2012 NBA Playoffs

[High_Gravity]

Oh come on! You lose Avery Bradley and the Heat lose BOSH and you're crying? Avery who? All of the sudden he's the secret to the Celtics? And without him they can't win? Pathetic. I guess there will be an asterick on this season. Not because it was short, but because Avery Bradley wasn't able to play. You do the same thing for the Bird Celtics. If Bird wasn't broken or if Walton wasn't hurt. Blablabla. Fact is, Pistons, Lakers and Bulls all took their turn beating up on the Celtics. Sure the Celtics won 3 championships with Bird, but the Lakers and Bulls won more. And the Pistons won two. Back to back too!

Anyways, todays Celtics are done if they can't beat Philly or the Heat. Their time has passed. At least they won 1. Like the Pistons with Rasheed Wallace. Nothing to be ashamed of. Now dismantle that team and go through the growing pains Detroit is going through right now. Now all of the sudden NY, Chicago, Indiana, Philly and Miami are the top dogs in the East. Is Dwight Howard staying in Orlando?

But what will the Celtics do? Keep Rondo, Garnett and Pierce. Get rid of the rest.

Man fuckin relax, nobody here is ******* pathetic ok? if you watched the games during the regular season Bradley did a good job defending Wade, that played a big role in us beating them twice during the regular season. Now with him gone and Ray Allen hobbled Wade is free to do what he wants and we have nobody to guard Lebron either Pierce is not up to that anymore, Bosh or no Bosh Miami will win this in 5 games like last year so give it a rest.

I wonder what the next games will be like? More physical or has stern and the refs completely changed basketball for the worse forever?

OR, maybe in today's era where we have Ron Artest giving elbows or that guy who winked after laying a guy out to pay him back for something he did before or the Heat retaliating for something that was done to Wade or LeBron. Maybe the players are being a bit too obvious that they don't always go for the ball. If you were commish, how would you handle the cheap shots and fights?

So the refs are being overly sensitive to keep these guys in check. Just play ball. Maybe they didn't realize what they were doing?

I wonder what would get Stern to retire, and who would take over?

I would replace David Stern with Bill Russell.

 

[sealybobo]

This is the way its going to be the whole series, Stern and the NBA aren't taking anymore chances with this Lebron and the Heat will get full support from the refs the whole way, Stern needs his Miami Heat to start winning championships.

Only Duncan or Durant stand in his way.

HA Good luck to them, the officiating will be even worse when we get to that point.

Someone else here said Stern doesn't like Duncan and Duncan has won all those rings despite Stern. I hope they are right. And I don't think Stern would mind if Durant won. Next year it would be Durant v LeBron. LeBron needs a rival. This would put Durant on LeBron's level. Stern wants the next Magic Bird rivalry. We haven't had one in so long.

 

[sealybobo]

Man fuckin relax, nobody here is ******* pathetic ok? if you watched the games during the regular season Bradley did a good job defending Wade, that played a big role in us beating them twice during the regular season. Now with him gone and Ray Allen hobbled Wade is free to do what he wants and we have nobody to guard Lebron either Pierce is not up to that anymore, Bosh or no Bosh Miami will win this in 5 games like last year so give it a rest.

I wonder what the next games will be like? More physical or has stern and the refs completely changed basketball for the worse forever?

OR, maybe in today's era where we have Ron Artest giving elbows or that guy who winked after laying a guy out to pay him back for something he did before or the Heat retaliating for something that was done to Wade or LeBron. Maybe the players are being a bit too obvious that they don't always go for the ball. If you were commish, how would you handle the cheap shots and fights?

So the refs are being overly sensitive to keep these guys in check. Just play ball. Maybe they didn't realize what they were doing?

I wonder what would get Stern to retire, and who would take over?

I would replace David Stern with Bill Russell.

That's a good choice. Or Stockton or Kerr or some old timer that showed a lot of class. Certainly not Dennis Rodman.

 

[High_Gravity]

Only Duncan or Durant stand in his way.

HA Good luck to them, the officiating will be even worse when we get to that point.

