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NBA Playoffs (2010-2011) - Page 124
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Jibba
United States22883 Posts
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CTStalker
Canada9720 Posts
On May 26 2011 12:48 BloodNinja wrote: I cant help but think Dallas will get jobbed by refs again and we will see Mark Cuban back on the floor getting ejected. hopefully not. to briefly indulge in conspiracy theory, i feel like the league would have far less incentive to gift the heat this time: dwade back 5 years ago and a post-kobe shaq who came out of the lakers still a pretty huge fan favourite have more clout (at least, i like to think so) than the heat now. if the heat do end up in the finals, i just hope the games are good. | ||
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Signet
United States1718 Posts
On May 26 2011 12:46 triangle wrote: I can't help but think Dallas will lose in the finals, but their playoff run has certainly been impressive. I agree, I don't think they have the athleticism to match up with Miami, who at this point will almost surely represent the East. (I know, 2-0 regular season... see: Miami vs Boston, Chicago in regular season too.) The Heat offense isn't necessarily better than the Thunder's, but the Heat defense is one of the best 3 in the NBA. Dallas will need Shawn Marion to continue playing like he has the last 3 games. I'm doubtful that Barea will be as effective against the Heat as he was in this series, because Wade and James can quickly collapse in to challenge his shots in the lane with their jumping/shotblocking ability. On May 26 2011 12:52 CTStalker wrote: hopefully not. to briefly indulge in conspiracy theory, i feel like the league would have far less incentive to gift the heat this time: dwade back 5 years ago and a post-kobe shaq who came out of the lakers still a pretty huge fan favourite have more clout (at least, i like to think so) than the heat now. if the heat do end up in the finals, i just hope the games are good. I felt like that was more about Stern and Cuban than about promoting Wade as the next superstar. The NBA actually has some incentive to see foreign superstars like Nowitzki win a title as they are trying to further increase international interest in the sport and their league in particular. If this was the 1800s surely Cuban and Stern would have already had a Wild West-style shootout :p | ||
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Brees
Marshall Islands3404 Posts
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eaT_Mi_Lquid
Germany509 Posts
-the interview-lady: "Oh Dirk is already gone " ... "seems like everyone is abandoning me " rofl :D | ||
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Dalguno
United States2446 Posts
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On_Slaught
United States12190 Posts
Looking at the box score all I can do is lol at Westbrook taking 28 shots. Great point guard guys. | ||
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vectorix108
United States4633 Posts
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Signet
United States1718 Posts
On May 26 2011 13:22 Brees wrote: conspiracy theories are pretty lolzy, we see refs make horrible calls every single night yet certain ones are because they trying to advance a certain team over the other? not buying it. Basketball is just a pretty difficult game to referee whether you want to admit that or not. As a general rule I agree with you, but I have to ask - did you watch that series (2006 Finals) and are you aware of all the bad blood between Stern and Cuban? There's a reason even a lot of neutral fans see this series as questionable. Stern has literally changed league rules to spite Cuban (the following summer he changed rules about where team owners were allowed to sit in their own fucking arena lol), and he blocked the Mavs from making a big trade that season which is a pretty rare thing for the commish to do. In fairness to Stern, Cuban is a huge fanboy who would be at every Mavs game even if he didn't own the team, rather than some corporate suit who sees his team as just another financial investment. He's been known to send in tapes critiquing basically every bad call that's ever gone against the Mavs over entire seasons, which has to get annoying since there is some obligation for the league to actually review every complaint he officially submits. Then there is the stuff he says to the press. Even Phil Jackson has commented that he thinks those two's mutual animosity influenced the way the games were officiated, suggesting that Cuban learn to stfu if he ever wants his team to be given a fair shake at a title run. Jackson has a point, the NBA doesn't want team owners heckling the opposing players during the game and talking off the cuff afterwards. They want people who write checks, fill arenas, and stay invisible. The only other owners in sports I can think of who have the visibility of Mark Cuban are Jerry Jones and formerly George Steinbrenner, but they haven't done much to embarrass their leagues. (Jordan and Lemieux are also visible, but more because they were known as