AF1: 2014 NBA FINALS GAME 7 PREVIEW (Heat vs. Kings)

[Nutellar]

So, the Pacers overtook you to the end of the season.
At least you will get another lottery pick, i also think CP3 would fit to your roster but maybe he has other thoughts.


Surprising the Magic didnt make the playoffs- i think D12 will leave maybe to the Spurs?

Some interesting duels in the post season.

[Grandmama Johnson]

So, the Pacers overtook you to the end of the season.
At least you will get another lottery pick, i also think CP3 would fit to your roster but maybe he has other thoughts.


Surprising the Magic didnt make the playoffs- i think D12 will leave maybe to the Spurs?

Some interesting duels in the post season.

Thanks, man. The Pacers were too strong in the end, but we'll be back, hopefully with some free agents. CP3 is a top priority and we'll break the bank for him

[Grandmama Johnson]

2012 NBA PLAYOFFS


THE BIG GOODBYE
Shaq Retires In an Emotional Farewell at Staples Center

LOS ANGELES (AP)--Shaquille O’ Neal, one of the most dominant and charismatic figures in basketball history, has played his final NBA game. The Los Angeles Lakers eliminated O’ Neal and the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the first round, a 124-98 win at Staples Center. As the curtain went down on a highly-successful, 20-year career, the drama of the game went far beyond the box score:

Kobe scores 59:
Years from now, basketball historians will note that the illustrious career of Shaq was ended by the merciless hand of his greatest ever rival (and teammate), Kobe Bryant. Bryant had the last laugh in their rivalry, scoring 59 points to eliminate the Spurs in Shaq’s final ever game.

An embrace:
After the final buzzer, Shaq went over to Bryant and embraced his former teammate. Hugging and offering his congratulations, an emotional O’Neal made a gracious gesture on his final night on the NBA stage. “He’s one of the best ever, tonight proved it,” O’Neal said after the game. “He’s a great basketball player and wish him luck in the rest of the playoffs.”

LA says “thank you”:
Shaq was given a standing ovation after the game by the Staples Center crowd. His former hometown fans applauded O’Neal for a fantastic career, one in which he delivered three championships to their Lakers. For a man who enjoyed his best years in Los Angeles, it was a fitting return to end a career and a well-deserved acknowledgment on behalf of the fans in attendance. Future Hall of Famers Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant, perhaps O’Neal’s greatest contemporaries, also applauded O’Neal to pay their respects.

For the first time in two decades, the NBA will be without Shaquille O’Neal, a big man with a even bigger list of accomplishments, perhaps only outstripped by his desire to entertain. He will be missed.

[Grandmama Johnson]

2012 NBA PLAYOFFS

FIRST ROUND RECAP

WEST
(1) Thunder defeats (8) Kings in 7 games
(4) Jazz defeats (5) Hornets in 6 games
(3) Mavericks defeat (6) Rockets in 7 games
(2) Lakers defeat (7) Spurs in 5 games

EAST
(1) Heat defeats (8) Sixers in 6 games
(4) Bulls defeat (5) Knicks in 5 games
(3) Celtics defeat (6) Pacers in 7 games
(7) Pistons defeat (2) Hawks in 6 games

QUARTERFINALS

WEST
(1) Thunder vs. (4) Jazz
(2) Lakers vs. (3) Mavericks

EAST
(1) Heat vs. (4) Bulls
(3) Celtics vs. (7) Pistons

[Nutellar]

Good Bye Shaq.

Lets see who will win the title

[Houndy]

Shaq won't retire, watch, he'll stay

[Grandmama Johnson]

2012 NBA PLAYOFFS

QUARTERFINALS

WEST
(1) Thunder 4-1 Jazz (4)
(2) Lakers 4-2 Mavericks (3)

EAST
(4) Bulls 4-2 Heat (1)
(3) Celtics 4-0 Pistons (7)

[Grandmama Johnson]

2012 NBA PLAYOFFS
CONFERENCE FINALS PREVIEW

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder versus (2) Los Angeles Lakers


The past and future of the West meet in a battle for the present. The top-seeded Thunder (59-23) have dominated the regular season once again, advancing to the semis after being upset in last year’s quarterfinals. Behind stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City looks like a contender for years to come. Their 4-1 demolition of the Jazz in the quarterfinals suggests the young roster has finally come of age. However, the seven-game battle against the Kings in the first round indicates that the precocious squad may still have weaknesses.

