The Heat has the easiest route to the Finals ever and its embarrassing.

[robert_shaww]

Thats the most significant thing to understand this year.

[SilkkTheShocker]

PM me for private conversation

[Inferno]

:facepalm

They didn't necessarily face top-notch competition, but the Bobcats were a top 5 defensive team and the Nets would be a 50 win team if they didn't have that slow start. Sure, their competition isn't as tough as the West but it's also a testament to the Heat's greatness that they've only lost once so far.

[robert_shaww]

:facepalm

They didn't necessarily face top-notch competition, but the Bobcats were a top 5 defensive team and the Nets would be a 50 win team if they didn't have that slow start. Sure, their competition isn't as tough as the West but it's also a testament to the Heat's greatness that they've only lost once so far.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1jK5C6kA8A0/Us94HPU9SuI/AAAAAAAACPI/o041hWAuQ3Y/s1600/Ron-Burgundy-Saying-I-Dont-Believe-You.gif

[Inferno]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1jK5C6kA8A0/Us94HPU9SuI/AAAAAAAACPI/o041hWAuQ3Y/s1600/Ron-Burgundy-Saying-I-Dont-Believe-You.gif

http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/teamstats/_/sort/defensiveEff

Top 6, whatever.

[robert_shaww]

http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/teamstats/_/sort/defensiveEff

Top 6, whatever.

http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11113/111131285/3538592-7023853657-1de8e.gif

[Mr.Kite]

100 degrees is hot.

[Hoopz2332]

keep telling yourself that:lol

[J Shuttlesworth]

Embarrassing... For who?

[deja vu]

Agree, easiest path to the Finals since the weakest Eastern conference in the early 2000s when the Nets made it there twice. :oldlol:

[Milbuck]

How exactly is it their fault? The East was supposed to be substantially better than they were this year. That's not Miami's fault.

The Bobcats were a pretty decent team, and with a healthy Al Jefferson, they were a tricky 1st round team. Just because they're weren't a 50-55 win team with a superstar, it doesn't mean they weren't a tricky first round team. Al Jefferson's injury wasn't Miami's fault.

The Nets had all the pieces to take out Miami, and they shat the bed. That's on them.

Indiana was even more prepared to take out the Heat. They took them to 7 last year, their players improved AND they made key additions. They looked like a dominant championship team with a 33-7 start...and now over the past few months, they've been collapsing. That's on them.

Out of all the young teams in the East who were expected to improve dramatically (Wizards, Cavaliers, Pistons, etc.), only one of them, the Wizards, did it. Teams in the East failing to live up to their potential is no one's fault but their own. That's on them.

Keep blaming Miami for the East sucking ass, it doesn't change the fact that they are still the back-to-back champions...doesn't that count for something?

[Pacquiao]

It's embarrassing when some people trying to discredit Durant when they're facing the Clippers and Memphis.

Bobcats and Nets wouldn't even make the playoffs in the West.

[robert_shaww]

It's embarrassing when some people trying to discredit Durant when they're facing the Clippers and Memphis.

Bobcats and Nets wouldn't even make the playoffs in the West.

:applause:

[robert_shaww]

How exactly is it their fault? The East was supposed to be substantially better than they were this year. That's not Miami's fault.

The Bobcats were a pretty decent team, and with a healthy Al Jefferson, they were a tricky 1st round team. Just because they're weren't a 50-55 win team with a superstar, it doesn't mean they weren't a tricky first round team. Al Jefferson's injury wasn't Miami's fault.

The Nets had all the pieces to take out Miami, and they shat the bed. That's on them.

Indiana was even more prepared to take out the Heat. They took them to 7 last year, their players improved AND they made key additions. They looked like a dominant championship team with a 33-7 start...and now over the past few months, they've been collapsing. That's on them.

Out of all the young teams in the East who were expected to improve dramatically (Wizards, Cavaliers, Pistons, etc.), only one of them, the Wizards, did it. Teams in the East failing to live up to their potential is no one's fault but their own. That's on them.

