2011-12 NBA Season

[infrared41]

Been a pretty awesome Finals so far, huh?

Yes it has. No complaints here. No problems with the officiating. No problems with Lebron. No problems with the OKC crowd. No problems with the announcers. No problems with any of it actually. Both games have been thoroughly entertaining. I've really enjoyed watching them. All of which begs the question; what the hell am I doing in this thread?

It's the two clear best teams from each conference, more or less evenly matched, playing hard for both games so far.

And while I do think the OKC crowd is a bunch of dorks, I can accept it as part of their charm and move on.

I've really enjoyed this year's NBA playoffs.

Which begs the question; what the hell are you doing in this thread? This is the place for pointing out everything that's wrong with the Finals. The "Let's talk about how much we're enjoying the playoffs and Finals" thread is over in...wait, that's right, we don't do that sort of thing around here.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

You're right. With the exception of two threads in the Lounge (Float Your Boat/Celebrate Yourself), the entirety of the Internet is supposed to be one big bitchfest.

You get catharsis wherever you can find it, I guess.

[Lights Out]

You can't really "even out" a foul that decides the end of the game.

It happened in this very game. How soon we forget the BS blocking foul on Battier that should have been a charge.

[Kevin W.]

You can't really "even out" a foul that decides the end of the game.

It happened in this very game. How soon we forget the BS blocking foul on Battier that should have been a charge.

That was definitely a foul on Battier, Durant didn't make both of his free throws and the Thunder were down six at that point. That foul didn't have nearly the same effect that the no-call on LeBron did.

[Lights Out]

Nah, it definitely looked more like a charge. Durant had five fouls without that - if called for the charge, that would have been six fouls and an early trip to the bench for Durant.

[Kevin W.]

Battier was moving towards Durant. It's not a charge if the defender is moving forwards toward the offensive player.

[See Red]

For what it's worth, Battier benefits more from bad charging calls then anybody. Durant had a charge earlier in the game that should've gone the other way. It's my least favorite call in basketball... A player is supposed to be set when the offensive player gathers, not when he's already starting his jump. The thunder benefitted from it a time or two also. I think they call way too many charges in the NBA. They should also move that little charging arch out further, in my opinion.

Also, I was watching in a bar without sound. What was the conclusion on the goaltending? Should the first block have negated the goaltend?

[FiddySicks]

So, if the Heat lose it's all Lebron's fault for being a choker. But if they win, it's all the refs fault for "handing" the game to the Heat. I think I get it.

Keep on hatin', haters.

[dfwabel]

For what it's worth, Battier benefits more from bad charging calls then anybody. Durant had a charge earlier in the game that should've gone the other way. It's my least favorite call in basketball... A player is supposed to be set when the offensive player gathers, not when he's already starting his jump. The thunder benefitted from it a time or two also. I think they call way too many charges in the NBA. They should also move that little charging arch out further, in my opinion.

Also, I was watching in a bar without sound. What was the conclusion on the goaltending? Should the first block have negated the goaltend?

And you have the ability of looking at replay on EVERY call. An official must call what s/he sees and not what s/he "thinks they see". Officiate HS ball to have a better opinion of how to watch action.

[HolyStroke]

That no call did not decide the game, starting the game 18-2, Miami making more foul shots (on one less attempt), 11 second chance opportunities for Miami, and Miami shutting down OKC's transition game decided this one

[ADW77]

For what it's worth, Battier benefits more from bad charging calls then anybody. Durant had a charge earlier in the game that should've gone the other way. It's my least favorite call in basketball... A player is supposed to be set when the offensive player gathers, not when he's already starting his jump. The thunder benefitted from it a time or two also. I think they call way too many charges in the NBA. They should also move that little charging arch out further, in my opinion.

Also, I was watching in a bar without sound. What was the conclusion on the goaltending? Should the first block have negated the goaltend?

They said the refs got it wrong, completely wrong. Durant getting the initial block should have cancelled out any goaltending by Ibaka.

[The_Admiral]

Yeah, the foul call was blown and it sucked a lot, but don't start your home game down 16. That pretty well sums it up.

Great great great Finals so far, and I hope Oklahoma City can come back from this.

[Fox]

So, if the Heat lose it's all Lebron's fault for being a choker. But if they win, it's all the refs fault for "handing" the game to the Heat. I think I get it.

Keep on hatin', haters.

Some people are just trolls, but last night and game 2 of the east finals vs. Boston had a few questionable foul calls down the stretch that significantly helped the Heat. I'm not into all of this, blame LeBron for everything crap, because he's the biggest reason that the Heat have made it to the finals. But I do think that the call was missed last night on Durant's short jumper.

[NJTank]

LeBron's having a waaaaay better Finals this year than he did last year. He looks a lot more confident and collected out there.

Yes he is, but Dwyane Wade is turning into Dwyane Fade he has been not so good, he may be hurt but he needs to be better if the Heat will win.

[HolyStroke]

Durant didnt get the call on the last play because he faded away. If he went straight up through the contact he would have got that call, but instead when he felt the contact he faded back away from it

[WSU151]

Battier was moving towards Durant. It's not a charge if the defender is moving forwards toward the offensive player.

If that's the case, every charge is a bad call. Battier was clearly set and outside the restricted area when Durant made contact. I thought it was a charge.

LeBron was good. Wade was good. Durant and Westbrook were good. Probably one of the best Finals games we've seen in a couple of years. The fourth quarter was as good as it gets.

[cameroncrazie07]

Didn't stay up to watch the last quarter of the game as I had to be up early to take an English Regents exam (New York State problems). But in my opinion from watching the highlights it didn't look like it was a horrible call, but you would think that the star player on the home team would get that with the game on the line. Also I hate LeBron just as much as the next guy, but we do have to give him some credit for hitting those 2 big free throws at the end. Anyways I will be looking forward to actually being able to watch the last 3-5 games of this series.

[HolyStroke]

I hate the charge calls when the ball handler has already gathered and is about to go up to the basket and the defender slides in and gets the call. Even if they're set when contact is made that shouldn't be a foul.

[rams80]

So, if the Heat lose it's all Lebron's fault for being a choker. But if they win, it's all the refs fault for "handing" the game to the Heat. I think I get it.

Keep on hatin', haters.

I'm not blaming that loss on the refs. OKC did not need to drive to the basket that early on their next to last possession, and of course, there's also the possibility OKC could have done more to not get in a huge hole early.

[Kevin W.]

Oh, absolutely. OKC got screwed by the referees on the blatant no-call but it never should have come to that. Falling behind so early really bit them in the ass.