players) Occasionally, shit like match fixing happens even today. Just a few years ago several big Serie A teams got relegated after it was found out that they were fixing matches. Broodwar fans all know the story of Savior's downfall. Some NBA ref was caught taking bribes, and he claims he wasn't the only one. I think it's extremely rare but then again I've also said this is the only American sporting event that I've seen where I think there was deliberate favoritism of one side over another. (that I pay attention to... I don't watch boxing for example) I mean, it also could be that Wade figured out how to flop in a way that consistently fooled the refs in game 3, and started doing that for the rest of the series. He was falling down quite a lot even when replays showed no contact. | ||
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Spicy Pepper
United States632 Posts
Also, Riley made adjustments to the offense starting in Game3, which made Wade instead of Shaq the focal point of attack. Before that series, Shaq was still considered the #1 option, with Wade as a rising #2. As for this year, I have a tough time seeing the Heat lose. As athletic as the Thunder looked, I think the Heat have their athleticism beat, with a much better defensive scheme. Udonis and Lebron and Anthony to guard Dirk, with Wade and Lebron to attack the Mavs wings. This might be the first time the Mavs really miss Caron Butler. | ||
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Holcan
Canada2593 Posts
On May 26 2011 13:52 On_Slaught wrote: Completely missed the game but i'm glad that the Mavs ended up winning. Looking at the box score all I can do is lol at Westbrook taking 28 shots. Great point guard guys. So ignorant, Westbrook played a hell of a game, and more points than shots is a good thing last I heard. Westbrook and Harden did a great amount of carrying for the OKC offense, Durant wasnt playing very well. | ||
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Signet
United States1718 Posts
On May 26 2011 14:24 Spicy Pepper wrote: I think the 2006 finals were simply one of the worst reffed finals ever. It definitely helped the Heat, but I don't think there's any reason to think it was fixed. When the Tim Donaghy scandal happened, people went over alot of games, and I don't remember that finals being one of the shady games officiated. When games are fixed, it's to beat point spreads or over/unders, not necessarily to get a certain team to win the title. Also, multiple officials made consistent ticky tack foul calls in Wade's favor. It's most likely that the league wanted the game called in a certain way, which happened to favor Wade especially, and unfortunately basically gifted the Heat the title. Also, Riley made adjustments to the offense starting in Game3, which made Wade instead of Shaq the focal point of attack. Before that series, Shaq was still considered the #1 option, with Wade as a rising #2. As for this year, I have a tough time seeing the Heat lose. As athletic as the Thunder looked, I think the Heat have their athleticism beat, with a much better defensive scheme. Udonis and Lebron and Anthony to guard Dirk, with Wade and Lebron to attack the Mavs wings. This might be the first time the Mavs really miss Caron Butler. Yeah I don't want to derail about a series that happened 5 years ago in either case. I'm 95% in agreement with the way you see the series, I just question their motives for wanting it reffed in that manner. I also agree about Caron Butler. The Mavs are so deep that it hasn't mattered thus far, but a lot of players who have been viable, even effective, vs Portland, LA, and OKC won't cut it when the Wade/James/Bosh combo is on the floor. Peja can't guard anybody and if Stevenson plays that is just inviting Wade to leave him to collapse/double team. Also like you said, Haslem is the type of defender who has caused Dirk problems in the past. The Heat could also ask James to give 100% energy on the defensive side against Dirk, then try to run the offense through Wade and Bosh first with James as the 3rd option. The way Miami is playing right now they are the best team in the league. It reminds me of Boston's title team 3 seasons ago. (minus their awful first round performance) | ||
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Brees
Marshall Islands3404 Posts
On May 26 2011 14:11 Signet wrote: As a general rule I agree with you, but I have to ask - did you watch that series (2006 Finals) and are you aware of all the bad blood between Stern and Cuban? There's a reason even a lot of neutral fans see this series as questionable. Stern has literally changed league rules to spite Cuban (the following summer he changed rules about where team owners were allowed to sit in their own fucking arena lol), and he blocked the Mavs from making a big trade that season which is a pretty rare thing for the commish to do. In fairness to Stern, Cuban is a huge fanboy who would be at every Mavs game even if he didn't own the team, rather than some corporate suit who sees his team as just another financial investment. He's been known to send in tapes critiquing basically every bad call that's ever gone against