[New York Times] Western Conference Finals Game 6: Thunder 107, Spurs 99: Thunder Beat Spurs to Reach N.B.A. Finals (Thu, 07 Jun 2012 08:48:03 GMT)
Kevin Durant had 34 points and 14 rebounds as Oklahoma City rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit to win its fourth straight game against San Antonio after losing the first two games of the series.
[New York Times] On Pro Basketball: Miami Heat’s Problem Goes Beyond the Big 3 (Thu, 07 Jun 2012 05:20:08 GMT)
If Miami fails again this spring, it will only bolster the two most prominent themes: that LeBron James lacks some intangible championship gene, and that the Heat’s model is flawed.
[New York Times] For Celtics, Not Practicing Makes Perfect Sense (Thu, 07 Jun 2012 04:56:44 GMT)
The last time the Celtics held a conventional practice was before the start of the playoffs in April, a result of their age, injuries and a hectic game schedule.
[New York Times] Sports Briefing | Pro Basketball: Woman Who Died at Bosh’s Home Identified (Thu, 07 Jun 2012 03:35:04 GMT)
The Miami Beach police released the identity of the massage therapist who collapsed at the home of Miami Heat player Chris Bosh on Monday afternoon and died late that night at an area hospital.
[New York Times] Leading Off: Do the Heat Have Heart? (Thu, 07 Jun 2012 07:09:10 GMT)
The Boston Celtics have the will to win, and showed it against the Miami Heat on Tuesday. The Los Angeles Kings will have a chance to do the same on Wednesday against the Devils.
[New York Times] Durant Takes Charge, Pushes Thunder to NBA Finals (Thu, 07 Jun 2012 08:49:38 GMT)
For all the points, rebounds and assists that filled Kevin Durant’s impressive stat line, it was a defensive play he made that fired up his coach and teammates.
[New York Times] Title-Hungry Oklahoma City Steal San Antonio’s Thunder (Thu, 07 Jun 2012 07:22:39 GMT)
The San Antonio Spurs ended the regular season with 10 straight wins and carried the momentum into the playoffs with another 10 triumphs before the run came to a screeching halt against a young, hungry and athletic Oklahoma City Thunder.
[New York Times] Spurs Eliminated With 107-99 Loss to Thunder (Thu, 07 Jun 2012 05:26:11 GMT)
For the San Antonio Spurs, a season spent building greatness unraveled almost in an instant.
[New York Times] Thunder Strike Down Spurs, Advance to Finals (Thu, 07 Jun 2012 06:07:46 GMT)
The Oklahoma City Thunder booked their place in the National Basketball Association finals on the back of a furious second-half comeback led by Kevin Durant to take a series-clinching 107-99 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.
[New York Times] Western Conference Finals Game 6: Thunder 107, Spurs 99: Thunder Headed to N.B.A. Finals After Knocking Out Spurs (Thu, 07 Jun 2012 05:34:41 GMT)
Kevin Durant had 34 points and 14 rebounds as Oklahoma City rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit to win its fourth straight game against San Antonio after losing the first two games of the series.
[New York Times] Thunder Strike Down Spurs, Advance to NBA Finals (Thu, 07 Jun 2012 03:43:16 GMT)
The Oklahoma City Thunder booked their place in the National Basketball Association (NBA) finals with a series-clinching 107-99 win over the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.
A question for those of you out there with better memories than I:
When was the last time (if ever) that a team made the finals while missing a player of Bosh’s caliber?
I was having a discussion about this with someone last night and it really feels like how critical his loss was is getting downplayed, largely because Lebron and Wade played those four absurd games in a row to finish IND and win game 1 against BOS, and everyone basically accepted that they didn’t need him, which is obviously ridiculous. Even on these boards last night Ruru is implying that “trust” is the reason that Boston is overcoming being a worse team all year long, and not the fact that Miami is missing a guy who has made seven consecutive all-star games and is in his prime.
Honestly, shouldn’t we be more impressed that Miami is still so close while missing such an important piece?
It’s a shame for Bosh, that he has to be the subject of criticism or referred to as the big 2 1/2 but not that he is out and he is a big deal. Boston was supposed to be severely hamstrung by the loss of Avery Bradley who was expected to defend Wade and keep a gimpy Ray Allen’s minutes limited. Everyone has issues.
As for the question the Knicks went to the finals in 99 without Ewing.
Duh, yeah. Should have though of that one immediately. Any others?
The “everyone is banged up” thing I find a bit silly. Sure, everyone has injuries, but that doesn’t mean all injuries are created equal. Bradley is a nice player and did have a chance to play an important role in this series, but he doesn’t compare to Bosh.
I think the bigger concern is the “big three” concept. We’ve seen it again and again — if all three do not deliver, then the Heat seem to falter. Also important because Chalmers and Miller and Haslem have seemed acceptable, but not standout, role players.
And sometimes LeBron and Wade seem to take up fifteen seconds of the shot clock playing a two-man game, so it is all on them to make it happen.
Meanwhile — who out of the Celtics’ big three is emerging as the series MVP? Rondo, the fourth of the big three. Boston is playing more of a team game.
But I wouldn’t count out LeBron and Wade just yet. They’ll play like a bat out of hell tonight. I expect them each to score 40. And lose in OT.