Someone else here said Stern doesn't like Duncan and Duncan has won all those rings despite Stern. I hope they are right. And I don't think Stern would mind if Durant won. Next year it would be Durant v LeBron. LeBron needs a rival. This would put Durant on LeBron's level. Stern wants the next Magic Bird rivalry. We haven't had one in so long.

Duncans time has past, no way would Stern be ok with the old Spurs winning another championship at Lebrons expense, Lebron losing to the Spurs again would be too much to take. I mean I would prefer the Spurs to win over Miami but I see Miami getting all the ref help.

 

[High_Gravity]

I wonder what the next games will be like? More physical or has stern and the refs completely changed basketball for the worse forever?

OR, maybe in today's era where we have Ron Artest giving elbows or that guy who winked after laying a guy out to pay him back for something he did before or the Heat retaliating for something that was done to Wade or LeBron. Maybe the players are being a bit too obvious that they don't always go for the ball. If you were commish, how would you handle the cheap shots and fights?

So the refs are being overly sensitive to keep these guys in check. Just play ball. Maybe they didn't realize what they were doing?

I wonder what would get Stern to retire, and who would take over?

I would replace David Stern with Bill Russell.

That's a good choice. Or Stockton or Kerr or some old timer that showed a lot of class. Certainly not Dennis Rodman.

If Larry Bird wasn't involved with the Pacers I would nominate him for the job.

 

[TheGreatGatsby]

I just saw a phantom foul against the Heat! I think they are calling it pretty fair. No excuses, Lebron and Wade are flat out beating Boston's Big 3 and Rondo. With help from Battier and Miller.

You saw a phantom foul on the Heat when the game was over? What does that prove? They make bad calls against the other team when games are over to hype the narrative that bad calls are routinely part of the game and should be. It's a false narrative. I've watched tons of international games in which there was not one bad call.

All of the technicals have been nonsense. The one on Ray Allen was after he did not even address the ref, after he had legally stolen the ball and they called a foul. They called a T, they made the free throw and the Mike Miller hit a three. Boom; 4 free points for the Heat.

After hearing Steven A, I couldn't agree with you more. He/You are so right. The refs literally took the fire from the Celtics at the time the score was even. No one even hit the deck and they had how many technicals called on them? The way Steven A put it, the Celtics were just coming off a game 7 with no sleep and they had the game tied at half time. With all the techs, it took the wind out of the Celtics sail. What the **** is going on with NBA playoff basketball? It used to be physical? COME ON! And turning your back to the ref is not enough to get a tech in the Eastern Conference Finals. These refs need to check themselves.

They should change the rule. Like in football, the ref has to explain what the penalty is all about. What would that ref have said? He's been harrassing me all game? Of course he is! He's the coach. But what did he say? Nothing? Just come on Bill? It was the way he said it? Did you learn that in NBA Coaching camp? Why all of the sudden so sensitive? Are you trying to get some national attention at the Celtics expense? Could it have been the crowd that caused it? No, because it was not in Boston. This was a fix. Seriously not cool.

They've been doing that nonsense for years man. And I can usually tell you in advance of any game/series who they'll do it against because it's not a coincidence. They hope to be more subtle about their cheating. Then they'll have games like last night in which it's totally obvious.

Look at the t's. The one on Ray we talked about. Then Doc basically got another T for disagreeing with that T. How is that supposed to be T worthy?

Look at the T on Rondo. The guy was still boxing him out, way behind the basket after the ball went through the net. Rondo gave him a shove to let him know to knock it off and they T'd him up. The refs aren't stupid. There's three of them out there and they were watching it the entire damn time. But they want you to think, oh maybe they just saw the tail end of the play. No, they got six eyes and they rarely miss a thing.

Frankly, the NBA is always going to be like this b/c Stern understands the markets and he understands how to manipulate them by paying refs buckets more money to get these types of results. It's only going to change via an act of Congress to make the refs independent of the NBA; or market pressure and that won't happen b/c frankly if the average NBA fan wasn't a dumbass then we wouldn't have this problem.

 

[TheGreatGatsby]

Only Duncan or Durant stand in his way.

HA Good luck to them, the officiating will be even worse when we get to that point.

Someone else here said Stern doesn't like Duncan and Duncan has won all those rings despite Stern. I hope they are right. And I don't think Stern would mind if Durant won. Next year it would be Durant v LeBron. LeBron needs a rival. This would put Durant on LeBron's level. Stern wants the next Magic Bird rivalry. We haven't had one in so long.

