Well before the series began many have already wrote off Boston's chances of taking the series. But as we all know over the years when the Celtics have their back against the wall, that's when they begin fight back. Watch out Miami, when the "old folks" get their engines started there is no way you can stop that. And by the way Boston already have their engine started and well warmed up ever since Game 2. After the ridiculous wash out in Game 1, oh boy the Celtics are fired up for one last final battle. Alright with that, let's begin the preview.
Who has the advantage tomorrow? Boston Celtics. This is a known fact now after what we have seen from Games 1 to 4, that Rajon Rondo have developed so much that the Miami Heat cannot stop him. They tried putting Lebron, Dwayne Wade, Norris Cole, Mario Chalmers etc on him and they all failed in the end. Rondo knows that he can take apart the Heat's defense anytime he wants. And this point itself should satisfy the premise that Boston has the advantage for Game 5. Second reason why the Celtics have the advantage tomorrow, Ray Allen. I have said this a couple of times now already that Ray Allen is due for an all-star performance in this series. He has shown signs since Game 1 that he is slowly getting his rhythm, arc and confidence back. And guess what in Game 4, he has shot his best so far in this series. I am not only referring to the points he scored but basically everything, his shooting arc is back and he looked confident. This Ray Allen now is no more the Ray Allen of games 1 and 2 but the Ray Allen we are seeing now is almost the same one we have been seeing all those years. Thirdly, Boston's bench. Boston's bench have been doing superbly well in this series and credit coach Doc Rivers for finding matchups to suit his bench and uses his bench to the most optimal level. Boston's depleted bench actually made the Heat's bench looked weak and empty! We can go on and on why Boston has the advantage but we will just leave it here and move on.
Let me say one thing, in the preview to the beginning of this series I've said that both Lebron James and Dwayne Wade have to elevate their games in order for the Miami Heat to win the series and this is because Chris Bosh is injured. So far Lebron has been doing great and there is no question about that. In fact! Barring his failure to close out games and his horrendous misses from the foul line, Lebron has actually been carrying the Heat all alone on his shoulders and like what Stephen A Smith said "Cleveland part 2". Let's not kid ourselves and let's be honest here, Dwayne Wade has been non-existent in this series and I am serious. Don't let the box score fool you into thinking Wade is having a decent series because the matter of fact is he has not! And Game 4 just further strengthen this point! In the fourth quarter he has only taken 3 shots! How absurd does that sounds! To compound things further during overtime, its the time where the game will be won or lost, he only took 2 shots and that is INCLUSIVE of the clutch 3-pointer which he missed! That means in essence if the clutch play had not been design for him, in overtime he would only have shot one time! And I repeat here ONE TIME. This is not the D-Wade we all know who is suppose to be Batman, who will take over in the fourth and seal the deal! And you guys must be wondering what about the first, second and third quarter? He shot so badly the entire night during Game 4 that he went 7-22 in shooting, that is just barely hitting the 30 percent mark! And to cap Game 4 off, he had 4 turnovers. I have written time and time and again in my previous posts for this series, Dwayne Wade has been performing badly and with each passing game it seem to get more worse. It's time to show up man! And get the job done Dwayne Wade!
The Miami Heat is making me feel irritated with what they are doing. You ask why? I tell you why, experimenting lineups in the Eastern Conference Finals? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? This is not the first time both teams have played against each other and for them to have the audacity to FREQUENTLY EXPERIMENT LINEUPS in the Eastern Conference Finals just shows me one thing, Eric Spolestra you are not prepared! You and your coaching staff are not prepared! There is nothing wrong to experiment with lineups, but that should be DONE in the regular season! And even if they want to do it in the Eastern Conference Finals there is no problem with that but to frequently do it just shows one thing to the whole world! You guys are not prepared! I don't care if they have the "Dynamic Duo" or "Batman and Robin" or "Two of the best players in the NBA", the fact is you guys still have to come prepared! The injury to Chris Bosh might have played a role in all these experimenting of lineups, but I am not going to give them a pass for that because don't tell me they have not thought about this scenario before! Come on man! Trust in your gameplay! Stick to your gameplay Heat! Why have so little trust in the gameplays that you have been using and perfecting it all season long!
Well don't get me wrong, I am not saying the Heat don't have a chance of winning tomorrow. What I am saying is that, they have to step up! Currently only Lebron James has been carrying the burden on his shoulders! It's time for the rest to step up!
The factor of Chris Bosh. If you ask me, I will take my chances and play Chris Bosh tomorrow. I will not start him but probably get him into the game tomorrow late in the third quarter to the end. Tomorrow's game is extremely crucial to the Miami Heat because if they lose tomorrow, Boston will wrap it all up in Game 6 back at home. So if I have to gamble on Chris Bosh, tomorrow's game would be the time. The Heat have ran out of options basically, they have nothing left. What I have seen in Game 4 for the first time is that the Miami Heat slowed down and became sluggish. So now its the time to get Bosh back to inject new life into the sluggish Heat and start the engine once again.
