[FUNKYBUNCHParticipant]

 HERE WE GO!

[mgreener_34Participant]

 I guess Westbrook is playing with a hurt thumb, if it’s even worth mentioning. Wade needs to show up for Miami tonight, and Harden needs to stay on the floor! 

I know LeBron gets a lot of slack and I hate to add onto it, but that pre game huddle had me falling asleep. You gotta pump your team up LeBron! Look at KG and Sheed, they get their respective teams fired up before every game!

[WizardofOzParticipant]

OKC aka ISO-BALL CITY.

And like I’ve said time and time again, Perkins is hot garbage.

[mgreener_34Participant]

Touch Miami, foul. Hack multiple limbs, Thunder no call…sounds about right for a Miami game.

[NYK2010Participant]

Heat looking good KD can’t guard Lebron in the post.

Man Bosh n Wade taking it to the hole.

[WizardofOzParticipant]

They need to double team LeBron in the post. No one can guard him one-on-one.

[NickWayne87Participant]

 is unselfish to a fault, i wish he was the one with westbrook’s mentality he’d avg damn near 40 a game lol

[NickWayne87Participant]

 is unselfish to a fault, i wish he was the one with westbrook’s mentality he’d avg damn near 40 a game lol

[WizardofOzParticipant]

That’s the highest I’ve seen LeBron get up in awhile.

[KayjayParticipant]

On Lebron’s dunk by Ibaka. That is one guy no one wants to take it in on. Heat off to a good start, setting the tone early. 

[avavalisParticipant]

westbrook’s second foul is a JOKE!!!

[PlatypusParticipant]

 FEAR THE BEARD!!!

[mgreener_34Participant]

 I take back waht I said about the refs even though I haven’t liked a few calls. I was just suprised at how the big men of the Thunder were getting hacked in the first couple of minutes. 

But lets talk Ibaka/ Harden. The people who think that they need to get rid of one of them must be having a melt down watching this game. They are both changing the game to this point. Ibaka with nasty blocks, and Harden owning the ball on offense. If the Thunder can only keep one, either way they are getting a great player. 

[KayjayParticipant]

Should trying to pump fake Ibaka, that guy is so itching to block shots its like the Heats moves are telegraphed. 

[avavalisParticipant]

can someone explain me the rule affecting durant’s block?

[mcbaileyParticipant]

 How many dunks has Sefolosha missed in these first two games? At least three that I can think of.

[avavalisParticipant]

"It was goaltending because he hit the ball after it hit the backboard above the rim."

"Ibaka touched the ball before Bosh released it,"

well..i’m a little confused…

[mgreener_34Participant]

 Every time the Thunder get something going, the whistle blows against them on a bad call/foul. They need to get momentum for more then a couple plays. The Heat, again, should really be scared. They are playing great, and Durant and Westbrook might as well be in streets. Should be an interesting second half 

[B-ball fanParticipant]

It was goaltending because he hit the ball after it hit the backboard above the rim.  The controversy was whether or not Ibaka blocked it first.  The replay showed that the refs call was right:  Ibaka touched the ball before Bosh released it, so it wasn’t really a block.

[WizardofOzParticipant]

Turiaf and Bosh: “Aye, let me get some dap!”

[surveParticipant]

If OKC knows whats good for them, they will do EVERYTHING they can to keep both, even if it means getting rid of nearly everyone else to take on rookie contracts and veteran minimums. 

[WizardofOzParticipant]

SMH @ Scott Brooks. Don’t understand his mancrush for Perkins.

[PAUL125Participant]

bosh has the hands of kwame brown.

[bad boysParticipant]

he brings nothing on offense and on defense he is not rebounding well

[PAUL125Participant]

i cant believe KD was able to dunk that.

[KayjayParticipant]

Battier just got dunked on. Its the 4th quarter and an shaky 8 point lead for the heat. At this point Spoelstra should be putting Lebron on Durant win or lose. 

[B-ball fanParticipant]

 Goaltending is if a player hits the ball on its way down, as long as it is above the rim.  If it hit the backboard, then it is assumed to be on the way down.  That is why it was a goaltend on Durant, as he hit the ball above the rim on the way down.  

