We have a lottery pick from toronto this year, another first rounder from Houston this year and our natural first rounder, also another first from houston next year. Plus Jeremy Lamb, and Martin produces fairly well most of the season. That, and we couldn't give Harden what he wanted and deserved. I think we'll be fine. Thanks for your concern, though.

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Rzzzzz...

I love Memphis. I dig ZBo's "old man game" and Marc Sikma (Gasol). But, now I want the Spurs to make it to the Finals, simply because I believe they'd have a shot against the Heat.

San Antonio found 2009, and somehow added more long and athletic players..it may just work.

Can't even root for the spurs

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3elieve

I felt the same way. I think I'm getting old or something.

I genuinely think the Spurs could beat the Heat. As much as I like the Grizzlies and think watching them is fun, I think the Spurs are gonna roll this series in 4 or 5, and I think that the Pacers will push the Heat to 6 or possibly even 7 games, giving the Spurs a decided advantage.

Going to be interesting.

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Rzzzzz...

Agreed, the Spurs will roll the Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies offense matches up perfectly with what San Antonio can do; man up from the halfcourt line to the hoop. You cant win against San Antonio methodically working the ball down court. It's just a REALLY bad match-up for the Grizzlies.

The Heat play in between fast-break and halfcourt, so San Antonio will be in it. Also, the Heat will always be succeptable to good PG and big man play. Duncan's the most boring, yet efficient offensive big man, ever. He can out play Bosh, even though I Bosh is hugely underrated. OUtside of Duncan, everyone on San Antonio is apparently at least 6'9", with wigspan and defensive intensity.

I SHOULD root for Memphis so the Heat can roll 'em, and Stern doesn't get great ratings. But, what else would I watch? The Mariners? Reality TV like all you girls?

I don't think the Heat have a weakness for the Spurs to actually exploit, they may have some soft spots.

But they got one man that just makes none of it matter... You know his name and it isn't Michael Doleac...

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3elieve

We get it Throwdown, Juwuan Howard is your NBA Josh Portis. But, do actually think Howard will play much?

Sharkhawk is Doleac, true bill.

You don't know throw like I know throw. He and I talk on facebook all the time. He's referring to Udonis Haslem.

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Rzzzzz...

Both wrong, Jarvis Varnado!

Dude was a blocking machine at Mississippi State though awhile back.

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3elieve

Game 1's fricking great, old-school, have an enforcer on the roster, playoff basketball. Very physical. I wish this type of hoops was allowed more.

It wasn't THAT long ago every team had an enforcer, was it?

PAUL GEORGE HOW DO YOU DO!!!

Those last couple defensive stands by the Pacers were some of the worst. You know LeBron is cutting but no help? Really?

You can blame that squarely on Vogel. Hibbert on the bench for each of those plays.

Rings for Ray & Rashard!!! Lets goooooo!

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3elieve

I was gonna ask about that. So he wasn't fouled out then? Why take your best defender in the paint if he's available!!!!! Really Hill and George is supposed to stop LBJ one on one?

Well that's definitely gonna lead to an interesting debate over the next couple of days.

I definitely am in the camp thinking that Hibbery should have been on the floor, was screaming at my TV when he was taken off. Guy can make even Lebron change his shots when driving.

OH MY GOD PAUL GEORGE...

I don't think I've ever seen such a self-defeating sloppy bunch as this Pacers. They seem to constantly try to give the game away.

Yeah, I think its youth. But, scary thing with youth, once you grow there's no looking back.

Yeah, true. Kind of like Memphis

Heat look like '96 Bulls tonight. Incredible.

Yup. Had to figure one of these dominant blowout games was coming.

Heat also look like the modern day Spurs tonight. Flops Galore!

They could hang with Dream Team tonight.

Rashard got a point, yesssss

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3elieve

Not trying to pat myself on the back, but at my friends house Friday after the Heat loss I told him the Heat were going to blow them out.

and well... here we are

That being said, when we get a team in Seattle, if they're not built in the Pacers likeness I'm gonna be one angry man.

