*NBA THREAD* Abe will be missed (6 Viewers)

[gump]

I didn't think it was possible for a fanbase to be viewed any worse in the rankings....but Miami is still digging after hitting the basement to see what's there.

 

[Abraham]

Great game. I didn't think the bosh play was a foul. Well played game all around. I'm a little disappointed in the result because after two late turnovers the Lebron legacy chirping would have been awesome this offseason.

 

[Mr Non Sequitur]

What an incredible ball game but let's be honest. The Heat were dead, took a 7 point 1st half lead and watched the Spurs take a stranglehold on the game before the 1st half ended with a 17-4 run and a 6 point lead in the least 2-3 minutes of the 2nd Q. They expanded that lead to 13 in the 3rd, still up 75-65 at the end of 3.

What happened in the 4th is nothing short of a miracle. The Ray 3 point shot at 5.2 was similar in nature to when the Lakers shoot that 3 against Sacramento about 10+ years ago. The Spurs really won the game last night and I'm not hating on the Heat, just being honest. All that said, what an incredible game, a gritty and gutsy performance by Lebron and Chris Bosh might be a dog but he came thru at the end last night with key rebounds, blocks, and yes assists, he was the one smart enough to spot Ray and dish it to him as time was running out.

I watched the 4th and OT a couple time last night/this morning, just incredible basketball.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Tony Parker > Lebron when it matters

Always fun to go through this thread after a great game looking for laughs. This is the leader in the clubhouse so far.

 

[shadyridr]

Its amazing how Manu took 3 steps on that play and the announcers completely ignored it. Also, I guess SA didnt learn from Memphis University

 

[TobiasFunke]

I think bosh is trade fodder no matter the outcome.

New leader!

 

[NutterButter]

Great game. I didn't think the bosh play was a foul. Well played game all around. I'm a little disappointed in the result because after two late turnovers the Lebron legacy chirping would have been awesome this offseason.

Yeah, that would have been an awesome finale to Lebron's season.

 

[NutterButter]

Its amazing how Manu took 3 steps on that play and the announcers completely ignored it. Also, I guess SA didnt learn from Memphis University

Yeah, watching the replay, I'd say the travel occurred before the foul but I usually don't look to the announcers for any type of officiating validation.

 

[NutterButter]

Pulling Duncan on two defensive possessions.. talk about over-thinking. Those two offensive rebounds were the game.

Yeah, Pop really crapped the bed on that one. Keeping Manu in has to be pretty close as well. No way Neal plays any worse and probably plays a lot better.

 

[Abraham]

Its amazing how Manu took 3 steps on that play and the announcers completely ignored it. Also, I guess SA didnt learn from Memphis University

Yeah, watching the replay, I'd say the travel occurred before the foul but I usually don't look to the announcers for any type of officiating validation.

Looking at it again id say it could have gone either way without anyone having a more valid complaint than the other side. More troubling is that Manu tried that at all considering how absolutely awful the guy has been all series except one game.

And while I imagine he had some good reasons, if I gave a one point lead in game 6 or I'm in overtime, my two heat players are on the floor. Great players make plays and I take my chances with Parker and Duncan there.

Finally, I've been saying for a while that it mystifies me that bosh didn't start changing himself in to a defensive force and rebounder three summers ago. Last night showed what that would look like. If he had played like that against Indiana that series would have gone 5 games.

 

[sho nuff]

Tony Parker > Lebron when it matters

Always fun to go through this thread after a great game looking for laughs. This is the leader in the clubhouse so far.

And then he posts this...

http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=536205&p=15662836

Now lets pretend anyone else has the 4Q and OT that Lebron had offensively and defensively. They would be going nuts about whoever that player was (Duncan or Parker, imagine?). Lebron does it and its "Meh, why didnt he do it all game long."

I like to poke the bear, but Lebron is totally taken for granted. He'll be appreciated more after he retires when you step back and look at how good he was over a long stretch of highway.

Which is why I ask...how many different opinions of Lebron can the guy have.

All Indiana series, he dogs Miami. AFter the series is over he praises them.

All this series he dogs Lebron and Miami...after last night's game he praises him.

Its like its not bad that he is generally wrong in everything he says, he feels the need to flip flop back and forth constantly too.

 

[shader]

I'm still very disappointed in Wade last night. If he's not healthy enough to drive and attack, he doesn't need to play. The Heat had the game in the bag right up until he comes into the game with less than 4 minutes left. He promptly misses a jump shot and a ridiculous turn-around jump shot.

