Red Mosquito

4/5 wrote:Battier's been pretty bad so far this season, which has me concerned because his versatility has been huge for Miami the last two years.

I think what you described regarding Oden would be worst case scenario for Miami, worse than if he got hurt right now. When Oden's out there Bosh is able to play the 4 and he has been absolutely lighting it up when gets to do that, whether it's Birdman or Oden at the 5. If Miami thinks they can rely on Oden I think we'll see them starting playing a lot more lineups with Bosh at the 4, which is a major change from the pace-and-space "positionless" basketball they've been playing the past two seasons. Even before Oden started playing, Birdman and Bosh have played together a lot more than in the past. I don't think Spo wants to try to beat Indy again by playing small ball, but without Oden they'd have to try. That wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if they're used to playing that style, but if they spend the next 40 games playing bigger I think it could be tough for them to adjust on the fly against the Pacers.

That said, Oden will almost certainly not be the reason the Heat beat, or get beat by, the Pacers.

Harry Lime wrote:I wish I was from Oklahoma. I wish I could buy a Thunder hat & Durant jersey. But I'm no bandwagon jumper. I enjoy that team though.

Monkey_Driven wrote:

4/5 wrote:Battier's been pretty bad so far this season, which has me concerned because his versatility has been huge for Miami the last two years.

I think what you described regarding Oden would be worst case scenario for Miami, worse than if he got hurt right now. When Oden's out there Bosh is able to play the 4 and he has been absolutely lighting it up when gets to do that, whether it's Birdman or Oden at the 5. If Miami thinks they can rely on Oden I think we'll see them starting playing a lot more lineups with Bosh at the 4, which is a major change from the pace-and-space "positionless" basketball they've been playing the past two seasons. Even before Oden started playing, Birdman and Bosh have played together a lot more than in the past. I don't think Spo wants to try to beat Indy again by playing small ball, but without Oden they'd have to try. That wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if they're used to playing that style, but if they spend the next 40 games playing bigger I think it could be tough for them to adjust on the fly against the Pacers.

That said, Oden will almost certainly not be the reason the Heat beat, or get beat by, the Pacers.

You are spot on with all of this. They cannot wait until the postseason to start playing a more traditional lineup. They have to start now if the pieces are ready. Damn, I just want the Eastern Conference Finals to be here already.

red calzolaio wrote:you guys don't post while the game is going on?

Monkey_Driven wrote:

red calzolaio wrote:you guys don't post while the game is going on?

I generally do not check RM at home.

Kind of a fluky game. Lots of made 3 pointers by the Thunder and lots of bricks by the Heat. The Heat looked really out of sync once the Thunder switched to their smaller lineup.

That stretch in the 3rd with Lebron and Durant trading baskets was fantastic.

Monkey_Driven wrote:
That stretch in the 3rd with Lebron and Durant trading baskets was fantastic.

4/5 wrote:

Monkey_Driven wrote:
That stretch in the 3rd with Lebron and Durant trading baskets was fantastic.

It was awesome, and that was even with the Heat down 15-20 at that point. It would have been even better had they been going back and forth with the lead during that run, but man if that sort of stretch happens in an NBA Finals game it would be otherworldly.

4/5 wrote:I'm not sure.

I think the biggest thing to come out of that game would be if Brooks actually realizes once and for all that the right place for Perkins, at least against the Heat, is on the bench. I don't see how he couldn't, but then again most people have been saying this for 2 and a half seasons, and he hadn't appeared to until last night. So here's to hoping he still doesn't get it.

Bammer wrote:Michael Jordan made basketball what it is today in terms of popularity. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are responsible. Allen Iverson, Patrick Ewing, Reggie Miller, Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaq, Kobe, and countless other players. Yao Ming, Dirk Nowitski, and Steve Nash helped foster an international audience for the sport and for the NBA, and encouraged more kids to pick up the game. LeBron James, Kevin Durant, etc., are carrying the torch now. David F***ing Stern had nothing to do with it and he will not be missed. At all. By anyone. Except maybe Clay F***ing Bennett.

Bammer wrote:Michael Jordan made basketball what it is today in terms of popularity. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are responsible. Allen Iverson, Patrick Ewing, Reggie Miller, Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaq, Kobe, and countless other players. Yao Ming, Dirk Nowitski, and Steve Nash helped foster an international audience for the sport and for the NBA, and encouraged more kids to pick up the game. LeBron James, Kevin Durant, etc., are carrying the torch now. David F***ing Stern had nothing to do with it and he will not be missed. At all. By anyone. Except maybe Clay F***ing Bennett.

Monkey_Driven wrote:Kind of hard to have a competitive league without a salary cap.