Conclusion
The Boston Celtic's engines has finally come alive and guess what it is not at the optimal level yet! I will repeat this again, for the Miami Heat to win tomorrow, both Lebron James and Dwayne Wade has to go onto the next level. Period. Is it a little too late now for the Heat? It might be, but I don't think so. There is still a chance for the Heat, but time is running out Miami! Because when the time comes where the Celtic's engines run at full power, the one who will get bulldoze aside is you Miami!
The End.
Tuesday, 5 June 2012
Sunday, 3 June 2012
Reactions to Game 4 Western Conference Finals (San Antonio Spurs 103 Oklahoma City Thunders 109)
What a game! It's time to change the script! The old guards are passing out! WOW! How fast was that! I am pretty certain some of those guys who wrote those articles that I read earlier saying that OKC will turn the tide, are the same people who said the Spurs will take the series. To start off, I am going to say one thing and that is I am not buying any of sort of suggestions/ideas that the Thunders will win the series. I will stick to my guns and still pick the Spurs to win the series.
How the game was played out?
Well the game was pretty back and forth, back and forth pretty much the whole game even when Serge Ibaka had a perfect shooting night. It was only when Kevin Durant took over in the middle of the fourth quarter that actually a clear winner emerge and that is OKC.
How did OKC win?
1) Serge Ibaka. He had an outstanding game tonight. He went 11-11 in shooting, went 4-4 in the foul line together with 5 rebounds and 3 blocks. A great all around game for him tonight. He was continually a presence in both the defensive and the offensive end where he shot a perfect night. Just fantastic really.
2) Kevin Durant. Finally and I mean finally! Kevin Durant finally reminded why he is the NBA scoring champion! Reminded us that he is a scoring machine probably even better than Michael Jordan in that department. Well I am alittle tired of writing the stats down, you can go take a look at it yourself, and by the way he scored 36 points. For me it is not so much about number of points he scored but the aggression and the intensity he showed in the middle of the fourth quarter to take over the game was what I was looking for. For a moment in the game I thought he wasn't going to show up at all as in the first 2 quarters of the game he only shot the ball 4 times. But he proved me wrong, he started to assert himself in the third and then in the fourth Durant took over the game completely. Welcome back Durant!
Worst performers for OKC
Both Russel Westbrook and James Harden. They both performed very poorly today which comes as a surprise. Well their stat sheet are forgettable. 2-10 shooting and 4-14 shooting respectively, need me to carry on anymore? But at least they compensate this poor performance with 12 assists combined. But still it is not excuse for the poor performances from the both of them.
How did the Spurs lost?
Well everyone played alright tonight, hitting big shots from downtown was what that kept them in the game. But the reason why they actually lost the game was because they failed to convert and also because Durant took over. That's all basically, nothing much to comment about.
Tim Duncan played his best game of the series so far, coming in with 26 points in 9-17 shooting, 8 rebounds ,1 block and 2 assist. Well everyone for the Spurs contributed today but times when it was crucial for them to convert they just failed. Daniel Green continued his poor shooting going 1-6 from downtown, maybe it's better for coach Popovich to switch their play and allow someone else to shoot.
Conclusion
The thing for me was this, not just in this Game 4 but in Game 3 as well I felt that the plays which the Spurs executed are not as sharp and good as in Game 1 and 2. Game 3 and 4 performances have been a pale shadow to Game 1 and 2. Game 4 performance was definitely better than Game 3. Today's game just highlight the fact that no one in the Spurs team can guard Kevin Durant when he decides to play and be aggressive. Durant can almost score at will against the Spurs and no one can stop him at all. Home court advantage really played out to its fullest in these past 2 games for OKC.
Why I am still rooting for the Spurs to take the series is this, because the Spurs are a whole different team when they are at their home court and that would mean OKC would most likely be losing. And from what I have sees in this past 2 games is that I feel that the Spurs have the chance to snatch one at Oklahoma. The Spurs have not been playing up to standard, they know it and I am pretty certain coach Popovich will do something about it.
Things for Spurs to look out for in Game 5 is that they have to convert that's all basically.
Things for OKC to look out for in Game 5 is this: Use Kevin Durant.
That's all for me. Good night!
How the game was played out?
Well the game was pretty back and forth, back and forth pretty much the whole game even when Serge Ibaka had a perfect shooting night. It was only when Kevin Durant took over in the middle of the fourth quarter that actually a clear winner emerge and that is OKC.
How did OKC win?
1) Serge Ibaka. He had an outstanding game tonight. He went 11-11 in shooting, went 4-4 in the foul line together with 5 rebounds and 3 blocks. A great all around game for him tonight. He was continually a presence in both the defensive and the offensive end where he shot a perfect night. Just fantastic really.
