OT: NBA Finals Game 4 Open Thread

Submitted by Piston Blue on

I know that the popularity of the NBA is not so high on this board. However tonights a big game involiving one of the most consistent small market teams of any league of all time. The Spurs look to go up 3-1 and put the Heat in a stranglehold. After tuesdays crazy barrage of 3's, I wouldn't put it past them. Miami needs a win here, and if they lose there's going to be a ton of LeBron talk. Should be a great game!

MGoManBall

June 13th, 2013 at 7:41 PM ^

Heat haven't lost back to back games since early January. I don't expect tonight to be any different especially since Parker is a little gimpy with his hamstring.

TWSWBC

June 13th, 2013 at 7:44 PM ^

Spurs wont forget how to shoot, they move the ball to well and will continue to get open looks.  They wont make 16 threes again but 10-12 isnt out of the question.  If they hit that many and keep LeBron below 30 points, I think they will win.  Parker needs to be able to get in the paint and do some damage there as well. 

TheLastHarbaugh

June 13th, 2013 at 8:16 PM ^

That is kind of bullshit though. A severe muscle cramp is far more debilitating than a minor break of a bone.

I've seen Rich Franklin straight KO Chuck "Iceman" Liddell with a broken arm, and Floyd Mayweather breaks one of his hands in almost every single fight and it never prevents him from dominating.

If your leg or arm completely locks up it's absolutely worthless.

TheLastHarbaugh

June 13th, 2013 at 9:28 PM ^

I'm pretty sure Rich Franklin's arm was bearing a great deal of weight as it smashed into Chuck Liddell's face as Chuck was charging forward. Rich also knew his arm was broken in between rounds, and still threw that punch anyway. It was complete (I don't know the medical term but he said it was "clean through") fracture of the ulna. Rich said he shook his arm and could feel it "loose" inside of him. 

TheLastHarbaugh

June 13th, 2013 at 10:53 PM ^

The comment was made in jest.

Seriously, though...what that hockey dude did was tough, but it's rainbows and lollypops compared to KOing one of the greatest fighters of all time with a completely fractured bone in your arm. Throwing a punch full force while the dude is running at you beats gingerly skating on the ice, not really doing anything, by a landslide. If after breaking his leg, Campbell stole the puck, beat out 2 defenders down the ice and scored a goal while getting knocked down, then it would be equivalent. 

Clarence Beeks

June 13th, 2013 at 8:40 PM ^

What was Campbell's option? They weren't going to stop the play for him and he basically just stood there until Pittsburgh gave the puck away. Tough? Sure. I just don't get the graphic because there was literally nothing else he could have done.

Clarence Beeks

June 13th, 2013 at 9:22 PM ^

No one does that in that situation. It just doesn't work like that. By "he basically just stood there" I meant he didn't move in location (which is absolutely accurate). You (or anyone else) can "just stand there" and still move your arms. You didn't seriously think I meant he stood there like a mannequin, did you?

MAgoBLUE

June 13th, 2013 at 9:42 PM ^

You're right that no player would skate off in that situation or just lay on the ice.  Hockey players are tough and accountable to their teammates.  Saying he is just standing there isn't recognizing how much effort it took just to get up and wave his stick around.  The picture is comparing hockey to basketball in terms of toughness.

TheLastHarbaugh

June 13th, 2013 at 9:56 PM ^

LeBron is known for being indestructable, and was clearly in a great deal of pain. On the play where he injured himself, you could see his leg just give out on him and lock up. He hung on, came back, and hit maybe the clutchest shot of his entire career, and it was basically the finals clinching bucket (in terms of momentum) with that long, dagger three. So it wasn't like he didn't come back into the game. He basically came back and won them the game.

You can insult LeBron for a lot of things, but his physical toughness has never been one of them.

He was in some pain.

You also have to keep in mind LeBron's value to the Heat and the NBA is probably the equivalent of the entire Boston Bruins organization.

Essentially, there is nothing equivalent about these two situations.

amaizenblue402

June 13th, 2013 at 7:51 PM ^

LeBron was ice cold last night and not as assertive as he normally is. You will see a different LeBron tonight, an angry LeBron. He's going to have a great game and will carry the Heat to a W to even up the series.

The Spurs will not shoot lights out like they did last game and with Parker injured, he won't be as much of a problem.

Heat 97
Spurs 89

B-Nut-GoBlue

June 13th, 2013 at 7:51 PM ^

Go Spurs.  Though I highly doubt the rainstorm of three's will happen again and I think the Heat will have a bit of a better game than the second half of last Tuesday's game, ergo, I half expect the Heat to win this one.  I'm not sold on that whole back-to-back losses statistic; I think they win for quite a few reasons more than that stat.

DirkMcGurk

June 13th, 2013 at 7:51 PM ^

I just hope they still travel, carry the ball, set moving screens and use their off hand to create space.

NOLA Wolverine

June 13th, 2013 at 8:04 PM ^

Mainbar: Go Spurs. Count me among "the haters."

Sidebar: An open NBA Finals thread on the MGoBoard an hour and ten minutes before tip off yet only two people make mention on the board of the triple over time NHL finals game last night? I don't even know anymore. 

 

justingoblue

June 14th, 2013 at 12:01 AM ^

I turned the game off for like two hours in addition, in case the apathy wasn't clear there either. I will say last night's game was good enough to make tomorrow something to get excited about, though. Say what you will about either team, that's just good hockey right there.

Mainbar, I could go either way. Got a fraternity brother I'm close to that's a big Spurs fan, but Howard getting another ring (even playing like three minutes in the series) would be a cool story line.