Keep blaming Miami for the East sucking ass, it doesn't change the fact that they are still the back-to-back champions...doesn't that count for something?

im not taking anything away from them in 2012 and 2013...but this year...:facepalm

[Milbuck]

im not taking anything away from them in 2012 and 2013...but this year...:facepalm
Yeah, and I'm saying, explain to me how it's their fault.

Everyone loves to whine about it, and I'll admit I've been caught doing that as well out of frustration, but looking at it objectively...how can we blame them?

[RoundMoundOfReb]

No, it's not anywhere close to true. Where to start?

Before 1967, the NBA playoffs were only two rounds and the the division winners got a 1st round bye. That meant a team only had to win one series to make the Finals. So, for example, the 1963 Celtics had to beat the 42-38 Cincy Royals to get to the finals. That's it. 1 team barely over .500. Their Finals opponent that season, the Lakers, had to beat only one team as well, the moderately more challenging 48-win St. Louis Hawks. Both teams graded out at about ~1 point better than league average per game. Is Miami's road to the Finals easier than that? The suggestion is ludicrous. In fact, there is barely a team before 1967 who could claim a harder road to the Finals than what Miami has this season.

So, set aside the "NBA history" hyperbole for a moment. What about post-1st round byes? Well, from 67 until 75 the playoffs stayed at 2 rounds, so even without a 1st round bye, teams often had rather easy paths to the Finals. The 74 Celtics, for example, only had to beat the 42-40 Buffalo Braves and the 49-33 Knicks en route to the Finals, hardly tougher or even as tough as Miami's 3 teams this year, no matter what you think of how Indiana is playing right now. In 1970, the Lakers only had to beat the 39 win Suns and 48-win Hawks.

Ok ok, so maybe when you said "NBA history" you didn't mean "NBA history," you meant post-merger NBA history, right?

Post-merger, though, they reinstated the 1st round bye for top seeds, so even though there were 3 rounds, some teams only had to win 2 series, not always against top flight competition either. In 77, the Sixers had to beat the 44-win Celtics (-1.9 SRS) and the 49-win Rockets (1.44 SRS). That's an easier two teams than Nets/Pacers and you don't even have a first round to worry about.

Ok ok, so maybe when you said "NBA history," what you really meant was NBA history since every team had to play all 3 rounds.

But then, of course, you have the Lakers in the 80s. In 84, for example, LA had the 38-44 KC Kings (negative SRS), followed by the 43-win Mavs (0.15 SRS), and then the 41-41 Phoenix Suns (0.65 SRS). There is no possible way anyone could honestly consider this a harder road to the Finals then what Miami has now. In 87, LA had the 37-win Nuggets, then the 42-win Warriors, and then 39 win Supersonics. That's right, LA's competition was collectively below .500 prior to the Finals. Again, no way you could possibly think that's anywhere near as difficult as what Miami has to go through now.

Ok, ok, so maybe when you said "NBA history," what you really meant was modern NBA history, because they weren't even playing defense in the early/mid 80's, right?

Well, the 91 Bulls had the 39-win Knicks, 44-win Sixers, and the 50-win Pistons. That's roughly comparable to what Miami had to face this season, by team metrics (SRS, win%), maybe even easier. But there was some star power there, so let's just set that aside and go more modern.

In 2000, the Pacers had to beat the 42-win Bucks (0 SRS), the 49 win Sixers (1 SRS), and the 50 win Knicks (1.3 SRS). Easier road that Miami has now.

In 2001, the Sixers beat the 41-win Pacers, the 47-win Raptors, and the 52 win Bucks (3.13 SRS). Easier road than Miami, pretty clearly.

In 2002, the Nets beat the 42 win Pacers, the 44-win Hornets, and the 49-win Celtics. Not much different from Miami's path to the Finals, definitely easier if Indy shows up.

In 2003, the Nets beat the 42 win Bucks, the 44 win Celtics, and the 50 win Pistons (3 SRS). Equal to or easier than Miami's run this year.

So even modern NBA history is out. So I guess when you say "NBA history" I don't know what you're talking about. Or more accurately, you don't know what you're talking about.


