7 game series. The Magic seem to be regressing. It's been a long, long time since the NBA East has been this appealing.

Ah, thanks man. I don't come around these parts often enough anymore...

Bill Simmons, love him or hate him, had a great article on the LeBron/Wade pairing and how he feared it wouldn't work, mainly because they're the same player and because neither guy WANTS to be option B. They're both used to being option A and so far, they haven't figured out how to fix it. Until they do, Miami has no chance against a team that can slow them down and play solid half court defense.

I'm not a fan at all of LeBron. I don't think he's a winner, he crumbles mentally in big moments. I don't want him taking the shot that will win or lose my team a series. In Cleveland it was always about what LBJ didn't have around him. Now it seems like the same excuse, even with two of the best 10 players in the league, and a 3rd guy in Bosh that's a top 20 player. It's ridiculous. Even with all the talent between those three, Rondo or Rose would run them ragged at PG, and a center like D-Ho, Gasol or Duncan could absolutely murder them inside. Miami is a lot of fun to watch, but with this personnel, they're not built to win a title.

I like Chicago or Boston to come out of the East, and SA or LA from the West...Regardless this should be a really fun year for the playoffs.
 

neillis

New User
The Bulls missed out on a good chance to become a legit number one seed by balking on an OJ Mayo deal. I don't think they will get the number one seed even though they have one of the best talents in the league. I will always look on Derrick Rose as a sheet freak of nature by remembering the days when he played at Memphis. I got to see him carve up Georgetown, Arizona, play a good game against Tennessee, and many other teams up close, and it was amazing...but still, even with Noah, they most likely won't catch the Celtics because the Celtics are proven at getting down when it is go time. Also the Heat WANT that 1st spot bad.

That being said, the Bulls are stinkin' good, and the Eastern Conference semifinals/finals are going to be sick.

I just want to take a moment to say go Grizzlies after FINALLY beating the Spurs. I'd like to see them in a 7 game series in the playoffs...we probably wouldn't win the series, but we would definitely wear them out.

Also, I'd like to join in on the LBJ hating as quick as possible.
 

Brettolius

Professional
Big East is the toughest conference in the nation, no one comes close to it. They have the second best player in the country too (Kemba)

That's funny, I remember that being the story last year, and the year before, and the... when was the last time a team from the super superior Big East won the title? Last year they were allegedly head and shoulders above every other conference, and how did that work out? Could it be the Big East is chock full of mediocre teams that beat up on each other and give the appearance of being super great? Could it be that ESPN is based right in the heart of Big East country? Gee, I dunno... But I know a Big East team won't be winnning it all this year, 11 teams in the tourney or not.
 
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soyizgood

G.O.A.T.
Anyways, back on topic - Miami needs to give the ball to DWade w/ the game on the line, LeBron chucking 3s and Bosh acting 'Like a Bosh (see vid) isn't cutting it.

Bosh flop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9oInCQNzvs

BTW Heat getting Bibby and Troy Murphy might help, but still not enough for the title.

Bosh should have done this in December. That might have got him Best Actor nomination at the Oscars. Better yet, the Academy Awards really should have a Best Flopper category. Ronaldo, Bosh, Ginobili, Fisher, Drogba would be automatic nominees.
 
1. Play Hard 2. Play Team Defense 3. Take Smart Shots--gospel according to Gene Keady

Lavin's best year at UCLA was his first when he took over a senior-laden team with experience. Oh just kind of like St. John's is now:) He then proceded to drive UCLA bball team into the ground. He was a good recruiter (actually a very good recruiter), but terrible at X and O's and game management. Baron Davis famously said about getting to the second round the NCAA tournament that 'they did pretty good considering they don't have a coach' . Next year when all his seniors are gone, we will see if he actually has learned anything since his debacle at UCLA.
Pssst....maybe you out-of-towners haven't noticed former (25-year) Purdue head coaching great Gene Keady on the St. John's staff (Lavin hired him last fall as an Executive Assistant). Ask Bobby Knight for example what he thinks of Keady's "x's & o's" acumen. Outside of his shoe-polish bad hair dyes, Keady's considered--without exception--a top flight tactician in coaching circles.

Brettolius, you wanna talk about media bias? Amigo, you're starting to sound like Billy "A.C.C." Packard (see: UNC-Nova, 2006) ;-)

Check out Big East's pre-conference performance this year. Whether they end up beating up each other (quite possibly the case given the shear number of good teams--no let up), the fact remains that their out-of-conference record to start the season dwarfed others. Yes, 'Nova's hitting the skids at present and G'town's injured and they may fall early but besides that, why does this bother you so much-lol? I mean, why should this 'basketball' conference that was made up in large part from little Catholic colleges from the old ECAC have fans from conferences made up of "Gazillion-Dollah-State-U-budgets" get their noses so bent outta joint? Hey, the A.C.C. is traditonally a great conference (even if this year it's "eh?") But why many A.C.C. types feel animus towards the Big East is perplexing to me....especially when you consider that the A.C.C.'s history is littered with "northeast" basketball coaches & players that helped make it what it is today--yup. Oh, and (just once) I would like you to see the BigEast tourney in person at the Garden--unbelievable atmosphere. Another gem: taking in an Atlantic 10 game at the "Cathedral of College basketball," the Palestra. Awesome vibe as well.

