Miami's road to the Finals: Charlotte, Toronto and Washington/Atlanta

[JohnMax]

This is down right embarrassing :facepalm

[navy]

Pacers, Nets, and Knicks fault. They were suppose to be good this year. De throne the Heat they said.

[SilkkTheShocker]

Cry some more. Love seeing these west teams beat the living piss out of each other. Can't wait for the 3peat

[dude77]

don't ya love it ? :rockon: .. they're gonna be fresh come the finals

[JellyBean]

Don't blame the Heat. The Pacers, Nets, and Knicks just choked away their chances.

[Mr. Incredible]

CHEER UP BRO! :lol

[AnaheimLakers24]

everyone and their mom just chalks these titles up as asterisk

[bigkingsfan]

Washington could beat any Western Conference team.

[Rake2204]

Yikes, that's actually a little unsettling seeing it laid out in front of me. That is a strange conference right now.

[Warfan]

Nets, Knicks, Pacers and the Bulls were supposed to all be great or very good this year but they either had injuries, collapsed or just underachieved. Why are people still crying over this shit, we know the east is garbage, don't need 5 different threads a day about it.

[IncarceratedBob]

Washington could beat any Western Conference team.
Any of the 8 WC playoff teams would beat the Wiz in a 7 game series

[livinglegend]

Washington could beat any Western Conference team.

This.

[atljonesbro]

The Hawks are sneaky good. They have the ability to hang with any team due to their play style.

[livinglegend]

Any of the 8 WC playoff teams would beat the Wiz in a 7 game series

Yeah, just like OKC and Spurs were supposed to sweep Celtics/Heat in the finals in 2012.
Overrated west teams getting overrated................ again.

[Nuff Said]

Cry some more. Love seeing these west teams beat the living piss out of each other. Can't wait for the 3peat
:banana: :banana:

[livinglegend]

The Hawks are sneaky good. They have the ability to hang with any team due to their play style.

They could beat OKC in a 7 games series.
Korver would own Durant just like he is owning Hibbert right now.

[The-Legend-24]

***

[kamil]

*

Easiest road to the finals, ever.

[jzek]

Didn't the Wizards beat them 4x this year?

[Bernkastel]

Didn't the Wizards beat them 4x this year?

Didn't the Bulls beat them four times a little while ago? :confusedshrug:

[navy]

Didn't the Wizards beat them 4x this year?
No. They beat them twice. Lebron and Bosh didnt play the last one.

[Heavincent]

Washington could beat any Western Conference team.

:roll:

You know the Wizards wouldn't have even made the playoffs if they were in the west, right? Not even close as a matter of fact.

[Keno]

and that's miami's fault how? pacers and nets losing in the first round lmao.

[Uncle Drew]

Pacers still not out of this.

[Quizno]

Washington could beat any Western Conference team.
wizards record vs. western conference opponents in 2014: 11-19

[Ethem]

Hawks getting overrated because the horrific Pacers are making them look like basketball gods. They would get destroyed by any western conference team, including the 6-8 seeds. As would the wiz.


Just look at all the trouble the Mavs and grizzlies have given okc and the spurs. And these are teams with serious playoff experience. Wiz and Raptors wouldn't weather the adversity. Hawks would get embarrassed. Every team in the west is -from top to bottom- better than every team in the east except miami.

[JT123]

Why are idiots acting like the Raptors and Wizards are still garbage? :facepalm
Have you guys even been watching the NBA this year? Tornto had the 3rd best record in the East since January 1st, better than the Heat! The Wizards are no joke either. Young up and coming team that can shoot the lights out from 3, and punish you inside with Nene and Gortat! Wiz are the team of the future, we are truly witnessing a changing of the guard in the NBA.

[plowking]

So who are we blaming for this? The Heat, I'm guessing?

They're responsible for making all the good teams win as well, so it's harder for them.

And people acting like Toronto and Wizards are trash teams? Toronto are a 55 win team since getting rid of Rudy Gay. Washington most likely finish with 50-55 wins too if it wasn't for injuries all season long.

People harp on about Memphis being so much better than their record. Well so are the Wizards, Toronto and Brooklyn.

[Heavincent]

Why are idiots acting like the Raptors and Wizards are still garbage? :facepalm
Have you guys even been watching the NBA this year? Tornto had the 3rd best record in the East since January 1st, better than the Heat! The Wizards are no joke either. Young up and coming team that can shoot the lights out from 3, and punish you inside with Nene and Gortat! Wiz are the team of the future, we are truly witnessing a changing of the guard in the NBA.

They're not garbage. They're just not playoff teams if you put them in the west.

Facts are facts :confusedshrug:

[MMM]

Those teams are better than you think

Remember when people thought the Pacers were not good competition for the Heat in 2012. However realized how wrong they were after it went 7.

Well I seriously believe Toronto and Washington are on that level if not better, this Miami team is a lot worse than their past Championship teams as well..

[Ethem]

Why are idiots acting like the Raptors and Wizards are still garbage? :facepalm
Have you guys even been watching the NBA this year? Tornto had the 3rd best record in the East since January 1st, better than the Heat! The Wizards are no joke either. Young up and coming team that can shoot the lights out from 3, and punish you inside with Nene and Gortat! Wiz are the team of the future, we are truly witnessing a changing of the guard in the NBA.