2) Kevin Durant. Finally and I mean finally! Kevin Durant finally reminded why he is the NBA scoring champion! Reminded us that he is a scoring machine probably even better than Michael Jordan in that department. Well I am alittle tired of writing the stats down, you can go take a look at it yourself, and by the way he scored 36 points. For me it is not so much about number of points he scored but the aggression and the intensity he showed in the middle of the fourth quarter to take over the game was what I was looking for. For a moment in the game I thought he wasn't going to show up at all as in the first 2 quarters of the game he only shot the ball 4 times. But he proved me wrong, he started to assert himself in the third and then in the fourth Durant took over the game completely. Welcome back Durant!
Worst performers for OKC
Both Russel Westbrook and James Harden. They both performed very poorly today which comes as a surprise. Well their stat sheet are forgettable. 2-10 shooting and 4-14 shooting respectively, need me to carry on anymore? But at least they compensate this poor performance with 12 assists combined. But still it is not excuse for the poor performances from the both of them.
How did the Spurs lost?
Well everyone played alright tonight, hitting big shots from downtown was what that kept them in the game. But the reason why they actually lost the game was because they failed to convert and also because Durant took over. That's all basically, nothing much to comment about.
Tim Duncan played his best game of the series so far, coming in with 26 points in 9-17 shooting, 8 rebounds ,1 block and 2 assist. Well everyone for the Spurs contributed today but times when it was crucial for them to convert they just failed. Daniel Green continued his poor shooting going 1-6 from downtown, maybe it's better for coach Popovich to switch their play and allow someone else to shoot.
Conclusion
The thing for me was this, not just in this Game 4 but in Game 3 as well I felt that the plays which the Spurs executed are not as sharp and good as in Game 1 and 2. Game 3 and 4 performances have been a pale shadow to Game 1 and 2. Game 4 performance was definitely better than Game 3. Today's game just highlight the fact that no one in the Spurs team can guard Kevin Durant when he decides to play and be aggressive. Durant can almost score at will against the Spurs and no one can stop him at all. Home court advantage really played out to its fullest in these past 2 games for OKC.
Why I am still rooting for the Spurs to take the series is this, because the Spurs are a whole different team when they are at their home court and that would mean OKC would most likely be losing. And from what I have sees in this past 2 games is that I feel that the Spurs have the chance to snatch one at Oklahoma. The Spurs have not been playing up to standard, they know it and I am pretty certain coach Popovich will do something about it.
Things for Spurs to look out for in Game 5 is that they have to convert that's all basically.
Things for OKC to look out for in Game 5 is this: Use Kevin Durant.
That's all for me. Good night!
Saturday, 2 June 2012
Game 4 Western Conference Finals (San Antonio Spurs vs Oklahoma City Thunders)
I know every time I mentioned the article will be short but it turned out to be quite a long article in the end but trust me this time it will be a really really really short one.
Alright let's get down to business.
Who has the advantage tomorrow? Isn't it obvious after Game 3? It has to be OKC, first of all they are playing at the home court, boasting of the loudest fans in the NBA. Secondly, they have no other choice, they got to win.
Besides all the other points I raised up before in regards to what OKC have to do to win, I want to add one more point. And that point is not to give the Spurs too much respect in a sense, to not be awed at their (the Spurs) basketball during the game but trust in their own game play and play.
Does Spurs have a chance of winning tomorrow's game? Yes sure they do as long as they show up unlike in Game 3 where they didn't turn up at all. They are the best basketball team in the NBA right now afterall.
Finally... I have this to say before we let things unravel tomorrow, tomorrow's game is extremely crucial to OKC. This is because if OKC were to lose tomorrow, San Antonio would be the overwhelming favorites to take Game 5 which would be played at their homecourt and that would mean they would win the series. So to put it in simple terms, it is a do or die game for the Oklahoma City Thunders.
That's all for me! Told you it will be really short this time =) See ya!
Alright let's get down to business.
Who has the advantage tomorrow? Isn't it obvious after Game 3? It has to be OKC, first of all they are playing at the home court, boasting of the loudest fans in the NBA. Secondly, they have no other choice, they got to win.
Besides all the other points I raised up before in regards to what OKC have to do to win, I want to add one more point. And that point is not to give the Spurs too much respect in a sense, to not be awed at their (the Spurs) basketball during the game but trust in their own game play and play.
Does Spurs have a chance of winning tomorrow's game? Yes sure they do as long as they show up unlike in Game 3 where they didn't turn up at all. They are the best basketball team in the NBA right now afterall.
Finally... I have this to say before we let things unravel tomorrow, tomorrow's game is extremely crucial to OKC. This is because if OKC were to lose tomorrow, San Antonio would be the overwhelming favorites to take Game 5 which would be played at their homecourt and that would mean they would win the series. So to put it in simple terms, it is a do or die game for the Oklahoma City Thunders.