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3elieve

So, if I shove someone to the floor, unprovoked, its a double technical. Good to know, NBA!

They're KINDA letting them play 80's-90's ball, a bit.

D-Wades trying to throw the game out there

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3elieve

Pacers just gotta shrug and admit defeat if Haslem's hitting 18' jumpers. Whatcanyado?

Lance done fudged up.

And if anyone ever tries to knock LeBron's game again I'm blocking them, this dude is incredible to watch.

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3elieve

Now the bird man?! Haha

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3elieve

Man, Lebron is getting no help tonight. The Miami Cavaliers comment from Reggie was pretty spot on. I bet Lebron would love some Anderson Varejao right about now.

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I've been wondering why Spols hasn't played Miller and/or Shard more to spread the floor. Makes too much sense.

Dwayne wade sucks.

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3elieve

Spoelstra sucks

His commitment to Ray has been odd. Only one way to negate the Pacers size, put a spread 4 out there. Let Miller or Shard hit a few 3's?

If they were still able to do it, it'd make more sense.

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3elieve

Miller's shown he can. I'm sure Shard could too, vs a big team. They'd get A LOT of space. Pacers big guys aren't the fastest on rotation.

The heat bench isn't bad. i just don't get why Spoelstra doesn't rotate them as much.

Agreed. Shard and Miller aren't too old to play 8 min a piece, stand at wing, and make their bigs play honestly.

It should never get to th point where they need to use 2 of the bottom 3 on their bench though, Bosh and Wade have been playing like bitches, Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson would ball them up right now.

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3elieve

It shouldnt but when your 2 stars are playing like that, you have to.

I think we'll see Miller in Game 7 tonight, but the reason you don't see the corpses of Miller and Lewis is because they can't guard ANYONE, and their 3pt percentage isn't SO much better than Battier, (who shot 46% from 3 for the season). Remember, Spoe watches practice EVERYDAY, I think he knows what he has. I've never been a huge fan of his, but his adjustments game to game in this series have been good. No surprise really, an NBA headcoach knows basketball.

On the other hand,

GO PACERS!!!

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So the Matt Hasselbeck of the NBA decided to show up and not screw up for no good reason at all, good job, Dwayne.

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3elieve

The NBA is awful. This is the only professional sports league where every aspect of the game can be dictated by the refs, the pace, style, everything.

The dream team can barely beat Spain by 7 in the Olympics, yet Miami can blow out the Pacers in a series that was statistically dominated by the Pacers. In a game 7 where all 3 of the Pacers best players are in foul trouble from the start?

I'm glad we don't have a team... I can't stand this league.

Anywayyyyyyyy

I got the Heat in 6, what about the rest of you?

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3elieve

I think the Heat in 6 is a pretty decent bet.

I really can't say who I think will win (yet). I feel like about 30 seconds into the game we'll know though. It's all about how the Spurs handle the Heat's pick and roll D, to me. Parker is small, so he could have trouble handling their hyper aggressive pick and roll defense but he's SO good, and so fast. More simply than that, can Mario Chalmers give Parker a hard time? And Norris Cole as well. I can't stand Chalmers offensive game but he's a really great defender. Cole is underrated as well, especially against an undersized Parker.

And of course - stopping Lebron. Leonard can't stop him alone, that's for sure. IF there was one team though that I thought COULD have a 9 man system to help slow down James it's the Spurs. We'll see.

I'm pulling for San Antonio. One last ring for Duncan.

I also wouldn't mind seeing Manu and Wade run into each other, and simultaneously injure themselves flopping around. Manu can be frustrating, but nobody is worse than Wade. The dude CAN'T shoot, and scores 80% of his points because he throws himself to the ground on every drive to the hoop.

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I hope Manu tears an ACL, and I'll take punishment from others for hoping it. Dude is a bitch, him and Parker, flopping around like fish outta water, can't stand the Spurs almost as much as I can't stand the Thunder.

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3elieve

Heat in 5. Bosh returns for this series.

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