Have you watched any western conference playoff games? The playoffs are totally different from the regular season. The wiz might be the future, but right now they are an untested, inexperienced team that could barely stay above .500 for most of the year. In the east. They would fold under the pressure against any western conference team given the talent and experience that even the 7th and 8th seeds have.

[PickernRoller]

Washington could beat any Western Conference team.

:facepalm

[Kingwillball]

Until Pacers are done don't count them out..

[MMM]

Have you watched any western conference playoff games? The playoffs are totally different from the regular season. The wiz might be the future, but right now they are an untested, inexperienced team that could barely stay above .500 for most of the year. In the east. They would fold under the pressure against any western conference team given the talent and experience that even the 7th and 8th seeds have.

Not comparing them to the West but don't you think it is impressive that they went into a place like Chicago and won 3 straight. The Bulls were heavy favorites if I remember correctly yet the Wiz dispatched them quickly.

Honestly just seems like people can't appreciate Eastern Conference style basketball. The Wiz/Bulls series was actually more competitive than it looked by results.

[MMM]

Until Pacers are done don't count them out..

Pacers are definitely done

[jzek]

Until Pacers are done don't count them out..

They were done after the All Star break. Their life support is about to be unplugged soon.

[JT123]

Not comparing them to the West but don't you think it is impressive that they went into a place like Chicago and won 3 straight. The Bulls were heavy favorites if I remember correctly yet the Wiz dispatched them quickly.

Honestly just seems like people can't appreciate Eastern Conference style basketball. The Wiz/Bulls series was actually more competitive than it looked by results.
This. Any team that can win 3 straight playoff games in Chicago is not to be taken lightly. I think they would give Miami a very good fight. I believe the Wiz were a top 5 three point shooting team this year, and the Heat happen to suck at defending the 3 so anything could happen. :confusedshrug:

[JT123]

They were done after the All Star break. Their life support is about to be unplugged soon.
But they always seem to come to life when they play the Heat. The Pacers can't be counted out until they are actually eliminated.

[Lebron23]

Have you watched any western conference playoff games? The playoffs are totally different from the regular season. The wiz might be the future, but right now they are an untested, inexperienced team that could barely stay above .500 for most of the year. In the east. They would fold under the pressure against any western conference team given the talent and experience that even the 7th and 8th seeds have.

Bulls choked against the Wizards. Nene owned Joakim Noah the reigning defensive player of the year in the first round of the playoffs.

[houston]

Lakers in the 80's use to run the west like that

[MMM]

Bulls choked against the Wizards. Nene owned Joakim Noah the reigning defensive player of the year in the first round of the playoffs.

Bulls didn't choke

At most they seemed like they were runned down. Gortat getting every loose ball is probably evidence of that.

[Legends66NBA7]

They're not garbage. They're just not playoff teams if you put them in the west.

Can you tell me which teams are coming to the East if those teams are going West ?

[RoundMoundOfReb]

1987 Lakers (Regarded as one of the greatest teams of all time) road to the finals:

Denver 37-45: -1.14 SRS
Golden State 42-40: -2.53 SRS
Seattle 39-43: 0.08 SRS

2014 Miami Heat theoretical path to the finals:

Charlotte 43-39: -0.89 SRS
Toronto 48-34: 2.55 SRS
Washington 44-38: 0.48 SRS


If you think 10 years from now anybody will care about how "easy" the Heat's path was/is you're an idiot.

[PickernRoller]

1987 Lakers (Regarded as one of the greatest teams of all time) road to the finals:

Denver 37-45: -1.14 SRS
Golden State 42-40: -2.53 SRS
Seattle 39-43: 0.08 SRS

2014 Miami Heat theoretical path to the finals:

Charlotte 43-39: -0.89 SRS
Toronto 48-34: 2.55 SRS
Washington 44-38: 0.48 SRS


If you think 10 years from now anybody will care about how "easy" the Heat's path was/is you're an idiot.

So basically people forgetting is the only way that Lebron's rings become legitimate and not asterisks? Nice game plan by his stans.

[Fudge]

Embarrassing.

Another asterisk.

[MMM]

So basically people forgetting is the only way that Lebron's rings become legitimate and not asterisks? Nice game plan by his stans.

By your logic are Magic rings asterisks????

Easier road to the Finals with a more Stacked roster.

[edrick]

They're not garbage. They're just not playoff teams if you put them in the west.

Facts are facts :confusedshrug:

Apparently OKC can't handle defensive based teams... which means OKC might be worse off if some of the east teams were in the west.

[zoom17]

http://gifsoup.com/view3/3810284/heat-dancing-o.gif

[MMM]

Apparently OKC can't handle defensive based teams... which means OKC might be worse off if some of the east teams were in the west.

8th seed in the East will likely take out the Pacers but I think Pacers would crush OKC in a series. Match ups and styles make fights.

[BuffaloBill]

it would be pretty funny if the heat loses to one of these teams

[Legends66NBA7]

it would be pretty funny if the heat loses to one of these teams

They certainly can. Not sure why people are over looking either Toronto or Washington or even Brooklyn.