Ether successfully administered.

[Hoopz2332]

Ether successfully administered.


:applause:

[Rose'sACL]

agreed. This is why the 1987 lakers were not a great team. Celtics were the better team in the finals but lakers just had the easier path and that is why celtics lost in the finals.
1987 lakers face 37, 42 and 39 win teams to reach the finals which is way easier than what heat is facing this season. funny thing is that some consider 1987 lakers to be among the best teams of all time.

[J Shuttlesworth]

Spurs last year had an easier road than the Heat have this year

[Hoopz2332]

agreed. This is why the 1987 lakers were not a great team. Celtics were the better team in the finals but lakers just had the easier path and that is why celtics lost in the finals.
1987 lakers face 37, 42 and 39 win teams to reach the finals which is way easier than what heat is facing this season. funyn thing is that some cinder 1987 lakers to be among the best teams of all time.


yup:oldlol: :applause:

[plowking]

How is the Heat's road any easier than the Spurs so far?

Heat would sweep the Mavs, and probably beat the Blazers in 5 too.

More hypocritical statements coming from the cesspool of Heat haters on here. Now that Lebron is winning, haters don't have much left to stand on.

[Nash]

Wait, i thought millbuck was robert_shaww, why this dude talking to himself

[Smook A.]

Wait, i thought millbuck was robert_shaww, why this dude talking to himself
Alts do that to make themselves not look like alts. I've seen a couple posters do that

[stalkerforlife]

The Cheat have been an embarrassment ever since the collusion.

Nothing new here.

[imdaman99]

Ether successfully administered.
http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/2013/01/didnt-read-lol-chicken-gif.gif

[russwest0]

It's embarrassing when some people trying to discredit Durant when they're facing the Clippers and Memphis.

Bobcats and Nets wouldn't even make the playoffs in the West.

:applause: :applause: :applause:

[livinglegend]

Ether successfully administered.

Wow, that s probably the biggest ether in the history of ISH. :applause: :applause:

[Crimsonrain777]

How exactly is it their fault? The East was supposed to be substantially better than they were this year. That's not Miami's fault.

The Bobcats were a pretty decent team, and with a healthy Al Jefferson, they were a tricky 1st round team. Just because they're weren't a 50-55 win team with a superstar, it doesn't mean they weren't a tricky first round team. Al Jefferson's injury wasn't Miami's fault.

The Nets had all the pieces to take out Miami, and they shat the bed. That's on them.

Indiana was even more prepared to take out the Heat. They took them to 7 last year, their players improved AND they made key additions. They looked like a dominant championship team with a 33-7 start...and now over the past few months, they've been collapsing. That's on them.

Out of all the young teams in the East who were expected to improve dramatically (Wizards, Cavaliers, Pistons, etc.), only one of them, the Wizards, did it. Teams in the East failing to live up to their potential is no one's fault but their own. That's on them.

Keep blaming Miami for the East sucking ass, it doesn't change the fact that they are still the back-to-back champions...doesn't that count for something?

are u arguing with yourself?? y u stealing theoo's thunder :facepalm

[Crimsonrain777]

Spurs last year had an easier road than the Heat have this year

regardless, still a asterisk for the heat. any team that wins the finals with Lebron James gets an asterisk. he's basically a trump card :confusedshrug:

[RoundMoundOfReb]

http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/2013/01/didnt-read-lol-chicken-gif.gif

Everybody knows Knicks fans can't read. Dont need you to post that.

[tpols]

Yeah, and I'm saying, explain to me how it's their fault.

Everyone loves to whine about it, and I'll admit I've been caught doing that as well out of frustration, but looking at it objectively...how can we blame them?

It's not their fault but it's still reality.

[RoundMoundOfReb]

It's not their fault but it's still reality.
Except it isn't reality. There have been tons of teams with easier paths.

[tpols]

Except it isn't reality. There have been tons of teams with easier paths.

You got a list relative to team strength?

[J Shuttlesworth]

You got a list relative to team strength?
Read the giant post on Pg 2. There is a list