Official 2006 NBA Basketball Playoffs

[L3thal Veteran]

DL, the game is not mental anymore. If you watched PTI and Around the Horn yesterday, you would see exactly how the Mavs were robbed in Miami and all the analysts predict that all the calls will go towards the Mavs in game 6 to make up for almost 50 FT's Miami had in Game 5 (50 FT's? :huh:). Its ludicrous how a team shot 50 FT's from the line and one player nearly had 30 of them, 2 of which of refs gave to win the game. Its nearly impossible for a team to shoot 50FT's unless the opposing team deliberately fouls them. Dallas will play with anger and a purpose and you will see it tonight.

On a side note, Miami is atrocious on the road and they showed it in Game's 1 & 2. My prediction? I have the Mavs winning in 7 for the pure fact that Dallas is now playing home (you should've seen their press conference yesterday, they were all excited for being home like they won the championship) and Dirk is a completely different player at home. As a matter of fact, the whole team is different at home.

Mavs in 7 (Y)

[I am Reid]

GOD ****ING DAMN, i ****ing cant stand Devin Harris. Where the **** did he learn to play like a ****ing ***. I know he didnt learn to flop like that in the Big Ten. That is his only purpose to be the games, just to ****ing flop. Just watch him, when he is playing defense he has that flop ready to go at all times, he dosnt even have to be touched before he starts to fall. Somehow he gets bumped in the chest, which is normal for any defense that anyone plays periods, but for some reason he always seems to get his legs knocked out from underneath him.

I dont even like the Heat, i just cant stand that ***.

[Circaflex]

Shaq doesnt need Kobe, congrats to the Heat. Wade is just an amazing player with a quality attitude and seems like a good person.

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

Regardless of my opinion on the mental aspect of things, even with Miami giving Dallas more than a few chances in the turnover department in the last few minutes, Dallas simply could not capitalize on them.

Honestly for the record Lethal, The main reason I said it was mental is the Heat IMO had the mental advantage because they were the underdog the entire series, which as a result they had nothing to lose. Mentally, that usually tends to makes a team, and it's players, much looser overall. Of course there are exceptions to this rule, but when you have nothing to lose and everything to gain, well you end up with an outcome like this...

I also do feel that no matter what the situation may be, no matter what the sport may be, what game number it is in a series or just the regular season, it all comes down to mental toughness just as much, if not more, than the physical aspect of things.

A great example I can use that is not Basketball related is think Phil Mickelson blowing the US Open this past weekend... I would say easily that half of that was mental, if not more.

Also take clutch free throws for another example. Way more mental than anything else, as these guys as pros should be able to hit free throws in their sleep. Yet plenty of players, including Wade who missed 2 down the stretch in this game, still miss them. Why? Because that is a perfect example where it is way more mental than anything else (of course Shaq is not included in this equation :rofl: ).

I am blown away that Dirk was nowhere to be seen in the 4th quarter. 2 points? Although Miami's defense was good, I cannot help but feel, especially knowing how good of a player he is, that the pressure obviously got to him. As I said, the Heat's defense is good, but it is not that good to shut him down and make him virtually disappear and score just 2 points when it matters most...

Truly, if Dirk showed up in the past 4 games, especially the last 3, this series would have been completely different...

Miami Heat have won the NBA title. Damn. Never thought I would hear those words, never mind type them.

Also as I said, for the record, I am a die-hard Knicks fan. I actually hate the Heat in theory. I still hold a grudge for Jeff Van Gundy being dragged on the floor and Charlie Ward being flipped onto his back. I just love Basketball, and it was my opinion after seeing the whole series unfold, that the Heat would win.

And DAMN, David Stern just said Wade averaged 37.4 points?

He seriously is the Real Deal. If only his uniform was mainly Blue & Orange... :laugh:

Great series though, and my hats off to both teams.

It truly was way better than it appeared it was going to be. (Y)

[L3thal Veteran]

Congrats to the refs...err the Heat :whistle:

Unpinned

[Jeremy1]

DWAYNE WADE HAS JUST BEEN FOULED AGAIN! A Mavs player just looked at him the wrong way, FOUL! There was an obvious bias in the officiating, this game was a joke. Miami didn't deserve the win, screw them.

[dL]

Wade is my favourite guy now! Congratz Heat!

dL

[L3thal Veteran]

Wade is my favourite guy now! Congratz Heat!

dL

Wade bandwagon? :unsure:

[Jeremy1]

Wade bandwagon? :unsure:

Of course, and that's why the NBA wanted Miami to win. Wade and Shaq.