Lastly, imho put:
-Boston College back in the Big East
-USo.Carolina back in the ACC
-Louisville in the SEC

on-topic: Much as I hate to admit it, who outside of the Celtics are stopping the Heat in the East? And the Celts are long in the tooth and I could see them being 'dinged-up' and not at full strength come playoffs. Time will tell. Chicago? Rose is awesome, but I don't think so. Orlando presents a broader number of scoring threats but I still don't think so. Atlanta's record is misleading--paper tiger imho.
 
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Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
This year the NBA can pick the top 4 teams in the East and West and start the playoffs with the conference semis.
 

Brettolius

Professional
Pssst....maybe you out-of-towners haven't noticed former (25-year) Purdue head coaching great Gene Keady on the St. John's staff (Lavin hired him last fall as an Executive Assistant). Ask Bobby Knight for example what he thinks of Keady's "x's & o's" acumen. Outside of his shoe-polish bad hair dyes, Keady's considered--without exception--a top flight tactician in coaching circles.

Brettolius, you wanna talk about media bias? Amigo, you're starting to sound like Billy "A.C.C." Packard (see: UNC-Nova, 2006) ;-)

Check out Big East's pre-conference performance this year. Whether they end up beating up each other (quite possibly the case given the shear number of good teams--no let up), the fact remains that their out-of-conference record to start the season dwarfed others. Yes, 'Nova's hitting the skids at present and G'town's injured and they may fall early but besides that, why does this bother you so much-lol? I mean, why should this 'basketball' conference that was made up in large part from little Catholic colleges from the old ECAC have fans from conferences made up of "Gazillion-Dollah-State-U-budgets" get their noses so bent outta joint? Hey, the A.C.C. is traditonally a great conference (even if this year it's "eh?") But why many A.C.C. types feel animus towards the Big East is perplexing to me....especially when you consider that the A.C.C.'s history is littered with "northeast" basketball coaches & players that helped make it what it is today--yup. Oh, and (just once) I would like you to see the BigEast tourney in person at the Garden--unbelievable atmosphere. Another gem: taking in an Atlantic 10 game at the "Cathedral of College basketball," the Palestra. Awesome vibe as well.

Lastly, imho put:
-Boston College back in the Big East
-USo.Carolina back in the ACC
-Louisville in the SEC

on-topic: Much as I hate to admit it, who outside of the Celtics are stopping the Heat in the East? And the Celts are long in the tooth and I could see them being 'dinged-up' and not at full strength come playoffs. Time will tell. Chicago? Rose is awesome, but I don't think so. Orlando presents a broader number of scoring threats but I still don't think so. Atlanta's record is misleading--paper tiger imho.

Come on now man, that hurts! Billy Packer? I may be cranky... but that's just hurtful! Seriously though, there really isn't a superior conference this year. I'm from SEC country, we didn't do too shabby out of conference either, and it's a down year. I really get worked up about it because I am a UK fan living in Louisville, and the UofL fans are always falling back on how the Big Least is so much better, just usually lame reasoning on their part to try to prove some bizarre point. It's a heated, bitter rivalry to say the least.
 
on-topic: Much as I hate to admit it, who outside of the Celtics are stopping the Heat in the East? And the Celts are long in the tooth and I could see them being 'dinged-up' and not at full strength come playoffs. Time will tell. Chicago? Rose is awesome, but I don't think so. Orlando presents a broader number of scoring threats but I still don't think so. Atlanta's record is misleading--paper tiger imho.

2-0 against the Heat (granted 1 was without Bron Bron). Plus the fact that Chicago hasn't been healthy all season - first the Boozer injury, then the Noah injury - and still has been able to have one of the best records in the East. Now with a full team healthy they have a decent shot at making a run at the top seed.

That and the Heat have no bench. The Heat bench scored 2 points the last time they played the Bulls. Adding Bibby might help, but he's past his prime, just like most of the Heat outside of the Big 2 and a half men. (Bosh)
 

pepka

Professional
Lol at them for bringing Bibby as the saviour. Dude is a scrub just like Arroyo. If it was 2000-2002 than yeah, but now. Dude never played any D and now cant even make a shot. That being said i would love to see Bulls in the finals. Them signing Rasual Butler is way better than Heat signing Bibby.
 

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
Bibby is shooting 43% from three this year.

He cant defend anyone, but I think he is an upgrade over Arroyo. I like Bibby to be on the free throw line late in the game over Arroyo. Also I think Bibby will keep the offense more organized when they are in the half court set.
 

soyizgood

G.O.A.T.
The Heat are lousy in half court sets. Wade and Lebron like to have the ball for half the shot clock which makes it hard to establish a rhythm. Bibby could do a better job of being a floor general, but he's no Billups or Kidd at that either.
 

salsainglesa

Semi-Pro
I just wanted to jump in the discussion, the heat are plain bullies... They want to buy their way to the championsip, its like a greedy enterprise wanting everything for themselves...

sad sad to watch, I didn't like the Celtics very much, but they have heart and guts, and respect for a team sport, that is right, a TEAM sport!
Even LA seems like a team compared to this mercenaries...

sorry for the rant!
 

soyizgood

G.O.A.T.
^^^ I wish I could have seen that collapse. Orlando scoring 18 straight pts to kill off a 24pt deficit? I'll have to check out the box score to see how "complete" the Heat are.

