Real Deal

If Miami isn't getting to the line, they aren't going to win the game. I've been saying this all season long. Just 15 free throws for the Heat. All of us have watched LeBron and Wade over the years, so I don't know why this comes as a surprise.

The ref was actually calling the foul before that first frame, and gave Kevin the continuation (which shouldn't have been one in the first place). There was a foul before Durant went up with the ball, though (before he even put it over his head)...and that's what the ref called, not on the shot itself.

Yeah, I'm not too worried about our coach not being able to teach defensive skills. We'll figure that out using our assistants, assuming we keep a few around (and hopefully, Rambis comes back). Phil never coached defense. He was an offensive guy that managed egos, and was quoted as saying the best defense is a good offense (Kobe-Shaq era). He may have been joking in the grand scheme of things, but it was the truth with that dynasty.

Longevity? That's really not fair for Reggie...come on man. Having watched Lewis the last 3-4 seasons of his career, I can tell you that most of his blocks were in the face of the opposition. He would block their jumpers and layups, one-on-one, which is more impressive to me. In fact... Wade's lack of height (vs. Lewis) is impressive as well, but he's also more athletic than Lewis was. Plus, as you state below, Wade has "freakishly long arms." Those stats don't mean much to me. There are plenty of guys shooting better at the rim...doesn't mean they are better finishers because the stats don't consider the defensive attention Rose and Wade get. Does Beno Udrih really finish better at the rim than LeBron, Wade or Rose? Having Bosh and LeBron helps. Defenses collapse into the paint much, much quicker. I rarely see Rose with an open layup or dunk. Wade gets them more often, which certainly helps his percentage.

TIME: 8:00 PM ET TV: TNT

TIME: 3:30 PM ET TV: ABC

LOL. Answer these, Chosen. Now.

Wow, KFC is on fire! Hope they put it out. The way I see it, you guys are as real as the local friends I have on my Facebook account. I just don't hang out with any of you...but if I did, I'd probably watch the games and talk basketball. I don't really separate "internet life" with "real life" anyway. What I do on here can interfere with what I do outside of the internet. When she walks into the room, and I'm sitting here designing a skin, doing banners, talking basketball and/or looking up stats, she sees it as me doing work because I design sites and fix computers for a living. It's funny...she reads things from OTR. I'll show her a few posts from time to time, if someone posts interesting stats or goes off on a certain player (like a few posts about Gasol over at TLN). I showed her the fake Kobe post-game interview video I posted, and she saw the triangle breakdown (Gasol positioning) topic I made, and read through it. When we first started dating back in 2007, she really didn't know much about basketball, other than a few superstars and legends. Michael Jordan is the best, Kobe is like Mike, Shaq is huge and can't be stopped, shit like that. Now, she can probably name the starting fives from every team in the league, and a few bench players as well (full rosters for Lakers and Thunder), and almost all credit goes to me, lol. What I watch and discuss...I take to the court. Basically, what goes on here (on the internet) has an effect on what goes on outside of it, and she has never had a problem accepting that.

Why? Boston isn't winning another championship with the core they have right now, and Boston isn't exactly the best city to attract free agents. I think Doc could've done a little more exploring, but yeah, it's also about the money, and the Celtics wrote the big check.

Except that Westbrook is twice the player Beasley is, and LeBron is a better player than CP3? Beasley shouldn't be placed in the same sentence as LeBron, CP3 OR Westbrook...two superstars and an all-star. The comparison would make sense if we were talking a trade that involves the Heat taking Rajon Rondo for Dwyane Wade.

Kobe would've more than likely found a better rhythm playing a little more minutes. Phil left him out far too long. There's no reason why we shouldn't use "per 36" stats. http://i55.tinypic.com/2qsyxsj.jpg It's really not that far off...looks like a coin flip to me.

Post what you find. http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi Check these out... Baron Davis holds the record for highest 3PA/G in a season, at 8.7 a game (2003-04). He shot just .321 from three while chucking them. Tim Legler and Jason Kapono are the only two players in NBA history to shoot 50% from three (min 50 games) and attempt 3+ a game. Ricky Pierce is the only player to start zero games in a season and still average 20+ PPG (min 50 games). No player in history has ever averaged 5.0 PF/G (min 50 games). Only Kevin Durant has averaged 10+ FTA/G while shooting 90% or better from the stripe. Dwyane Wade is the only active non-center to average 10.5+ FTA/G (min 50 games), and he did it twice. Howard and Shaq have done it a combined 10 times. Pete Maravich is the only player in NBA history to average 5.0+ TO/G. Among active players, Dwyane Wade has averaged 4.2+ TO/G in three separate seasons, and is the only active player to reach that number. Dirk Nowitzki and Andrea Bargnani are the only two seven-footers to shoot 40% or better from the three, three or more 3PA/G. Dominique Wilkins is the only player born outside of the United States to average 30+ PPG. Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson, LeBron James and Tyreke Evans are the only four players in league history to average 20/5/5 or better in their rookie seasons. Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James are the only three teenagers to average 20+ PPG. At age 39 (40 in February), Michael Jordan played 82 games for the Wizards, averaging 37 MPG in the final season of his career. Among active centers, only Brad Miller has averaged 4+ APG in a season, and he has done it twice. Nobody under 6-4 has averaged 1+ BPG.