[I am Reid]

DWAYNE WADE HAS JUST BEEN FOULED AGAIN! A Mavs player just looked at him the wrong way, FOUL! There was an obvious bias in the officiating, this game was a joke. Miami didn't deserve the win, screw them.

I didnt know the refs made Dallas shoot 34-92. Get the **** out of here with that fouling ****. All Dwayne Wade does is drive to the basket. I hope you realize who shoots the most foul shots per game, i have a feeling you dont know. Please go ahead and tell me when their was a foul that wasnt there. If a difference of 5 fouls in a game is huge to you then you obviously know nothing about basketball. Just by looking at what you said you wouldnt be able to name the starting lineup on ANY team in the NBA without having to look it up. Go back to the software section, becuase you have no clue about sports of any kind.

and you call other people bandwagons

[Circaflex]

Congrats to the refs...err the Heat :whistle:

Unpinned

Yea because the refs made them miss all those shots, and because shaq is never fouled right? Guys are hanging onto him and they dont call it. Dallas just lost, the refs didnt make them loose. Excuses are just like buttholes everyone has one and they stink. Dallas got out played.

[KzR]

Congrats Miami Heat on the NBA title!

I think Dwayne Wade will make the league exciting just like how Jordan did it in the past. After the Jordan era, the NBA hype died down, and of course David Stern has to find someone to jump start the hype again. It has not been surprising that many officiating calls went Miami's way. We'll definitely see a lot more Number 3 Heat jerseys in years to come. :)

I think the Josh Howard time-out mistake in Game 5 was the turning point. Dallas could have won that game, and probably they'll be the champions.

[L3thal Veteran]

I didnt know the refs made Dallas shoot 34-92. Get the **** out of here with that fouling ****. All Dwayne Wade does is drive to the basket. I hope you realize who shoots the most foul shots per game, i have a feeling you dont know. Please go ahead and tell me when their was a foul that wasnt there. If a difference of 5 fouls in a game is huge to you then you obviously know nothing about basketball. Just by looking at what you said you wouldnt be able to name the starting lineup on ANY team in the NBA without having to look it up. Go back to the software section, becuase you have no clue about sports of any kind.

and you call other people bandwagons

Can you bring it down 10 notches, please? If you cannot, then this isn't the place for you because all you are doing is talking out of your ass and insulting other people's opinions without any need. Don't like what other people think? Then don't come here.

Yea because the refs made them miss all those shots, and because shaq is never fouled right? Guys are hanging onto him and they dont call it. Dallas just lost, the refs didnt make them loose. Excuses are just like buttholes everyone has one and they stink. Dallas got out played.

I wasn't referring to Game 6, rather Games 3-5 :whistle:

[Circaflex]

and im referring to a whole season, shaqs always fouled but they hardly call it. I guess the refs made dirk play **** poor these last 3 games also? Refs are never at fault the mavs had their chances but blew it.

[mattmatik]

Dallas doesn't attack the basket enough. They were talking about this after the Heat tied the series at 2, Rick Barry on local sports talk was pretty irritated at how against the Spurs, Dirk Nowitzki was attacking the basket like a madman, constantly getting to the free throw line and forcing the refs to make calls. Against Miami, he was 85% outside of the paint, settling for jump shots. Jason Terry was the only Maverick to consistantly drive to the basket...and he was the only Maverick worth a damn in the series.

Meanwhile, you have Dwyane Wade taking it to the paint pretty much everytime he touches the ball. Yeah, the refs were questionable...especially after Game 4, but Dallas made exactly ZERO adjustments during the series while Pat Riley was constantly switching it up (and brilliant move to use Shandon Anderson to extend the bench). Miami had guys step it up in the clutch with Posey hitting a big 3 pointer and Gary Payton hitting a late jumper.

I must say I'm glad the Heat won, Dwyane Wade is a breath of fresh air for the NBA and he's easy to like on and OFF the court.

Now I'm looking forward to the 06-07 season...GO WARRIORS

[Circaflex]

have to agree with you soloredd, Wayde seems like a class act both on and off the court. Hes a young guy who knows what needs to be done. A lot of the "superstars" can learn a lot from him IMO. I just wish Dirk had a better series I was bias towards the heat because i like shaq but Dirk is amazing and I wouldve rather seen him play better the last few games. Nevertheless it was a great run.

[L3thal Veteran]

and im referring to a whole season, shaqs always fouled but they hardly call it. I guess the refs made dirk play **** poor these last 3 games also? Refs are never at fault the mavs had their chances but blew it.

