kg01

Didn't even look at it. Did not even look at it. Isola made a comment last week that a coach was complaining about how the Heat were playing .. this was apparently a game years ago, but still applies today. The coach was complaining about them fouling and the ref turned to the coach and kinda shrugged his shoulders and said, "Yeah, that's just how Miami plays..." Uhm, what? Is it against the rules or not? That's the question. If we decided to take 4 steps without dribbling instead of 2, are they gonna just let it go and say, "Bwah, that's just how Atlanta plays"? It's maddening but .. and here's the bit that explains why they continue to get away with it ... we gotta adjust or we're gonna lose.

In a word 'yes'. Don't be fooled by Tucker. He's absolute trash as a player. Whatever production he gives is completely dependent on situation. And the second .. the instant he has to do anything beyond catching and shooting, he's a middle school level player. If a game is even moderately called anywhere approaching tight, his "defense" is completely moot as he won't be able to stay on the floor more than 2 consecutive minutes. If we raise our level and play through the constant clutch/grabs, he has nothing else in the toolbox basketball-wise. Herro is able to contribute at a high level, for sure. But it'll be interesting to see how he'd fare against physicality. That's an unanswered question and guys typically don't do well when they start getting hit. It's certainly an adjustment they have to make. I'd like to see us give Herro something to think about in that regard. Jimi is not a shooter and I feel, if we match intensity levels, he reaches a level of diminishing returns because he won't be able to bully his way into spots like he did in game 1. When forced to be more of an outside threat, he comes up woefully short. Overall they are a well-coached team, which I believe is what you're seeing when you doubt our ability to out-talent them. I just think, once you take away the difference in forcefulness, we stand more than toe-to-toe in this matchup. With the only caveat being Capela's absence but, as supes pointed out, Okongwu did fairly well. Even avoided early foul trouble, which is what I thought would doom him.

The issue is the same(ish) as the Knicks matchup. They played hard against us all regular season. Once we matched their intensity, talent took over. With Miami, once we match their physicality, are they more talented than us? Not really. Knicks didn't have another level to get to. We did. Not much different here. Just gotta ratchet up the ratched.

If he's gonna be as off-rhythm as he was in game 1, I just wanna see Johnson in the same role. Be physical, foul, be disruptive, and catch lobbies. Can't be getting beat to spots by the ghost of Deadman consistently. That was embarrassing. Granted, Deadman shuffled his feet each time before dribbling which I thought was a travel, but that's a whole other thread. Maybe there's a thing called "playoff travels" that go uncalled? Did I miss that email? Oh I forgot, we're not s'posed to talk about officiating. 'Cause wanting them to call travels is disingenuous, I guess.

Welcome to the dark side, @Gray Mule. I saw this coming with BSPN years ago. They think people (a) tune in to hear them talk and (b) have too short an attention span to watch sports. It's not just baseball, all their sports coverage has devolved to some level of talk show ..................... and, oh yeah, there's a game going on behind our on-air talent(sic). I will not watch a single second of anything on that channel unless I absolutely have to. And, even then, mute the TV and purposely tune in late so I can DVR it and fast-forward as needed. Life shouldn't be that hard. If anyone comes up with a sports network that keeps it 'sports' (to the extent that they can, I know they gotta pay bills), I'm all in. Sadly, all networks now follow the BSPN model since that's what makes money.

And lol at the idea that we just have to take it 'cause, "Thas jus' the way that game's called" or w/e. If that's how they're allowing the game to go, some dude in a Heat jersey needs to finish the series in street clothes. Thoughts and prayers, tho. Thoughts and prayers.

I'd expect this thread from a Heat fan whos been programmed to see their fouling as "defense". That said, we have to do a better job at adjusting to the fact that they will be allowed to play outside even 'playoff' rules foul-wise. Bullies count on their bullying to get you outside your 'normal'. Once they see you complaining, that's half the win for them. And again, all that said, this is in no way an acknowledgement that the way the game was called was proper in any way. Just, I'd rather fight back and let the chips fall where they may. As opposed to trying to stay within the rules, lose, then complain when we get screwed. The screw is in. Deal with it accordingly. If the fake-hustle dive into knees and ankles is 'legal'. Why not put Mays in and give him marching orders that end up somewhere in the vicinity of Bam's legs? Hey, call it 'hustle' and apparently that makes it a-ok.

Ayo @Spud2nique, I got my loafers on with no socks. I got a jheri curl. And I got my pastels workin'. Crockett 'n Tubbs is in this b*tch! I been listening to Phil Collins all mornin' ... Oh I can feel it comin' in the air tonight... oh, lo'rd.... oh, lo'rd.... I'm more ready than Pastor Troy rite now! Yeah, that's right. A Phil Collins/Pastor Troy shout in the same post! ThasHowRed-EIAmMickyFickies!!!! Betta get-cho mines rite!!!

If those were reversed, how empty would these folks be saying Trae's numbers are?

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh snap ..... you goin' straight to heyul, RF.

I dunno man. Sounds like he's not actually ready. Kinda makes me wish Johnson was ready-er. We gotta punish their lack of size.

Oh, look at you huntin likes. Oh thank the sweet baby jeebus. Bwahahahaaa.. Jimi!

Aye man, this series is personal. I'm hair-pullin and everything. Years of bragging rights are at stake.

To be clear, this is a different discussion than the one I was referring to with soth's post. I think the hate has nothing to do with race or size. It's simply that too many eggsperts are being proven wrong in their initial assessment of the guy and they lack the guts to eat crow on it. Separately, I think race only comes into play with Trae when people try and explain why he's better suited for Atlanta. Which is kinda lazy. If the other guy was here, he'd be welcomed as well.

"Good thing MVP is a regular season award, baybee." - Jokic bros.

Agreed. If you're gonna act like a bully, you can't also be the dude whining about touch fouls or expecting to make your living at the line. JoeLLLL wants to be seen as a bully but reffed like a pansy.

Oh lookit that. Eliminate TOR's best play, the brik-it then rebound, and they're trash.

Mad yall made me look at some BSPN but that was worth it. Watching a 3 dudes eat crow never felt so guud. Speaking of which, @Sothrongot did wrong on RgM when he told them fools that BSPN was rating Luuka higher due to race. They called soth out and questioned him on all levels.... then soth produced the clip with SAS saying exactly what he accused him of. And do they allow soth his vindication? No, they lock the thread. Complete bullsh*t. I had your back soth but they locked it before I could reply.

But will he do what he did against us? Be 'hurt' after the game outcome is secure.

CK is biased since Trae has challenged him openly multiple times.

How dare you!? I said I was rooting for him and this is the thanks I get? Granted, it was more me rooting against Morant but potatoes, potah-toes. Also Morant with 20 free throws? I guess folks are just gonna be ok with that as long as it's not Trae?

In fairness, MEM is playing losing ball by playing Ja too many minutes. Check his +/-. If the Grizzlies do right by themselves and sit Morant, they've got this in the bag.

Exactly right. Its NOT on Ja. His team is superb. Them winning is definitely NOT on him. I see what you were doing there, supes.

Fantastic breakdown. I knew we had atleast one fashionista among us. What color kilt are you wearing this season, sir?

Not watching. Whats he doing? They're only up by like 7 over a mavs team missing their best player.