[BasketBalAllanParticipant]

Durant is pissed about these turrible calls.

[mosdefParticipant]

they calling alot of offensive fouls in this game

[mosdefParticipant]

agreed. Durant looks pissed

[Sewok15Participant]

This game is nuts Battier banks in a 3 then Durant comes down and answers it…20 pts in the 2nd half….Durant looks like he wants to be known as the best player in the world right now!

[GrandmamaParticipant]

I love how mad everyone gets at Chalmers

[KayjayParticipant]

Scores so easily, if Lebron is a physical specimen Durant is a shooting one. Whats worse is Miami doesn’t put a body on him for long. They just keep watching Westbrook, which you can’t blame them. But there’s got to be some trade off. 

[B-ball fanParticipant]

 Miami needs to start getting the ball to LeBron in the post again.  That is the way to close it out.  

[Steven]

 when westbrook put that back in i legit said to myself, wtf just happened!!

[Sewok15Participant]

He almost threw another one down on a putback..he is a freak.

[FUNKYBUNCHParticipant]

What a game! This series is gooooooooood! 

[avavalisParticipant]

Oh my!

[Wahoo757Participant]

Lebron hit his FTs!?!?

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Okay… How do the refs miss two consecutive fouls against LeBron to put the Thunder on the line to tie this game?

[Sewok15Participant]

Lebron knocks down two clutch free throws…can’t say I was expecting that.

[mgreener_34Participant]

 Thanks refs, for destroying what could have been one of the greatest comebacks off at time. Thank you for reminding me that no matter how good a team plays, the refs will always be there to bail out LeBron and the Heat. 

[avavalisParticipant]

Those refs are jeopardazing such a beautiful game!

[buckeyefan17Participant]

 Nice to see they still don’t call fouls on the Heat during the most critical times…

[royk927Participant]

What was the ref watching that was a foul on bron.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

LeBron went 12-12 this game on FT’s and made clutch baskets, so give that man his credit. He played great start to finish.

But the refs completely blew it those last two plays. Just blew it… Failure. Failure failure failure. You have to call those fouls. Period.

[aamir543Participant]

Is my TV the only one that got frozen, I’m have to watch the game on ESPN3.

[KayjayParticipant]

The refs along with Durant are a big reason why they even caught up to the Heat. You guys find any way not to give the Heat credit. They closed the deal. Yes that was a foul by Lebron. But you can neg me when I say this it was still smart do or die by James.

Hell I remember back when the Bulls played the Celtics and Rondo whacked Brad Miller in the face. Doc Rivers I believe called it a "Smart foul." This is the NBA finals, go hard or go home and stop whining. 

[omphalosParticipant]

Yeah IndianaBasketball just wrote exactly what I was going to say, Lebron did well to close out the game, but he fouled Durant, no question and that’s straight BS.

Is anyone else as impressed by how well Durant played with 5 fouls for the entire 4th? He managed to block James’ shot, and also get that big steal on Wade. The dude has balls, you’ve gotta give him that.

Durant is PISSED right now, there wasn’t much more he could do in the second half with that foul trouble.

[mosdefParticipant]

wow

[Jlv2012]

from behind each game and expect to win then it’s not looking good for them.

[HaleParticipant]

Durant should’ve fouled out on a block call earlier in the game (which they made the call super late) so I think that’s a fair trade. Even so, it was probably tough for the ref to the foul from behind (unless a ref was under the hoop, wasn’t paying that much attention).

[mosdefParticipant]

that was a foul

[Steven]

 kay jay, go F yourself. that was a foul on lebron you nut hugger. that should be 2 free throws for kevin durant no question. do you play basketball? cause youd probably be the one crying because that was such a  blatant foul. and yes  im very salty right now the thunder lost…

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

@Kayjay

How did the refs play a role in the Thunder getting back in it? The Thunder just finally started playing with the energy they normally do and they started putting together little runs and stops.