Prior to that, Lebron was driving every single time he got the ball in the fourth.

I don't know what it is about Wade, but at times it's like Lebron and the rest of the team feel the need to try to get him some big shots in very unnatural ways.

It almost makes me wonder if behind the scenes, is Wade really happy when they win a game and he doesn't contribute much to it?

 

[Abraham]

Agreed. Lebron is a much much different player when wade isn't on the floor these days.

 

[Courtjester]

Manu was playing like he had money on the Heat--9 points, 8 TO and a big missed FT. He was terrible and probably one of the big reasons SA lost that game.

I liked that the refs let them play. To me, that was a good no call on Bosh at the end there. That being said, Lebron needs to stop acting like a little girl every time he doesn't get a call. It is almost every play that he is complaining to the refs about a no call.

Should be a fun game 7.

 

[shader]

Manu was playing like he had money on the Heat--9 points, 8 TO and a big missed FT. He was terrible and probably one of the big reasons SA lost that game.

I liked that the refs let them play. To me, that was a good no call on Bosh at the end there. That being said, Lebron needs to stop acting like a little girl every time he doesn't get a call. It is almost every play that he is complaining to the refs about a no call.

Should be a fun game 7.

Yeah, although in fairness Duncan does the same thing. For some reason, it appears Lebron doesn't quite get the "Jordan" treatment. It's as if the refs still are in that "earn it" stage. And you wonder if they will ever give him that kind of respect if he keeps whining all the time. I'm as big of a Lebron fan as there is, but I think his antics every time he doesn't get a foul called are a little ridiculous.

 

[Dentist]

what a great game, as badly as I wanted the Spurs to win, I really wanted a game 7 so I am conflicted.

Not fouling Bosh as soon as he got rebound was costly. Also Manu and Leonard missing Free Throws were huge, they hit the FT's they win the game easily.

I wanted the Spurs to win also.

If you're a true spurs fan, or any member of the team that loss leaves you gutted.

1) when one team makes a miracle shot to tie up a game near the end of regulation, I feel like they end up winning the game at an extremely high rate.. I was impressed san antonio even made the OT competitive.

2) when a team loses a game 6 like that where they absolutely had it... do they ever go on to win game 7.. especially on the road?

I would be absolutely shocked if San Antonio came back and won Thursday.. in fact, i'd be surprised Miami didn't win by 10

 

[Prince Myshkin]

Everybody is talking about if the Spurs can recover from this loss. My question is can Miami recover from a win? I know historically it hasn't went well for a team that has blown game 6, but in this series and the one before, Miami has not been able to put together 2 consecutive intense games.

 

[shader]

Everybody is talking about if the Spurs can recover from this loss. My question is can Miami recover from a win? I know historically it hasn't went well for a team that has blown game 6, but in this series and the one before, Miami has not been able to put together 2 consecutive intense games.

I think a bit too much is made of Miami being intense. It's hard to be intense in game 5 when San Antonio just doesn't miss a shot, shooting 60% from the field. That's just insane.

Miami does seem to get deflated when San Antonio starts nailing three pointers from all over the place, but in reality, isn't that just basketball? How annoying is it when your jumper isn't quite falling, you have to grind and hustle to get a basket and the other team is raining threes on you. Gotta be deflating.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

I have watched every game of this finales and many of the Heat games prior. For whatever reason, I can't not watch LeBron James. He is, by himself for the most part, slowly making me a fan of the NBA. That game last night was one of the best post season/finals games in any sport I can recall watching in some time. My heart was pounding for the final 10 minutes of regulation and the entire overtime and I'm not anything close (yet) to what you can call a fan.

Looking forward to making sure I watch game 7.

 

[JMon348]

What a great game. So many twists and turns, can't wait until Thursday.

If the Heat win tomorrow, it's going to be a long summer for San Antonio. Literally had the trophy wheeled out, Heat fans leaving, up 5 with 28 seconds left, WOW, heart-breaker.

Timmy D was unbelievable in the first half, but something has to be said for his second half.

5 points in the 2nd half and OT.

Did not score the last 22 minutes of the game.

0-3 in the 4th qtr and OT.

It's crazy how history changes if the Spurs can just....

hit one more FT

OR

grab one more rebound

OR

not allow Ray Allen to get a 3 pointer off

The Spurs need another throw back game from Manu or Duncan, and hit 3 pointers consistently to have a chance.

