04/24/24
June 13, 2012
Thunder Take Game 1 Over Heat: Kevin Durant's 36 points, eight rebounds and four assists led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 105-94 comeback win over the Miami Heat in game one of the NBA Finals Tuesday. LeBron James had 30 points for the Heat, but was bested by Durant's 17 points in the fourth. "Against most of Durant's moves, there can be no help," writes Henry Abbott.
posted by rcade to basketball at 11:02 AM - 16 comments
I don't understand how you're not busting your ass to get back when it's the Finals but Miami is sometimes slow to set up the defense
A defining moment in that game was Durant blocking a shot at the rim then beating 4 Heat players down the court for a dunk, 3 of which were outside of the 3 point line when the shot was taken. Should never happen, but it's a recurring theme with the Heat - stopping either to admire a play they've made or complaining to the referees. I've yet to see a Heat game where lack of focus didn't cost them 10 easy points on the defensive end.
posted by cixelsyd at 03:33 PM on June 13, 2012
Abbott is so right about Durant's speed. He is like a blur sometimes. He is such a powerful scorer. I don't understand why he goes such long stretches without touching the ball. I do get that Westbrook likes to score, but, OKC's offense works better when Durant is touching the ball.
I feel a little bit sorry for Lebron. He is going to get all the grief, but he really didn't get all that much help in the second half.
posted by bperk at 04:55 PM on June 13, 2012
bperk: I feel a little bit sorry for Lebron. He is going to get all the grief, but he really didn't get all that much help in the second half.The thing is, when you basically work with your buddies to try to engineer a dream team, and have the tone deafness to do so loudly and brashly in some overhyped media circus- and with a snub of the nose to your actual (meaning he grew up there) hometown fans- all while promising "Not 1, not 2, not 3..." eight championship rings... well, you kind of set yourself up to be mocked with every failure. Even if it's not his fault...
Yeah, he's playing great basketball himself, although I'd argue that Jordan would have scared his (less talented) teammates to play better, and failing that put in 40-50 points if necessary. tron7 and cixelsyd both note that Miami seems slow and unfocused, allow easy points to be scored in transition while they worry about officiating, or the last play. They could have easily lost that Celtics series against and older, creakier team for just that reason- but against a team of twenty-somethings? I think the Thunder will take this series for energy alone, even if Lebron has himself a 50+point game along the way.
And I fully believe the Heat will pull down a trophy soon enough; they're employing the Red Sox strategy of the previous decade, where you put together a team good enough to go deep into the playoffs every single year... eventually, one of these Miami teams will win it all.
But that's a far cry from promising eight championship rings.
posted by hincandenza at 05:42 PM on June 13, 2012
And I fully believe the Heat will pull down a trophy soon enough; they're employing the Red Sox strategy of the previous decade, where you put together a team good enough to go deep into the playoffs every single year... eventually, one of these Miami teams will win it all.
Which is like saying, even a stopped clock is correct twice a day.
Seriously, the Thunder are hitting on all cylinders as a team, and right now have the Heat outclassed. LeBron is playing his best basketball, but we know he's not able (or willing) to carry a team even though he can light up his stat sheet on any given night. Wade is off his game, while Bosh is coming off an injury. Still, are the Heat a team, or a collection of players playing for the same city? I want to like these guys, but they haven't given me reason to believe that they have defined roles and can play together. OKC is playing like they've had this figured out all season.
This is still just one game. Miami figured out how to put Boston away in two games with their backs against the wall; they're not going to fold over the next three games.
posted by NerfballPro at 06:01 PM on June 13, 2012
The thing is, when you basically work with your buddies to try to engineer a dream team, and have the tone deafness to do so loudly and brashly in some overhyped media circus- and with a snub of the nose to your actual (meaning he grew up there) hometown fans- all while promising "Not 1, not 2, not 3..." eight championship rings... well, you kind of set yourself up to be mocked with every failure. Even if it's not his fault...
There is no excuse for that Decision stuff, but Wade engineered this crap, too. The difference is that Lebron at least seems to be doing his part. Lebron is no Jordan and has no Jordan-like tendencies, which is why he wanted to join with Wade and Bosh in the first place. Had he known that they would desert him as they have, he might not have given up all he gave up to come to Miami. When you hear OKC fans cheering M-V-P for Durant, it is obvious how much Lebron gave up though I doubt he has enough self-awareness to regret his actions.
posted by bperk at 06:05 PM on June 13, 2012
There is no excuse for that Decision stuff, but Wade engineered this crap, too. The difference is that Lebron at least seems to be doing his part.