Talent wise, Durant is not too far behind James; and given how much better his shot is then there's a case that he is the better talent.

But right now the Heat and James are the league's cash cow. So yes, Stern wants James and it's not even close.

And it doesn't bode well for Durant that he seems very loyal and he'll likely resign with OKC instead of jetting to the Knicks or Lakers. If Stern had any indication that that might happen then he might be willing to look at it as a long term investment. Instead, he's worried about another Duncan/Spurs situation.

 

[sealybobo]

HA Good luck to them, the officiating will be even worse when we get to that point.

Someone else here said Stern doesn't like Duncan and Duncan has won all those rings despite Stern. I hope they are right. And I don't think Stern would mind if Durant won. Next year it would be Durant v LeBron. LeBron needs a rival. This would put Durant on LeBron's level. Stern wants the next Magic Bird rivalry. We haven't had one in so long.

Duncans time has past, no way would Stern be ok with the old Spurs winning another championship at Lebrons expense, Lebron losing to the Spurs again would be too much to take. I mean I would prefer the Spurs to win over Miami but I see Miami getting all the ref help.

They did it for MJ all those years.

 

[TheGreatGatsby]

Ughh. Spurs go up 20 and now I have to hear a whistle on every play. Freaking NBA.

 

[High_Gravity]

You saw a phantom foul on the Heat when the game was over? What does that prove? They make bad calls against the other team when games are over to hype the narrative that bad calls are routinely part of the game and should be. It's a false narrative. I've watched tons of international games in which there was not one bad call.

All of the technicals have been nonsense. The one on Ray Allen was after he did not even address the ref, after he had legally stolen the ball and they called a foul. They called a T, they made the free throw and the Mike Miller hit a three. Boom; 4 free points for the Heat.

After hearing Steven A, I couldn't agree with you more. He/You are so right. The refs literally took the fire from the Celtics at the time the score was even. No one even hit the deck and they had how many technicals called on them? The way Steven A put it, the Celtics were just coming off a game 7 with no sleep and they had the game tied at half time. With all the techs, it took the wind out of the Celtics sail. What the **** is going on with NBA playoff basketball? It used to be physical? COME ON! And turning your back to the ref is not enough to get a tech in the Eastern Conference Finals. These refs need to check themselves.

They should change the rule. Like in football, the ref has to explain what the penalty is all about. What would that ref have said? He's been harrassing me all game? Of course he is! He's the coach. But what did he say? Nothing? Just come on Bill? It was the way he said it? Did you learn that in NBA Coaching camp? Why all of the sudden so sensitive? Are you trying to get some national attention at the Celtics expense? Could it have been the crowd that caused it? No, because it was not in Boston. This was a fix. Seriously not cool.

They've been doing that nonsense for years man. And I can usually tell you in advance of any game/series who they'll do it against because it's not a coincidence. They hope to be more subtle about their cheating. Then they'll have games like last night in which it's totally obvious.

Look at the t's. The one on Ray we talked about. Then Doc basically got another T for disagreeing with that T. How is that supposed to be T worthy?

Look at the T on Rondo. The guy was still boxing him out, way behind the basket after the ball went through the net. Rondo gave him a shove to let him know to knock it off and they T'd him up. The refs aren't stupid. There's three of them out there and they were watching it the entire damn time. But they want you to think, oh maybe they just saw the tail end of the play. No, they got six eyes and they rarely miss a thing.

Frankly, the NBA is always going to be like this b/c Stern understands the markets and he understands how to manipulate them by paying refs buckets more money to get these types of results. It's only going to change via an act of Congress to make the refs independent of the NBA; or market pressure and that won't happen b/c frankly if the average NBA fan wasn't a dumbass then we wouldn't have this problem.

