Just realized if Miami pulls this off they would have defeated both of the top dogs (the #1 seed) from each conference on their way to a title as the 8th seed. Wonder if that has ever been done before.
Agreed. Still hasn't corrected major flaws to his game (i.e. handles, shot selection) and definitely not worth a supermax. Numbers look good on paper but don't translate into winning basketball.
The Dubs would go from an undersized team with a generational defender who can play the 5 to a tiny team forcing Klay or Wiggins to be a full time PF. They may gain some offensive talent, but they lose a lot as well.
They won the championship using their script all the back to last year. They just need the right key pieces. OPJ was a giant loss because he fit so well. If they can find a piece or two like him, this script will work just fine.
I'm loving the way both teams play the game. Hardly any flopping (even Lowry's been under control) and very little whining on calls. So nice that we're not seeing Celtics, Lakers, or Suns out there bellyaching after every call and flopping their way to victories.
And with the coolest player in the league in Butler. Rarely complains (even Jokic will complain hard to the refs about stuff despite his general nonchalant attitude), talks shit even when he's down, empowers his teammates, and takes over games with his intelligence and willpower despite being the #30 pick in the draft and misunderstood in multiple stops before Miami.
I just envision Jimmy Buckets getting in a little reading during halftime of a finals game, you know, take a breath, chill & mindfully flip through the pages of Nietzsche's 'Will to Power'.
This was an easy win for Denver but they couldn't execute their game. Heat just changed the face of this series. That home court advantage in Denver just disappeared. More income for everyone in extending this series. Rooting for Miami, but Denver is clearly the better team. Their starting 5 is a nightmare when they are executing.
Spo executed like 70% of the Kerr Strategy on Jokic. Make him into a volume scorer but not a volume assist guy. Make him defend in space defensively (adding Love into the mix was helpful with this along with just general rebounding). Was different because the Heat played a lot more zone and imo did not up the pace like Kerr likes to do.
It's also probably easier for him to conserve energy as a passer. The Kerr Strategy is basically designed to try to wear Jokic out because as Jokic goes, so do the Nuggets. He's elite at bullying you down in the post to get an easy bucket but that's way less taxing than dicing apart a double team with the perfect pass to MPJ in the corner behind his head.
That said, we saw Jokic figure stuff out against the Warriors and Draymond last season in that series, I'm sure he'll figure out ways to attack the Heat defense and rack up assists regardless. I don't think there's much he can do defensively if you can consistently get him out of the paint but it's not clear the Heat can consistently do that.
Still think the Nuggets are a better team and are going to get at least one in Miami, but the Heat have a big coaching advantage so it'll be interesting to see if Spo can scheme up a series.
That's perceptive. I didn't notice it, but I'm sure you're right. You're certainly right about them making him a scorer rather than a passer. If he has to lumber into the paint and put up a shot over and over again, it's bound to wear him out a little.
He has absolutely incredible touch on those shots, though.
That seems to be the archtype for defending unstoppable scorers. Cavs with Steph, Pistons with Jordan, Celts with KD. Just beat the ever loving shit out of them to wear them out
Just realized if Miami pulls this off they would have defeated both of the top dogs (the #1 seed) from each conference on their way to a title as the 8th seed. Wonder if that has ever been done before.
Pretty sure no 8 seed has ever won the title. So, nope.
Can the Warriors pull off a trade like this? The numbers work.
Draymond+Poole to Boston.
J. Brown+Brogdon to GS.
Rumor has it Brown wants out.
definitely NO to Brown - they guy just keeps showing us again and again he is not a play-off player!
Brown is overrated, I wouldn't do this
Agreed. Still hasn't corrected major flaws to his game (i.e. handles, shot selection) and definitely not worth a supermax. Numbers look good on paper but don't translate into winning basketball.
I think his defense is suspect too
Look at the whole deal. Brown-26.5ppg, 6.9rpg, 3.5apg. You're joking.
Draymond is kind of key to how the Warriors play. If you sub Brogdon for Timelord, it starts making a little more sense.
They could use a new script. This one gives them the talent to go forward with Steph & Cie. Two dominating players. They gain so much.
The Dubs would go from an undersized team with a generational defender who can play the 5 to a tiny team forcing Klay or Wiggins to be a full time PF. They may gain some offensive talent, but they lose a lot as well.
They can pick up a big either in another trade or vet min.