[MellowYellow]

Those teams are better than you think

Remember when people thought the Pacers were not good competition for the Heat in 2012. However realized how wrong they were after it went 7.

Well I seriously believe Toronto and Washington are on that level if not better, this Miami team is a lot worse than their past Championship teams as well..

Truth, Heatles are in for some battles in the east. Bad NBA Fans about to wake up to the realization that Mia is not invincible

[Droid101]

Least wins by conference opponents for a Finals appearance in NBA history I'd imagine. Probably not even close. (This is assuming the Hawks somehow make the ECF.)

[BuffaloBill]

They certainly can. Not sure why people are over looking either Toronto or Washington or even Brooklyn.


It's not extremely likely. But it would be funny because everyone is saying they have such an easy road to the finals. But if the Heat actually thought that way, they would be dead meat.

[MMM]

They certainly can. Not sure why people are over looking either Toronto or Washington or even Brooklyn.

Word, it might be unlikely but there have been crazier upsets. This post season already might potentially provide some as well.

I've said this before but this Miami team is jot even as good as past teams.

Probably the worst in the LeBron era and their role players look like they are on their last legs. There is only so much LeBron can do.

[navy]

Least wins by conference opponents for a Finals appearance in NBA history I'd imagine. Probably not even close. (This is assuming the Hawks somehow make the ECF.)
You are very uneducated. :coleman:

[MMM]

Least wins by conference opponents for a Finals appearance in NBA history I'd imagine. Probably not even close. (This is assuming the Hawks somehow make the ECF.)

Guess you missed the 87 Lakers run that was posted with teams under. 500 in multiple rounds.

[Solidape]

Any of the 8 WC playoff teams would beat the Wiz in a 7 game series

And then some!

[MellowYellow]

:roll:

You know the Wizards wouldn't have even made the playoffs if they were in the west, right? Not even close as a matter of fact.

Surely you have seen from these playoffs that having the better regular season record does NOT always mean that they are better.

[Just2McFly]

They're not garbage. They're just not playoff teams if you put them in the west.

Facts are facts :confusedshrug:

This whole " put this team in the west" argument makes no sense. You can't just transplant a whole teams win loss record from another conference and expect it to be the same against a completely different conference. That's the most idiotic point I have seen in some time and you keep making it.

Washington/Toronto and Brooklyn are teams with depth and talent. I don't see what makes west teams, especially lower seeds like Dallas/Memphis/GSW a tier above them.

[Lebron23]

s
1987 Lakers (Regarded as one of the greatest teams of all time) road to the finals:

Denver 37-45: -1.14 SRS
Golden State 42-40: -2.53 SRS
Seattle 39-43: 0.08 SRS

2014 Miami Heat theoretical path to the finals:

Charlotte 43-39: -0.89 SRS
Toronto 48-34: 2.55 SRS
Washington 44-38: 0.48 SRS


If you think 10 years from now anybody will care
about how "easy" the Heat's path was/is you're an idiot.


This

Kobetards are so stupid. They also forget that Kobe is averaging 25 ppg on 40 FG% against these pathetic eastern conference champions in the NBA Finals.

[ihoopallday]

This whole " put this team in the west" argument makes no sense. You can't just transplant a whole teams win loss record from another conference and expect it to be the same against a completely different conference. That's the most idiotic point I have seen in some time and you keep making it.

Washington/Toronto and Brooklyn are teams with depth and talent. I don't see what makes west teams, especially lower seeds like Dallas/Memphis/GSW a tier above them.

Nailed it right on the head. But nowadays the only thing Heat haters have left is hypotheticals.

[poido123]

This whole " put this team in the west" argument makes no sense. You can't just transplant a whole teams win loss record from another conference and expect it to be the same against a completely different conference. That's the most idiotic point I have seen in some time and you keep making it.

Washington/Toronto and Brooklyn are teams with depth and talent. I don't see what makes west teams, especially lower seeds like Dallas/Memphis/GSW a tier above them.


The first part is right, but then you fck it up in the second part. Although people don't mean that in the literal sense, but making a point of the level of competition in the 2 conferences.

Dallas, Memphis and Golden State are all better teams, Wiz are really hard to judge right now, they could easily fold up like a bad tent against a team like Miami. Toronto are not built to win a championship now, too young and inexperienced. Brooklyn are the most part old, and blow big leads because of it.

[Big#50]

The Heat are still an awesome team. They will miss Mike Miller in the finals though. Dude is a killer.

[dannysc305]

Come on guys have some respect at the end of the day they're all professionals

[Relinquish]

:roll:

You know the Wizards wouldn't have even made the playoffs if they were in the west, right? Not even close as a matter of fact.

Yes because Miller, Gooden, Nene and Harrington played every game right? Those are/were all crucial pieces to our team in the regular season and they either were not on the team for much of the season or missed a whole bunch of games due to injury. On top of that, Beal missed quite a few games.

[Leftimage]

This is down right embarrassing :facepalm

Meh, it'll be a moot point yet again once the Heat dismantle their WC counterpart in the finals.

b-b-b-but the ''elite'' west teams got all battered & bruised In the 1st and 2nd rounds! No fair!