That's all for me! Told you it will be really short this time =) See ya!
Reactions to Game 3 Eastern Conference Finals (Miami Heats 91 Boston Celtics 101)
Before I begin, I want to say that I have little to say for this game to be honest. The game started probably evenly and then slowly as the game progress on, the Celtics took control. The Heats managed a small run early in the fourth quarter but eventually the Celtics still prevailed. The Celtics showed up tonight and did all that was required of them to win the game basically.
Things which the Celtics did right
1) Using Kevin Garnett to post up in the paint and dominate. I have mentioned before that the Celtics have to make use of this match up and really punish the Heats down low and finally they did it and boy the results were great. Kevin Garnett played his best game of the series so far coming in 10-16 in shooting with 1 block and 11 rebounds. The Heats literally had no reply as to what to do with Garnett down in the paint basically, they sorely missed Chris Bosh in this game. It's a good thing to wonder why Celtics did not use Garnett's advantage down low until ONLY this game. Now at least there is a case to be made to get Bosh back as soon as possible for the Heats.
2) Paul Pierce played a great defensive game against Lebron James tonight. Keeping discipline and not fouling out is probably the most crucial thing he did. He scored 23 points and was consistently attacking the basket.
3) Marquis Daniels. The Boston Celtics have this habit whereby its bench players would step up in the post season and play a marquee game, and tonight was no different. Daniels had a great game coming off the bench, and contributing quality plays both defensively and offensively for the Celtics. Do not let his stat sheet fool you, he was big for the Celtics tonight.
4) Keyon Dooling. Man! Dooling was great tonight! Defensively he was superb all round! When he came on from the bench, he brought defensive aggression and tenacity to the floor and forcing the Heats into multiple turnovers. He guarded Lebron James fantastically this game. He put up quality offensive numbers as well going 4-6 in shooting and 1-2 from downtown.
5) Rajon Rondo. Need I say anything more? As long as he is on a roll, the Celtics have a great shot in claiming victory. Scoring 21 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists and 1 steal. Good solid quality game from him. Oh and by the way if possible go take a look at one of the drives he took where he completely fooled Udonis Haslem and went for an easy layup. Brilliant individual effort!
Miami Heats
Alright so much about the Celtics, what about the Heats you must be thinking? Well to put it quite simply, remember when Lebron was in Cleveland and he was the only one who was carrying the team on his back? Well ya that was what happened tonight for the Miami Heats. He put up 34 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. Quite a solid game from him actually but unfortunately against the Celtics, you need more than just one person's production to give you a victory. And seriously can someone from the Heats consult the Oklahoma City Thunders how to shoot free throws? The Heats made only 10-20 free throws! How atrocious was that! James only came in 1-5 from the foul line, a guy with that kind of talent should not be shooting 1-5 from the free throw line period!
Remember in yesterday's post I wrote about how it was anybody's guess how Dwayne Wade would perform today? Well he didn't show up for today's game. Once again don't let the box score fool you guys into thinking he had a good game because he didn't. He was again close to non-existent and actually I thought he would show up late into game like in the third or fourth quarter like in Game 2 but unfortunately he did not this time around. He was not aggressive in attacking the paint this game and as a result he did not even visit the foul line even once. He made 0 attempts in three pointers and had 3 turnovers. Its game which D-Wade should seriously forget. But the thing is it is like a trend now I feel, he has not been playing consistently this playoffs in general. And he should start performing soon as the Heats would need him to carry them past the Celtics.
Conclusion
Good team effort by the Boston Celtics today, hitting all the right notes and claiming victory. They did have a minor slip up early in the fourth quarter and that was the only reason why it became alittle feisty towards the end but they manage to hang on and won the game by 10 points. The Heats needs Dwayne Wade to start hitting the road soon if not I believe this series might have a surprise winner.
Alright guys, that's all for me. See ya!
P.S By the way can someone teach the Miami Heats how to shoot free throws? (ESPECIALLY LEBRON JAMES -.-)
Things which the Celtics did right
1) Using Kevin Garnett to post up in the paint and dominate. I have mentioned before that the Celtics have to make use of this match up and really punish the Heats down low and finally they did it and boy the results were great. Kevin Garnett played his best game of the series so far coming in 10-16 in shooting with 1 block and 11 rebounds. The Heats literally had no reply as to what to do with Garnett down in the paint basically, they sorely missed Chris Bosh in this game. It's a good thing to wonder why Celtics did not use Garnett's advantage down low until ONLY this game. Now at least there is a case to be made to get Bosh back as soon as possible for the Heats.
2) Paul Pierce played a great defensive game against Lebron James tonight. Keeping discipline and not fouling out is probably the most crucial thing he did. He scored 23 points and was consistently attacking the basket.