It was the same bullshit in the Heat/Celtics series last year, the officiating was atrocious. In game 5 it got to the point where the refs were waiving off Celtic baskets to ensure Miami can close it out, Pierce and Glen Davis both made standing jump shots that got called traveling, and that Dwayne Wade take down of Rondo in game 3 was absurd, you can bet if Rondo took down Wade or Lebron like that and shattered their elbow he would have been suspended for the entire playoffs, faced a hefty fine and probably criminal charges for assault. As we can see the officiating has gotten even WORSE if thats even possible, I fully expect the referees to hold Miamis hand all the way to the finishing line and not take any chances like last year with Dallas. Whether Bosh is there or not is irrelevant, theres money that needs to be made. If Miami can't win it this time they will look like a big joke and a fraud.

 

[High_Gravity]

HA Good luck to them, the officiating will be even worse when we get to that point.

Someone else here said Stern doesn't like Duncan and Duncan has won all those rings despite Stern. I hope they are right. And I don't think Stern would mind if Durant won. Next year it would be Durant v LeBron. LeBron needs a rival. This would put Durant on LeBron's level. Stern wants the next Magic Bird rivalry. We haven't had one in so long.

Talent wise, Durant is not too far behind James; and given how much better his shot is then there's a case that he is the better talent.

But right now the Heat and James are the league's cash cow. So yes, Stern wants James and it's not even close.

And it doesn't bode well for Durant that he seems very loyal and he'll likely resign with OKC instead of jetting to the Knicks or Lakers. If Stern had any indication that that might happen then he might be willing to look at it as a long term investment. Instead, he's worried about another Duncan/Spurs situation.

Well the thing is Durant is only 23, theres plenty of time for him to win championships, how old is Lebron now? hes not exactly a young kid anymore, Wade is already 30 right? If Durant wins a championship before Lebron that will make Lebron look like a fraud and a joke, and all of Sterns time invested in him would be wasted.

 

[TheGreatGatsby]

After hearing Steven A, I couldn't agree with you more. He/You are so right. The refs literally took the fire from the Celtics at the time the score was even. No one even hit the deck and they had how many technicals called on them? The way Steven A put it, the Celtics were just coming off a game 7 with no sleep and they had the game tied at half time. With all the techs, it took the wind out of the Celtics sail. What the **** is going on with NBA playoff basketball? It used to be physical? COME ON! And turning your back to the ref is not enough to get a tech in the Eastern Conference Finals. These refs need to check themselves.

They should change the rule. Like in football, the ref has to explain what the penalty is all about. What would that ref have said? He's been harrassing me all game? Of course he is! He's the coach. But what did he say? Nothing? Just come on Bill? It was the way he said it? Did you learn that in NBA Coaching camp? Why all of the sudden so sensitive? Are you trying to get some national attention at the Celtics expense? Could it have been the crowd that caused it? No, because it was not in Boston. This was a fix. Seriously not cool.

They've been doing that nonsense for years man. And I can usually tell you in advance of any game/series who they'll do it against because it's not a coincidence. They hope to be more subtle about their cheating. Then they'll have games like last night in which it's totally obvious.

Look at the t's. The one on Ray we talked about. Then Doc basically got another T for disagreeing with that T. How is that supposed to be T worthy?

Look at the T on Rondo. The guy was still boxing him out, way behind the basket after the ball went through the net. Rondo gave him a shove to let him know to knock it off and they T'd him up. The refs aren't stupid. There's three of them out there and they were watching it the entire damn time. But they want you to think, oh maybe they just saw the tail end of the play. No, they got six eyes and they rarely miss a thing.

Frankly, the NBA is always going to be like this b/c Stern understands the markets and he understands how to manipulate them by paying refs buckets more money to get these types of results. It's only going to change via an act of Congress to make the refs independent of the NBA; or market pressure and that won't happen b/c frankly if the average NBA fan wasn't a dumbass then we wouldn't have this problem.

It was the same bullshit in the Heat/Celtics series last year, the officiating was atrocious. In game 5 it got to the point where the refs were waiving off Celtic baskets to ensure Miami can close it out, Pierce and Glen Davis both made standing jump shots that got called traveling, and that Dwayne Wade take down of Rondo in game 3 was absurd, you can bet if Rondo took down Wade or Lebron like that and shattered their elbow he would have been suspended for the entire playoffs, faced a hefty fine and probably criminal charges for assault. As we can see the officiating has gotten even WORSE if thats even possible, I fully expect the referees to hold Miamis hand all the way to the finishing line and not take any chances like last year with Dallas. Whether Bosh is there or not is irrelevant, theres money that needs to be made. If Miami can't win it this time they will look like a big joke and a fraud.

