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On May 26 2011 14:48 Signet wrote:Show nested quote +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)
Yea, the Bulls-Heat series has shown us that it doesn't matter how "deep" your bench is. What is more important is having enough good players to hide your bench and spell your good players.
JJ Barea and Co. will not be able to put up 20+ with wade/james guarding them.
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On May 27 2011 01:28 ilikejokes wrote:Show nested quote +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.
As opposed to what they've been doing to Miami all season long? Since when has the media been a patron for "no mud slinging" ?
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On May 27 2011 06:09 Ace wrote:Show nested quote +On May 27 2011 01:28 ilikejokes wrote: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. As opposed to what they've been doing to Miami all season long? Since when has the media been a patron for "no mud slinging" ?
As ESPN is airing the NBA Finals, it is in their best interest to hype up the teams in the Finals.
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On May 27 2011 06:09 Ace wrote:Show nested quote +On May 27 2011 01:28 ilikejokes wrote: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. As opposed to what they've been doing to Miami all season long? Since when has the media been a patron for "no mud slinging" ?
It's a lot like the Yankees, by buying up so many great players to make a mini dream team, Miami became villains for everyone who either wasn't already cheering for them or isn't a bandwagoner. Making every applicable story (win or lose) about the Heat and taking advantage of polarized opinions, ESPN is employing a good marketing strategy.
Whereas, nothing is really gained by focusing on teams like Bos/SA/OKC when they lose; it's better marketing to simply hype the winner.
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On May 27 2011 07:37 Signet wrote:Show nested quote +On May 27 2011 06:09 Ace wrote:On May 27 2011 01:28 ilikejokes wrote: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. As opposed to what they've been doing to Miami all season long? Since when has the media been a patron for "no mud slinging" ? It's a lot like the Yankees, by buying up so many great players to make a mini dream team, Miami became villains for everyone who either wasn't already cheering for them or isn't a bandwagoner. Making every applicable story (win or lose) about the Heat and taking advantage of polarized opinions, ESPN is employing a good marketing strategy. Whereas, nothing is really gained by focusing on teams like Bos/SA/OKC when they lose; it's better marketing to simply hype the winner.
It's kind of the opposite of the Yankees. The Yankees bought up great players by offering them absurd salaries. Lebron, Wade, Bosh took salary cuts.
The heat are taking advantage of the existence of a maximum salary. Since certain players are worth more than the max salary, teams can only offer the same salary. Therefore the 3 got together by non-monetary incentives, and the idea that accumulating players worth more the max contract is a better deal than buying role players at market value.
Allowing a yankees strategy would break their strategy. The analog would be if they offered $50 million a year to one of them, which is impossible due to maximum contract limits.
The Heat also have a pretty low payroll compared to other contenders.
+ Show Spoiler +1. Los Angeles Lakers $91,645,878 2. Dallas Mavericks $90,764,633 3. Orlando Magic $89,139,596 4. Boston Celtics $83,330,756 5. Utah Jazz $74,109,205 6. Houston Rockets $72,758,481 7. Atlanta Hawks $70,927,923 8. Portland Trail Blazers $70,523,987 9. Memphis Grizzlies $70,008,317 10. Milwaukee Bucks $69,757,069 11. San Antonio Spurs $69,704,628 12. Philadelphia 76ers $69,585,609 13. Toronto Raptors $69,504,845 14. New Orleans Hornets $68,551,075 15. Golden State Warriors $68,040,204 16. New York Knicks $67,327,114 17. Miami Heat $66,949,192 18. Charlotte Bobcats $66,846,401 Read more: http://hoopshype.com/salaries.htm#ixzz1NVAhGgc4
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On May 26 2011 12:52 CTStalker wrote:Show nested quote +On May 26 2011 12:48 BloodNinja wrote: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 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.
i kind of agree with this.
as far as fan favorites go i think mavs have the heat beat, and it wouldn't be necessary to be biased towards the heat. when the celtics won it was seen as 3 stars who have fought hard and were never given the chance to win. this year's heat looks like 1 superstar who sold out his old team, some all-star on a shitty team and d-wade. i think theres a lot more anti-fans for the heat than there were for the celts.
i really hope some good games will be played, lets see if dirk can carve(haha dirk carves)his legacy by winning. if he wins and has some spectacular games he'll go down in NBA history, but i think if he never manages to win a ring then he'll be set aside. i'm cheering for mavs but if the series goes on to 6-7 games i'll be a happy fan 
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The amazing thing about the Heat hate is that Dwyane Wade is the only one who gets absolved of any blame. Winning 1 championship does a lot for the average fan's perspective.
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You know, if I was into NBA conspiracy theories, I'd say that the NBA is rigged and the whole "LeBron situation" was a ploy to pull more views and then attract more attention to the Heat as they progressed to the finals.
But..... nahhh
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god i want the miami - bulls match to start. Its so damn late here in Germany and I am so tired
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I feel your pain...the game is going to start at 1:30 am here....