The Lakers will be waiting for them, behind a Kobe Bryant that is playing some of the best basketball of his career. Mamba is averaging an astonishing 38.1 PPG during the playoffs, highlighted by 50, 59, and 61-point outbursts. It is truly the work of an all-time great, unwilling to relinquish his throne and determined to build on his existing legacy. Bryant’s heroics and Andrew Bynum’s strong postseason play (18.4 PPG, 11.2 RPG) will need to continue with Pau Gasol sidelined for the rest of the playoffs with a broken foot. If they can replicate the quality that took them past the Spurs (4-1) in the first round and the Mavericks (4-2) in the quarterfinals, then the Lake Show will be headed for yet another NBA Finals appearance.

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
(3) Boston Celtics versus (4) Chicago Bulls


What if David took down Goliath, only to find another giant waiting for him? This must be how the Chicago Bulls feel, having eliminated the Miami Heat and now facing the Boston Celtics in the conference finals. The Bulls entered the playoffs under the radar, not attracting the same attention as the world-champion Heat, the star-studded Celtics, or the upstart Hawks. However, the Bulls have proven themselves equal to the task, taking out the Knicks in five games before shocking the world with a 4-2 series upset over the Heat. Derrick Rose has been stellar this postseason, averaging 32.6 PPG and 7.2 APG.

The Celtics will be waiting for Chicago, making what many believe to be their last run at an NBA title. Boston (53-29) needed seven games to get past the Pacers, but then exposed the seventh-seed Pistons in a dominant quarterfinal sweep. Rajon Rondo (20.7 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 7.3 APG) leads the Celtics into battle, but the focus is also on fellow star Kevin Garnett. A future Hall of Famer, Garnett will reportedly retire at the end of this season. Combined with Nate Robinson’s desire to test free agency, the Celtics appear to have one more shot to win a title with this core group. To earn that shot, Garnett, Rondo, and the rest of Boston will have to take down Chicago in what should be an excellent series.

[Bucket]

GO THUNDER AND CELTICS

[Grandmama Johnson]

Haha, thought you might say that, Valdis.

GO THUNDER AND CELTICS

[Bucket]

Yeah, Thunder 4-2 Lakers
Celtics 4-2 Bulls

[hova-]

Tough to see my Mavs eliminated. Now I hope the Cs can win it all.

[Nutellar]

I am with the Bulls !

Lakers vs Bulls Final !

[Grandmama Johnson]

2012 PLAYOFFS

CONFERENCE FINALS
(1) Thunder 4-1 Lakers (2)
(4) Bulls 4-2 Celtics (3)

[Grandmama Johnson]

2012 NBA FINALS PREVIEW
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER vs. CHICAGO BULLS




THE FUTURE IS NOW: Young stars Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose will battle for their first ring

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)--The Oklahoma City Thunder and Chicago Bulls will meet in the 2012 NBA Finals, led by two of the league’s youngest, brightest stars. In one corner, 2011 MVP Kevin Durant has guided the Thunder to an NBA Final, their first since the franchise’s move to the Midwest. At the tender age of 23, Durant has the makings of a future legend. His 51-point, 13-rebound performance to clinch the Western Conference title and eliminate the Lakers shows a superstar ready to lead on the biggest stage. His postseason stats (34.3 PPG, 10.4 RPG) similarly suggest greatness.

However, the Thunder (59-23) have proven to be much more than Durant. Russell Westbrook, also age 23, has effectively orchestrated the offense this postseason while 22-year old James Harden gives Oklahoma City another dimension. Whatever the outcome of this series, few franchises have ever had the collection of young talent that the Thunder now possess. Multiple titles are a distinct possibility, potentially starting with the 2012 crown.

Out of the East, the Chicago Bulls (48-34) have finally returned to the NBA Finals after a 14-year absence. Derrick Rose has proven himself as the “Heir to Air” this playoffs, averaging 31.7 PPG and 7.6 APG. Luol Deng (15.4 PPG), Carlos Boozer (13.6 PPG, 9.6 RPG), and Al Harrington (14.2 PPG) have given the Bulls extra firepower and rebounding, allowing Chicago to overcome the Celtics, 4-2, in the Eastern Conference finals.

“It’s gonna be a fantastic series,” Rose said in a pre-Finals press conference. “But this isn’t about me versus Kevin. This is about the Chicago Bulls versus the Thunder and all of us will be giving it everything we got to bring a title back to Chicago.”

