# NBA Playoffs! (for the 3 or 4 NBA fans on this board) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 1, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-for-the-3-or-4-nba-fans-on-this-board/620533 "2012-05-01T17:31:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-for-the-3-or-4-nba-fans-on-this-board/620533/241 "2012-06-20T15:02:25Z")
I agree. (And I know it wasn’t the clinching game, hence the “if”.) ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-for-the-3-or-4-nba-fans-on-this-board/620533/242 "2012-06-20T15:03:33Z")
I’m predicting the Heat will win game 5. I’m only doing this because my predictions are never right. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-for-the-3-or-4-nba-fans-on-this-board/620533/243 "2012-06-20T16:46:15Z")
Much has been said about how Lebron disappears in games at times; I believe that the people that say this only pay attention to him when his team has the ball. Have Durant’s scoring struggles this series been by accident? How about Harden, who has also been covered by James? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-for-the-3-or-4-nba-fans-on-this-board/620533/244 "2012-06-20T16:51:38Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](#): > > Much has been said about how Lebron disappears in games at times; I believe that the people that say this only pay attention to him when his team has the ball. Have Durant’s scoring struggles this series been by accident? How about Harden, who has also been covered by James? Durant hasn’t struggled to score. The Thunder really haven’t struggled to score in general; the Heat have disrupted the flow of their offense at times and they haven’t quite kept up with Miami. That being said, Durant is the best scorer in the league and LeBron has played good defense on him. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-for-the-3-or-4-nba-fans-on-this-board/620533/245 "2012-06-20T17:08:50Z")
Any stats on the Thunder’s FG % in this series vs the rest of the playoffs or reg season? They don’t seem to be making the points off the shots that they often have. Esp in the closing minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-for-the-3-or-4-nba-fans-on-this-board/620533/246 "2012-06-20T17:27:04Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > Any stats on the Thunder’s FG % in this series vs the rest of the playoffs or reg season? This isn’t field goal percentage, but I think it answers your question and I read it shortly before my last post: [“Oklahoma City, for all its struggles against a Miami defense taking away the first option on almost every possession, has scored a robust 105.8 points per 100 possessions. That mark would have ranked fourth for the season, even if it does represent a step down from OKC’s insane scoring totals through the first three rounds of the playoffs.”](http://nba-point-forward.si.com/2012/06/20/the-evolution-of-a-star-and-a-team/?sct=hp_t11_a0&eref=sihp) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-for-the-3-or-4-nba-fans-on-this-board/620533/247 "2012-06-20T17:51:43Z")
I would argue that Durant _has_ struggled to score - the 4th quarter of game 3 is exhibit A. In that quarter, he was 2-5 from the field with 4 points and 2 turnovers. Part of that can be attributed to the foul trouble that he was in (most of which had been picked up while he was covering LeBron). Sure he has been scoring, but he hasn’t put up a game like Westbrook’s game 5 - though I would be hardly surprised to see him go off for 40 tmrw night. ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-for-the-3-or-4-nba-fans-on-this-board/620533/248 "2012-06-20T19:02:01Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Dad: “Yeah, that was great, but don’t forget - it was an _inspirational_ moment, not a playing moment. Yes, Reed scored the first two goals… but he didn’t score again and, IIRC, was immediately sat. To me, you can’t beat MJ in '97, game 5, where he was battling a 103-degree temperature on the way to a 38 point performance.” Just curious, is there an actual cite for Jordan having a 103 degree fever? AFAICT, he had either an intestinal virus or food poisoning, but not the actual flu virus. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-for-the-3-or-4-nba-fans-on-this-board/620533/249 "2012-06-20T19:06:38Z")
Oops, game 4 I meant. Also, checking the box score for last night, #35 was 9-19 from the field, including 1-5 from downtown - that, for the best scorer on the planet, is, while perhaps not struggling, at least, to borrow a golf phrase, a grind. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-for-the-3-or-4-nba-fans-on-this-board/620533/250 "2012-06-20T19:20:45Z")