the Mavs over entire seasons, which has to get annoying since there is some obligation for the league to actually review every complaint he officially submits. Then there is the stuff he says to the press. Even Phil Jackson has commented that he thinks those two's mutual animosity influenced the way the games were officiated, suggesting that Cuban learn to stfu if he ever wants his team to be given a fair shake at a title run. Jackson has a point, the NBA doesn't want team owners heckling the opposing players during the game and talking off the cuff afterwards. They want people who write checks, fill arenas, and stay invisible. The only other owners in sports I can think of who have the visibility of Mark Cuban are Jerry Jones and formerly George Steinbrenner, but they haven't done much to embarrass their leagues. (Jordan and Lemieux are also visible, but more because they were known as players) Occasionally, shit like match fixing happens even today. Just a few years ago several big Serie A teams got relegated after it was found out that they were fixing matches. Broodwar fans all know the story of Savior's downfall. Some NBA ref was caught taking bribes, and he claims he wasn't the only one. I think it's extremely rare but then again I've also said this is the only American sporting event that I've seen where I think there was deliberate favoritism of one side over another. (that I pay attention to... I don't watch boxing for example) I mean, it also could be that Wade figured out how to flop in a way that consistently fooled the refs in game 3, and started doing that for the rest of the series. He was falling down quite a lot even when replays showed no contact. great post, and yes I did watch the series. I think it was blown out of proportion personally, it was pretty bad but not horrible. the mavs could have played a lot better. and you have me curious now, what happened with savior? i must have stopped watching before this drama | ||
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Signet
United States1718 Posts
On May 26 2011 15:07 Brees wrote: and you have me curious now, what happened with savior? i must have stopped watching before this drama From Ver's recent Final Edit: In 2010, Savior was implicated in one of the most devastating events in e-Sports history, the pro-gamer match fixing scandal. Nearly a dozen progamers had received bribes to intentionally lose their matches, which were bet upon by a handful of shady parties on illegal e-Sports gambling websites. Korean courts found Savior guilty of being a broker, a middle-man between the gamblers and the bribed progamers, though it is suspected that he may have been more directly involved as well. Savior was sentenced to one year in prison (this sentence has been suspended for 2 years; sentencing occurred in May 2010). Furthermore, all of the progamers implicated were given life-time competition bans by KeSPA (the governing body for BW e-Sports in Korea). GomTV employees have mentioned that the banned BW players would not be allowed to compete in the GSL as well. Liquipedia article: http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft/Match_Fixing_Scandal | ||
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RowdierBob
Australia13426 Posts
Westbrook and Harden tried their heart out that whole game and almost got them over the line. Dirk's just too good right now. GL Mavs, I hope they win. | ||
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CTStalker
Canada9720 Posts
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KOFgokuon
United States14912 Posts
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Ace
United States16096 Posts
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ilikejokes
United States217 Posts
On May 27 2011 01:12 Ace wrote: Surprised the media isn't pointing out how badly Durant played. Then again they are blind to the obvious. There's just no incentive for them to focus on that. It's a better angle and better story to focus on the things the Mavs/Dirk did right than to sling mud left and right. | ||
XaI)CyRiC
United States4471 Posts
I mentioned this back when the Perkins trade was made, and I think it's shown itself to be true, that the Thunder doesn't have enough perimeter shooting with the lineup of Westbrook, Thabo, Durant, Ibaka and Perkins. It's a very good defensive lineup, but teams can just pack the paint and only have to worry about Durant knocking down 3s. Westbrook and/or Thabo need to become a consistent 3pt shoot threat to take down top defenses. During the regular season, the amount of FTs they draw makes up for it, but the playoffs are a different story as more contact is allowed. I think both Durant and Westbrook became less eager to drive to the basket once they realized that their opponents were going to be allowed to be physical with them and that they weren't going to get FTs as often as they'd like. At some point, they're going to have to be able to spread defenses out, and they need more 3pt shooting to make that happen. Doesn't help that none of their players, particularly the bigs, have a back-to-the-basket post game. | ||
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