The Finals begin tonight with Game 1 in Oklahoma City.

Projected Starters

Chicago
PG Derrick Rose
SG Tracy McGrady
SF Luol Deng
PF Al Harrington
C Carlos Boozer

Oklahoma City
PG Russell Westbrook
SG James Harden
SF Kevin Durant
PF Serge Ibaka*
C Cole Aldrich

*PF Jeff Green injured

[Bucket]

Wow, Bulls won C's? What the....
Nice to see how Thunder will win their first title as a Thunder and rematch for 1996 Finals.

[Nutellar]

This is a nice view on the finals- the future is now.

I didnt know that T-Mac is with the Bulls, i think the Bulls win even the Thunder had a better season record.

[Grandmama Johnson]

Wow, Bulls won C's? What the....
Nice to see how Thunder will win their first title as a Thunder and rematch for 1996 Finals.

Nice catch, Valdis! Wow, I completely didn't realize that, probably because they were the Sonics back then. At least KD doesn't have to play MJ, Pippen, and Rodman

This is a nice view on the finals- the future is now.

I didnt know that T-Mac is with the Bulls, i think the Bulls win even the Thunder had a better season record.

Thanks, Osaki. T-Mac is in fact with the Bulls. They've jettisoned Noah and made some veteran pickups (Ben Wallace, T-Mac, and Harrington) to put them over-the-top. It seems to be working!

The finals recap should be up soon--hope you enjoy!

[Grandmama Johnson]

2012 NBA FINALS
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER vs. CHICAGO BULLS
SERIES RECAP

MASTERPIECE
Unstoppable Durant leads Thunder to Finals Sweep



CHICAGO (AP)--Kevin Durant put on a performance for the ages as the Oklahoma City Thunder swept the Chicago Bulls, 4-0, in the 2012 NBA Finals. Durant garnered Finals MVP, averaging a record-shattering 47.5 PPG over the championship series. The title is the Thunder’s first since their 2008 move to Oklahoma City and their second overall as a franchise.

“This has been a dream since I was a little kid,” Durant said in the Thunder locker room after the series-clinching victory. “We proved we were the best team this year, beginning to end.”

The Thunder set the tone early in the series, taking Game 1 at home, 100-81. Oklahoma City followed that rout with an even bigger win in Game 2, slaughtering the Bulls, 115-77.

Going back to Chicago after two heavy losses, the Bulls found themselves in a must win situation. However, Kevin Durant emphatically shut the door on the series with a 59-point, 10-rebound effort in Game 3. The Thunder’s 116-114 overtime win put the Western champs up 3-0 in the series.

The Bulls once again came close in Game 4, but ultimately succumbed to the Thunder, 90-89, to complete the sweep.

In the victory, Kevin Durant arguably produced the greatest series performance in the history of the NBA Finals. His 50, 48, 59, and 33-point outputs average out to 47.5 per game, eclipsing Michael Jordan’s previous record of 41.0 PPG in the 1993 finals. Only 23 and already an NBA champion, Finals MVP, and NBA MVP, Durant’s legend only continues to grow.

“He’s a fantastic player, a fantastic team,” a somber Derrick Rose said, who had an impressive Games 3 and 4 after two relatively quiet outings. “We’ll be back.”

Game 1: Thunder 100-81 Bulls
Kevin Durant: 50 pts, 5 reb
Russell Westbrook: 6 pts, 15 ast

Game 2: Thunder 115-77 Bulls
Kevin Durant: 48 pts, 9 reb
Russell Westbrook: 28 pts, 14 ast

Game 3: Thunder 116-114 Bulls (OT)
Kevin Durant: 59 pts, 10 reb
Derrick Rose: 38 pts, 3 ast

Game 4: Thunder 90-89 Bulls
Russell Westbrook 36 pts, 2 assists
Derrick Rose: 34 pts, 8 ast
Kevin Durant 33 pts, 10 reb

Thunder wins series, 4-0
Series MVP: Kevin Durant (47.5 PPG*, 8.5 RPG)
*NBA Finals record

[Bucket]

Thats what I said. Almost 50 ppg in Finals, nice job KD

[Justine.]

Durant

[puttincomputers]

Go Thunder!

[Bucket]

puttincomputers, They won already

[maksie]

lol durantula was on fire.
it looks unfair,but congrats to the thunder

[kibaxx7]

47 points per game. Fuckin' ridiculous. Boooo!