May 25, 201115 yr Because they had to play the Florida squad with Noah, Horford, Brewer, Humphrey and Green. Florida beat them in the championship game in '06 and the semis in '07. Do not forget '08. He and Love were on the team in '08 when they lost to Memphis (handily in the semi-finals).
May 25, 201115 yr Do not forget '08. He and Love were on the team in '08 when they lost to Memphis (handily in the semi-finals). I did forget. I was thinking those guys left after one season for some reason. Never mind.
May 25, 201115 yr Game 1, 3 and 4. Biggest stage of his life. Too many times he doesn't get the ball at the end of games. What really great player would stand by and watch like he does? Brooks said he was afraid to fight for position at the end of the game for fear of getting a foul. That is pathetic. Either way clock is ticking. Durant is 22. At 23, people said LBJ couldn't win. Just look at two years ago. And lets not even compare the talent on the two teams they played with. I'm not giving Durant a pass because he acts like a high school geek. Title in 3 years or he is a failure, it is only fair. Settling for jumpers. A horrible performance from deep in games 2 and 3. If the shoe was on the other foot the other guy would be a choke artist. Don't act like it wouldn't. At 22, LeBron "choked" against Boston, even though Durant's performance against defense not nearly as good has not been as good as LBJ's was in that series with less help. It is only fair. I think the difference in Durant and Lebron now is that the Thunder are currently progressing as expected. They've got a little better and a little farther each season. I agree with the post that said Durant will start getting some criticism if the Thunder don't win the west next season. A few thoughts on this... First, Lebron came into the league with more hype and he met the expectations. He's the only guy to come along since Jordan that people felt had the ability to challenge MJ as the greatest. Durant has never been viewed as having that kind of potential. Second, he carried the Cavs to the finals in his fourth season I believe. The criticism started coming after that. Despite not having great talent around him, the Cavs did improve their roster after the finals appearance and they posted some great regular seasons, only to flame out in the playoffs. I think to some degree, Lebron was a victim of his own success. Most felt like a title was a matter of when, not if, after he took Cleveland there, but it never happened. I'm not saying either is right or wrong, but that's the way I see it. Durant is reaching a point in his career and progression that is comparable to what Lebron faced after Cleveland lost in the finals. The expectation for OKC will now be to win the west at the least...anything less and he'll start taking some heat, IMO. Especially if they follow the same path as Cleveland and have a few great regular seasons and never get to the finals.
May 25, 201115 yr I think the difference in Durant and Lebron now is that the Thunder are currently progressing as expected. They've got a little better and a little farther each season. I agree with the post that said Durant will start getting some criticism if the Thunder don't win the west next season. A few thoughts on this... First, Lebron came into the league with more hype and he met the expectations. He's the only guy to come along since Jordan that people felt had the ability to challenge MJ as the greatest. Durant has never been viewed as having that kind of potential. Second, he carried the Cavs to the finals in his fourth season I believe. The criticism started coming after that. Despite not having great talent around him, the Cavs did improve their roster after the finals appearance and they posted some great regular seasons, only to flame out in the playoffs. I think to some degree, Lebron was a victim of his own success. Most felt like a title was a matter of when, not if, after he took Cleveland there, but it never happened. I'm not saying either is right or wrong, but that's the way I see it. Durant is reaching a point in his career and progression that is comparable to what Lebron faced after Cleveland lost in the finals. The expectation for OKC will now be to win the west at the least...anything less and he'll start taking some heat, IMO. Especially if they follow the same path as Cleveland and have a few great regular seasons and never get to the finals. Good post. There may be a host of players of this era not to win a title because of the expected Heat success.
May 25, 201115 yr I agree, that is his natural position. Many people forget this is really only his second year to ever play PG. He is a big, athletic 6'4" guy. In college Darren Collison was the UCLA PG. Last season was the first he took over at PG in the NBA. Not to get far off subject, but talk about a perplexing coaching job, how did Ben Howland not win a title with Westbrook, Collison, Love, Mbuh-Amute (sp?), and Josh Shipp? Because Howland could take that team and struggle to win the KY state tournament, :lol:.
