Hoops

NBA Finals: Spurs vs Heat, Game 1

Everybody gets cramps
even the best of them
green won the game
fire
cant knock it
everybody chopping at lebron cause he is human for once
Mills leave him alone , when hes got the boomers jersey on , hes the best player on the floor . but for the spurs , he is the backup . does what he can but is not expected to be the replacement
his game is very different to parkers

Try increasing your Magnesium intake Mick.

Oh, and on the Mills defense, personally I don't agree with your example and I'll explain why.

The players Patty is asked to guard in the NBA are among the fastest on the planet, explosive and quick.

They also shoot the ball from range, better than almost anyone else on the planet, this is why they are in the NBA of course.

In truth, I think Mills is trying very hard, but I also believe he will get better at defending in isolation, which is what I think you are refering to.

As far as team defense and what he brings to the table for his team, I don't think he is a liability, this is what seems to be the perception and IMHO I don't agree with it...

"Thinking that was more of a Miami loss than a Spurs win"


How so?

The Spurs were 14/16 from the field and 6/6 from 3 in the 4th quarter. Unbelievable shooting.

People will go on about how the Heat didn't win because they didn't have Lebron on the court. What you have to realise is that their defence was the issue - not their offense.

Lebron is a great defensive player but I highly doubt his presence would have changed the result as his teammates couldnt handle the Spurs down the stretch.

SA deserved this. They won this by executing down the stretch. Their clinical 4th quarter display won them that game.

The 2014 NBA Finals Series:

San Antonio vs Miami

aka.

Gramps vs. Cramps

Funny thing is that back at the 2008 Olympics, scouts and coaches (including Coach K) were raving about his defence.

Coach K in particular:

"I love him defensively; I’m sure Brian does too. I’ve been a defensive coach my whole life and there aren’t very many people who stay with a guard – like right on him – when he has the ball – and if he’s beaten, he doesn’t retreat; he continues to play the play. He’s got to be an extremely tough-minded kid. As good as he is offensively, I think he’s got a chance to be a great defender."

I think he is a good on-ball defender.

But gets exposed a bit off the ball - fighting around screens and positioning on the help side.

I remember seeing him in 2008 pressure the ball-handlers all the way up the court the whole game.

Do the NBA coaches not want him to do this because of the risk of getting burnt and it ending up being a 5 on 4 situation?

I think the irony of my post was slightly lost in its disguise as a serious one...

Isaac, I agree with that, but also I think the attack on Patty's D is a little harsh, he is a shooting guard if they want strong D bring on Josephs.

Don't take my post out of context.

I don't know how well MJ would have played with cramp.

But I damn well know he would have tried to play on it.

That's not disrespecting anyone. Just saying that's what MJ would have done.

So, let's start a conspiracy thoery shall we?

1. LeBron suffers from cramps, sometimes, maybe more than he should...
2. The A/C isn't working properly in the stadium (Spurs home game), conditions are going to be especially draining on the body.
3. Spurs prepare better for a team oriented game and share some of the load rather than rely on one or two superstars.
4. Miami get off to a flyer, but Spurs know they need to hang in there as they will run the game out better, especially in these conditions.
5. LeBron goes down with bad cramp late in 4th quarter and Spurs run all over the Heat just like they planned it!

"If James comes good, Spurs should be worried…. If Heat can tidy up the passes and shots then Miami looking alright"

Wut?

You could say that about the Spurs - they had 22 turnovers!

I am not judging how serious Lebron's cramps were..

But lets be honest, Jordan would never sit out the last 5 minutes of an NBA Finals game.

Woah, LeBron looks really bad, I mean injured...

Is it cramp or something worse? Spurs up with 3.00 minutes to go and JAMES will not return in this game!

I am not even watching the game (at work), but this must be an absolute classic judging by the box score.