 

[JMon348]

Agreed. Lebron is a much much different player when wade isn't on the floor these days.

Heat have been outscored by 56 in the Finals with LeBron and Wade on the court together. With LeBron and no Wade Miami is +48

 

[rodg12]

I can't get over how terribly Manu played last night after that amazing Game 5. He really killed the Spurs.

 

[TobiasFunke]

I think bosh is trade fodder no matter the outcome.

New leader!

Later retracted by Leeroy. Always good to see someone admit they were wrong. Everyone's wrong sometimes, not everyone owns up.

 

[Dentist]

I can't get over how terribly Manu played last night after that amazing Game 5. He really killed the Spurs.

he was positively dreadful.

tony parker made a lot of horrible plays to go with his few brilliant shots

 

[NutterButter]

Manu was playing like he had money on the Heat--9 points, 8 TO and a big missed FT. He was terrible and probably one of the big reasons SA lost that game.

I liked that the refs let them play. To me, that was a good no call on Bosh at the end there. That being said, Lebron needs to stop acting like a little girl every time he doesn't get a call. It is almost every play that he is complaining to the refs about a no call.

Should be a fun game 7.

I was pretty indifferent to Lebron, but his constant whining has put me into the hater camper. If you're going to throw your hands in the air and jump up and down like a little girl, it better be a clear foul. The one close to end where he was on the break and Green stripped the ball and the ball went off his body is a common example.

 

[rodg12]

I have watched every game of this finales and many of the Heat games prior. For whatever reason, I can't not watch LeBron James. He is, by himself for the most part, slowly making me a fan of the NBA. That game last night was one of the best post season/finals games in any sport I can recall watching in some time. My heart was pounding for the final 10 minutes of regulation and the entire overtime and I'm not anything close (yet) to what you can call a fan.

Looking forward to making sure I watch game 7.

He's a generational talent. A joy to watch.

Outside of just Lebron, the overall talent level in the NBA right now is outstanding. I can almost go team-by-team and name someone I want to tune in and watch. Guys like Kyrie Irving in Cleveland, John Wall in Washington, Stephen Curry in Golden State, etc, etc. Hopefully you stay tuned in next season, GB. A lot of fascinating players right now.

 

[pantagrapher]

Manu was playing like he had money on the Heat--9 points, 8 TO and a big missed FT. He was terrible and probably one of the big reasons SA lost that game.

I liked that the refs let them play. To me, that was a good no call on Bosh at the end there. That being said, Lebron needs to stop acting like a little girl every time he doesn't get a call. It is almost every play that he is complaining to the refs about a no call.

Should be a fun game 7.

I was pretty indifferent to Lebron, but his constant whining has put me into the hater camper. If you're going to throw your hands in the air and jump up and down like a little girl, it better be a clear foul. The one close to end where he was on the break and Green stripped the ball and the ball went off his body is a common example.

Lebron's behavior on the court is a disgrace for someone with his size and talent. Has to make even the most die-hard Heat fan cringe to see a 250-pound man acting like he's been shot by a sniper when a point guard brushes past him.

 

[shadyridr]

Just read the Deadspin article about the fans leaving

 

[hxperson]

Manu was playing like he had money on the Heat--9 points, 8 TO and a big missed FT. He was terrible and probably one of the big reasons SA lost that game.

I liked that the refs let them play. To me, that was a good no call on Bosh at the end there. That being said, Lebron needs to stop acting like a little girl every time he doesn't get a call. It is almost every play that he is complaining to the refs about a no call.

Should be a fun game 7.

I was pretty indifferent to Lebron, but his constant whining has put me into the hater camper. If you're going to throw your hands in the air and jump up and down like a little girl, it better be a clear foul. The one close to end where he was on the break and Green stripped the ball and the ball went off his body is a common example.

Lebron's behavior on the court is a disgrace for someone with his size and talent. Has to make even the most die-hard Heat fan cringe to see a 250-pound man acting like he's been shot by a sniper when a point guard brushes past him.

I dunno..not a Heat fan but on that play it looked to me as though Green used his hand to keep Lebron's left hand from stabilizing the ball after Green had stripped it from his right hand, which usually is a foul. It wasn't called, just like the non call on the foul after the Manu crab dribble afterwards and the Bosh block. I felt the reffing was horrendous but overall the bad calls were fairly evenly distributed.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

I think bosh is trade fodder no matter the outcome.

New leader!