I think you need to look back at game tapes from this year and past. Shaq injures players with his stupid elbows when trying to get a layups/dunks when he starts backing up to the rim and the refs never call it because he's Shaq :rolleyes:

[mufdvr3669]

DL, the game is not mental anymore. If you watched PTI and Around the Horn yesterday, you would see exactly how the Mavs were robbed in Miami and all the analysts predict that all the calls will go towards the Mavs in game 6 to make up for almost 50 FT's Miami had in Game 5 (50 FT's? :huh:). Its ludicrous how a team shot 50 FT's from the line and one player nearly had 30 of them, 2 of which of refs gave to win the game. Its nearly impossible for a team to shoot 50FT's unless the opposing team deliberately fouls them. Dallas will play with anger and a purpose and you will see it tonight.

They shot more free throws because Wade was always driving to the basket, jump shooters don't get foul calls usually. Excuses, excuses, everything but taking responsibility for their own losses. :blink:

[I am Reid]

They shot more free throws because Wade was always driving to the basket, jump shooters don't get foul calls usually. Excuses, excuses, everything but taking responsibility for their own losses. :blink:

Yes finally someone else understands how it works. In order to get the calls you have to attack the basket. When you do that, the ref has to call the foul as long as their is solid body contact, and the defender dosnt have his feet set, which isnt that often. Most people who have played basketball would tell you that you cant just sit in the key, because even though its 3 seconds, that 3 seconds goes by fast, and you always have to be moving in there. So the chances of someone driving to the basket getting fouled are high, becuase the defender has to come in, MOVING, to contest the shot, and as long as the defender makes body contact they will call the foul. That is something people dont seem to get. Also what ****es me off, is that people who think they know the rules dont. You are allowed to smack the hand of the shooter as hard as you want, its only the wrist that is a foul.

[Guest]

Awesome series, Basketball is really gaining popularity over here in the UK. I'll be buying my Wade jersey when I go to Orlando in July. Congrats Miami.

[GuJu]

Heat vs MAVS

go to about 6 games with Heat winning bc dwade had an awsome game!!

thank you wanna place bets anytime

i play css guild wars and halo and WoW

ill give gold or a nice kicking in the ass

TOLD U PPL :whistle:

HAHA that was posted June !st :D

[SimplySchizo]

Congrats to my boys here in Miami. See you guys @ the parade! :woot:

[Circaflex]

I think you need to look back at game tapes from this year and past. Shaq injures players with his stupid elbows when trying to get a layups/dunks when he starts backing up to the rim and the refs never call it because he's Shaq :rolleyes:

You have got to be kidding me right? Shaq is called for the most rediculous fouls because hes bigger than everyone else and because everyone flops. Hes grabbed around the waist, constantly hacked, but he doesnt flop so its never a foul. Im done arguing with you because we all know where that goes with mods. And im sure season after season of being constantly fouled and nothing being called you'd start playing rough.

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

Here is a good read about the finals overall, I found it linked from Mark Cuban's Blog. The guy makes some EXCELLENT observations about the refs and the league on a whole. I literally just read the entire page...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story...=simmons/060620

[L3thal Veteran]

Excellent article, Larry. That clearly explains everything that occurred in this series. As a matter of fact, here are two VERY interesting and true excerpts

First, Dwayne Wade shot as many free throws (25) as the entire Dallas team in Game 5. I just don't see how there's any way this can happen in a fairly-called game. It's theoretically impossible.

Second, everyone knew the officiating would be a problem heading into this series because of Cuban's past problems with the league. In my Finals preview, I wrote that "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." Well, we had our two games -- Game 3 (the last five minutes were just obscene) and Game 5 (again, a top-five debacle). And the series isn't over yet.

Then I went on to list the worst six referees. Here was No. 2 on the list:

"2. Bennett Salvatore -- Always one of the worst, he took it to another level this season. If you see him on the court at the start of the game, get ready for about six technicals, two near-brawls and both coaches having to be restrained by their assistants at various times."

Why is this relevant? Not only did Salvatore officiate Game 4 of the Suns-Lakers series (the one where Kobe tied it at the end of regulation and won it at the end of OT on two shaky non-calls on Nash, both by Salvatore), not only did Salvatore officiate Sunday night's Game 5 (in which Miami had a 40-12 free-throw advantage at one point), but Salvatore called the foul on Wade's final drive in overtime (remember, the call where ABC couldn't find a replay to show that anyone touched him?) even though he was standing at midcourt a full 35-40 feet from the play, and even though two other refs were closer to the play. Not only was that NOT his call, he butchered it.