May 25, 201115 yr I think the difference in Durant and Lebron now is that the Thunder are currently progressing as expected. They've got a little better and a little farther each season. I agree with the post that said Durant will start getting some criticism if the Thunder don't win the west next season. A few thoughts on this... First, Lebron came into the league with more hype and he met the expectations. He's the only guy to come along since Jordan that people felt had the ability to challenge MJ as the greatest. Durant has never been viewed as having that kind of potential. Second, he carried the Cavs to the finals in his fourth season I believe. The criticism started coming after that. Despite not having great talent around him, the Cavs did improve their roster after the finals appearance and they posted some great regular seasons, only to flame out in the playoffs. I think to some degree, Lebron was a victim of his own success. Most felt like a title was a matter of when, not if, after he took Cleveland there, but it never happened. I'm not saying either is right or wrong, but that's the way I see it. Durant is reaching a point in his career and progression that is comparable to what Lebron faced after Cleveland lost in the finals. The expectation for OKC will now be to win the west at the least...anything less and he'll start taking some heat, IMO. Especially if they follow the same path as Cleveland and have a few great regular seasons and never get to the finals. I could see all of that. :thumb:
May 26, 201115 yr The Thunder just could not close out a game. They could easily be up 3-2 instead of having lost 4-1.
May 26, 201115 yr Because Howland could take that team and struggle to win the KY state tournament, :lol:. Its funny how things change. Just about 4 years ago people were talking about Howland and how he was one of the top 5 coaches in America and some people were wanting him here at UK. Now all of a sudden people think he is not that good of a coach.
May 26, 201115 yr The Thunder just could not close out a game. They could easily be up 3-2 instead of having lost 4-1. Isn't that the way it goes in the playoffs. The year the Lakers beat Orlando in 5 games, the Magic could have easily won a couple that they lost. It is similar to the NFL in that so many games come down to which team can deliver and execute down the stretch and win the close ones. Dallas has been nearly flawless in that scenario. How many times have the Mavs dominated the stretch run to win a game in these playoffs? Who'd have thought the Trailblazers would be the Mavs toughest series en route to the finals? They're 12-3 in the post-season.
May 26, 201115 yr Isn't that the way it goes in the playoffs. The year the Lakers beat Orlando in 5 games, the Magic could have easily won a couple that they lost. It is similar to the NFL in that so many games come down to which team can deliver and execute down the stretch and win the close ones. Dallas has been nearly flawless in that scenario. How many times have the Mavs dominated the stretch run to win a game in these playoffs? Who'd have thought the Trailblazers would be the Mavs toughest series en route to the finals? They're 12-3 in the post-season. It really comes down to one thing....Dirk is having the greatest NBA Playoffs of all-time. He's been beyond clutch thus far.
May 26, 201115 yr Isn't that the way it goes in the playoffs. The year the Lakers beat Orlando in 5 games, the Magic could have easily won a couple that they lost. It is similar to the NFL in that so many games come down to which team can deliver and execute down the stretch and win the close ones. Dallas has been nearly flawless in that scenario. How many times have the Mavs dominated the stretch run to win a game in these playoffs? Who'd have thought the Trailblazers would be the Mavs toughest series en route to the finals? They're 12-3 in the post-season. The way these playoffs are being coached, it comes down to which star can make the tough one on one shots in the last 4 minutes of these close games. All the teams are playing great defense and all the teams are running isolation plays at crunch time. Dirk has been the best in the playoffs at hitting those crunch time isolation shots and LeBron has been number 2. That is why those two are going to face each other for the title. All the teams that have lost and the Bulls have not been able to have their stars hit the shots they needed. I think a Mavs Heat series will get great TV ratings.
May 27, 201115 yr It really comes down to one thing....Dirk is having the greatest NBA Playoffs of all-time. He's been beyond clutch thus far. Most players would make a killing in free agency if they averaged 12 points in the conference finals, he did that from the line alone. Hopefully he can continue his fine play in the finals.
May 27, 201115 yr It really comes down to one thing....Dirk is having the greatest NBA Playoffs of all-time. He's been beyond clutch thus far. Just for clarification, was there some sarcasm intended there?
May 27, 201115 yr Just for clarification, was there some sarcasm intended there? Nope. He's playing at a level that I can't even recall Jordan reaching in the postseason.
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