3) Marquis Daniels. The Boston Celtics have this habit whereby its bench players would step up in the post season and play a marquee game, and tonight was no different. Daniels had a great game coming off the bench, and contributing quality plays both defensively and offensively for the Celtics. Do not let his stat sheet fool you, he was big for the Celtics tonight.
4) Keyon Dooling. Man! Dooling was great tonight! Defensively he was superb all round! When he came on from the bench, he brought defensive aggression and tenacity to the floor and forcing the Heats into multiple turnovers. He guarded Lebron James fantastically this game. He put up quality offensive numbers as well going 4-6 in shooting and 1-2 from downtown.
5) Rajon Rondo. Need I say anything more? As long as he is on a roll, the Celtics have a great shot in claiming victory. Scoring 21 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists and 1 steal. Good solid quality game from him. Oh and by the way if possible go take a look at one of the drives he took where he completely fooled Udonis Haslem and went for an easy layup. Brilliant individual effort!
Miami Heats
Alright so much about the Celtics, what about the Heats you must be thinking? Well to put it quite simply, remember when Lebron was in Cleveland and he was the only one who was carrying the team on his back? Well ya that was what happened tonight for the Miami Heats. He put up 34 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. Quite a solid game from him actually but unfortunately against the Celtics, you need more than just one person's production to give you a victory. And seriously can someone from the Heats consult the Oklahoma City Thunders how to shoot free throws? The Heats made only 10-20 free throws! How atrocious was that! James only came in 1-5 from the foul line, a guy with that kind of talent should not be shooting 1-5 from the free throw line period!
Remember in yesterday's post I wrote about how it was anybody's guess how Dwayne Wade would perform today? Well he didn't show up for today's game. Once again don't let the box score fool you guys into thinking he had a good game because he didn't. He was again close to non-existent and actually I thought he would show up late into game like in the third or fourth quarter like in Game 2 but unfortunately he did not this time around. He was not aggressive in attacking the paint this game and as a result he did not even visit the foul line even once. He made 0 attempts in three pointers and had 3 turnovers. Its game which D-Wade should seriously forget. But the thing is it is like a trend now I feel, he has not been playing consistently this playoffs in general. And he should start performing soon as the Heats would need him to carry them past the Celtics.
Conclusion
Good team effort by the Boston Celtics today, hitting all the right notes and claiming victory. They did have a minor slip up early in the fourth quarter and that was the only reason why it became alittle feisty towards the end but they manage to hang on and won the game by 10 points. The Heats needs Dwayne Wade to start hitting the road soon if not I believe this series might have a surprise winner.
Alright guys, that's all for me. See ya!
P.S By the way can someone teach the Miami Heats how to shoot free throws? (ESPECIALLY LEBRON JAMES -.-)
Friday, 1 June 2012
Miami Heats vs Boston Celtics (Game 3 Eastern Conference Finals)
The game in 9 hours time would determine the fate of Boston Celtics in this playoff series. Game 4 is so so so very crucial for the Boston Celtics to secure, any failure to do so would probably be catastrophic for them. So let's get down to business.
Who has the advantage for Game 4? The Miami Heats of course. They simply have nothing to lose since they are not playing at home. The Celtics have all to play for especially since first of all its at their home court, secondly losing tomorrow would probably demoralize the Celtics to a point of no return and the Heats would take the series comfortably.
What to look out for?
1) Whether Rajon Rondo can keep up his fantastic form into Game 4. The Celtics needs him to be at the top of his game later on, if not, the Celtics will be in for a long long night.
2) Ray Allen to have a big game later on. I mean come on, this is as much overdue as it gets. He simply needs to show up tomorrow period. Great champions will find ways to overcome their adversities and I am sure Ray Allen will find a way to overcome his ailing ankle that has been hampering him both physically and psychologically. That is what great champions do anyway.
3) Will Paul Pierce foul out? The moment Pierce was fouled out in Game 2, the entire Celtics offense lies on Rondo shoulders and that is not good for various of reasons. One reason is, if Pierce is gone the only other closer Boston has is Ray Allen. Given Allen's injury and form at the moment, it is quite unstable to rely on him to close out the game and by the way KG is not a closer. Another reason is if the offense lies entirely on Rondo shoulders, the Celtics offense becomes very predictable and easy to guard. If the Celtics want to have a shot at winning Game 4, Pierce has to be really discipline in terms of giving away fouls. The Celtics would need Pierce offensive strength to either bring them to the chequered flag in Game 4 or close the game out.
4) Whether the Boston Celtics have found a way to prevent their offense from becoming flat or stagnant so that it will not turn into an isolation game for Rondo to take down the entire Heat's defense. This is important here because, in Game 2, the Celtics did not have the solution to this problem. As a result, Rondo only manage to drive the lane successfully 1 or 2 times and then subsequently afterwards all his drives were predictable and his layups were being blocked as a result. So it is crucial for the Boston Celtics to figure this problem out.
