Game 4 down to the wire

6/19/2006 3:35:35 AM

Question No. 8: What's the worst-case scenario for each team?

For Miami, it's the supporting cast -- in close games, if you double-team Wade, the Heat still need the likes of GP, Walker and Posey to make open jumpers. Would you trust these guys in the spotlight of the Finals? Me neither. Taking it a step further, should anyone REALLY be able to win a championship when they're playing the Artist Formerly Known as GP at crunch-time? He's been running on fumes for three years. I just think he'll end up killing them in at least one game, maybe two.

For Dallas, it's foul trouble -- they have the right guys to guard Shaq and Wade, but you can't predict those games when all the calls start going Miami's way. And that's the thing that bothers me about this series: No team depends on the refs quite like the Heat. When the refs are calling all the bumps on Shaq and protecting Wade on every drive, they're unstoppable. When they're calling everything fairly, they're eminently beatable. If they're not getting any calls, they're just about hopeless. I could see the refs swinging two games in Miami's favor during this series, possibly three. In fact, I'm already depressed about it and the series hasn't even started yet.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/060608

6/19/2006 3:54:05 AM

anyone catch what Wade said to Terry right at the end of OT after he made the free throw to tie it? Terry said something to him to try to distract him on the 2nd free throw, and after looking at it a couple of times on dvr, I am pretty sure Wade said, "I fucking live for this moment." haha.

6/19/2006 4:25:53 AM

What the hell happened to Stackhouse?

6/19/2006 8:05:40 AM

Quote :

"And Wade wouldn't be going off like this if Stackhouse was playing. Devin Harris can't guard Wade."

Because Stackhouse did such an amazing job on Wade the past two games.


And Avery was making a HUGE timeout signal. Just from the viewpoint of someone watching TV....I saw Avery making the timeout and signal and was like "WTF is Avery doing??" So if I saw Avery making the timeout signal from my couch at home, I could imagine what the Mavs players on the floor were thinking, or even the refs. Avery fucked up.

^^^And that's just stupid. First, Shaq is ALWAYS going to get a lot of fouls called on him. And when he shoots 2 for 1,000,000, it hurts the Heat more....hack-a-Shaq was in full effect last night. And Wade either gets fouled or misses badly when he goes with wreckless abandon to the basket. There have been plenty of times this series when Wade has tried to draw fouls and the refs haven't budged this series. He's still not even close to Jordan-status with the refs.

[Edited on June 19, 2006 at 8:18 AM. Reason : .]

6/19/2006 8:14:16 AM

Quote :

"What the hell happened to Stackhouse?"

He got suspended one game for a flagrant foul on Shaq in game 4.

6/19/2006 8:19:17 AM

payback for the busted nose...

6/19/2006 8:46:27 AM

helluva game last night

its too bad howard didnt wait til after the 2nd free throw to call that timeout...give dallas a better look at the end

6/19/2006 10:34:40 AM

Avery was telling his team to call the timeout directly after a miss or make. And you know the rest of the story...

6/19/2006 11:27:55 AM

Fuck Dallas and their crying about that Timeout.

Howard clearly signaled for a timeout and was even walking toward the bench when he was doing so.

By no means is it the ref's responsibility to interpret what he meant as opposed to what he did.

I had much respect for Avery Johnson until last night's post game interview, blaming the ref, saying anyone that knows basketball would know what they meant.

ANY MOTHER FUCKER WHO KNOWS BASKETBALL WOULDNT HAVE SIGNALED FOR A TIMEOUT WHILE WALKING TOWARD THE BENCH. HE IS YOUR PLAYER, AVERY, YOU LARGE MOUTHED, BIBLE PUSHING TROLL. TAKE THE BLAME, QUIT PLACING FAULT ON OTHERS, AN CONCEDE THE REST OF THIS SERIES TO THE TEAM THAT DOESNT HAVE BETTER PLAYERS THAN YOU, THEY JUST HAVE COLLECTIVELY KICKED YOUR ASS AND STRUCK WHILE THE IRON IS HOT!

GO HEAT....MOTHA FUCKAZ.

6/19/2006 11:33:10 AM

any ref worth his salt wouldve known no team wouldve wanted to take a fucking time out in that situation


but we shoulda never had them back in the game, this shoulda been win number 4, but dirk and his fucking free throws have cost us twice now

and damn stackhouse, his 20 points woulda helped us take this one....we're excellent at home though...and if miami can get 3 straight at home, then we for damn sure can get 2

6/19/2006 11:40:21 AM

Dear Shaq:

If you win a title without Kobe, its not because you can win a title without Kobe. It's because of Dwayne Wade...its all D-Wade...you are old as shit...you suck ass from the free throw line...don't take any credit for this series if Miami wins Shaq...you are old as fuck

Sincerely,


That white bitch that Kobe raped in Colorado

6/19/2006 11:41:32 AM

^^I agree...Dallas still has a great chance to win.