[All Net]

Miami aren't bothered but yeah this is why we need top 16 teams in the playoffs

[jimmy77x]

Colluding. Things are Just how Lebeta and his blind idiot followers like it, as easy as possible, then try and throw it in everyone's face like its some great accomplishment :lol

[OmniStrife]

Washington could beat any Western Conference team.
http://cdn.business2community.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/michael-jordan-lol.gif

Washington couldn't Beat the Suns in a series, let alone OKC / LAC / MEM / SAS
Maybe they could take out DAL / GSW

[Big#50]

Colluding. Things are Just how Lebeta and his blind idiot followers like it, as easy as possible, then try and throw it in everyone's like its some great accomplishment :lol
Lebron is still an all time talent. He took the easy way to a ring or whatever. He may not be a Duncan or Shaq but the dude is still great. No need to hate. Appreciate the game you love.

[BlazerRed]

Leastern conference. Every one of Leflop's rings has an asterisk on it.

[plowking]

Lebron is still an all time talent. He took the easy way to a ring or whatever. He may not be a Duncan or Shaq but the dude is still great. No need to hate. Appreciate the game you love.

He is a better player than Duncan ever was. That much is apparent from watching the game.

Shaq is better than both of them.

[Lebron23]

He is a better player than Duncan ever was. That much is apparent from watching the game.

Shaq is better than both of them.


Lebron would be the goat forward if the Heat wins another championship this year.

[ihoopallday]

Miami aren't bothered but yeah this is why we need top 16 teams in the playoffs

This, I agree with. Sucks seeing teams like Phoenix not in the playoffs. But what's annoying is people trying to make it seem like Miami has control of what other teams do.

[Random_Guy]

ill just copy and paste..
lol @ people still shitting on miami.
Knicks/Nets/Bulls/Pacers were supposed to be good and teams like the cavs and the wizards were supposed to be sleeper teams.
its not the heat's fault that they all underachieved. if we want to play this game, then I could say that miami has the hardest playoff run ever, beating teams that could beat a team with multiple allstars and future HOf in the nets, and the east are so strong that even a melo led team cnat make it to the playoffs. Im just saying~stop arguing how easy it is for miami, they are back to back champs, even if they are not in the west they deserve the benefit of the doubt..

[trabash]

When did Toronto and especially Atlanta win their series? Have I missed something?

Atlanta is by far the worst team in this year's Playoffs and a series ain't over till it's over. Stop this premature threads, same shit every year.

[BoutPractice]

Pacers, Brooklyn might still make it. Besides, if you thought the Pacers had a chance to beat the Heat... then why wouldn't the team that beat the Pacers over a 7 game series have a chance too? Atlanta is potentially a Cinderella story in the making.

[The-Legend-24]

:roll: @ those teams.

Stacked as fvck, yet they still get to cake walk to the finals. :oldlol:

[jlip]

1987 Lakers (Regarded as one of the greatest teams of all time) road to the finals:

Denver 37-45: -1.14 SRS
Golden State 42-40: -2.53 SRS
Seattle 39-43: 0.08 SRS

2014 Miami Heat theoretical path to the finals:

Charlotte 43-39: -0.89 SRS
Toronto 48-34: 2.55 SRS
Washington 44-38: 0.48 SRS


If you think 10 years from now anybody will care about how "easy" the Heat's path was/is you're an idiot.

The Heat's Eastern Conference playoff run, based solely on the regular season records of their potential opponents, would not be much different than the Bulls first title run in '91.

Knicks- 39-43
76rs- 44-38
Pistons- 50-31

[Trollsmasher]

1987 Lakers (Regarded as one of the greatest teams of all time) road to the finals:

Denver 37-45: -1.14 SRS
Golden State 42-40: -2.53 SRS
Seattle 39-43: 0.08 SRS

2014 Miami Heat theoretical path to the finals:

Charlotte 43-39: -0.89 SRS
Toronto 48-34: 2.55 SRS
Washington 44-38: 0.48 SRS


If you think 10 years from now anybody will care about how "easy" the Heat's path was/is you're an idiot.

The Heat's Eastern Conference playoff run, based solely on the regular season records of their potential opponents, would not be much different than the Bulls first title run in '91.

Knicks- 39-43
76rs- 44-38
Pistons- 50-31
these two posts bring in ether:applause:

[DMAVS41]

these two posts bring in ether:applause:

I don't see how. Those are two of the easiest routes to the finals ever. It actually makes the point...these last two years are extremely easy routes to the finals.

It doesn't cheapen the rings or anything like that...it just needs to be pointed out. It's just a night/day difference between conferences right now.

Also, the 91 Pistons are twice as good as any team currently in the East. So I wouldn't laugh them off. They were a lot better than their 50 win regular season as well...Isiah missed like half the season in 91 iirc.

If the Pacers don't get to the ECF...the Heat will have back to back finals appearances without beating 1 50 win team. That is absurdly easy.

[All Net]

I don't see how. Those are two of the easiest routes to the finals ever. It actually makes the point...these last two years are extremely easy routes to the finals.

It doesn't cheapen the rings or anything like that...it just needs to be pointed out. It's just a night/day difference between conferences right now.

Also, the 91 Pistons are twice as good as any team currently in the East. So I wouldn't laugh them off. They were a lot better than their 50 win regular season as well...Isiah missed like half the season in 91 iirc.
Yeah it's not a knock on Miami. Not their fault.

[Anaximandro1]

Miami aren't bothered but yeah this is why we need top 16 teams in the playoffs

This


Lebron is still an all time talent. He took the easy way to a ring or whatever. He may not be a Duncan or Shaq but the dude is still great. No need to hate. Appreciate the game you love.

Yeah. Duncan/Shaq are better but LeBron is still great.


He is a better player than Duncan ever was. That much is apparent from watching the game.

Shaq is better than both of them.

Lebron would not stand a chance of beating prime Duncan, assuming similar supporting casts.

That much is apparent from watching the NBA Finals. So, there's no debate here.

Duncan/Shaq is close, but Duncan did more with less.


Lebron would be the goat forward if the Heat wins another championship this year.

Duncan is the GOAT forward. Again, there's no debate.

Four rings as the first option and defensive anchor, without All NBA - teammates, playing in the Western Conference during the Shaq/Kobe era.

only Player in NBA Playoff history to have over 500 blocks

only Player in NBA Playoff history to have over 1,800 defensive rebounds

only Player in NBA Playoff history to have over 4,500 + pt/ 2,500 + rb / 500 + blk

NBA Playoff record most defensive rebounds in a six-game series

NBA Playoff record most blocks in a six-game series

151 career playoff double-doubles, second most in NBA history only Magic has more (157)

Has the highest winning percentage out of any player of all of the 4 major sports teams in the last 17 years

15 straight seasons with 50 or more wins...

[Marlo_Stanfield]

lmfao at how mad people are at things the Heat cant even controll:oldlol: :oldlol:

[lilgodfather1]

The heat will be 12-0 by the time the finals rolls around, if I had to be. We could be seeing an nba record 16-0 playoffs here. The team that comes from the west will be tired and banged up, and the heat will have had a week off before the series.

[DaSeba5]

All of their main competition is on the verge of getting eliminated in the first round. WTF you want them to do? It's not their fault. I wouldn't sleep on Toronto or Washington though.

[Demitri98]

http://edition.englishclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/asterisk.jpg

[Just2McFly]

When did Toronto and especially Atlanta win their series? Have I missed something?

Atlanta is by far the worst team in this year's Playoffs and a series ain't over till it's over. Stop this premature threads, same shit every year.

Have you seen Atlanta play?:wtf:

[Just2McFly]

The first part is right, but then you fck it up in the second part. Although people don't mean that in the literal sense, but making a point of the level of competition in the 2 conferences.

Dallas, Memphis and Golden State are all better teams, Wiz are really hard to judge right now, they could easily fold up like a bad tent against a team like Miami. Toronto are not built to win a championship now, too young and inexperienced. Brooklyn are the most part old, and blow big leads because of it.

No team is perfect. I just don't see how Dallas is running Atlanta out of the building. Memphis versus Charlotte would be a defensive struggle for the ages and Brooklyn versus GSW would be an entertaining shootout.

I don't see how any of those teams a part of an upper echelon.

I'd actually take Atlanta over Dallas in 6.

[FLDFSU]

So how does a 16 game format help the Thunder beat Memphis or The Pacers to beat the Heat or the Houston from defeating Portland?

If the ultimate goal is to win a ring how does this 16 playoff format change the ultimate best team from winning a ring?

[DMAVS41]

No team is perfect. I just don't see how Dallas is running Atlanta out of the building. Memphis versus Charlotte would be a defensive struggle for the ages and Brooklyn versus GSW would be an entertaining shootout.

I don't see how any of those teams a part of an upper echelon.

I'd actually take Atlanta over Dallas in 6.

No, just no.

The Mavs could easily be up 3-2 against the Spurs right now. Essentially 4 of the 5 games played so far could have gone either way with 3 minutes left. And the only for sure of the series has gone to Dallas in game 2.

So the Mavs can do that to the Spurs without HCA...but they are going to lose in 6 to a Hawks team maybe 50% as good as the Spurs...while the Hawks have nobody on the team that could play Dirk 20% as good as Splitter has?



Look. Nobody is saying the Heat winning doesn't count. That is silly. But it's a clear advantage to play in the East all year and in the playoffs. It just is. You can coast to the 2 seed. You don't have play as many hard games. You get at least 1 round in the playoffs in which losing is impossible...

We just need to acknowledge the difference. That is all.

Making the finals four straight times, if they do, is going to historic regardless. And if they 3 peat...nobody is going to mention this stuff.

Conversely, if they do lose, then the competition stuff will be mentioned. And rightfully so. They are going to likely have back to back years not playing a 50 win team. And that is doubly hilarious because a good team would coast to 50 wins in the East.

Hawks over the Mavs in 6...:facepalm

[DMAVS41]

So how does a 16 game format help the Thunder beat Memphis or The Pacers to beat the Heat or the Houston from defeating Portland?

If the ultimate goal is to win a ring how does this 16 playoff format change the ultimate best team from winning a ring?

Oh, I think it definitely could change it.

These margins are small to begin with. Just a hypothetical...I'm not saying this was the case as the Spurs had a pretty easy road to the finals.

But just imagine a scenario in which one team in the finals is 10% fresher than the other because one team has had to play a handful of more competitive games to get there and they are worn down a bit. This happens in the NBA. Teams and players get worn down...

