NBA Playoffs Begin

[baller]

What are the chances somebody hit a button at Buffalo Wild Wings and took out the AC.Hopefully that doesn't happen tonight.Should be a great game with two teams that respect each other.

[eagle eye]

Well I was wrong about the game being last night. I forget how the NBA can drag out a series in the playoffs. But, I checked the schedule and the Heat-Spurs game 2 is definitely tonight. This may be a big benefit for the Heat and LeBron James in particular. Camps due to dehydration can kick your butt big time and an extra day of rest can't hurt one bit. It will also allow James to hydrate more thoroughly and get back to his old self. It won't hurt Dwayne Wade either but he's been pretty healthy in these playoffs. The extra day of rest won't hurt the "old men" in San Antonio either. I think it will be a good game. Hopefully, the maintenance crew at AT&T Center fixed the A/C unit. I wonder if it was the same gremlin in SA the other night that shut off the lights at the Super Dome during the Super Bowl 2 seasons ago? Hmmmm. Very strange.

[eagle eye]

I'm on a pretty serious roll here. I've been right twice in the past week. That's got to be some kind of record! The Heat won a pretty close game 98-96 last night in what I expected to be a bit of a dogfight. Game 3 on Tuesday should be another close game. I'm enjoying the series but things did get a little chippie last night. Isn't it funny everyone was dogging out the Heat after Game 1 and now the same people are saying the Spurs are in trouble. Please. There is plenty of drama on the court without having to manufacture more.

[eagle eye]

The Heat ran into a buzz saw last night as the San Antonio Spurs was really on fire. It seemed like every shot they put up went in. If I had a guess Miami will come back and win Game 4. These are two good teams and I don't believe San Antonio will be as hot as they were last night. Miami wins by 8. That's just me talking smack. I don't have a clue what the spread might be. Playoff basketball is funny that way. Regardless, I think Miami wins tomorrow night. The only way I'm wrong is if the Spurs have hit that domination gear and they sweep the rest of the series. As for the future, Miami needs a big man and a new Robin for LeBron. D-Wade will become Nightwing and due to his recent injury history he will need to get lots of rest. A lot has been made about how the Spurs' Gregg Popovich has managed the older guys on their roster. Isn't it true that Erik Spoelstra has done the same with his roster? D-Wade has been much better this final than last year and Chris Bosh has also played better. Why? They had their minutes monitored. I can't explain why Mario Chalmers has been a no-show. Now, I see a headline on ESPN.com that the Heat may be courting Carmelo Anthony. Egos will abound in South Beach if that happens!

[eagle eye]

This is a pretty good sports time we're in right now. The Astros are really looking good. The NBA and NHL playoffs are coming down to the wire and the US Open golf tournament began yesterday. Good times.......

 

......except in your a Miami Heat of one their fans. In an earlier post I said I expected the Heat to bounce back and win unless San Antonio had found another gear and was sort in an uber playoff mode. I think the Spurs found that extra gear they put on an exhibition on how to play team basketball with a special clinic on effective ball movement. It looked like the Harlem Globetrotters playing the Washington Generals. The Spurs had the Miami players with their heads spinning with the awesome ball movement taking place. It was basketball rarely seen in the NBA these days. It reminded me of the 80's Lakers and Celtics teams with the way they fed each other the ball. Absolutely unselfish play. The Spurs defense was good again last night and the Heat didn't shoot all that well even when they had an open shot. The Heat have until Sunday to figure it out or their season will be over. The cool thing about it was the Spurs did it with guys casual basketball fans may never have heard of. Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli weren't big factors in the convincing 107-86 whitewashing of the Heat. Tony Parker had 19 pts but it was Kawhi Leonard, Patty Mills and Danny Green who were standouts as well as Tiago Splitter. That big Brazilian has been a thorn in the Heat's side and he's made the middle of the lane a no-man's land for the Heat. His stat line isn't great but his influence in the paint is noticeable, no, undeniable. I really think that Miami will come back to win game 5 simply because they play so well when backed into a corner but if they can't figure out how to defend the Spurs movement this series is likely to end Sunday night in San Antone.

[eagle eye]

Congratulations to the Spurs. Heckuva season, heckuva final. They were thought to be the better team than Miami going in but the edge went to LeBron. The Spurs just dazzled Miami with their ball movement and team work at both ends of the court. Eric Spoelstra was out coached by Pop and the Spurs as a team outplayed the Heat except for the Heat win in game 2 win in San Antone.

I said this before the series started that I didn't care who won but I would be sad for the loser. That is completely true. I'm happy for the Spurs. Tim Duncan and company are the definition of class. You have to admire the Heat because they have shown some class of their own. There will be no 3-peat for Miami but you have to admit 4 NBA Finals in a row is pretty badass.

 

Now, there are some questions to be asked.

1. Will Duncan and/or Parker and/or Ginobli retire a winner with 5 rings?

2. Will the Spurs have enough without them if they do to defend their title?

3. What will the Heat's resident guru Pat Riley do to put better people around his 'Big 3' or....

4. Will this mark the end of the 'Big 3'?

 

The final buzzer hasn't sounded yet but this one's history. Hopefully, the talking heads won't be too hard on LeBron. He really doesn't deserve that. Game's over now. Way to go Spurs! 104-87. And really, it was a way bigger beat down than the scoreboard shows.

[KABrother88]

Not sure who Mike and Mike were referring to this morning but they were discussing a topic about someone criticizing LeBron for get this...shaking hands with Tim Duncan after the game...you have got to be kidding me...they didn't spend much time on it cause it was so ridiculous but the fact that someone (again didn't hear who initially said it) believes you should criticize one of the top players in the game right now for showing good sportsmanship and congratulating one of the best guys to EVER play the game, in what may turn out to be his last game ever is beyond me. This series reminded me a lot of the 2007 finals when LeBron's Cavs met the Spurs in the finals...LeBron played well but go absolutely no help which allowed more focus on LeBron...D-Wade was TERRIBLE...they should have say him in the first round to keep him fresh for the finals...Sheesh

[eagle eye]

What it was on Mike and Mike this morning was a twitter post to the boys about how sickening it was to see the Heat congratulating the Spurs for their championship. Mike Golic went off and said he had nothing for anyone who shows their opponent some respect. Tweeter also said Michael Jordan would never do such a thing which Golic correctly pointed out was absolutely wrong because Jordan and company congratulated the Piston in '89. Golic also pointed out that if it's not appropriate then the wussies who play pro hockey have a meeting at center ice to shake hands. In fact, the NY Rangers showed a lot of class as sort of waited around so the Kings could celebrate the win a little. Needless to say, Golic was pissed at the tweeter and put him in his place. Before the finals started, I think with you KABro said the Heat and Spurs who had a lot of respect for each other and it showed after the game. Bravo to the Heat for showing what sportsmanship is. You don't have to hate your opponent to play hard and you don't have to act like a spoiled brat if you lose.

As for the Heat going forward, the Spurs won with a team of role players basically. Young guys like Kawhi Leonard and Patty Mills stepped up and helped make the team the unstoppable force it was. It wasn't about Duncan, Ginobli and Parker even though they played well. It was about the Spurs TEAM. Pat Riley needs to get busy and get some help for LeBron and it isn't necessarily D-Wade or Chris Bosh. KABro, you analegy of the Cleveland Cavs was dead on. That's exactly what the Heat have become---the South Beach Cavs.