Comments on: Heat 91, Thunder 85

By: The Latest Fuzz : A bit of Buzz from Doc J

The Latest Fuzz : A bit of Buzz from Doc J — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 04:00:10 +0000

[...] 2012, OKC Thunder vs. Miami Heat: Is Erik Spoelstra's …Bleacher ReportSLAM Online -NewsOK.com (blog)all 7,488 news [...]

By: Xavi

Xavi — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 23:38:16 +0000

You guys have what I consider the most polite baller in the game refusing to blame the refs, teammates, coach for his misses- refs will remember that and give him his due as long as he keeps it up. As a heat fan I really want the heat to win for lebrons sake and bc I don’t see anyone beating you guys for years to come. Nice team full of character you got!

By: KB

KB — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 14:34:35 +0000

This series is shutting up the debate on who is the best player in the league. In fact, this series is making that debate look flat silly. Durant, who has gotten somewhat better as a defender, has not been able to slow Lebron which is admittedly a tough task. But Lebron is making KD work for everything he gets while he gets free passes to the lane because KD is too scared to step in front and play physical or take a charge. Most of KD’s fouls are because he is not moving his feet and reaching or falling for pump fakes and just playing immature defense. Love that KD is on our team and he can score better than anybody, but I don’t believe he has what it takes to take this team to the promised land, yet.

By: TD

TD — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 13:57:47 +0000

Thunder did not play that great. Several costly issues that could have made the difference in the game: missed free throws (9); two fouls on 3-point shooters (6 points to them); 5 fouls on Durant; Westbrook on bench at same time as Durant leaving little offense in the 3rd; Sef’s inbounds pass to . . . Wayne; Harden going 2 for 10; questionable/missed calls (Harden’s late “foul” on James; James hitting backboard–these happen every game, and need to find way to win even with them–)

By: totalfan62

totalfan62 — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 13:39:30 +0000

So frustrating to lose this game that we could have won. LeBron is an absolute beast. He has “that look”, and he more than Wade or Bosh is motivated to erase last year’s disappointment.

Along with Westbrook’s four-possession folly, I thought the two fouls on corner 3pt shots were costly. Both Ibaka and Fisher should know better than to fly out at the shooter. Those were both tough shots: if they go down, so be it. But giving them six free throws–you knew they would nail all six–was huge.

Disappointed in and for James Harden. He had that deer-in-the-headlights look for much of the night. We can’t win without him, simple as that.

Thunder are still a much better TEAM than the Heat. We must find a way to contain LeBron, play good, solid D on Wade and Bosh, and play our game: strong team defense, breakouts and fast-break points. In the halfcourt game: move without the ball and get a good shot.

By: bertfan

bertfan — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 13:30:46 +0000

Agree with Okcjim, Ibaka should be in instead of Perkins at the end of the game. that plus mismanagement of the 3rd quarter when we clearly had momentum makes me think Brooks gave away the game.

By: TD

TD — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 13:29:43 +0000

Perks played as well as we can expect and got 10 points (4 free throws I think as well–not sure on number) and good number of boards. That said, DM (and other posters) have, I think, a good thought–Collison or Ibaka provide more offensive threat and might require that someone actually guard them. However, appreciate all Perks did in game 3.

By: Ken

Ken — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 13:26:56 +0000

Durant just played weak basketball and was outplayed by LeBron James. If he will take a charge, which is a rarity, why give LeBron a lay-up and foulshot to boot. Foul hard and make sure he will not make or don’t foul. Durant took too many jumpers that was way off. The player that was more aggressive is LeBron and I don’t know why Brooks let the weakling Durant guard him. He was better to guard a small player like Chalmers. Like the ABC analysts would say, live and die with jumpers, The Thunder just did that tonight.

Nobody was agressive to drive to the basket, the Thunder shoots itself again with LOW PERCENTAGE SHOTS. LeBron and Wade drove to the basket and collected fouls, that’s the difference.

The Thunder player’s most time like to block shots, by getting in the air by Wade’s, LeBron’s, Battier, James Jones (3-point specialist), and Miller’s pump fake that when they land to the Heat player in the act of shooting, its a shooting foul! That said; why in the world are these Thunder players not told by the coach and staff, not to be bait into it? Why have the Thunder coach and staff not scouted that Battier, James Jones, Miller plus Wade and LeBron been able to shoot the 3-pointers. It is always somebody else doing it in every game!

What’s up with all the missed foul shots with Durant and Harden? Are they feeling the pressure of the finals? If they are, then they have to mature quickly, before its too late for game 4!!!

By: TK

TK — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 12:03:58 +0000

@okcjim,
Totally agree. Perkins is the reason Bosh could come over to shut down KD’s drives in that fourth. If that’s Serge or Nick he can’t do that but of course the Heat aren’t worried about Perkins offense. Perk was fool’s gold last night.

By: Trevor

Trevor — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 10:47:53 +0000

OKC was down 2-0 to the Spurs. Everyone needs to keep the faith. Need to get one in Miami, that is all..

Like your suggestion about putting KD on Chalmers. He can then roam, help and focus on rebounding. KD cannot get into foul trouble..