By the NBA's own rules, the Wade take-down on Rondo should have been a flagrant 2 with him being kicked out of the game and automatically missing the next game; and even if the refs missed it at the time (so to speak) then it still should have been granted by the league office. It's a total double standard.

And look at this year. Game 5 Heat vs. Indy. Haslem basically punched Hansbrough in the face and he got a one game suspension. The no-name garbage time Pitman pushed Stephenson to the floor and he got a three game suspension. The league got to pretend they're hard asses against the Heat by suspending some no name ass clown for three games for the lesser foul.

 

[theHawk]

HA Good luck to them, the officiating will be even worse when we get to that point.

Someone else here said Stern doesn't like Duncan and Duncan has won all those rings despite Stern. I hope they are right. And I don't think Stern would mind if Durant won. Next year it would be Durant v LeBron. LeBron needs a rival. This would put Durant on LeBron's level. Stern wants the next Magic Bird rivalry. We haven't had one in so long.

Duncans time has past, no way would Stern be ok with the old Spurs winning another championship at Lebrons expense, Lebron losing to the Spurs again would be too much to take. I mean I would prefer the Spurs to win over Miami but I see Miami getting all the ref help.

Yea, I can see anotther 2006 screw-job coming for the Spurs, only this time in the finals.

Its sad that the NBA is all about ratings and hype than just being a straight up sport. Its almost to the point where it needs to be called "sports entertainment" rather than a sport.

 

[TheGreatGatsby]

Someone else here said Stern doesn't like Duncan and Duncan has won all those rings despite Stern. I hope they are right. And I don't think Stern would mind if Durant won. Next year it would be Durant v LeBron. LeBron needs a rival. This would put Durant on LeBron's level. Stern wants the next Magic Bird rivalry. We haven't had one in so long.

Duncans time has past, no way would Stern be ok with the old Spurs winning another championship at Lebrons expense, Lebron losing to the Spurs again would be too much to take. I mean I would prefer the Spurs to win over Miami but I see Miami getting all the ref help.

Yea, I can see anotther 2006 screw-job coming for the Spurs, only this time in the finals.

Its sad that the NBA is all about ratings and hype than just being a straight up sport. Its almost to the point where it needs to be called "sports entertainment" rather than a sport.

I question whether the Heat are good enough to win even with the cheating. The Spurs seem like they are that much better.

 

[sealybobo]

Duncans time has past, no way would Stern be ok with the old Spurs winning another championship at Lebrons expense, Lebron losing to the Spurs again would be too much to take. I mean I would prefer the Spurs to win over Miami but I see Miami getting all the ref help.

Yea, I can see anotther 2006 screw-job coming for the Spurs, only this time in the finals.

Its sad that the NBA is all about ratings and hype than just being a straight up sport. Its almost to the point where it needs to be called "sports entertainment" rather than a sport.

I question whether the Heat are good enough to win even with the cheating. The Spurs seem like they are that much better.

I think so too. And hope so too. If Duncans gonna win another, let it be against Lebron. So no matter how great younger kids try to say he is, or compare him to Jordan, we can say we remember when LBJ got his ass kicked year after year after year. That he wasn't all that against old school.

But LBJ is the greatest player of this generation. He's the best athlete in the NBA.

And I'm sorry, but I'm watching with under 4 to play, the Celtics are up by 5. If they blow it, it won't be the refs, age or being tired. They will have just blown it. I hope they win. Stay tuned.

 

[sealybobo]

Duncans time has past, no way would Stern be ok with the old Spurs winning another championship at Lebrons expense, Lebron losing to the Spurs again would be too much to take. I mean I would prefer the Spurs to win over Miami but I see Miami getting all the ref help.

Yea, I can see anotther 2006 screw-job coming for the Spurs, only this time in the finals.

Its sad that the NBA is all about ratings and hype than just being a straight up sport. Its almost to the point where it needs to be called "sports entertainment" rather than a sport.

I question whether the Heat are good enough to win even with the cheating. The Spurs seem like they are that much better.

