NBA Finals

[GTDawg]

I'm not sure how you can say they crushed Miami in every way when it was one of the closest finals in a decade in regards to scores.

Miami played very well and was in every single game only to have LeBron/the whole team struggle in the 4th quarter.

In no way, shape, or form is that the definition of crushing them or destroying them or any other word that defines a massive victory.

Yes, the Mavs crushed them in the 4th quarter of, pretty much, every game. And, the biggest win was 10 points in the final game.

There were 3 games decided by 2/3 points. That's not crushing someone.

[Wes]

Sports do tend to lead to results oriented thinking.

[Kurn]

In sports, the only thing that counts are results.

[Zybomb]

I posted this on my facebook, but for those of u who arent FB friends with me.... awesome Lebron/MJ commercial, never more fitting than after the finals

[Wes]

In life the only thing that counts is results. Only the wise are even aware of the conundrum this presents when gauging the accuracy of quality.

[Kurn]

Agreed, but if your point is that the results of this NBA finals is not indicative of the Heat's potential for future championships, all I can do is point to Lebron's failures in past playoffs as well.

More than that, nobody on his team looked like they wanted the ball in the 4th quarter of game six. His response was not to take control, but to throw up wild 3-pointers. Not the way a winner plays.

His talents make a big difference in the regular season, but in the playoffs, will > skill, and he has yet to show he has that will. Doesn't mean he'll never get it. But as of now, he has been tested several times and found wanting.

Like the Sedin twins in the Stanley cup, regular season success and skill doesn't translate into a championship if the other guys are willing to smack you in the mouth (figuratively in basketball, literally in hockey), and dare you to respond.

With Lebron and the heat, we'll see.

[Wes]

If the Heat win game six, Dirk would still have the reputation of choking in big games.

Dirk in '06 vs. the Spurs was pretty clutch. In 06 vs. the Heat, not clutch.

In '07 vs. the Warriors, not clutch. In 11 vs. the heat, clutch (but really only because he won).

Clutchness in sports is so vastly overrated and forgotten how poorly people were when people win. Lebron has been vastly so clutch in just about every series excluding the NBA finals and the year he figured out that he didn't want to stay in Ohio. Yes, Lebron hasn't done well in the Finals. These are supposed to be the best two teams in the finals, so not really all that surprising (and the Spurs were so much better than a one man team the first time around).

But somehow Dirk now has a ring and he'll forever be remembered as Mr. 4th quarter as opposed to the choker that he was before. If D. Wade makes the 2nd free throws in the 4th game, perhaps Lebron will now forever be remembered as the best of all time, and perhaps Dirk will be this era's Charles Barkley. But his free throw rimmed out and now all these experts are waying in how much Lebron sucks and how much Dirk is a god.

The greatness of a person in sports is so heavily weighted by some minute percentage point it is ridiculous.

[sjay2k]

It doesn't make any sense to offer alternative realities where things only go one way.

How can you say the above without also saying, "If Dallas won in 2006, Dirk would be known as an all-time big game player"?

Also, when you say "if the Heat win game six" you are entering a complete world of fantasy. In the 4th quarter the Heat were never even close. They really struggled to score, and often took low percentage shots to avoid a shot clock violation. It's not as if they lost because of a bad call or a single shot at the buzzer. They were simply outclassed.

Sidenote: