2012 NBA Finals: (2) Heat vs (2) Thunder

[NovU]

Good job, good effort. Lolz.

[Lamrock]

A series where I truly would have voted "I want to be alone". Of my two least favorite teams, I hate Miami less, so I'll hold my nose and hope LeBron finally wins a fucking ring already.

I picked the Heat in 6. Bosh will be a huge factor.

[Spree#8]

You've got to think that fatigue is going to catch up with Lebron sooner or later. Whether you want to believe it or not, he's carried the Heat all the way. Part of me wants the Heat to win just to silence the Lebron haters who are really starting to get on my nerves

Similar thoughts going through my head. I've almost started to like the guy because the amount of hate he gets has been absurd for some time now. But then again, do you really think the Heat winning would silence those people? Not like they can't say it's Wade who leads them to victories with James being a worthless stat-padder, not a one-man offense for most of the time.

[NovU]

do you really think the Heat winning would silence those people?

I don't. But ultimately, he'll be fine with people's perception and they have to go back to "their lives" anyways. And Lebawn's a winner. They won't get a handshake for beating him down.

[Andrew]

The Heat winning certainly wouldn't completely silence the critics. It'll take some pressure off and a lot of people probably will ease up a bit, but there'll still be others seeking to move the goalposts (the whole "LeBron couldn't win on his own" argument) and refusing to give them their due. The harsh critics and haters will still be there.

However, winning the championship this year shouldn't grant them immunity from criticism either. It's fair to question whether they can win more championships and hold them accountable if they don't, not only because throwing three great players together like they have done brings about those expectations but they themselves contributed to the hype by proclaiming not one, not two, not three and so on.

[benji]

[stereoxide]

This is also good.

[Jeffx]

Being a Knicks fan, I can never root for the Heat - has nothing to do with LeBron(I think 'fans' are going overboard with the silly hate).

We finally have a championship series in which the opposing stars play the same position - James vs Durant. Should be fun. It will be a long series, especially if Bosh does his thing. OKC in 7.

It must suck for the fans in Seattle watching this.

[benji]

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012 ... lysis.html

[shadowgrin]

Finals Press Conference.

Adam Silver looks like Nosferatu.

[Andrew]

A Seattle view: Harboring a grudge

I can’t tell you how often Twitter tough guys have advised Sonics fans to “get over it.” Try telling that to folks in Cleveland and see what type of fury is unleashed in your mentions timeline.

Thing is, plenty of people have told Cavs fans to get over it. Both fanbases are entitled to their ire over the way things went down but it's unfortunate for the Thunder players and coaching staff, who had nothing to do with moving the team and have worked hard to achieve their success on the court.

[shadowgrin]

What a boring intro for the Thunder, dat shite cray it isn't.

[shadowgrin]

Westbrook should have Artest'd Battier.

[NovU]

Great job by the Heat. Felt the energy but also poised. The Thunder came out clumsy as expected. Young teams tend to get too fired up on big stage especially in the first game. But in late 2nd quarter, they found their game.

Role players for the Heat stepped up big time for the Heat, especially Battier and Chalmers. 2nd half should be much more physical as double tech suggests what's to come. Westbrook's gotta be careful. Danny Granger and the Pacers tried intimidating the Heat and look what happened with them. The Heat can certainly handle that.

[Martti.]

Wade should get going in the 2nd half, and with Battier, Chalmers knocking down shots and with Haslem on the boards, we should get this game.

[shadowgrin]

Good job by Mike Miller in contributing points for the other team.

[NovU]

At least Shane is saved nicely for the fourth quarter. The bigger problem was Lebron going into invisible mode once again as fourth quarter was nearing. The fourth could really get ugly.

[shadowgrin]

I see that Bosh still plays defense like a vagina.

[Mavs4Life]

Thunder take momentum from the Heat, the 5 minute mark nears, what will LeBron do?

[shadowgrin]

Wade should have tackled Durant in that fast break.

Fucking Fisher flopping.

The way Durant is going he's going to remind Battier of this.

[Spree#8]

Unbelievable how easily the Thunder are getting to the basket.

Bosh is really getting raped on the glass by Collison, but that's no surprise.

[shadowgrin]

The Heat might as well call up Zo and play him if they're not going to play Joel Anthony.

[benji]

Called it. Heat are done, LeBron is a forever loser. Series is over.

[benji]

Called it. Heat are done, LeBron is a forever loser. Series is over.

[Mavs4Life]

Collison, like a boss, Heat like a bosh.