Am I saying I think that has happened to date for the Heat? Actually yes. I don't think the 12 Heat make it out of the West without Bosh. I think they lose to the Spurs or Thunder without Bosh in 12.

[atljonesbro]

When did Toronto and especially Atlanta win their series? Have I missed something?

Atlanta is by far the worst team in this year's Playoffs and a series ain't over till it's over. Stop this premature threads, same shit every year.
Lol. And yet they're winning their series. Another typical, LOL360DUNKYOLOESPNTOP10 kid.

[Heavincent]

No team is perfect. I just don't see how Dallas is running Atlanta out of the building. Memphis versus Charlotte would be a defensive struggle for the ages and Brooklyn versus GSW would be an entertaining shootout.

I don't see how any of those teams a part of an upper echelon.

I'd actually take Atlanta over Dallas in 6.

:wtf: :biggums:

Dallas >>> Atlanta

It's not even remotely close. Atlanta won 39 ****ing games :oldlol: Dallas is better in every way. This isn't debatable. Dallas in 4, 5 at most.

Memphis >>> Charlotte

Again, this isn't close. Charlotte is basically a poor man's version of Memphis. Memphis in 5.

GS >>> Brooklyn

I've watched both teams extensively. Again, GS is better in every regard. lol at "shootout". GS's elite defense wouldn't have much of an issue shutting down the Nets offense. GS in 5. I'm a fan of both teams, so there's no bias here.

None of your comparisons make any ****ing sense. The western teams win every one of the those matchups with relative ease.

[Heavincent]

I still can't believe there are people who try to pretend like there isn't a massive discrepancy between East and West. It's such a joke.

"Atlanta beats Dallas in 6"
"The Wizards would beat any western team"
"The Heat don't have an easy road to the Finals"
"West is overrated. East is just as good"

Are you people for real?

[Quickening]

You could flip it over and say getting battle hardened throughout the playoffs is more valuable than just beating poor teams until you meet the best of the best from the west.

Since when is playing poor competition better preparation for a final than good competition? Miami still have to beat the best team from the west, you realise they don' get a championship for winning the conference finals.

[Legends66NBA7]

I'd actually take Atlanta over Dallas in 6.

I'm assuming you mean healthy Atlanta with Horford. Otherwise, no they wouldn't win.

[Legends66NBA7]

People don't realize how injured the East became this year. I mean the Hawks would be a Top 4 seed if Horford doesn't go down. The Knicks were never healthy all year. Toronto and Chicago were supposed to tank when they traded players, while Dolan rejecting the trade for Lowry and Rose lost for the Bulls again. Brooklyn lost Brook Lopez for the season and were never at full strength early on and through out the rest of the year without Brook.

It would have been much more competitive. Probably not at the level of the West overall, but certainly could challenge some of the lower tier of the West. Toronto came close to being the only East team of sweeping 6 different Western Conference teams, which included Dallas and Memphis. It took epic comebacks from OKC and Golden State to prevent them from being the 6th and 7th teams.

[red1]

People don't realize how injured the East became this year. I mean the Hawks would be a Top 4 seed if Horford doesn't go down. The Knicks were never healthy all year. Toronto and Chicago were supposed to tank when they traded players, while Dolan rejecting the trade for Lowry and Rose lost for the Bulls again. Brooklyn lost Brook Lopez for the season and were never at full strength early on and through out the rest of the year without Brook.

It would have been much more competitive. Probably not at the level of the West overall, but certainly could challenge some of the lower tier of the West. Toronto came close to being the only East team of sweeping 6 different Western Conference teams, which included Dallas and Memphis. It took epic comebacks from OKC and Golden State to prevent them from being the 6th and 7th teams.
I will never forgive salmons for blowing that game by giving kd a chance to hit a gamewinner on us. What a f*cking scrub

[mistergreens]

Clinging to this concept of "asterisk" rings says much more about you thant it does Lebron or the Heat. It's pure haterade, and like someone said, no one will remember paths in the past few years. If the East is so easy, then Miami will EASILY get exposed by the West champ in the finals right? Maybe, but to simply ignore the eye test and just look at paper stats is ridiculous. Stop acting like Miami doesn't belong.

[FLDFSU]

Oh, I think it definitely could change it.

These margins are small to begin with. Just a hypothetical...I'm not saying this was the case as the Spurs had a pretty easy road to the finals.

But just imagine a scenario in which one team in the finals is 10% fresher than the other because one team has had to play a handful of more competitive games to get there and they are worn down a bit. This happens in the NBA. Teams and players get worn down...

Am I saying I think that has happened to date for the Heat? Actually yes. I don't think the 12 Heat make it out of the West without Bosh. I think they lose to the Spurs or Thunder without Bosh in 12.


But that didn't stop Miami from defeating the Spurs, or Miami from defeating the Thunder the year before. Both years MIA got pushed to 7 games in the ECF only to go on to win a ring. In 2011, Miami played 5 games in the ECF, and had a much easier road-based on games played-and still ended up losing to the Mavs.

At the end of the day, the best team will win the title. 16 team playoff won't change a thing; If X is the best team, they will ultimately prevail.