I retracted my bosh statements! He doesn't play that role enough though and I'm not sure that role is worth a near max deal to the heat.

I still can't believe that wade just dribbled around and shot that long pull up 2 in ot. Almost cost them the game. Lebron needs to touch the ball on every possession in the 4th/ot.

 

[pantagrapher]

And don't get me wrong, I understand the NBA has let flopping spiral out of control so naturally guys are going to try to exploit it to get an edge. But I think of a guy like Lionel Messi in soccer. A relatively small guy who's a great player who you have to drag down with three goons to make him stop on a play in a sport where flopping is rampant. He made a choice not to give in to the seductiveness of cheating—pretending to be hit when he isn't. Instead, he takes actual hits and fights through them. And it's made him an inspiring player.

Lebron could do that. But he chooses not to. He takes the easy way out and he flops.

 

[pantagrapher]

Manu was playing like he had money on the Heat--9 points, 8 TO and a big missed FT. He was terrible and probably one of the big reasons SA lost that game.

I liked that the refs let them play. To me, that was a good no call on Bosh at the end there. That being said, Lebron needs to stop acting like a little girl every time he doesn't get a call. It is almost every play that he is complaining to the refs about a no call.

Should be a fun game 7.

I was pretty indifferent to Lebron, but his constant whining has put me into the hater camper. If you're going to throw your hands in the air and jump up and down like a little girl, it better be a clear foul. The one close to end where he was on the break and Green stripped the ball and the ball went off his body is a common example.

Lebron's behavior on the court is a disgrace for someone with his size and talent. Has to make even the most die-hard Heat fan cringe to see a 250-pound man acting like he's been shot by a sniper when a point guard brushes past him.

I dunno..not a Heat fan but on that play it looked to me as though Green used his hand to keep Lebron's left hand from stabilizing the ball after Green had stripped it from his right hand, which usually is a foul. It wasn't called, just like the non call on the foul after the Manu crab dribble afterwards and the Bosh block. I felt the reffing was horrendous but overall the bad calls were fairly evenly distributed.

I didn't think either one of those was a bad call. I thought every no call down the stretch was good. Overall, I thought this game was better officiated than most. The play I'm thinking of was earlier in the game. During a scrum for a rebound, (I think it was Parker's) elbow came within an inch of Lebron's neck and Lebron hit the deck like he'd lost all muscle control. And he does it all the time.

 

[TobiasFunke]

I think bosh is trade fodder no matter the outcome.

New leader!

I retracted my bosh statements! He doesn't play that role enough though and I'm not sure that role is worth a near max deal to the heat.

I still can't believe that wade just dribbled around and shot that long pull up 2 in ot. Almost cost them the game. Lebron needs to touch the ball on every possession in the 4th/ot.

Yup, caught that later and gave you credit.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Agreed. Lebron is a much much different player when wade isn't on the floor these days.

Heat have been outscored by 56 in the Finals with LeBron and Wade on the court together. With LeBron and no Wade Miami is +48

Welcome back!

This Wade thing is a real problem for the Heat and Spoelstra for Game 7 and for next year, although obviously they care much more about the former than the latter at the moment. Here's the numbers in ORTG/DRTG form for the series:

O-Rtg/D-Rtg with LBJ/Wade: 100.8/112.7 ... O-Rtg/D-Rtg with LBJ/NO Wade: 131.7/89.5

Wade's presence on the floor is killing the Heat's spacing. That much seems clear. But it also seems to be creating problems on the defensive end, which I can't explain. Anyone have any thoughts

 

[Ghost Rider]

The Heat's possession with a 1-point lead late in OT was dreadful. Wade basically just dribbled for like 10 seconds and then hoisted up a prayer. Awful. And some of their possessions down the stretch in regulation were also dominated by Wade and resulted in wasted possessions and contributed to them blowing the lead. Like others have said, it's like the Heat want to soothe Wade's ego, and it almost cost them a shot at the championship last night.

 

[pantagrapher]

And don't get me wrong, I understand the NBA has let flopping spiral out of control so naturally guys are going to try to exploit it to get an edge. But I think of a guy like Lionel Messi in soccer. A relatively small guy who's a great player who you have to drag down with three goons to make him stop on a play in a sport where flopping is rampant. He made a choice not to give in to the seductiveness of cheating—pretending to be hit when he isn't. Instead, he takes actual hits and fights through them. And it's made him an inspiring player.