5) Will Lebron James turn into "the Frozen One" again?
6) How will Dwayne Wade perform tomorrow? This question is as good as anybody's guess by the way. Wade's form in the playoffs have been so erratic so far that it is hard to predict how he will play tomorrow. One moment he can be cold, ice cold and the next moment he returns to become Batman.
7) Will Miami's bench continue their quality production? The Heat's bench has been producing quality and solid numbers in the stat sheet so far with everyone chipping in a bit here and there. So it is a wonder if they can continue this form into Game 4.
Well that is about all from me for Game 4. Now let's seat back and enjoy it in 8 hours time. See Ya~
Who has the advantage for Game 4? The Miami Heats of course. They simply have nothing to lose since they are not playing at home. The Celtics have all to play for especially since first of all its at their home court, secondly losing tomorrow would probably demoralize the Celtics to a point of no return and the Heats would take the series comfortably.
What to look out for?
1) Whether Rajon Rondo can keep up his fantastic form into Game 4. The Celtics needs him to be at the top of his game later on, if not, the Celtics will be in for a long long night.
2) Ray Allen to have a big game later on. I mean come on, this is as much overdue as it gets. He simply needs to show up tomorrow period. Great champions will find ways to overcome their adversities and I am sure Ray Allen will find a way to overcome his ailing ankle that has been hampering him both physically and psychologically. That is what great champions do anyway.
3) Will Paul Pierce foul out? The moment Pierce was fouled out in Game 2, the entire Celtics offense lies on Rondo shoulders and that is not good for various of reasons. One reason is, if Pierce is gone the only other closer Boston has is Ray Allen. Given Allen's injury and form at the moment, it is quite unstable to rely on him to close out the game and by the way KG is not a closer. Another reason is if the offense lies entirely on Rondo shoulders, the Celtics offense becomes very predictable and easy to guard. If the Celtics want to have a shot at winning Game 4, Pierce has to be really discipline in terms of giving away fouls. The Celtics would need Pierce offensive strength to either bring them to the chequered flag in Game 4 or close the game out.
4) Whether the Boston Celtics have found a way to prevent their offense from becoming flat or stagnant so that it will not turn into an isolation game for Rondo to take down the entire Heat's defense. This is important here because, in Game 2, the Celtics did not have the solution to this problem. As a result, Rondo only manage to drive the lane successfully 1 or 2 times and then subsequently afterwards all his drives were predictable and his layups were being blocked as a result. So it is crucial for the Boston Celtics to figure this problem out.
5) Will Lebron James turn into "the Frozen One" again?
6) How will Dwayne Wade perform tomorrow? This question is as good as anybody's guess by the way. Wade's form in the playoffs have been so erratic so far that it is hard to predict how he will play tomorrow. One moment he can be cold, ice cold and the next moment he returns to become Batman.
7) Will Miami's bench continue their quality production? The Heat's bench has been producing quality and solid numbers in the stat sheet so far with everyone chipping in a bit here and there. So it is a wonder if they can continue this form into Game 4.
Well that is about all from me for Game 4. Now let's seat back and enjoy it in 8 hours time. See Ya~
Reactions to Game 3 Western Conference Finals (San Antonio Spurs 82 Oklahoma City Thunders 102)
Before I begin, I would like to say one thing first in regards to this post. I meant no disrespect to anybody but I also do not intend to mince my words either. The thing is this whether or not the San Antonio Spurs decided to tank the game I don't care! But what is certain is that they the Spurs did not show up at the Chesapeake Energy Arena at all! The game's result is a false hope to the Oklahoma City Thunders. If they are going to treat this game as what the Spurs have to offer at best, I would tell them STOP IT. But there are certain positives OKC can take home tonight, one for example is that they played great defense tonight.
First up, flow of the game? OKC went on a 8-0 run at the start of the game, Spurs manage to tie it shortly but as soon as that happened OKC just too the game over. End of story.
You are shock aren't you? Take a look at the replay for yourself, the moment the Spurs caught back up from the eight nothing run by the Thunders, it was all OKC.