[FLDFSU]

People don't realize how injured the East became this year. I mean the Hawks would be a Top 4 seed if Horford doesn't go down. The Knicks were never healthy all year. Toronto and Chicago were supposed to tank when they traded players, while Dolan rejecting the trade for Lowry and Rose lost for the Bulls again. Brooklyn lost Brook Lopez for the season and were never at full strength early on and through out the rest of the year without Brook.

It would have been much more competitive. Probably not at the level of the West overall, but certainly could challenge some of the lower tier of the West. Toronto came close to being the only East team of sweeping 6 different Western Conference teams, which included Dallas and Memphis. It took epic comebacks from OKC and Golden State to prevent them from being the 6th and 7th teams.

While I generally agree. That is no excuse. Miami's Wade missed like half the season trying to protect an injury and the Heat ended up with a top 2 seed.

The Knicks have ZERO excuse for missing the playoffs.

And BKN is even worse, they have Pierce, Johnson, and Williams...Don't want to hear about injury.

The only team (and they made it as a top 4) that is legit is Chicago.

[FLDFSU]

Clinging to this concept of "asterisk" rings says much more about you thant it does Lebron or the Heat. It's pure haterade, and like someone said, no one will remember paths in the past few years. If the East is so easy, then Miami will EASILY get exposed by the West champ in the finals right? Maybe, but to simply ignore the eye test and just look at paper stats is ridiculous. Stop acting like Miami doesn't belong.

:applause: Been saying it for weeks now. Whoever wins the West should then have no problem beating the living hell out of the "weaker" East winner.

[ArbitraryWater]

So how does a 16 game format help the Thunder beat Memphis or The Pacers to beat the Heat or the Houston from defeating Portland?

If the ultimate goal is to win a ring how does this 16 playoff format change the ultimate best team from winning a ring?

BECAUSE THOSE TEAMS WOULDNT EVEN START PLAYING EACH OTHER YOU DUMBASS :banghead: :banghead:

http://espngrantland.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/bracket1152.jpg%3Fw%3D510%26h%3D496

You see the ****in' difference? Get it in your head already

How can anyone even be against this? From a pure competition/fairness standpoint, it doesnt get any more simple and fairer than this... but no, because this team plays in a city in the east, lets have them play different opponents.. retard

[fragokota]

So according to these matchups we would only have two teams from the east in the second round :oldlol:

[kennethgriffin]

after this playoffs.. lebron might have more finals appearances than series victories against 50+ win teams


5 NBA Finals
4 victories vs 50+ win teams




























:biggums:

assuming he loses in the finals

[ArbitraryWater]

So according to these matchups we would only have two teams from the east in the second round :oldlol:

and now account for east teams playing weaker teams through the whole season :lol

pacers might drop out :roll:

[TylerOO]

Doesn't bother me.

[FLDFSU]

BECAUSE THOSE TEAMS WOULDNT EVEN START PLAYING EACH OTHER YOU DUMBASS :banghead: :banghead:

You see the ****in' difference? Get it in your head already

How can anyone even be against this? From a pure competition/fairness standpoint, it doesnt get any more simple and fairer than this... but no, because this team plays in a city in the east, lets have them play different opponents.. retard

So how is that format going to allow the Thunder to beat Memphis? Or the Pacers the Hawks?

I will say it again.

WHO CARES IF THE 49ERS CAN BEAT THE BRONCOS IN THE SUPERBOWL! THE FACT IS THEY COULDN'T BEAT THE SEAHAWKS IN THE ROUND BEFORE!!

WHO CARES IF UGA CAN BEAT NOTRE DAME IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME! THE FACT IS THEY COULDN'T BEAT UA IN THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP THE ROUND BEFORE!!

The point of the playoffs is to WIN the RING. Not to determine who the 2nd-16th best teams in the league. This format would never give you that.

If the Miami Heat can not beat the Spurs in the Finals, they might as well lose to the Bobcats in round 1.

AT THE END OF THE DAY THE BEST TEAM WILL WIN THE RING. 8 team conference, 16 team conference, 30 team conference. As long as you have brackets, and best of 7 game series, changing the the number of teams won't give a different ultimate winner.

You think Shaq's Lakers or Jordan's Bulls all of a sudden will lose because they had to play the Mavs in the first round, or in the case of Jordan, the Jazz in round 2?

CHANGES NOTHING AS IT RELATES TO WHAT IT WAS INTENDED FOR--CROWING A NBA CHAMPION.

[KingBeasley08]

It is what it is brah. At the end of the day, the only people that'll be upset are ISH

[FLDFSU]

Something else you guys are forgetting...at least as it applies to the Heat.

Nobody cares that the Heat get to the Finals. Nobody. So the fact the "their road is easier" means nothing.

They have to WIN the Finals.

So one of those great Western Conference teams, if they meet Miami, should have ZERO problem beating down the "weak" Eastern Conference Champions.

[Solefade]

the two best teams meet in the finals and you get 7 chances to beat each other 4 times...no one really buys into the "asterisks shit"...sorry

[FLDFSU]

the two best teams meet in the finals and you get 7 chances to beat each other 4 times...no one really buys into the "asterisks shit"...sorry

Your ultimate point is correct about asterisks, but the two best teams don't always meet in the finals.