Lebron could do that. But he chooses not to. He takes the easy way out and he flops

LeBron has more uncalled fouls committed against him than any player in the NBA since Shaq in his prime.

If he wants to cry about uncalled fouls, that's fine. It's annoying, but at least it's not dishonest.

 

[TobiasFunke]

I didn't think either one of those was a bad call. I thought every no call down the stretch was good. Overall, I thought this game was better officiated than most. The play I'm thinking of was earlier in the game. During a scrum for a rebound, (I think it was Parker's) elbow came within an inch of Lebron's neck and Lebron hit the deck like he'd lost all muscle control. And he does it all the time.

I believe you're thinking of this play. The elbow didn't miss by an inch. Caught him hard in the throat and under the chin. Ginobli even raised his hand after the whistle, he knows he got him good. If you can watch that play and think he didn't get hit, it's pretty likely that you're also wrong about some other plays you think are flops but are actually pretty hard fouls.

LeBron exaggerates contact, yes. But he also gets beat up constantly because defenses know they can't allow him to move freely. They also know that he's a tank, and you just make light contact when he beats you on a dribble drive to the hoop you won't alter his shot, and all of a sudden you're looking at a three point play.

I think it's pretty funny how the narrative changed on LeBron getting fouled/flopping after The Decision. When he was with the Cavs and most people liked him, the 07 and 08 Wizards took an approach to LeBron similar to the Bulls and Pacers did this year, and they were made out to be a bunch of thugs and dangerous players. Now everyone hates LeBron, so the narrative is that he's a flopper.

 

[timschochet]

Every NBA superstar I've watched whines about not getting foul calls. Magic did it. Kobe. LeBron. Shaq used to give press conferences devoted to it.

Some are louder than others, but they all do it. It's part of the game.

 

[Buck Bradcanon]

This reminds me so much of the World Series a few years ago between the Rangers and Cardinals. Rangers had the game in the bag in Game 6 and then choked down the stretch. Game 7 was a blowout. I see the same thing happening on Thursday. Yes, I know two different sports and the Spurs are much more of a veteran and been there team, but it's going to be to hard to recover from a loss like this.

I am a pretty big Rangers fan, and a diehard lifelong Spurs fan.

 

[timschochet]

Everytime a team is ahead by 3 with less than 24 seconds less, they always bring up the theory that you should foul, put them on the line, and prevent a 3 pointer that could tie it. It seems like sound logic, yet a coach rarely ever does it. How come?

 

[bryhamm]

Normally I would say that it's over and that MIA will win game 7. Virtually no one would come back from a loss in game 6 like that. But, SA is one team that has the mental toughness that I could see shrugging it off.

Should make for a great game 7.

 

[Buck Bradcanon]

Ferris> Where do you come out on fouling when you are up 3 with 15-20 secs left.. i.e. forcing 2 free throws instead of giving Lebron then ultimately Allen a chance to nail the game-tying dagger?

Pop after the game just said they don't do it. I am sure there is a basketball reason but not to.. but we are not gassing up the river boats this morning so I'm struggling.

ETA: What Tim said.

 

[timschochet]

Ferris> Where do you come out on fouling when you are up 3 with 15-20 secs left.. i.e. forcing 2 free throws instead of giving Lebron then ultimately Allen a chance to nail the game-tying dagger?

Pop after the game just said they don't do it. I am sure there is a basketball reason but not to.. but we are not gassing up the river boats this morning so I'm struggling.

ETA: What Tim said.

Phil Jackson never did it either. But I don't know why not.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Everytime a team is ahead by 3 with less than 24 seconds less, they always bring up the theory that you should foul, put them on the line, and prevent a 3 pointer that could tie it. It seems like sound logic, yet a coach rarely ever does it. How come?

Some coaches do. It's a LOT more prevalent in college than the NBA. Similar to football, college coaches are willing to take a lot more risk than NBA coaches who get fired at the drop of a hat.

 

[timschochet]

Everytime a team is ahead by 3 with less than 24 seconds less, they always bring up the theory that you should foul, put them on the line, and prevent a 3 pointer that could tie it. It seems like sound logic, yet a coach rarely ever does it. How come?

Some coaches do. It's a LOT more prevalent in college than the NBA. Similar to football, college coaches are willing to take a lot more risk than NBA coaches who get fired at the drop of a hat.

I doubt Pops has to worry about losing his job, though.