LeBron does more on the court, on both ends. I can make a case that Durant is the best scorer in the NBA, but best overall player? I can't say that.

Hawks fans. They weren't as loud as the Thunder fans...haha.

Yes sir. Or, the Thunder and Heat, as long as I can get a guarantee from the basketball gods that the Thunder will win in six, close out on their home floor. OKC (the city itself) would go nuts in the Finals.

Three players can't beat teams by themselves. With a hard cap, the Heat will struggle to find role players. Right now, their role players are stepping up and hitting shots, playing defense, etc. There's talk of getting rid of the MLE and LLE. The Heat would be cap-strapped as long as they have LeBron, Wade and Bosh. Bibby and Chalmers are both FA's in July, Big Z is retiring, Juwan Howard should retire, Dampier and Magloire are FA's, James Jones and Carlos Arroyo should be FA's as well, IIRC. Miami may have screwed themselves by signing Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem and Joel Anthony through the 2014-15 season (with player options they will take). If a hard cap is put into place, those guys will hurt them in the books more than they help them on the court, especially Mike. The salary cap isn't what hurts small market teams. The Milwaukee Bucks took Joe Alexander in the draft a few years ago, despite having an offer on draft night to move up the ladder and select someone else (could've been Eric Gordon). A year before, they fell for the hype and took Yi Jianlian, instead of Joakim Noah. While Bogut is a good center, they passed on CP3 and D-Will just two years before that. Teams like the Spurs ended up drafting their dynasty...Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, and you can throw D-Rob into the mix if you want to include Duncan's first ring. It's not the cap that kills the teams, it's the decisions being made.

Yes, the hard cap would suck for the NBA. I've already discussed that in another topic, though. And Nene isn't going to take the MLE.

Chicago needs to close it out here, get a bit of rest, and prepare for the Heat. Could be a pretty tough task, though...the Hawks are going to feed off of their fans, and it's going to be crazy loud, I'm sure.

TIME: 9:00 PM ET TV: ESPN

TIME: 8:00 PM ET TV: ESPN

There's no reason to apologize to Kobe and Laker fans. I'm sure some actually care, but still. As far as a dynasty goes, I'm not going to go that far yet. I don't want it to happen, and I'll admit that, because LeBron is a jackass. I will always give credit where credit is due, as far as his game goes, and I also proved where I was saying how good the Heat can be back on TLN (among tons of Lakers fans, where you shouldn't say anything like that). I'll say this much, to just close the personal agenda I have with the Heat: it's more about LeBron. If this were Durant, Wade and Bosh (even though I don't like Bosh), I wouldn't have a problem with them winning, and I would've been rooting against the green in this series, like I always used to. But, LeBron makes me sick to my stomach, once my second favorite player is now one of my most hated (I actually like Shaq more). It has absolutely nothing to do with him catching Kobe, or doing anything of the sort. I never have that problem with players, past or present. I love MJ. Many Kobe fans don't, and vice-versa. Durant is awesome. I like Griffin, even though he's a Clipper. ----- I think the Bulls present a problem bigger than the Celtics do. Chicago can run with the Heat. Garnett, Pierce, Allen...three guys all having to defend much younger superstars and all-stars (sorry Bosh)...it's a difficult task, and when you lose a massive contributor on the defensive end (gave the numbers already, Perkins did as much as Garnett when one or the other was out of the games), you can't rely on help as much, which is what the older players have to do. If Memphis gets into the Finals, which would be astounding, I think they could give the Heat trouble (assuming they get there). Dallas finally has a defensive anchor, but I don't have a clue who they will use to stop Wade. Marion can do whatever against LeBron, but the Matrix isn't who he was back in his younger days in Phoenix, so that series would become a shoot-out. The Thunder have the goods. However, all of this is concerning the current season only. A dynasty could also depend on the new CBA, which I don't think many are going to consider right now. If the league turns to a hard cap, you may not see a dynasty, anywhere, for a long, long time.

I won $200 as long as Chicago gets to the ECF's. I bet my cousin (who thought Boston would be in there against the Bulls) that it would be the Heat and Bulls. Once the Perkins trade went down, the door opened a bit more for Miami. You have to go up or pass after the pro hop. You can't take a step in. He took a step, then a pro-hop (which is technically a travel), then another step in after his feet slid. So, he actually traveled at the beginning (with the pro hop after the drive step), then a second time as his feet slid, then a third when he took the step in. You're right, it's not three steps...it's four + a slide. Better hope it's not the Heat and Thunder in the Finals. You'll see 60 FT's every game, just between Durant, Westbrook, Wade and James.

LOL...that was funny.

That's not saying much with the KG playing in this current series, who seems to be lost and on his own little planet, but yes, a MEM/MIA series would give Bosh the green light.