The Spurs was so bad it isn't even worth mentioning. 21 TURNOVERS. I repeat 21 TURNOVERS. But that is not all all! The high pick and rolls or screens or plays were executed so poorly it led to so many turnovers. The passing was bad, it was really bad and perimeter defense was almost non-existent. You might be wondering, what I have describe doesn't sound like the Spurs, it sounded more like the Charlotte Bobcats! Alright I am over-exaggerating alittle over here but you get my point. Tony Parker was playing so poorly its no wonder he only played 28 minutes! Left somewhere in the third quarter and never returned. He was shooting 50 percent, 6-12 in shooting that's alright but the rest of the stats were just horrible. Parker only had 4 assist, and a massive 5 turnovers which is totally uncharacteristic of him. Daniel Green continued his shooting woes, going 1-3 in shooting. Manu Ginobili was 1-5 in shooting and had 4 turnovers. The list of people performing badly tonight for the Spurs just continue on and on and on. Well but I would like to say say this the only two players who felt like playing for the Spurs tonight, and who actually showed up were Tim Duncan and Stephen Jackson. Though coming only in 5 for 15 in shooting, Duncan played with effort and gave his all (basketball is not all about scoring). He had 5 blocks at the defensive end to top it up. One reason or if not the only reason why this game didn't become a super blowout is because Stephen Jackson shot the ball well tonight. He was 6-7 in shooting, and convert 4 out of 5 times from downtown (three pointers). Stephen Jackson seemed like the only guy besides Duncan whom actually felt like playing. Though they were down 20 plus, he still gave his all, convert tough three pointers down the stretch.
Well you might be thinking, after reading what I have written so far, that OKC won only because the Spurs was having an off day. That is not what I am implying. The Oklahoma City Thunders played exceptionally well today. They got into their game going from the get go, played good solid defense and settled quickly into their accustomed transition basketball offense. They had 18 fast break points, a whopping 44 points in the paint and guess what! Only 8 turnovers! They passed the ball well tonight, all the extra passes gave them alot of wide open threes which unfortunately they failed to convert if not they would have win the game by at least 30 (I am NOT joking on this).
Thabo Sefolosha was outstanding tonight. Outstanding defense and quality production in the offensive end. Just look at this, 4 defensive rebounds, 6 steals, 1 block shot and only 1 personal foul. What an inspiring defensive performance by Sefolosha tonight.
And finally Kevin Durant was more aggressive and more assertive in this game! Way to go! Lets hope he keeps this up in Game 4, as OKC would really need it. He finally looked like something of a superstar he was expected to be. Though he only shot 17 times, I still hope he would shoot more by the way, he was facilitating the ball well in offense coming with 5 assist. He shot poorly from the three point line today though, coming in 0-4 from downtown.
And finally and i repeat FINALLY, Russel Westbrook shot lesser than Kevin Durant. He only shot the ball 15 times which is respectable, given that Westbrook is such an explosive player. A far cry from the outrages 24 shots he took in Game 2. But guess what he facilitated the offense well today with great ball passing, he raked up 9 assist! It is probably his best game in this series so far in terms of facilitating the ball and doing what a point guard should do.
Things I would still maintain my position at
1) James Harden should start. I don't understand why aren't OKC doing this yet! Take out Perkins and start James Harden!
2) Kendrick Perkins is useless in this series. I know early in the game he got this big defensive play or so and did a stare down to Reggie Miller and Co (commentators) because in the previous game the commentators said he was playing extremely poorly in the Game 2. By the way I support Reggie Miller and Co on this, Perkins was just terrible in Game 2. The fact is OKC have to go small in this series, they cannot afford to play Perkins the whole game or even majority of the game! It is as simple as that! No disrespect to Perkins's game but seriously he contributes very little if not none to this series at all. The OKC does not need him to produce at the offensive end that's one, secondly because he is slow when the Spurs start their high picks again OKC would be badly exposed! So again! He can do all the stare downs in the world, but it still does not change the fact that he is not productive in this series at all. If OKC manage to get past this round, he would then become of great use in the NBA finals facing either the Boston Celitcs or the Miami Heats.
3) I know I said the only way (one of the only way) for the Thunders to win is if all three in the name of Durant, Westbrook and Harden all shoot at least 60 to 65 percent. All three of them didn't shoot that high of a percentage or even close to 60 percent yet they still win. That is why I mention earlier in this article if OKC thinks that this is all that the Spurs got! They wrong! Dead wrong! One of the only reason why they shot this low in terms of percentage and yet win is because the Spurs was played poorly tonight, there is no denying that.
Conclusion
Once again, I would like to repeat myself, I meant no disrespect to any team in this series and neither do I intend to mince my words. Great game by OKC but again a badly played game by the Spurs. To be honest by the end of the second quarter or somewhere in the beginning of the third, I already knew this game would be blowout and actually struggled to continue watching the game to the end (which I eventually did of course).
Alright that's all for me! Bye~
First up, flow of the game? OKC went on a 8-0 run at the start of the game, Spurs manage to tie it shortly but as soon as that happened OKC just too the game over. End of story.
You are shock aren't you? Take a look at the replay for yourself, the moment the Spurs caught back up from the eight nothing run by the Thunders, it was all OKC.