Nobody is mad at LeBron for fouling. Nobody is short changing the Heat for the great game they played.

But the point is… LeBron got away with two fouls man. That’s just crazy. Durant should’ve been at the free-throw line.

 

[avavalisParticipant]

@kayjay did you just say that "smart" fouls in the Finals should not be called?? okay it’s alright the refs brought back okc by calling 2 charges on harden (cole was in the air in the first) calling an OVER THE BACK FOUL(!!!!!) on durant and sending lebron to the line whenever the heat got stuck..mcgreener said it exactly..ruining one of the greatest comebacks ever

[KayjayParticipant]

Nah, I’m actually a devoted Sacramento Kings fan. Are the majority of people in here Thunder fans? Nah I doubt that. I defend him because I decided to go against the grain of rooting for this guy to fail. If that makes me a nut hugger fine I don’t really care. Other than that as I stated it was a foul, but regardlessly it was still a smart play. 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

@B-ball fan

I remember Thabo getting called for having his hand on LeBron’s back earlier in the game… Very little contact to me, but I thought the ref was right for calling that.

I mean, I don’t know…

Heat definitely earned this game and played great. But LeBron fouled not one, but two players in two possessions.

Should’ve been two free-throws with the best free-throw shooter on the floor.

But LeBron played amazing. Great fun game. Just wish the Thunder didn’t come out so flat.

[Steven]

 @bball fan  LEBRON GETS A SHIT TON OF CALLS! he went to the line 12 times tonight. hop off. 

[WizardofOzParticipant]

Perkins can’t play next game. PLEASE BENCH PERKINS SCOTT BROOKS!

[HaleParticipant]

What was the other foul? I don’t remember.

[WizardofOzParticipant]

And no doubt KD was fouled, bu it’s not like it was blatant.

[Steven]

 ehh, it was pretty blatant, lebron wasnt even looking at KD when he got the ball, then KD beat him on the baseline drive, making lebron have to reach in or it would have been a dunk by KD. 

[WizardofOzParticipant]

And this is why the 2-3-2 format is dumb. The series is now tiw 1-1 and Miami is more likely o close out now that they have 3 straight home games.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

LeBron fouled KD first…  He wrapped his arm up and then there was contact during the shot… It clearly affected KD from getting the shot off. I mean, how else did LeBron recover? He wasn’t even paying attention and was clearly out of the play.

And then on the following play, Westbrook had a tip at the rim and LeBron fouled him too.

That’s why Westbrook was pissed and cursing at the ref right after the play.

Heat played great from start to finish, but the Thunder’s comeback was out of this world and the refs just sh*t on them to end the game.

[Steven]

 :-0    i totally forgot about that. NOOOO. 

[Jlv2012]

this series and wants it to go past 5 games.  He will throw one OKC’s way probably game 4. 

[B-ball fanParticipant]

 Sheesh, how often is that foul called anyways?  Nobody complains that LeBron gets pushed when he drives.  The difference is LeBron is always stronger and bigger than the guy fouling him.  One call doesn’t make the game and the refs aren’t entitled to just call everything one way to preserve the comeback.  

Kayjay is right.  The complaining is ridiculous.  Nobody complains if the Thunder win.

[Steven]

 well, all im saying is, i truly believe if the heat want to win this series they have to win every home game. cause if they dont i think the thunder will close this series out in OKC.

[mosdefParticipant]

the refs are entitled to make the right call in the biggest game of the year. LeBron does get fouled and they call the defenders for fouling him.

[aamir543Participant]

I’ll have to watch the replay of that play again, because I didn’t notice the foul on that last Durant shot, the one for the tie.

Nice comeback by OKC, but they need to start of games better, I didn’t watch the first half, however Durant is an assasain in the end, he just missed that last shot, but Westbrook needs to stop the jumpshots, I loved the way he got the rim on several occasions at the end of the game, but he needs to ease up on the "20 seconds left in the shot clock" shots.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Man… As crazy as Westbrook drives me sometimes, he puts me at awe with his athleticism. I mean, who takes it directly into LeBron James and finishes with contact???