But I do think Miami's games in Dallas will be much more competitive than thier first 2 there.

Similar to the Hurricanes situation...we really want to close it out in game 6 because we dont want to go 7.

And Twista....D-Wade has done the bulk of the work, but if you know basketball at all as much as I thought you did, you would realize that Shaq's presence in the lane is what is opening everything up for Wade. Dallas' constant double teaming of Shaq has led to the 39ppg from Dwayne Wade.

and as old as you think Shaq is...no one can stop him one on one. Dallas knows this, thats why they havent changed thier game plan yet.

- Heat Fan.

[Edited on June 19, 2006 at 11:50 AM. Reason : Heat]

6/19/2006 11:48:51 AM

i thought wade's speed and agility and slashing ability is what opened everything up for him...especially when dampier is in and they DONT double shaq

that 43 points was impressive though last night...even when his shots werent falling early, the refs gave him trips to the free throw line

6/19/2006 11:50:26 AM

this entire series I believe Shaq has been in single coverage like 3 times.

D-Wade is the man, but they cant constantly run two men at this because they are always doing the same to Shaq.

Avery Johnson knows this.

if they werent doubling Shaq all of the time, why wouldnt they send two men at wade every time he touched the ball?

6/19/2006 11:54:41 AM

haha i like shaq a million times more than kobe

but i'm just saying...if the heat win the series, plenty of people are gonna say "haha kobe, you cant win a title without shaq, but he can win one without you"...which maybe true, but no way in hell shaq wins one without wade...put a duncan or garnett to help out kobe for a better comparison

thats all im saying

also i'd rather pull for Josh Powell's team than Alonzo Faggings team anyday

6/19/2006 11:59:20 AM

Quote :

"any ref worth his salt wouldve known no team wouldve wanted to take a fucking time out in that situation"

Any coach/player worth a salt would know the same fucking thing and wouldn't be making the "timeout motion" after the first free throw. Avery, seriously, what in the hell do you expect to happen when your little cock-roach looking ass is making an emphatic time-out signal moments after the first free throw is made??? Same goes for Josh Howard.

Avery and Howard both fucked up. Howard fucked up even more when he missed those two free throws to put the game away.

Go Heat. Lets put this away in Game 6.

6/19/2006 12:02:13 PM

I thought it was only Howard who was making the timeout hand signal

6/19/2006 12:30:12 PM

Quote :

" Because Stackhouse did such an amazing job on Wade the past two games. "

Just face the facts.

Wade hit like five straight jumpshots from the top of the key. Why?

Because Devin Harris is too small to be much of a factor.

I know that Stackhouse isn't the greatest defensive player on the planet.

But when you put a guy with an extra half foot of height in Wade's face

He probably wouldn't have made half those shots

It would have been easier for him to take it to the basket if Stackhouse was guarding

But that's not the point here.

6/19/2006 12:43:46 PM

Quote :

"Just face the facts."

Wade had about 80 points in games three and four combined by taking Stackhouse's ass to the rim.

Devin, IMO, is a much better matchup v Wade. Stackhouse cant guard wade and it only make Wade that much more agressive, leading to more foul shots, etc.

Wade got to the line a ton last night, but very few of those fouls were on Harris. Harris actually has the quickness to give Wade problems. Size doesnt bother Wade at all. Speed is much tougher to deal with (See Lyndsey Hunter on the Pistons. He cant do shit consistently, but he played fantastic defense against Lebron James and Dwayne Wade because of his quick hands and feet)

6/19/2006 12:49:25 PM

Quote :

"Just face the facts."

You didn't provide any facts. You gave your opinion.

Facts would be that Wade has scored just as many points with Stackhouse guarding him as he has with Harris or Griffin guarding him. You need to get rid of this dumb hatred of Wade that is clouding your judgment.

6/19/2006 1:37:15 PM

On the radio today ESPN guys were talking about how there should have been an over-and-back call on the last play because Wade never entered the backcourt before taking posession of the ball. Add that to the non-calls on wade when driving and the questionable call on Dallas... the NBA hates Cuban.

6/19/2006 2:11:11 PM

Cuban is a victim of his own arrogance and deserves everything he gets.

6/19/2006 2:20:15 PM

Cuban is your father

6/19/2006 2:20:43 PM

Who saw Dirks lame ass attempt to look pissed when he pushed the stationary bike aside as he walked by? Artest woulda picked up the bike, carried it on to the court, and thrown it at Daunte Culpepper.

6/19/2006 2:26:59 PM

you guys remember the Wake Forest vs Maryland bball game a few years back that was really close at the end and Josh Howard called a timeout and Wake had no timeouts and he got a technical and Maryland won the game?

6/19/2006 3:29:57 PM

^[old]

Quote :

"prb185 Veteran 189 Posts the really funny thing is, he did THE EXACT SAME THING his junior year in a game at Maryland the year Maryland won the title. Wake had no timeouts and he called one after getting a defensive rebound with 2 seconds left in a tie game. Maryland got 2 free throws and the ball. 6/19/2006 12:45:55 AM"

Damn Twista....outdone by a n00b.

