NBA FINALS 2014 thread

[Pete1210]

Congrats Spurs.

K Leonard MVP. Last year he missed that FT to clinch it and let the Heat steal the title. This year he wins the MVP. Deserving.

Don't count the Heat out. They'll retool. There's nobody in the East to challenge them. But they got to get a bench and pretty much tell D Wade to take a hike.

Heat are stuck with Wade. No other team will pay him anywhere near the 20 million he can get for opting in. They can only hope he bounces back from an awful finals performance, like this guy did:

[Rodster]

Congrats Spurs.

K Leonard MVP. Last year he missed that FT to clinch it and let the Heat steal the title. This year he wins the MVP. Deserving.

Don't count the Heat out. They'll retool. There's nobody in the East to challenge them. But they got to get a bench and pretty much tell D Wade to take a hike.

This ^^^

He hurt the team this year with so much time off getting ready for the Playoffs and it wasn't an advantage as his play was spotty at best. I don't know about Bosh either. I like him as a player but he's also erratic, partly because he changed his game to fit in Miami. I think they'll make a push for Melo if LeBron decides to stay. If he does, I could see D-Wade or Bosh being let go. The bench is old and Greg Oden deserves maybe one more year to see if his knees get healthier and is able to contribute throughout the season. He's worth the risk. I bet he's kicking himself for not signing with the Spurs.

Congrats to the Spurs though. They played well but not sure if Duncan decides to retire. It would be good if he sticks around one more year to see if the Heat can retool and both teams get back in the Finals next year.

[pk500]

Did anyone at ABC-ESPN have the balls to ask Duncan the question about retirement? Doris Burke didn't. Stu Scott didn't.

Inexcusable omission by the reporters and producers.

Everyone assumes Melo will leave New York for Miami. What if LeBron left Miami for New York? Stoudemire's albatross of a contract expires after this season, and there are attractions in the Big Apple for James, including working with Phil Jackson and becoming the unquestioned sports king of the media capital of the world.

[Pete1210]

I thought I heard Duncun offer a polite no comment when asked about his plans for next season. And as a Knicks fan I would love to see Lebron in NY.

Congrats Spurs.

K Leonard MVP. Last year he missed that FT to clinch it and let the Heat steal the title. This year he wins the MVP. Deserving.

Don't count the Heat out. They'll retool. There's nobody in the East to challenge them. But they got to get a bench and pretty much tell D Wade to take a hike.

This ^^^

He hurt the team this year with so much time off getting ready for the Playoffs and it wasn't an advantage as his play was spotty at best. I don't know about Bosh either. I like him as a player but he's also erratic, partly because he changed his game to fit in Miami. I think they'll make a push for Melo if LeBron decides to stay. If he does, I could see D-Wade or Bosh being let go.

Bosh and Wade both have opt ins on their contracts for next season. No one else is going to pay Wade anything near what he is owed under contract. The best Miami can hope for is that he agrees to restructure his 2 years at 20 million a year for a longer contract paying him less per year. The Heat already used their amnesty provision to release Mike Miller. So if they release Wade they still have to pay him and his salary counts against the cap

Not sure what Bosh is owed if he opts in. Maybe he is tradeable?

Key of course will be Lebron. Does he opt in and go for another ring with Miami or take his talents elsewhere?

[JackB1]

Did anyone at ABC-ESPN have the balls to ask Duncan the question about retirement? Doris Burke didn't. Stu Scott didn't.
Inexcusable omission by the reporters and producers.

not the time or place.

Let them enjoy their championship that they JUST won. I'm sure Duncan wouldn't have answered anyway. He would have said something like
"let me think about that a few weeks....for now, I want to enjoy this"

[pk500]

Did anyone at ABC-ESPN have the balls to ask Duncan the question about retirement? Doris Burke didn't. Stu Scott didn't.
Inexcusable omission by the reporters and producers.

not the time or place.

Let them enjoy their championship that they JUST won. I'm sure Duncan wouldn't have answered anyway. He would have said something like
"let me think about that a few weeks....for now, I want to enjoy this"

Bullsh*t it's not the time or place, especially if it was put into the context of this being a perfect ending point to a remarkable career.

It was the question any fan with a functioning brain wanted to hear. What's more insightful and more newsworthy: "Tim, how does it feel?" or "Tim, you've just added to your incredible career legacy with your fifth title at age 37. Any thoughts of retirement in your head, or do you want to stay with this group for another run next season?"