And then on like two or three rebounds, he almost caught tip dunks over like 3 Heat players.

That dude’s athleticism is just sooo nice.

 

 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I thought Thabo played great defense on LeBron to be honest, but he put his hand on LeBron’s back… You have to call that foul. At first I thought it wasn’t a foul, but then during the replay, I said good call.

The fouls on Durant and Westbrook were even more obvious at the end of the game. I just don’t know how the refs can hold their whistles. Smh.

LeBron did everything and more this game, but he was bailed out that last possession. He turned his head on the ball and was beat by two steps. He’s reaction was to grab and he got away with it.

This game should’ve been in OT with both LeBron and Durant, both on fire, battling against each other.

[aamir543Participant]

I see it now, Lebron hit his leg, that’s why KD was short on that one.

[mgreener_34Participant]

 "The refs along with Durant are a big reason why they even caught up to the Heat. You guys find any way not to give the Heat credit. They closed the deal. Yes that was a foul by Lebron. But you can neg me when I say this it was still smart do or die by James."

The fact of the matter is none of us complaining are talking about how the Heat out played the Thunder, which is how it should be. Just like game two in Boston everyone walks aways wondering why the ref held his whistle. Instead of the Heat beating the Thunder, it’s now "wow, Heat win on another blown call". How can I give a team credit when they clearly aren’t the better team, and can only barely make it past teams even when they get all the calls THAT MATTER! I’ll respect the Heat when they can win an important game that isn’t controversial

 

[jhbm24Participant]

 I didn’t hear any of this complaining about the refs when game 1 there were dozens of questionable calls against the heat, if anything the league is for Durant. And the thunder were gettin calls to, so no one should be complaining about the refs, it’s the finals, did you really want a game to end with the refs blowing the whistle? Because I didn’t.

[B-ball fanParticipant]

 The foul that Thabo committed on LeBron would have looked much worse if LeBron was as thin as Durant.  Because LeBron is so big and seldom, if at all, exagerrates contact, when he is fouled is isn’t called as often.  Teams play much more physical with him than they could on Durant, because Durant could sell the calls.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

@mgreener_34

Those were definitely two blown calls that affected the outcome, but you have to give the Heat more credit. I’m probably the biggest LeBron critic on this site, but when he plays like this (especially down the stretch) you just have to give him his due.

This is probably the best I’ve ever seen them play. And for all of the criticism D. Wade got, he played his ass off today. Bosh was a monster on the glass. Battier was knocking down the three again. Great team defense. Ball movement. Just a clinic.

This is going to be a great series. We’re about to see what the Thunder are made of with three straight games in Miami.

They will be the desperate team next game.

[avavalisParticipant]

I don’t understand it…you all actually say that because lebron FINALLY delivered we should give him everything he wants!

[mgreener_34Participant]

  You can only give the Heat more credit because they won the game. They didn’t out play the Thunder, they didn’t out hustle anyone, and they didn’t make more plays down the stretch. The only thing in this game that seperated the Miami Heat from the OKC Thunder was a whistle. I’m sorry, you guys can neg me all you want, but that doesn’t say **** about the Miami Heat.

[KayjayParticipant]

The Media is pathetic, they want Kevin Durant to say "Yes I was fouled". They want a story so bad and KD won’t give it to him.  

[apb540Participant]

I feel like I’ve been robbed of another pure basketball game.  The refs had about a 4-6 point differential in this game, favoring the Miami Heat.  Not sure if you can really dispute that if you watched the game. On another note, what’s up with Westbrook taking that 3 at the very end?  How is that not Durant’s shot. 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Kevin Durant doesn’t even have to say he was fouled… I mean, obviously he was. The world knows.

But I like his approach. In his mind, he’s thinking they played terrible to start this game… He’s probably thinking about the things they could’ve done to win this game more than that foul. How he got into foul trouble. He’s a no excuse guy and will blame himself.

IF they want to win this series, they can’t come out flat like that.

[NYK2010Participant]

Lol at reporters bugging Durant who is trying to take the high road.