> [@markdash](#): > > Just curious, is there an actual cite for Jordan having a 103 degree fever? AFAICT, he had either an intestinal virus or food poisoning, but not the actual flu virus. Don’t have a note from his doctor, but here are a few current cites: > **[Health group wants Michael Jordan Gatorade ad pulled](http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2012/05/health-group-wants-michael-jordan-gatorade-ad-pulled/1)** > > A health group wants to make it clear that Gatorade is not a wonder drug and Michael Jordan is not a superhero. > **[Jordan's "flu game" through a 2012 prism](https://www.espn.com/blog/playbook/fandom/post/_/id/4045/jordans-flu-game-through-a-2012-prism)** > > Fifteen years ago Monday, Michael Jordan scored 38 points in Game 5 of the NBA Finals with a 103-degree fever. Jordan received universal praise, and his performance was immediately hailed as one of the greatest of all time. Here’s a better cite: [http://www.nba.com/history/top10\_main.html](http://www.nba.com/history/top10_main.html) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-for-the-3-or-4-nba-fans-on-this-board/620533/251 "2012-06-20T19:32:19Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](#): > > Also, checking the box score for last night, #35 was 9-19 from the field, including 1-5 from downtown - that, for the best scorer on the planet, is, while perhaps not struggling, at least, to borrow a golf phrase, a grind. 28 points on 19 shots is very far from struggling. It’s not an exceptional effort by Durant’s standards, but Westbrook was having a great game. I don’t think he’s been able to get fully comfortable and into the offense the last couple of games. > [@markdash](#): > > Just curious, is there an actual cite for Jordan having a 103 degree fever? AFAICT, he had either an intestinal virus or food poisoning, but not the actual flu virus. Wikipedia agrees it was food poisoning or a stomach virus. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-for-the-3-or-4-nba-fans-on-this-board/620533/252 "2012-06-20T19:52:45Z")
The Heat look like the better team right now. I won’t deny that. But man, the officiating has been bad. I know basketball is the toughest sport to call, but it’s the Finals. Isn’t the NBA using their best crews? Tim Legler said it this morning; LeBron and Wade are getting the touch fouls in the paint, Durant and Westbrook are not. Before last night everyone said it’s becaus the Thunder are a jump shooting team. Well, last night Westbrook was taking it to the hole, had something like 20 shots in the paint, and shot what, 4 free throws? Officiating always affects the outcome of a basketball game, it’s just nice when it’s not as noticeable. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-for-the-3-or-4-nba-fans-on-this-board/620533/253 "2012-06-20T20:05:02Z")
I believe that Westbrook had but 3 ft’s, and that they didn’t come until the 4th quarter - if the game had been called better, he might’ve gone for 50. If I were Scott Brooks, I’d be facing a fine from the league for disparaging comments about the officiating. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-for-the-3-or-4-nba-fans-on-this-board/620533/254 "2012-06-20T20:36:08Z")
The non call on the jump ball with Durant being steamrolled was especially heinous. With their shots not falling, tho, the point is probably moot. ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-for-the-3-or-4-nba-fans-on-this-board/620533/255 "2012-06-22T03:27:30Z")
Durant needs to give up guard duty. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-for-the-3-or-4-nba-fans-on-this-board/620533/256 "2012-06-22T03:30:37Z")
Dismantled and dismissed. Ouch. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-for-the-3-or-4-nba-fans-on-this-board/620533/257 "2012-06-22T03:36:33Z")
I can’t believe Mike Miller has 23 points. I can’t believe how ineffective the Thunder’s offense has been. I don’t believe I’ll be watching ESPN for the next 4 months or so. ---
**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-for-the-3-or-4-nba-fans-on-this-board/620533/258 "2012-06-22T03:45:41Z")
The better team won tonight. I have to admit it’s nice to see the league’s best player win it all. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-for-the-3-or-4-nba-fans-on-this-board/620533/259 "2012-06-22T03:48:56Z")
Miami played a great series. The Thunder just weren’t ready yet. ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-for-the-3-or-4-nba-fans-on-this-board/620533/260 "2012-06-22T03:49:24Z")
I won’t be impressed 'til LeBron catches Kobe. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-for-the-3-or-4-nba-fans-on-this-board/620533.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-for-the-3-or-4-nba-fans-on-this-board/620533.md?page=14)