[wco81]

Duncan can easily win two more and beat out Jordan. Though it may be tougher for the Spurs to keep Leonard now and of course those old bodies could break down.

As for the Heat, they can't compete if even just two of them are taking $20 million a year. Carmelo doesn't make teammates better.

There are also suggestions that a few other Western Conference teams would have beaten the Heat.

Wade has lost his explosiveness. He was trying these little runners instead of going to the rim and ripping it like he used to. If he's greedy, he can still get his $20 million from the Heat. Those titles (and the contracts they had to give out)may hobble the team for a few years.

[JackB1]

Did anyone at ABC-ESPN have the balls to ask Duncan the question about retirement? Doris Burke didn't. Stu Scott didn't.
Inexcusable omission by the reporters and producers.

not the time or place.

Let them enjoy their championship that they JUST won. I'm sure Duncan wouldn't have answered anyway. He would have said something like
"let me think about that a few weeks....for now, I want to enjoy this"

Bullsh*t it's not the time or place, especially if it was put into the context of this being a perfect ending point to a remarkable career.

It was the question any fan with a functioning brain wanted to hear. What's more insightful and more newsworthy: "Tim, how does it feel?" or "Tim, you've just added to your incredible career legacy with your fifth title at age 37. Any thoughts of retirement in your head, or do you want to stay with this group for another run next season?"

I totally agree it would be more interesting, but like I said, no way he answers that question during that moment. He would have deflected it for sure, so that's probably why they didn't bother even asking.

[JackB1]

Duncan can easily win two more and beat out Jordan. Though it may be tougher for the Spurs to keep Leonard now and of course those old bodies could break down.

As for the Heat, they can't compete if even just two of them are taking $20 million a year. Carmelo doesn't make teammates better.

There are also suggestions that a few other Western Conference teams would have beaten the Heat.

Wade has lost his explosiveness. He was trying these little runners instead of going to the rim and ripping it like he used to. If he's greedy, he can still get his $20 million from the Heat. Those titles (and the contracts they had to give out)may hobble the team for a few years.

Miami almost (and should have) lost to a very mediocre Indiana Pacers team. That tells you right there they weren't ready for the Spurs.
It will be interesting for sure to see what happens to the Heat in the offseason.

[MizzouRah]

Congratulations to the Spurs and their fans!

[Inuyasha]

Heat dominated the Pacers. Pacers only were in it bec Lebron sat out most of game 5.

[JackB1]

So what do u guys think becomes of the Heat in the offseason?
What about the "Big Three"? Does Lebron go to free agency?

should be an interesting off season for sure

[Rodster]

So what do u guys think becomes of the Heat in the offseason?
What about the "Big Three"? Does Lebron go to free agency?

should be an interesting off season for sure

As was mentioned before, given D-Wade's age and ailments no team is going to pay him $20M. Bosh loves Miami and has said many times he wants to stay. As for Lebron, I think he'll stay if he gets assurances from Pat Riley that they will redo the roster. If they are serious about Melo, then I can see them all taking a cut. Lebron is a rich dude, so money is not the ultimate issue.

Also if he goes, he has to restart a new chemistry with another team so that's 1-2 years off his prime NBA career.

[wco81]

These guys aren't giving up money.

Wade could renegotiate, to drive his cap number down. Instead of 2 years at $20 million each, why not offer to extend at 4 years $50 million? Then his numbers could be $15, $15, $10 and $10 million, opening up cap room. He'd get nowhere near this kind of money on another team, so the Heat would kind of be rewarding him for past years, not paying him for expected future performance. But he's at least got a guaranteed $20 million next year so he could "help" the Heat but would expect something back.

Bosh would also have to get similar incentives to renegotiate the $20 million he is guaranteed if he exercises the player option on his contract.

Then they could sign a top wing defender who could also knock down 3-pointers, like Kawai Leonard.

Or go for someone like Trevor Ariza.

They also need a shot blocker, because Bosh is shooting 3 pointers these days so he's not rebounding or blocking shots. Also a PG, guess all their role players could be replaced.

[Pete1210]

These guys aren't giving up money.

Wade could renegotiate, to drive his cap number down. Instead of 2 years at $20 million each, why not offer to extend at 4 years $50 million? Then his numbers could be $15, $15, $10 and $10 million, opening up cap room. He'd get nowhere near this kind of money on another team, so the Heat would kind of be rewarding him for past years, not paying him for expected future performance. But he's at least got a guaranteed $20 million next year so he could "help" the Heat but would expect something back.