At home, with under three minutes in the 4th quarter of game two of the eastern conference finals, the Heat aren't even beating the Celtics. They are down 5. The Spurs won't **** around like the Celtics are. They will play the entire game and for all 7 games if necessary. I ******* hate them for beating my Thunder, and I still have hope the Thunder will figure it out in OK, but either OK or SA will kill the Heat if they this their best? No comparison the Spurs are the best team in the NBA this year. What if the Heat beat them? No ******* way. But them maybe they won't even get by Boston. Oh no, its tied. Be right back. 2 minutes left.

 

[sealybobo]

Boston needs to win this one.

 

[sealybobo]

9 to zero run. Heat by four with just over a minute. Not the refs this time Boston fans.

 

[sealybobo]

They've been doing that nonsense for years man. And I can usually tell you in advance of any game/series who they'll do it against because it's not a coincidence. They hope to be more subtle about their cheating. Then they'll have games like last night in which it's totally obvious.

Look at the t's. The one on Ray we talked about. Then Doc basically got another T for disagreeing with that T. How is that supposed to be T worthy?

Look at the T on Rondo. The guy was still boxing him out, way behind the basket after the ball went through the net. Rondo gave him a shove to let him know to knock it off and they T'd him up. The refs aren't stupid. There's three of them out there and they were watching it the entire damn time. But they want you to think, oh maybe they just saw the tail end of the play. No, they got six eyes and they rarely miss a thing.

Frankly, the NBA is always going to be like this b/c Stern understands the markets and he understands how to manipulate them by paying refs buckets more money to get these types of results. It's only going to change via an act of Congress to make the refs independent of the NBA; or market pressure and that won't happen b/c frankly if the average NBA fan wasn't a dumbass then we wouldn't have this problem.

It was the same bullshit in the Heat/Celtics series last year, the officiating was atrocious. In game 5 it got to the point where the refs were waiving off Celtic baskets to ensure Miami can close it out, Pierce and Glen Davis both made standing jump shots that got called traveling, and that Dwayne Wade take down of Rondo in game 3 was absurd, you can bet if Rondo took down Wade or Lebron like that and shattered their elbow he would have been suspended for the entire playoffs, faced a hefty fine and probably criminal charges for assault. As we can see the officiating has gotten even WORSE if thats even possible, I fully expect the referees to hold Miamis hand all the way to the finishing line and not take any chances like last year with Dallas. Whether Bosh is there or not is irrelevant, theres money that needs to be made. If Miami can't win it this time they will look like a big joke and a fraud.

By the NBA's own rules, the Wade take-down on Rondo should have been a flagrant 2 with him being kicked out of the game and automatically missing the next game; and even if the refs missed it at the time (so to speak) then it still should have been granted by the league office. It's a total double standard.

And look at this year. Game 5 Heat vs. Indy. Haslem basically punched Hansbrough in the face and he got a one game suspension. The no-name garbage time Pitman pushed Stephenson to the floor and he got a three game suspension. The league got to pretend they're hard asses against the Heat by suspending some no name ass clown for three games for the lesser foul.

OMG they just fouled Rondo and they refs didn't call it and instead Haslem scores on a fast break. 4 point swing. This is fixed.

 

[Papageorgio]

Yea, I can see anotther 2006 screw-job coming for the Spurs, only this time in the finals.

Its sad that the NBA is all about ratings and hype than just being a straight up sport. Its almost to the point where it needs to be called "sports entertainment" rather than a sport.

I question whether the Heat are good enough to win even with the cheating. The Spurs seem like they are that much better.

At home, with under three minutes in the 4th quarter of game two of the eastern conference finals, the Heat aren't even beating the Celtics. They are down 5. The Spurs won't **** around like the Celtics are. They will play the entire game and for all 7 games if necessary. I ******* hate them for beating my Thunder, and I still have hope the Thunder will figure it out in OK, but either OK or SA will kill the Heat if they this their best? No comparison the Spurs are the best team in the NBA this year. What if the Heat beat them? No ******* way. But them maybe they won't even get by Boston. Oh no, its tied. Be right back. 2 minutes left.

If Durant keeps choking in the fourth, it is over and I hope he does. Serve the owner right, he and Stern are pieces do crap.