Also not sure if anyone mentioned I haven’t read the other posts but it seemed like Lebron fouled Durant before the shot and the Heat had a foul to give.

Heat made the game close with Wade foolish turnover when Lebron was right there on his right side open and Bosh gambling going for a steal and Durant hit that big 3.

Big night for Wade, Lebron and Bosh though they took a lot less jumpers and the Heat dominated most of the game.

[GrandmamaParticipant]

A couple of things OKC must do next game.

 

First, they have to stop coming out so flat in the first half of games.  They did it in previous series, but their immense talent was able to carry them through at the end of those games.  They can’t be giving a team like the Heat a 17 point cushion in the first quarter.  If they do, they are going to have trouble winning.

 

Second, Russell Westbrook has to look to get Durant going earlier in the game.  That first quarter Westbrook was playing way too fast, out of control, and really was looking to get Durant involed.  I understand his game is to attack attack attack, but Kevin Durant is the leading scorer in the NBA for a reason.  Get him looks early.  Tonight Westbrook was playing recklessly and not looking for KD in the first half.  Westbrook has to get it under control and start looking to get KD going early and OFTEN.

 

A couple more little things.  First, Fisher shouldn’t have played as many minutes as he did tonight, especially late.  Another guy, Kendrick Perkins, playing way too much.  Collison is much more active, better defensively versus screens, and a better option on offense.  Collison can match up against the Heat bigs better than Perkins in my opinion.

[frogmanParticipant]

 I’m with Kayjay, I actually like Lebron a lot more now because everyone else hates him for everything he has ever done.  People on this site constantly bitch about his flopping, did anyone watch Harden tonight? Everytime he goes up for a jump shot he lands on his ass, he plays like he is 30 pounds he gets knocked over that easy.  There was like one questionable call, stop blaming the refs, I’ve said it many times before, basketball is without doubt the hardest sport in the world to officiate.  You guys probably made that call after watching a slow motion replay.  Referees don’t get that luxury.  

Mcgreener you are a sore loser

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Oh there is no doubt… Harden is compared to Ginobli for his flopping too.

It’s hard to ref the game, but Jesus… You have to call those two fouls against Durant and Westbrook.

But the Thunder aren’t using that as excuse during post. So neither will I for them.

I’m not a fan of either team and just want to see a great series. It’s living  up to the expectations so far.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

@Grandmama

I agree with everything you posted.

I’m surprised he played Perkins this much this game.

The Thunder are giving up too many wide open jumpshots. They’re not communicating or making the right rotations on defense to get out to shooters. Westbrook falls asleep on some of his rotations.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

But I just looked at the box score and Perkins only played 20 mins lol.

[GrandmamaParticipant]

// Collison played so well game 1 I figured Brooks would give Collison more minutes than Perkins tonight….guess not. And yeah they definitely have to rotate out to the the Heat’s shooters better.

[aamir543Participant]

Just making an observation, the refs fault wasn’t blowing the call, it was his fault that he wasn’t farther down the baseline where he could get a better view, because I honestly don’t think he saw the foul from that angle.

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

Pretty minor contact in my opinion for folks to get that worked up about. Refs always swallow the wistle at the end of the game. A little hand check to the body (not the head or shooting arm) really doesn’t seem like it should get called. And Durrant drove into Lebron anyway creating some of that contact which is a nice way to make the defender not be able to jump for the shot block. Durrant hand a pretty clean look once he elevated, so the "foul" certainly left him with a good chance to make that shot.

Westbrook fould was a little more bang bang where their hands get tangled up and also hard to call at that point in the game.

My main problem was that Lebron basically stopped posting up after the first quarter even though it was the post ups that got them the big lead. And they needed every point of that big lead plus a lucky Battier banked three pointer to hold on last night. Lebron’s desire to turn himself into the worlds strongest point guard creating all of his points with a dribble attack starting 30 feet from the basket is frustrating to watch. But he is good enough to pull of what was nearly a full quarter of hero ball without any real plays being called. They will need another big lead if they are going to try to finish games playing like that.

[Author]

Posts