 

[timschochet]

Everytime a team is ahead by 3 with less than 24 seconds less, they always bring up the theory that you should foul, put them on the line, and prevent a 3 pointer that could tie it. It seems like sound logic, yet a coach rarely ever does it. How come?

There's an old coaching cliche that when you have the lead you shouldn't let your opponent score points when the clock isn't moving. That's the roots of it.There's also the concern that if the ballhandler sees the foul coming, he will go into his shooting motion and get three free throws instead of two.

If you foul with too much time left, you're extending the game. You have to get the ball inbounds off a set piece. You have to hit free throws to justify making the other team shoot free throws. And you might not get the guy you want on the line, like when Kawhi Leonard got fouled up two with about 20 seconds left. At best, you're rerunning the up-three scenario with the increased chance of fouling a three-point shooter. If they make FTs and you miss, you're up just two or even one, and now you have to guard the whole court instead of just around the arc.

Also, think about the refs mentality in that situation. They don't want to call a foul. Why intentionally foul and give free throws when you might be able to get away with minor contact on the three-point shooter and reduce his chances of making the shot?

In terms of long-run probabilities of 3PT shooters, FT shooters, fouls, and rebounds, there's surprisingly little difference between fouling and not fouling. It's only a big advantage for the defense to foul if you foul the rare bird who shoots threes really well but is lousy shooting ones, like Bruce Bowen circa 2005.

OK thx. Lots of stuff in your post that I never considered.

 

[timschochet]

So Spurs fans- what was a tougher loss- last night with Ray Allen's miracle 3, or Derek Fisher's .04 shot?

 

[boubucarow]

Manu was playing like he had money on the Heat--9 points, 8 TO and a big missed FT. He was terrible and probably one of the big reasons SA lost that game.

I liked that the refs let them play. To me, that was a good no call on Bosh at the end there. That being said, Lebron needs to stop acting like a little girl every time he doesn't get a call. It is almost every play that he is complaining to the refs about a no call.

Should be a fun game 7.

I was pretty indifferent to Lebron, but his constant whining has put me into the hater camper. If you're going to throw your hands in the air and jump up and down like a little girl, it better be a clear foul. The one close to end where he was on the break and Green stripped the ball and the ball went off his body is a common example.

Lebron's behavior on the court is a disgrace for someone with his size and talent. Has to make even the most die-hard Heat fan cringe to see a 250-pound man acting like he's been shot by a sniper when a point guard brushes past him.

I dunno..not a Heat fan but on that play it looked to me as though Green used his hand to keep Lebron's left hand from stabilizing the ball after Green had stripped it from his right hand, which usually is a foul. It wasn't called, just like the non call on the foul after the Manu crab dribble afterwards and the Bosh block. I felt the reffing was horrendous but overall the bad calls were fairly evenly distributed.

It didn't matter in the end since the Spurs got the ball on the possession but James clearly fouled Green with the clear out elbow prior to Green being able to do anything defensively.

 

[Slapdash]

And don't get me wrong, I understand the NBA has let flopping spiral out of control so naturally guys are going to try to exploit it to get an edge. But I think of a guy like Lionel Messi in soccer. A relatively small guy who's a great player who you have to drag down with three goons to make him stop on a play in a sport where flopping is rampant. He made a choice not to give in to the seductiveness of cheating—pretending to be hit when he isn't. Instead, he takes actual hits and fights through them. And it's made him an inspiring player.

Lebron could do that. But he chooses not to. He takes the easy way out and he flops.

Messi is the exception rather than the rule. It is rare to combine being an all-time talent with having a great personality and honest play.

 

[Slapdash]

Agreed. Lebron is a much much different player when wade isn't on the floor these days.

Heat have been outscored by 56 in the Finals with LeBron and Wade on the court together. With LeBron and no Wade Miami is +48

Welcome back!

This Wade thing is a real problem for the Heat and Spoelstra for Game 7 and for next year, although obviously they care much more about the former than the latter at the moment. Here's the numbers in ORTG/DRTG form for the series:

O-Rtg/D-Rtg with LBJ/Wade: 100.8/112.7 ... O-Rtg/D-Rtg with LBJ/NO Wade: 131.7/89.5

Wade's presence on the floor is killing the Heat's spacing. That much seems clear. But it also seems to be creating problems on the defensive end, which I can't explain. Anyone have any thoughts

Those stats are amazing.

Wade has seemed pretty lazy on defense at times. I have noticed a few occasions where he just doesn't get set on defense fast enough.