I am a hahd-co-wah Celtics fan and even I think he's getting jobbed. The guy is the scariest player in the league and he's being killed for his teammates' shortcomings. He has carried Wade through at least the last series and it continued last night.
all while promising "Not 1, not 2, not 3..." eight championship rings
Two things, as best I remember:
1. He never explicitly said 8.
2. He never said "not 1". It started with "not 2". Admittedly he was talking about "championships", but it's strange to me no one noticed he might have claimed he'd only win one.
posted by yerfatma at 07:41 PM on June 13, 2012
He replied to the interviewer prompting him with "Championships -- not one..."
James immediately picked up with "...not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven." He didn't say the word "eight," but it would be pretty weaselly to deny that he said he'd pass Jordan's Bulls.
posted by Etrigan at 08:12 PM on June 13, 2012
Remember that the Heat always seem to enjoy a 2 to 1 free throw advantage at home.
Remember also that the NBA, for some unknown reason, switches to a 2-3-2 format for the finals, essentially giving the advantage to the second best team.
And remember that James is ridiculously talented and if he keeps his head out of his arse can win a game on his own, witness Game 6 Celtics series.
If the Heat win game 2 they are in excellent shape.
My money is still on a less talented but harder working OKC team.
posted by cixelsyd at 08:22 PM on June 13, 2012
Less talented? How so?
posted by bperk at 08:24 PM on June 13, 2012
Too many times they were slow in getting back...
This was true in the Boston series, and the Celtics were able to exploit it on occasion. The problem with Boston was injuries and age restricting how often they could get out running. A healthy Avery Bradley or a combined 30 year age drop might have Boston in the finals. Of course, judging from what I saw in the second half last night, I'm not sure this would have been a good thing.
posted by Howard_T at 08:30 PM on June 13, 2012
I still don't understand how the Thunder coach can allow possessions where Russell Westbrook dribbles up and takes a jump shot from the 3 point line without any of his teammates touching the ball.
People say he's a good coach but I just don't get it. You have the best pure scorer in the world in Durant and there are stretches of the game where he never touches the ball on the offensive end. It is truly mind-boggling.
posted by insomnyuk at 08:48 PM on June 13, 2012
Westbrook takes some bad shots. But he makes up for it by hustling for the rebounds, getting back on D, etc. He's an athlete playing point guard. He doesn't have a typical point guard mentality or feel for the game.
Also, don't expect these coaches' game plans or adjustments to rival Doc Rivers or Phil Jackson. They are both young and learning the ropes. One of them may eventually become a great coach (depends how long they can keep everyone in OKC).
posted by cixelsyd at 09:24 PM on June 13, 2012
Which is like saying, even a stopped clock is correct twice a day.
That is really good news. What year is the Buck's stopped clock scheduled to be correct?
A healthy Avery Bradley or a combined 30 year age drop might have Boston in the finals.
The Heat counter with a healthy Chris Bosh and a in-his-prime Alonzo Mourning.
Still, are the Heat a team, or a collection of players playing for the same city?
These are both great teams. You don't get to the NBA finals with a collection of players. You don't play the kind of suffocating defense the Heat play without being a great team. Sure, I think the Thunder are a more complete team but that doesn't mean they are going to win and it won't cheapen the victory if the Heat win the series.
There aren't too many things that need to change in order for the Heat to win this series. That was a very competitive game and it was far from the Heat's best work. I haven't seen much to suggest that the Heat are doomed. Except maybe Wade's play, he doesn't seem right.
posted by tron7 at 02:00 AM on June 14, 2012
I still don't understand how the Thunder coach can allow possessions where Russell Westbrook dribbles up and takes a jump shot from the 3 point line
Even Rajon Rondo, who is nowhere near the offensive force Westbrook is, does this regularly. Westbrook does it because Durant is such a threat, not in spite of the fact: if Westbrook is getting an open look like that, it probably means the defense is sagging or doubling Durant. Taking the occasional open shot when offered keeps the D honest.
posted by yerfatma at 09:35 AM on June 14, 2012
Occasional? Westbrook? OKC's offense works better when Durant is more involved; sometimes Westbrook seems to forget that. Durant doesn't seem to mind though. He is quite efficient as soon as he does get the ball.
posted by bperk at 10:22 AM on June 14, 2012
The Thunder's defense was great in the second half. Miami's was great too once they got set. Too many times they were slow in getting back and it let Westbrook get going without having to attack a set Miami defense. I don't understand how you're not busting your ass to get back when it's the Finals but Miami is sometimes slow to set up the defense. They get burned and it wakes them up again but a few possessions later they forget and are taking their sweet time getting back.