Many believe that the 49ers are the second best team last year, and for years, folks think that the best 4 teams in college football belong to the SEC.

But what is true is that the of the two that meet, one is the best team in the tournament, and that team will alway win.

[Black Mamba's B]

Why are idiots acting like the Raptors and Wizards are still garbage? :facepalm
Have you guys even been watching the NBA this year? Tornto had the 3rd best record in the East since January 1st, better than the Heat! The Wizards are no joke either. Young up and coming team that can shoot the lights out from 3, and punish you inside with Nene and Gortat! Wiz are the team of the future, we are truly witnessing a changing of the guard in the NBA.
Because they are garbage

[aboss4real24]

To b fair

Heat are not a elite talented team themselves

A Washed up wade

a Bosh that picks n chooses wen he wants to show up in playoff games

Battier who has 1 gud game every series

Chalmers who plays like he's throwing the game at times

And They still dont have a true C, n Havent had 1 since LB Been there

[ArbitraryWater]

So how is that format going to allow the Thunder to beat Memphis? Or the Pacers the Hawks?

I will say it again.

WHO CARES IF THE 49ERS CAN BEAT THE BRONCOS IN THE SUPERBOWL! THE FACT IS THEY COULDN'T BEAT THE SEAHAWKS IN THE ROUND BEFORE!!

WHO CARES IF UGA CAN BEAT NOTRE DAME IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME! THE FACT IS THEY COULDN'T BEAT UA IN THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP THE ROUND BEFORE!!

The point of the playoffs is to WIN the RING. Not to determine who the 2nd-16th best teams in the league. This format would never give you that.

If the Miami Heat can not beat the Spurs in the Finals, they might as well lose to the Bobcats in round 1.

AT THE END OF THE DAY THE BEST TEAM WILL WIN THE RING. 8 team conference, 16 team conference, 30 team conference. As long as you have brackets, and best of 7 game series, changing the the number of teams won't give a different ultimate winner.

You think Shaq's Lakers or Jordan's Bulls all of a sudden will lose because they had to play the Mavs in the first round, or in the case of Jordan, the Jazz in round 2?

CHANGES NOTHING AS IT RELATES TO WHAT IT WAS INTENDED FOR--CROWING A NBA CHAMPION.


Most retarded piece of shit on this board

[oh the horror]

It is what it is brah. At the end of the day, the only people that'll be upset are ISH



If you're hearing rumors about the league lookin into it then it's bigger than ISH dude. The east is an embarrassment.

[red1]

BECAUSE THOSE TEAMS WOULDNT EVEN START PLAYING EACH OTHER YOU DUMBASS :banghead: :banghead:

http://espngrantland.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/bracket1152.jpg%3Fw%3D510%26h%3D496

You see the ****in' difference? Get it in your head already

How can anyone even be against this? From a pure competition/fairness standpoint, it doesnt get any more simple and fairer than this... but no, because this team plays in a city in the east, lets have them play different opponents.. retard
I support this. The only thing holding the league back from going with this model is the logistics of flying teams back and forth. Thats the same reason they go with the 2-3-2 format for the finals. If they start that 2-3-2 bullshit for earlier rounds then I'll just be satisfied with what we have now.

[Rubio2Gasol]

Any of the 8 WC playoff teams would beat the Wiz in a 7 game series

Phoenix too,

[The-Legend-24]

They need to change this shit, west teams are beating the shit out of each other just to get out of the 1st round. :oldlol:

Meanwhile in the east.. Wizards, Bobcats, Hawks, Bulls without Rose :roll:

[MMM]

The heat will be 12-0 by the time the finals rolls around, if I had to be. We could be seeing an nba record 16-0 playoffs here. The team that comes from the west will be tired and banged up, and the heat will have had a week off before the series.

I've said this before but Miami is not even as good as they've been in the past and young upcoming teams in the East can bring a surprise challenge to Miami as the 2012 Pacers did. In fact I think Atlanta, Toronto, and Washington are either at that level already or close, especially Washington and Toronto.

Maybe it is just people not paying attention to the season but those teams actually were playing at a good clip for some time now. I guess they will only get respect after the fact like the 2012 Pacers.

[MMM]

Phoenix too,

Phoenix had a better regular season but I don't see why it's impossible for the Bullets to win a playoff series vs. The Suns.

I love the young talent on Phoenix but give me Washington vets in a 7 game series. I think Washington would be a tough out for other lower west teams as well.

Just because they have a lower regular season record doesn't reflect on the match ups they can present to lower seeded West teams. I would say the same for Toronto but would not stretch it further in the East

[MMM]

Because they are garbage

So winning at a 55 win clip for half the Year means nothing right. Keep sleeping on the Raptors but don't boost them after they have a 2012 Pacers run.

[All Net]

Suns had such a great year with 48 wins and sadly would likely be a 2nd round team out east. It is what it is.

[MMM]

Suns had such a great year with 48 wins and sadly would likely be a 2nd round team out east. It is what it is.

Suns are a young team I don't think they match up with any of the top 5-6 teams in the East. Indy and Brooklyn would have been Their best shot but I think those teams having experience would give them the edge in a long series.

[TheMagicMan]

http://www.printable-alphabets.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/print-signs-askerisk-204x204.png