Miami's bench scored 11 pts. Team only scored 26 pts excluding the "two men and a baby".

Bibby only scored 3 pts, missed both his FTs, and had ONE assist. Some savior he's turning out..LOL Miami's PGs only contributed for 3 assists.

Miami is an incomplete team when things get tight just as tonight showed. Congrats to Orlando for sticking it out.
 
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Orlando went on a 40-9 run. Richardson and Arenas deadly from 3pt range. Wade and Bron disappearing in the 2nd half. Bibby another over the hill ring chaser. Chris Bosh crying after the game. Gotta love it. :lol:

boshface.gif


SMlTp.png


Them drawing up a play for Bosh of all people to take the game tying 3 says enough. The bench is still the difference, Miami just doesn't have the depth to compete once the playoffs come, that and the lack of heart they showed (again) tonight.
 
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soyizgood

G.O.A.T.
I just wanted to jump in the discussion, the heat are plain bullies... They want to buy their way to the championsip, its like a greedy enterprise wanting everything for themselves...

sad sad to watch, I didn't like the Celtics very much, but they have heart and guts, and respect for a team sport, that is right, a TEAM sport!
Even LA seems like a team compared to this mercenaries...

sorry for the rant!

Too many cooks in the kitchen. That and they have no idea what they're preparing for the main course. Let's just buy everything and it will magically come together, somehow... someday.... in some way.
 

soyizgood

G.O.A.T.

What was Lebron doing? Bosh looked like he was trying to set a screen there, but Lebron KO'd him with that pass.

When the playoffs come, Miami is in deep trouble because most teams slow down their offenses and play half-court sets. The Heat "3" can't play well if they aren't running and fast-breaking.
 

neillis

New User
Someone, I forgot who, maybe Skip Bayless, mentioned that if one of the "big 3" doesn't show up, the Heat don't have a chance against even a mediocre team. That's very true (Boshy went 5-14 last night or something like that, plus the no shows of Bron Bron and D-Wade in the 2nd half). While Richardson, Arenas, and Nelson certainly did their thing, and the Magic showed incredible fortitude, no team billed as high as the Heat should ever...EVER give up a 24 point lead with 4:00 left in the 3rd. I can understand if it was at some point in the 2nd quarter....but midway through the 2nd half?!?!?


Go Grizzlies tonight, btw.
 

neillis

New User
What was Lebron doing? Bosh looked like he was trying to set a screen there, but Lebron KO'd him with that pass.

When the playoffs come, Miami is in deep trouble because most teams slow down their offenses and play half-court sets. The Heat "3" can't play well if they aren't running and fast-breaking.

Orlando figured out how to play the Heat:

Plug the middle so that Bron Bron can't drive, then defend the three to whoever he kicks it out to. Meanwhile, run the pick and roll to perfection, and let your perimeter shooting create holes in the defense.

...and Heat fans think they will get better in the playoffs, and that this is just a meaningless regular season game? plllleeeaaassseee.
 

pepka

Professional
"I feel sorry for whoever has to guard us"
"Its gonna be easy"
"Not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4, not 5 and not even 6 championships" etc.
Those quotes by Lames and co. are getting funnier with every minute.
 

billsgwn

Banned
"I feel sorry for whoever has to guard us"
"Its gonna be easy"
"Not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4, not 5 and not even 6 championships" etc.
Those quotes by Lames and co. are getting funnier with every minute.



HAHA Everytime Lebron opens his mouth, he puts his foot into it.
 

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
San Antonio is MURDERING the Heat in the 1st qtr. 36-12 after 1qtr. Spurs 8 for 11 from 3pt range.

The Cadavers bury the Knicks for the 3rd time this year without Billups tonite. Stoudemier had 41, Anthony 29 but it was not enough. Start spreading the news, the dead rise again. Even the Walking Dead can beat a two man team. Its MURDER in NY at 10.
 
Until this year no one rooted against any of them.

I've always disliked LeBron. He's always seemed like a major d-bag to me and generally an unlikable guy. Even if he'd wound up on my favorite team in Chicago, I would have had a hard time rooting for him. Wade I tended to like, and Bosh I was neutral on but tended to like as well. Now I still dislike Led0uche, Bosh is a laughing stock, and though I respect Wade dislike him by association.
 

Tyrus

Professional
Yes we can LOL at the Miami Lukewarm.

They have the worst record against contenders.

And we hope they suck in the playoffs.

Screw lebron for the decision, im on the fence with Bosh, but he's stuck in that conundrum.

Wade will always be a class act and i would love to see him back in Chicago.
 

westside

Hall of Fame
Miami are in struggle town against the Spurs right now

8 SA players have shot double figures. I think that explains why they are the better team
 
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