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Post by JohnnyTwoTimes on Jun 8, 2006 10:18:49 GMT -5
All things being equal, I would root for the Mavs. Love Dirk, I like Howard and Harris, etc. But all things are not equal. The Heat have my favorite Hoya of all time. Zo deserves a ring for all he has been through, for always giving it his all, and for his work on and off the court. I don't care if Riles keels over today and the bench is taken over by a triumvirate of Coach Kay, Boheem and Calhoun with Feinstein as special advisor. This is about Zo, and I am not sure how any true Hoya fan could feel otherwise. Good article on Zo in CBS sportsline today: cbs.sportsline.com/nba/story/9485281
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miamihoya
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
Posts: 698
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Post by miamihoya on Jun 8, 2006 11:45:38 GMT -5
Why so much animosity toward Coach Riley on these boards?
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Boz
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
123 Fireballs!
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Post by Boz on Jun 8, 2006 13:38:13 GMT -5
Why so much animosity toward Coach Riley on these boards? A few possibilities: 1. The Gordon Gekko look is out. 2. He is forever associated with the Lakers, who - while they have fans to be sure - are a polarizing team. 3. If he's not associated with the Lakers, he's associated with those god-awful, brutal (in the aesthetic sense, not in the W-L sense) Knick teams. An equally polarizing organization. 3a. Even for Knick fans, on this board I think Riley gets some blame - fair or unfair - for Patrick not winning a title. 4. People are confusing him with Mike Riley.
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hoyarooter
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
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Post by hoyarooter on Jun 8, 2006 16:37:13 GMT -5
4. People are confusing him with Mike Riley
Or perhaps William Bendix.
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RDF
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 8,835
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Post by RDF on Jun 9, 2006 12:41:12 GMT -5
Unfortunately, the Gary Payton I've seen most of the games I've watched showed up again for Game 1--he was AWFUL and Antione Walker's shot selection and inability to complete simple fastbreak opportunities killed the Heat, along with terrible FT shooting. This series looks like a very short one if Heat can't contain Terry--he's got a huge advantage over anyone Riley has--and I'd put Wade on Terry to try and cause some problems. Put Payton on Stackhouse--and if Jerry Stackhouse beats you, so be it. You don't let the other team's best players beat you and Mavs forced the rest of the Heat to make shots--and they stunk. Terry is 2nd best player on Mavs and he was allowed to destroy Miami--poor job by the Heat.
And my vote goes to NEVER see that lineup of Haslem, Posey, Payton, Walker, and Williams again--that set back NBA Finals basketball into the Peach Basket era, but then again back then they could actually make a shot.
Play Zo more, and especially when you are behind and need stops--Shaq's inability to get key rebounds kills Miami too often and it was a key play last night with Heat down 5, he loses an easy rebound to Dampier, fouls him and next thing you know they are down 7 and that is as close as they were rest of game.
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Post by aussiehoya on Jun 9, 2006 22:37:13 GMT -5
i agree.
I think three things killed the Heat in game one.
1) Gary Payton. how is he even signed at this point? Good lord. 2) Shaq's free throw shooting. 3) Jason Terry
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miamihoya
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
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Post by miamihoya on Jun 9, 2006 22:40:08 GMT -5
4) Antoine Walker's terrible shooting percentage
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RDF
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
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Post by RDF on Jun 10, 2006 11:23:38 GMT -5
4) Antoine Walker's terrible shooting percentage Miami--as you know we're all pulling for your Heat--well the majority of us are--and I know you have to be frustrated with the human layup "misser" aka Antione Walker. How many times in the year does this guy have a 2 on 1, take it himself and then not finish? He can't elevate and it's maddening to watch him screw up easy points time after time. And his insistence on firing up 3's all of the damn time--move the ball and get a better shot! It's almost as if he was out to make a point to Dallas who dumped him instead of focusing on winning a title. Hopefully that message will be received tomorrow night.
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miamihoya
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
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Post by miamihoya on Jun 10, 2006 13:29:27 GMT -5
Yup, it was vintage 'Tione on Thursday: bad shot selection....awful clunker 3s....missed layups. Its that type of play that has made him the target of alot of criticism and animosity in South Florida (and i imagine everywhere he's played) all season long. It seemed like he had gotten his act together in the playoffs, and was making better decisions and adjusting to his role as the #3 scoring option, but on Thursday it was back to normal. I agree that tommorow will be different, and they will get the ball to the big guy alot more often. Lets just hope that Dirk and howard dont wake up and start scoring like crazy.
