So much amazing is happening, and the Shootaround crew is here to help you keep track of it all. You'll find takes on moments you might've missed from the previous night, along with ones you will remember forever.
Miami, the Destroyers
People talk about how impossible it is to play against the Heat when they have the ball in transition. On Thursday night, we saw how pretty much un-defendable LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were in pick-and-roll situations. And we all know how devastating Dexter Pittman is in the paint. But what if Miami's true gift is much more insidious than anything they can get accomplished on the court?
The Heat put the Pacers out of their misery last night, but it felt like suffering was just beginning in Indiana. The Pacers didn't just lose, they got beaten. Larry Bird was in a funk, Frank Vogel looked worked over (and, honestly, a little undermined), Danny Granger rolled his ankle, and the #GoldSwagger army looked simply like a lot of Hoosiers wearing yellow shirts.
This is what Miami does, apparently. The circus comes to town and you are left sweeping up the crap. They apply pressure, everywhere, even off the the court â" seriously, doesn't all the griping about refs and calls and physical play seem like a smokescreen for Spoelstra & Co. to figure out how to engineer the offense without Bosh? â" And they simply break teams. And then members of those teams break glass encasements (in case of emergency).
â" Chris Ryan
Then Again, Maybe Dwyane Wade, Post-Knee Drain, Is Just Real Good at Hoops
â" Ryan
He Would Have to Be to Wear These Pants
â" Ryan
If Rick Ross Told You to Jump Off a Bridge, Would You Do It?
Apparently, if you are Kyle Morrison, the answer is yes.
Futuristic Texting With My Dad
Hereâs how my cell phone will probably look on Saturday night as Iâm exchanging texts with my dad (who will be attending Game 7 between Boston and Philly).
Me (7:55 PM ET): Howâs the crowd?
Dad (7:56): Great! Pretty rowdy! Iâd say there was some drinking before the game!
Me (7:57): In Boston during a three-day weekend? I find this hard to believe.
Dad (7:58): Guy in front of me already has his shirt off.
Dad (8:08): Bunch of Patriots here. Belichick just on JumboTron, got a standing O.
Me (8:08): Would be funny if they showed Bobby V., Schilling, Lackey, and Beckett in a suite eating chicken wings.
Me (8:18): RONDO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dad (8:19): Heâs been incredible, you could see it from first play. Locked in.
Me (8:20): Owes us after Game 6 no-show. And Ray doesnât look like heâs in cement.
Dad (8:21): Two days rest really helped KG and Ray. They have their legs tonight. Iâm feeling confident!
Dad (8:29): So much for Ray having his legs.
Me (8:30: Get him out of there!
Dad (8:39): Ryan Hollins is going to give me a heart attack.
Me (8:39): Our bench sucks.
Dad (8:39):: Thanks again, Danny!
Me (8:39):: Canât believe we blew a 12-point lead that fast. Go over to bench during timeout and stab Keyon Dooling so Doc will stop playing him.
Dad (8:39): Iâd rather play Avery with one arm.
Me (8:39): Me too â" Iâd rather play Jo Jo White. Is he there? Can we get a uniform on him?
Dad (8:48): These refs are awful! Canât believe they assigned Marc Davis to this game, he hates us!
Me (8:49): You should start a Donaghy chant. We can still win this game. I like how hard PP/Rondo/KG are playing, defense is really good.
Dad (8:58): Tired of this Lavoy Allen killing us. Where did this guy come from? He doesnât miss!
Me (8:59): Need to get to halftime with the lead. This is a rock fight.
Dad (9:05): Turned into another ugly game. If this ends in 70s, thatâs good for Philly â" they canât shoot.
Me (9:05): Need to start going to the basket. Hate that weâre tied at halftime. Howâs crowd?
Dad (9:06): Drunk and nervous. I think your buddy J-Bug just got kicked out.
Me (9:06): Was he the guy who threw the wad of money at Marc Davis??????
Dad (9:06): I think so.
Me (9:34): RONDO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dad (9:34): Why doesnât he do this every night????????
Me (9:42): RONDO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dad (9:42): RONDO!!!!!!!!!!!
Me (9:43): Tell Andre to keep shooting! We can put âem away right here.
Dad (9:59): Ugh, we just let them back in â" what is Doc doing??????
Me (9:59): Stuck with bench too long ⦠I think he was thinking about Game 1 Miami.
Dad (9:59): There wonât be Game 1 Miami if we keep playing Hollins/Dooling/Daniels.
Me (9:59): Canât believe how much we miss Bradley.
Dad (9:59): How could Bradley get hurt? Youngest, healthiest guy on our team!
Me (10:07): I feel physically ill.
Dad (10:07): This is a root canal.
Me (10:12): Rondo has a quadruple-double â" 10 points, 14 assists, 11 rebounds, and 10 missed layups.
Dad (10:12): Heâs terrified to get fouled, heâs quick-shooting every layup.
Me (10:16): Iâm slowly moving into âeven if we win, Miami is gonna sweep usâ mode.
Dad (10:16): Crowd really loud, fans realize team needs the help. Nobodyâs made a shot in 10 mins.
Me (10:17): Weâre shooting 35 percent, theyâre shooting 34 percent. And somebody should shoot Marc Davis.
Dad (10:18): Guy in front of me is going to run on court and punch Davis soon.
Me (10:23): PIERCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dad (10:24): UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!! Heated up at perfect time!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Me (10:25): And we finally got a call!!!!!!!!!!
Me (10:29): What the fuck????
Dad (10:29): Who is Jodie Meeks and why did those two shots go in?
Me (10:29): Canât believe this is coming down to final minute.
Dad (10:30): Miami has to be licking its chops right now.
Me (10:30): I know, both of these teams just suck.
Dad (10:31): Weâre too banged up, itâs depressing.
Me (10:31): Limping to finish line.
Dad (10:31): If we can just get to next round, you never know.
Me (10:31): I think we know.
Dad (10:31): My cell phone is dying.
Me (10:31): Hope thatâs not an omen for Celts. We need a hoop! Call me after game.
Dad (10:31): OK.
â" Bill Simmons
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