Bosh would also have to get similar incentives to renegotiate the $20 million he is guaranteed if he exercises the player option on his contract.

The "big 3" will have to agree to all take well below the 20 mil each to be able to build a competitive roster.

I wonder if Wade has the physical ability or desire to play much longer. If he decides 2 years is all he's got left then he opts in and takes the 20 mil per season from Miami. And then Lebron goes elsewhere.

[Brando70]

I don't see LeBron leaving. He's going to make players come to him, not the other way around.

The Heat should be good enough to be the Eastern favorite next year, regardless of what happens with Carmelo and Kevin Love. I don't think they'll land a big fish, but can probably restructure contracts so they can acquire some mid-level veterans at a discount and add some depth. The Bulls will be a big question mark with Rose and probably will not land Carmelo. The Pacers need someone other than Paul George if they want to get to the next level, especially given how much Hibbert fell off the last couple months of the season and in the playoffs. The rest of the conference looks like it will still be rebuilding or continuing to suck. So I don't see LeBron walking away from a team that gives him a great chance to make at least a couple more finals appearances.

[Rodster]

I don't see LeBron leaving. He's going to make players come to him, not the other way around.

The Heat should be good enough to be the Eastern favorite next year, regardless of what happens with Carmelo and Kevin Love. I don't think they'll land a big fish, but can probably restructure contracts so they can acquire some mid-level veterans at a discount and add some depth. The Bulls will be a big question mark with Rose and probably will not land Carmelo. The Pacers need someone other than Paul George if they want to get to the next level, especially given how much Hibbert fell off the last couple months of the season and in the playoffs. The rest of the conference looks like it will still be rebuilding or continuing to suck. So I don't see LeBron walking away from a team that gives him a great chance to make at least a couple more finals appearances.

I don't see LeBron leaving either for several reasons. He owns Miami, he capitalizes on International marketing, he's invested in the Miami MLS team. And he'll want to take back the title.

I was just thinking about KL in Miami.

[JackB1]

So what do u guys think becomes of the Heat in the offseason?
What about the "Big Three"? Does Lebron go to free agency?

should be an interesting off season for sure

As was mentioned before, given D-Wade's age and ailments no team is going to pay him $20M. Bosh loves Miami and has said many times he wants to stay. As for Lebron, I think he'll stay if he gets assurances from Pat Riley that they will redo the roster. If they are serious about Melo, then I can see them all taking a cut. Lebron is a rich dude, so money is not the ultimate issue.

Also if he goes, he has to restart a new chemistry with another team so that's 1-2 years off his prime NBA career.

So it sound like u think the big 3 is staying put.

[Rodster]

There's really no reason for LeBron to leave. The other two want to stay. It's all on Riley and I see him going after another star or big name to keep LeBron in Miami.

[pk500]

Carmelo is staying in New York. He will surrender a chunk of money if he leaves, and his bankroll is more important to him than a ring. Plus I think Phil Jackson's sales job will be successful, convincing 'Melo the triangle offense will run through him.

[Inuyasha]

I think they all stay and restructure their deals to make room for some FA's and role players. Who else is there in the East to challange them next year? Indiana took a step back this year and the other teams are maybe a year or two away. If all 3 stay Heat will get out of the East. But to win it, they need a REAL PG and someone to do what Wade use to do.

[wco81]

I don't know what Kawai Leonard's cap situation is but Spurs may not be able to keep him, even though the old 3 veterans are taking less than max contract money.

So if they lose him, maybe the Heat doesn't have as much of a gap to close with the Spurs.

Then again, Spurs plug in role players pretty well. Paddy Mills played well in some crucial minutes and he's a free agent. Before that, Gary Neal played a similar role, as backup PG who could come in and score.

Leonard may not be as effective on another team as he was with the Spurs. But if some teams offer him more than the Spurs are willing to, he may want to make some serious money, since most of the other vets have already made theirs.

[EZSnappin]

At the end of next season, when either a contract extension or new contract for Kawhi will kick in, the Spurs will have one player with a guaranteed contract - Tiago Splitter. They'll likely have Diaw and a handful of others they sign this year, but Duncan, Ginibili and Parker all have contracts that end after next year. They have loads of flexibility to fit him in, regardless of how much anyone else offers. The only way he leaves is if he wants out, which he may do if Popovich and the three stars walk into the sunset together.

[Pete1210]

not 1, not 2, not 3 ...

[Inuyasha]

LeBron opting out. FA July 1. Wow!