The Spurs was so bad it isn't even worth mentioning. 21 TURNOVERS. I repeat 21 TURNOVERS. But that is not all all! The high pick and rolls or screens or plays were executed so poorly it led to so many turnovers. The passing was bad, it was really bad and perimeter defense was almost non-existent. You might be wondering, what I have describe doesn't sound like the Spurs, it sounded more like the Charlotte Bobcats! Alright I am over-exaggerating alittle over here but you get my point. Tony Parker was playing so poorly its no wonder he only played 28 minutes! Left somewhere in the third quarter and never returned. He was shooting 50 percent, 6-12 in shooting that's alright but the rest of the stats were just horrible. Parker only had 4 assist, and a massive 5 turnovers which is totally uncharacteristic of him. Daniel Green continued his shooting woes, going 1-3 in shooting. Manu Ginobili was 1-5 in shooting and had 4 turnovers. The list of people performing badly tonight for the Spurs just continue on and on and on. Well but I would like to say say this the only two players who felt like playing for the Spurs tonight, and who actually showed up were Tim Duncan and Stephen Jackson. Though coming only in 5 for 15 in shooting, Duncan played with effort and gave his all (basketball is not all about scoring). He had 5 blocks at the defensive end to top it up. One reason or if not the only reason why this game didn't become a super blowout is because Stephen Jackson shot the ball well tonight. He was 6-7 in shooting, and convert 4 out of 5 times from downtown (three pointers). Stephen Jackson seemed like the only guy besides Duncan whom actually felt like playing. Though they were down 20 plus, he still gave his all, convert tough three pointers down the stretch.
Well you might be thinking, after reading what I have written so far, that OKC won only because the Spurs was having an off day. That is not what I am implying. The Oklahoma City Thunders played exceptionally well today. They got into their game going from the get go, played good solid defense and settled quickly into their accustomed transition basketball offense. They had 18 fast break points, a whopping 44 points in the paint and guess what! Only 8 turnovers! They passed the ball well tonight, all the extra passes gave them alot of wide open threes which unfortunately they failed to convert if not they would have win the game by at least 30 (I am NOT joking on this).
Thabo Sefolosha was outstanding tonight. Outstanding defense and quality production in the offensive end. Just look at this, 4 defensive rebounds, 6 steals, 1 block shot and only 1 personal foul. What an inspiring defensive performance by Sefolosha tonight.
And finally Kevin Durant was more aggressive and more assertive in this game! Way to go! Lets hope he keeps this up in Game 4, as OKC would really need it. He finally looked like something of a superstar he was expected to be. Though he only shot 17 times, I still hope he would shoot more by the way, he was facilitating the ball well in offense coming with 5 assist. He shot poorly from the three point line today though, coming in 0-4 from downtown.
And finally and i repeat FINALLY, Russel Westbrook shot lesser than Kevin Durant. He only shot the ball 15 times which is respectable, given that Westbrook is such an explosive player. A far cry from the outrages 24 shots he took in Game 2. But guess what he facilitated the offense well today with great ball passing, he raked up 9 assist! It is probably his best game in this series so far in terms of facilitating the ball and doing what a point guard should do.
Things I would still maintain my position at
1) James Harden should start. I don't understand why aren't OKC doing this yet! Take out Perkins and start James Harden!
2) Kendrick Perkins is useless in this series. I know early in the game he got this big defensive play or so and did a stare down to Reggie Miller and Co (commentators) because in the previous game the commentators said he was playing extremely poorly in the Game 2. By the way I support Reggie Miller and Co on this, Perkins was just terrible in Game 2. The fact is OKC have to go small in this series, they cannot afford to play Perkins the whole game or even majority of the game! It is as simple as that! No disrespect to Perkins's game but seriously he contributes very little if not none to this series at all. The OKC does not need him to produce at the offensive end that's one, secondly because he is slow when the Spurs start their high picks again OKC would be badly exposed! So again! He can do all the stare downs in the world, but it still does not change the fact that he is not productive in this series at all. If OKC manage to get past this round, he would then become of great use in the NBA finals facing either the Boston Celitcs or the Miami Heats.
3) I know I said the only way (one of the only way) for the Thunders to win is if all three in the name of Durant, Westbrook and Harden all shoot at least 60 to 65 percent. All three of them didn't shoot that high of a percentage or even close to 60 percent yet they still win. That is why I mention earlier in this article if OKC thinks that this is all that the Spurs got! They wrong! Dead wrong! One of the only reason why they shot this low in terms of percentage and yet win is because the Spurs was played poorly tonight, there is no denying that.
Conclusion
Once again, I would like to repeat myself, I meant no disrespect to any team in this series and neither do I intend to mince my words. Great game by OKC but again a badly played game by the Spurs. To be honest by the end of the second quarter or somewhere in the beginning of the third, I already knew this game would be blowout and actually struggled to continue watching the game to the end (which I eventually did of course).
Alright that's all for me! Bye~
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