They won the championship using their script all the back to last year. They just need the right key pieces. OPJ was a giant loss because he fit so well. If they can find a piece or two like him, this script will work just fine.
I'm loving the way both teams play the game. Hardly any flopping (even Lowry's been under control) and very little whining on calls. So nice that we're not seeing Celtics, Lakers, or Suns out there bellyaching after every call and flopping their way to victories.
You forgot to add Dray having a stroke after every foul. It is 100% totally refreshing to not have that cr@p.
Yeah, Butler and Jokic are a treat to watch on that front. They don't bitch at the refs constantly.
To be fair, you really should add the Dubs to the list of bellyachers. Aside from the Lakers, I'm not sure any team is worse.
I would not mind who wins but I think Miami is a better storyline.
An 8th seed winning it all with undrafted rotation players...
And with the coolest player in the league in Butler. Rarely complains (even Jokic will complain hard to the refs about stuff despite his general nonchalant attitude), talks shit even when he's down, empowers his teammates, and takes over games with his intelligence and willpower despite being the #30 pick in the draft and misunderstood in multiple stops before Miami.
That was actually a really good draft first round (plus Bojanovic first pick of 2nd)
I just envision Jimmy Buckets getting in a little reading during halftime of a finals game, you know, take a breath, chill & mindfully flip through the pages of Nietzsche's 'Will to Power'.
I guess he got his willpower from his dad... Haha
I think he takes that personally...
Haha. I am now repeating what they are continously harping on the broadcast huh?
This was an easy win for Denver but they couldn't execute their game. Heat just changed the face of this series. That home court advantage in Denver just disappeared. More income for everyone in extending this series. Rooting for Miami, but Denver is clearly the better team. Their starting 5 is a nightmare when they are executing.
Disappointed but not too much. The Heat are good. Just wanted Denver to close the deal.
I'm rooting for Jokic but damn the heat are fun, and I'd be happy if they won too.
I love a win-win series like this for bball fans.
Very good win by the Heat tonight.
That was a very great rebuttal by the Heat. I like a finals matchup with two entertaining team in which I have no investment lol.
Malone with the Kerr-esque 8-man rotation
Spoelstra's so good.
Spo with the folded arms, and the semi-smile/smirk.
Oh, for the thought bubbles....
Well done Heat. Kept up the defensive intensity and executed on offense when it counted
That was an epically entertaining 4th qtr.
Spo executed like 70% of the Kerr Strategy on Jokic. Make him into a volume scorer but not a volume assist guy. Make him defend in space defensively (adding Love into the mix was helpful with this along with just general rebounding). Was different because the Heat played a lot more zone and imo did not up the pace like Kerr likes to do.
Hell of a win for my Heat.
Was thinking the same thing. Make Jokic a scorer like we used to do vs them.
He is definitely more effective as a passer.
It's also probably easier for him to conserve energy as a passer. The Kerr Strategy is basically designed to try to wear Jokic out because as Jokic goes, so do the Nuggets. He's elite at bullying you down in the post to get an easy bucket but that's way less taxing than dicing apart a double team with the perfect pass to MPJ in the corner behind his head.
That said, we saw Jokic figure stuff out against the Warriors and Draymond last season in that series, I'm sure he'll figure out ways to attack the Heat defense and rack up assists regardless. I don't think there's much he can do defensively if you can consistently get him out of the paint but it's not clear the Heat can consistently do that.
Still think the Nuggets are a better team and are going to get at least one in Miami, but the Heat have a big coaching advantage so it'll be interesting to see if Spo can scheme up a series.
EDIT: way more taxing*
It was a great win.
The Heat just don't beat themselves. You have to take it away from them.
They play very smart basketball.
Another thing the Heat did was be really physical with Jokic. Anything they could do to make him expend more energy, they did.
That's perceptive. I didn't notice it, but I'm sure you're right. You're certainly right about them making him a scorer rather than a passer. If he has to lumber into the paint and put up a shot over and over again, it's bound to wear him out a little.
He has absolutely incredible touch on those shots, though.
That seems to be the archtype for defending unstoppable scorers. Cavs with Steph, Pistons with Jordan, Celts with KD. Just beat the ever loving shit out of them to wear them out
That was great defense by butler
You take away that 2 1/2 minute stretch where the Nuggets kind of blew their cool, and they might have pulled this one out. Sigh.