Game 4
Total Fouls on Mia 18
Total Fouls on OKC 20
Sure looks like one team got all the calls to me. :weirdo:
Game 4
Total Fouls on Mia 18
Total Fouls on OKC 20
Sure looks like one team got all the calls to me. :weirdo:
Total fouls aren't a 1v1 calculation.
In the last 3 games, since OKC went up 1-0, look at the total FT numbers:
Heat: 85
OKC: 66
That is a MASSIVE difference maker in close games. Especially when OKC attacks the basket as much as they do.
I'm more amazed at Wade getting calls, still. That guy is such a clown. He argues on every single play and he still gets more calls than Durant, who almost never argues (especially on offense). The only thing he's taken exception to is some of the awful fouls that have been called on him.
Total free-throws Miami 24, OKC 16.
Westbrook goes off for 43 and takes 3 free-throws. Oh, and he attacked the rim with frequency and was never rewarded like D-Wade does time and again on non-contact.
And the third quarter was an atrocity. 9 fouls on OKC, 5 on Miami, but Miam's fouls result in a massive amount of free-throws. 4 of which were for 2 non-fouls on D-Wade. I will say in fairness, that on both of the non-fouls on D-wade his shots resulted in putbacks for Miami. Essentially, even though the officials blew the call, D-Wade missed the shot and someone for Miami was right there for the lay-in or put-back on the miss. It was resulting in 4 points with or without the whistle. Still terrible officiating though to make such awful awful awful calls.
I get that you're a LeBron lover, but you can't sit there and say the officiating has been solid. It's been horrid and one-sided this entire series.
I mean yea the reffing may seem atrocious but you have to keep in mind that the Thunder are playing like shit. Durant is not rebounding or creating for his teammates. Hardens balls haven't dropped, and Westbrook was phenomenal last night but hes still a bonehead. Plus where is the help from the role players. Where are the other scorers besides Durant and Westbrook. I mean Sefalosha isnt scoring, Perkins isn't scoring, and Ibaka isn't scoring. Harden, who should be their 3rd option, is turning into a Mo Willams under pressure. Durant completely dissapeared in the 4th quarter the past two games. All the Heat's big 3 are contributing, and then you have Battier and Chalmers pitching in to get them over the hump. Unless Durant can be more dynamic and the role players (especially Harden) can step up, OKC doesn't stand a chance, regardless of the officiating.
I mean yea the reffing may seem atrocious but you have to keep in mind that the Thunder are playing like shit. Durant is not rebounding or creating for his teammates, Hardens balls haven't dropped, and Westbrook was phenomenal last night but hes still a bonehead. Plus where is the help from the role players. Where are the other scorers besides Durant and Westbrook. I mean Sefalosha isnt scoring, Perkins isn't scoring, and Ibaka isn't scoring. Harden, who should be their 3rd option, is turning into a Mo Willams under pressure. Durant completely dissapeared in the 4th quarter the past two games. All the Heat's big 3 are contributing, and then you have Battier and Chalmers pitching in to get them over the hump. Unless Durant can be more dynamic and the role players (especially Harden) can step up, OKC doesn't stand a chance, regardless of the officiating.
Actually, I think the Thunder should try and trade Westbrook for Rondo. OKC needs more involvment from its role players but they have no one to create for them.
You're absolutely right, the Thunder are not playing well at all... but the Heat aren't playing much better. They really aren't.
I wouldn't care too much if the Heat earned their championship, but they haven't earned it. This series and the Boston series have been atrocious games, and even though both teams are playing terribly, one team has to win.
The thing I am most upset about is Miami's game plan, is that it includes taking advantage of the refs. Let's ignore how the game has been called. Let's ignore my opinion of one sided refereeing. It is impossible, literally impossible, for someone to argue with a straight face that the Heat aren't actively looking for fouls whenever they can get them. Every opportunity, fair or foul, they can eek out a whistle... they take it. Even at the expense of playing the game properly.
I am disgusted that a champion can possibly be crowned by using fouling as part of your game plan. I'm not talking about situational fouling. For instance if someone is in foul trouble, you go attack them. That's fair. But to look for fouls on ever.single.possession to the point that it is part of your game plan ruins the game itself. Fouls were put in place so the defense couldn't take advantage of the offense with over the top physical (dirty) play. Fouls aren't designed so that the offense can take advantage of the defense.
That would be a huge mistake imo. One of the reason OKC has become an elite team so quickly is Westbrook play. Taking away the 2nd best scorer and replacing him Rondo is problematic. Having that many guys you can sag off of makes KD's job that much harder (although Rondo's vision may negate that). However the Thunder are still staring at having to make huge decisions on Harden and Ibaka (although those two are costing themselves $$$ thru the first 4 games) and if you lose Harden especially. You're essentially telling KD he has to score 35+ throught the playoffs to win a title.
It all seems too reactionary for me. They're young and they have to mature and learn. Breaking that duo up isnt the way to go.
With all that said...this series isn't over yet. They're in a hole, but not so deep that they cant get out. A win in game 5 changes everything...technically down 3-2 is how they're seeded to be.