6/19/2006 3:46:54 PM

Well, first, that was biggest fixed game I've seen in a long time. NBA and Bookies won big off Miami, esp. bookies with the 1-point win. Can't believe Dallas almost pulled it out.

I know most here will disagree, but I'm about 99% sure the fix was in on that one.

6/19/2006 7:51:34 PM

Also, on the last play....I wonder if this would have worked. Don't know the exact rules on it now, but I've seen highlights of 1976 Phoenix using it successfully against Boston, even though Celtics evenutally won...

If Dallas takes a timeout with 1.9 remaining. Its a technical, 1 shot? They can move the ball to half court down by 2 and have a chance to tie or win it with a 3-ball.

Like I say, they may have changed the rules, but back then you were awarded the timeout. Only exception was that the other team got one free throw.

6/19/2006 7:54:38 PM

i said after game 4 that if the heat won game 5, i wouldnt watch anymore nba ball.

i was probably exaggerating until i saw just how bad that game was called last night... and how much EVERYONE is on wade's nuts. unreal. i love basketball, but no more nba for me.. no way in hell this series should be going back to dallas. rigged.

6/20/2006 12:16:26 AM

^home team have gotten the calls all series...watch dallas get the calls tonight

Quote :

"If Dallas takes a timeout with 1.9 remaining. Its a technical, 1 shot? They can move the ball to half court down by 2 and have a chance to tie or win it with a 3-ball. "

but Miami would get 1 shot AND THE BALL

6/20/2006 9:29:51 AM

6/20/2006 11:07:15 AM

^in that picture you can clearly see where Terry fouled Wade

6/20/2006 11:08:26 AM

Quote :

"no one can stop him one on one"

Just foul him constantly. Shaq can't make anything from the line.

By the way, I saw on the local news last night that someone beat up a tourist and dropped him off in front of Shaq's Star Island home. Since Shaq is a "reserve" officer with the Miami Beach Police, he has been getting a lot of attention and the perp's license tag was recorded by a guard.

With that being said, Dallas is still junk and Mark Cuban takes it up the can....

GO HEAT

6/20/2006 12:02:11 PM

Now that's hockey's over, I can pay attention to this!

Dirk will PUSH OVER YOUR EXERCISE EQUIPMENT MOTHER FUCKER!!!

6/20/2006 12:05:21 PM

Quote :

"Dallas is still junk "

still junk? as in they were junk halfway through the 4th quarter of game 3 when everybody had written off the series?

6/20/2006 12:07:10 PM

Quote :

"Cuban is your father"

6/20/2006 1:28:49 PM

hahaha.

Cuban fined $250,000 for actions after game 5.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-nbafinals-cubanfined&prov=ap&type=lgns

That slimeball.

Stern will make sure his ass never wins an NBA title.

6/20/2006 3:14:28 PM

Stern was just on the Dan Patrick Show about 20 minutes ago...said he personally didnt hear Cuban say any of those things and they were good friends

6/20/2006 3:18:14 PM

hmmmm....

but he was fined $250,000 by the league (Stern has to "ok" fines over $25,000) for running onto the court and supposedly screaming expletives in Stern's direction.

I beg to differ on his politically correct answer that they are "Friends"

6/20/2006 3:33:59 PM

I fucking hate Cuban. I'd love for him to get caught up in an Enron scandal.

6/20/2006 4:02:48 PM

cuban is hilarious

Quote :

"Cuban said Monday he was bracing for the fine, his second this postseason. It showed in his reaction to the penalty: "I'm fine with it," he wrote in an e-mail. "Get the humor there. Fine with it.""

6/20/2006 4:53:14 PM

Cuban is moving slowly but deliberately from amusing and passionate to just plain fucked up.

6/20/2006 4:58:08 PM

i didnt like his persona either til i met him...hes a cool guy

6/20/2006 4:59:34 PM

Fuck Mark Cuban.

Wanker.

6/20/2006 5:12:21 PM

As for the technical foul strategy I posted before...

A technical foul only gives one shot.... not possession. Unless they changed the rule on calling timeouts when you don't have any.

Thats why Phoenix was able to use it in 1976. They used it successfully to put it in OT, but lost in OT. I'm not quite old enough to have watched that game, but saw it on espn clasic.

6/20/2006 7:08:08 PM

Mavs up by 14 early. Now hold this lead this time..!

6/20/2006 9:35:04 PM

wade's gotten two BS calls already....

6/20/2006 9:43:00 PM

Why is Howard slamming the ball away and barking just a delay of game and not an outright technical (unsportsmanlike)?

6/20/2006 9:52:25 PM

OMG THEY CALLED A TRAVEL ON WADE

6/20/2006 10:10:25 PM