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On May 27 2011 08:40 cbRRRR wrote:
god i want the miami - bulls match to start. Its so damn late here in Germany and I am so tired
You must be one of the few who actually watch NBA ball. According to a thread in another forum, most Germans know Dirk and that he plays for the Mavs, but they said chances are no one knows he made it to the finals. That's a damn shame in my opinion. I wonder if TLO is as popular as Dirk...
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It's always funny listening to the sports media after things play out. Listening to them now, they're all saying, it should have been so clear that the Lakers and the Bulls had issues, but that's not what you were hearing a month ago. Of course, the problem isn't so much in their ability to predict or analyze, it's just that LA and Chicago (and to a certain extent NY) media is incredibly biased. They may not even believe it themselves, but it sells better copy to write about how great the Lakers and Bulls are in the biggest markets.
Not complaining really, just interesting. Sorry to derail. :p
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On May 27 2011 08:59 kakaman wrote:Show nested quote +On May 27 2011 08:40 cbRRRR wrote:
god i want the miami - bulls match to start. Its so damn late here in Germany and I am so tired You must be one of the few who actually watch NBA ball. According to a thread in another forum, most Germans know Dirk and that he plays for the Mavs, but they said chances are no one knows he made it to the finals. That's a damn shame in my opinion. I wonder if TLO is as popular as Dirk...
Fortunately TLO is far from popular as Dirk in Germany xD. Would be a shame if he was. The media-coverage on Dirk is pretty bad, however through this year's playoff-run Dirk got some attention in the mainstream media and they are bringing the news in the prime-time news-shows.
Germans only know that Dirk is doing well in the NBA. However they don't really know how awesome he really is, sadly  . As far as i can remember Dirk can only be seen in a few TV-advertisements, as compared to some football(soccer)-players who are much more popular although less successful. That's a shame
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On May 27 2011 09:25 eaT_Mi_Lquid wrote:Show nested quote +On May 27 2011 08:59 kakaman wrote:On May 27 2011 08:40 cbRRRR wrote:
god i want the miami - bulls match to start. Its so damn late here in Germany and I am so tired You must be one of the few who actually watch NBA ball. According to a thread in another forum, most Germans know Dirk and that he plays for the Mavs, but they said chances are no one knows he made it to the finals. That's a damn shame in my opinion. I wonder if TLO is as popular as Dirk... Fortunately TLO is far from popular as Dirk in Germany xD. Would be a shame if he was. The media-coverage on Dirk is pretty bad, however through this year's playoff-run Dirk got some attention in the mainstream media and they are bringing the news in the prime-time news-shows. Germans only know that Dirk is doing well in the NBA. However they don't really know how awesome he really is, sadly . As far as i can remember Dirk can only be seen in a few TV-advertisements, as compared to some football(soccer)-players who are much more popular although less successful. That's a shame
Well, at least he's getting more coverage than Christian Ehrhoff from the Canucks, who could be the first German to win the Stanley Cup!
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Five minutes into the game and you can hear a pin drop in the United Center. Holy....
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On May 27 2011 09:45 Hrrrrm wrote:
Five minutes into the game and you can hear a pin drop in the United Center. Holy....
Think that's just your headphones going bust or something 
Does anyone have a clue as to what the Bulls avg. TOs have been this postseason? Seems like we can't pass & catch even if our lives were at stake :<
By the way; HOW THE HELL IS RASHARD LEWIS GETTING 20 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR!??
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On May 27 2011 09:39 kakaman wrote:Show nested quote +On May 27 2011 09:25 eaT_Mi_Lquid wrote:On May 27 2011 08:59 kakaman wrote:On May 27 2011 08:40 cbRRRR wrote:
god i want the miami - bulls match to start. Its so damn late here in Germany and I am so tired You must be one of the few who actually watch NBA ball. According to a thread in another forum, most Germans know Dirk and that he plays for the Mavs, but they said chances are no one knows he made it to the finals. That's a damn shame in my opinion. I wonder if TLO is as popular as Dirk... Fortunately TLO is far from popular as Dirk in Germany xD. Would be a shame if he was. The media-coverage on Dirk is pretty bad, however through this year's playoff-run Dirk got some attention in the mainstream media and they are bringing the news in the prime-time news-shows. Germans only know that Dirk is doing well in the NBA. However they don't really know how awesome he really is, sadly . As far as i can remember Dirk can only be seen in a few TV-advertisements, as compared to some football(soccer)-players who are much more popular although less successful. That's a shame Well, at least he's getting more coverage than Christian Ehrhoff from the Canucks, who could be the first German to win the Stanley Cup!
Rofl lmao, who ??? you see ?
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LOL! Chalmers trying to make a play and get's blocked by Rose. That was just silly.
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Holy crap, there's three players who makes shots like that.. LeBron, Kobe & Dirk - it's like they're unaffected by the hand grazing them
Yay, big sexy is on the court! :D
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man i count that last play by james a post up, he's got his back to the basket, james is developing a post up game, GG world, he's completed
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EPT