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RDF
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
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Post by RDF on Jun 10, 2006 14:01:05 GMT -5
I would actually let Dirk score--well I'd let him get his shots--and try to take away Terry and Howard. If their best player gets a big night and others don't--Heat win. It's the strategy that Larry Brown used against Shaq with Sixers and Pistons and it worked--well for Pistons but it did allow Philly to be much more competitive in Series then anyone else--remember that Laker team only lost 1 game entire Postseason--and Shaq was just sick in that game and in entire Playoffs. He was dominating at a level he hasn't come near since that year. But key was they let him score his, until late in game, then you take the fouls, but you can't let the entire team have any/everything or they'll destroy you. You saw how it worked with Pistons series and Brown was right for his approach. I often felt teams who played Jordan focused too much on him--let him score and take away others. 1 man can't beat a team unless he gets help so why not let Dirk who settles for fadeaways and jumpers, shoot--he might not hit and take away Terry/Howard??
As for Walker--he pulls this crap again--sit him for Posey. You get better defense and a guy who understands who to get the ball to and play off--he will space the floor better and is a decent spot up 3 pt shooter.
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MCIGuy
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Anyone here? What am I supposed to update?
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Post by MCIGuy on Jun 10, 2006 14:44:48 GMT -5
I think the Heat don't have much room for error. The team must play well as a team. After a hot start in the first quarter of the first game, Willaims and Walker thought they could pull up for quick jumpers when Shaq was out of the game. Why not drive and dish to Zo instead to get him going. Then again Riley got cute with over-coaching when he pulled Zo real quickly in the second quarter (and in the third too I believe) to go with Walker or Haslem at the center position. Going small only works when you ahve explosive scorers who can hit outside all game like Phoenix or when you have a bunch of guys who can penetrate at will.
Antoine Walker had a horrible game after the first quarter and was stripped of the ball too many times to count. Payton was invisible. JWill was too after the first quarter. Shaq has to hit at least 50% of his free throws for goodness sake. Wade has to attack for 40 plus minutes.
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MCIGuy
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Anyone here? What am I supposed to update?
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Post by MCIGuy on Jun 11, 2006 22:18:35 GMT -5
Riley should try using Kapono. Seriously how could it hurt anymore than what's going on now?
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CAHoya07
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by CAHoya07 on Jun 14, 2006 1:56:42 GMT -5
And the Heat make it a series again with a great comeback in Game 3. I seriously thought they were dead in the water after Dallas just picked them apart in the third quarter. The Heat were coming apart at the seams even at the beginning of the fourth, but they were finally able to get something going on the offensive end and then make some defensive stops to get themselves back in the game.
I'm no Gary Payton fan, but he stepped up huge with that long jumper in the waning moments that put Miami on top for good. And Shaq made those two crucial free throws to draw the Heat within three points in the final minutes. But I think the comeback can be summed up with two words: Dwayne Wade. 42 points, 13 boards, but that doesn't even begin to describe his role. The huge rebound off Dirk's missed FT (the fact that Dirk missed still shocks me), and the great defensive play on Terry to seal the deal. Just sheer greatness, the guy is a superstar.
This was a great game of basketball, about damn time in these Finals. Dallas executed nearly flawlessly in the third quarter, then Dwayne and Co, with their backs against the wall, turn it on in the fourth with a refuse to lose attitude that had been missing all series. Despite their meltdown, Dallas still looks like the overall better team, but at least the Heat have a shot at it now. Game 4 will be very interesting, we'll see if Miami can use this win to gain the mo' in the series.
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miamihoya
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
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Post by miamihoya on Jun 14, 2006 13:01:08 GMT -5
Dwyane Wade was absolutely incredible last nite. I know its a cliche, but its games like last nites where legends are born. Talk about Haslem, Payton, and Shaq making up for generally terrible performances thus far by hitting huge shots/free throws in the last couple minutes. I must admit i thought that the game (and series) was over with about 5 minutes left, but Wade took the team on his shoulders (and wobbly knee) and revived this series. Can't wait for Thursday's game to see if they can keep the momentum going.
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Post by BubbleVisionBiff on Jun 15, 2006 20:16:16 GMT -5
Just when I was ready to watch an NBA game again for the first time in about 10 years, I saw the Heat's excuse for a lineup announcement.
What the hell was with the freak with the two flags?!?!
This is basketball people, not ice dancing!!
Dear God, that was completely awful.
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miamihoya
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
Posts: 698
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Post by miamihoya on Jun 15, 2006 23:33:03 GMT -5
Why you hating on our flag-guy? He gets the crowd going before the game...If you dont like that, its a good thing they dont show our "Golden Oldies" dance team that performs during timeouts. A bunch of 60+ year olds imitating a the Heat dancers.
oh ya...and what a performance tonite by the team. Its officially all tied up. Gotta love the turnaround in the last two games.
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Post by BubbleVisionBiff on Jun 16, 2006 8:33:07 GMT -5
Why you hating on our flag-guy? He gets the crowd going before the game...If you dont like that, its a good thing they dont show our "Golden Oldies" dance team that performs during timeouts. A bunch of 60+ year olds imitating a the Heat dancers. That would have really sealed the deal. The flag guy's sunglasses are particularly distrubing. Zo was blocking shots like it was 1991.
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