Fear In The Beard

Countless times during the playoffs we have seen shirts in Oklahoma City that say "Fear the Beard". These shirts of course are in reference to the afro that sits on the face of Thunder guard James Harden. After his performance in three of the first four Finals games, I think they need to change that to "Fear In The Beard". 

Harden has looked like a timid Freshman that is playing with the Varsity team for the first time. He has zero confidence in his shot, he is driving to the basket with no plan on what to do when he gets there, and hasn't show much energy or emotion in these games. His role is to come off the bench and provide an immediate spark. This is a guy who has averaged 16.2 points per game in the NBA Playoffs. During the finals, he has scored 5,21, 9, and 8. In games where the Thunder have loss by 6 points or less, a regular contribution from him would have the Thunder ahead 3-1 in the series.

Watching him during these Finals has confused me beyond belief. This is a guy who has played supremely confident throughout his short career. He's going to be a free agent after this year, and people were talking about him getting a massive contract. If I were the GM of a team, his Finals performance thus far would give me pause. There is an old cliche that big time players step up in big time games. He has been the complete opposite of that. 

In game 4, he had a couple of opportunites in the fourth quarter to make plays to either tie or give the Thunder the lead. There was a play with the Thunder down by three, he drove to the basket and pretty much handed the ball to the Heat. Then, he made a steal with the Heat leading by one. He pushed the ball up the floor, got to the rim, and completely blew the layup. Could a foul have been called? Yes, but as an NBA player, you have to finish that regardless of the contact. Especially as the Sixth Man of the Year, and a player that has scored with more contact than that in the past. Finally, he got a pass kicked to him, wide open behind the three-point line, and wanted to do anything but shoot the ball. When he released the shot, the only question was how bad would he miss it. It was really sad to see. 

Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant have done all that they could to keep the Thunder in games. What was expected to be the Thunder's big advantage in the series, has let them down. Anyone who knows basketball, expected Harden and the others to perform well enough to push OKC past Miami. Yet, he has been outplayed, and badly by guys like Shane Battier, Mario Chalmers, and even Norris "Big Daddy Kane" Cole. Thus the Heat sit on the verge of winning the ring.

So, for all the talk of bad officiating(it has been very questionable), David Stern wanting the Heat to win, and any other conspiracy theory you can conjure up. Please remember that these games have all come down to the waning seconds. Had James Harden played anywhere close to the level he had during the regular season, and early in the Playoffs, the Thunder would be a game away from hoisting the trophy. 

I don't want to declare the series over, because I picked OKC to win, and I'm not ready for the NBA season to end. Yet, if Harden can't pull some magic out of his beard for Game 5, we will be watching the end of the 2011-12 season, and wondering what's next for OKC. Hopefully, we'll see "Fear the Beard" Harden, and not "Fear In The Beard" Harden tomorrow and see what that will do for the Thunder. 

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message 

Game 1 Thoughts

Going into Game 1 of the NBA Finals, I predicted that the Oklahoma City Thunder would win in 6 games. That seemed to be the prevailing theme as I looked at Twitter and Facebook. Last night did nothing to sway me from that idea. In the spirit of not overreacting to one game, I'll keep my prediction the same, but won't be shocked if this one goes a little shorter. Here are a few of my thoughts from Game 1:

Cleveland South: Watching the Miami Heat play, I can't help but think LeBron has to be experiencing deja vu. Watching him play right now, is similar to watching him when he was in Cleveland. The guys around him will do pretty good, get some good looks in the first half. Come the fourth quarter, they are standing around waiting on him to do something, and it backfires. He definitely has a couple of great pieces around him, but with Chris Bosh being less than 100%, and Dwyane Wade playing like he knows he has a pass win or lose, LeBron seems to be a one man wolfpack. It is to the point that he'll have to score 45 for the Heat to be in the game. He honestly can't do much more, and I hope that after this series people are honest about that, and don't try to throw another Heat failure all on LeBron's back. 

Robert Horry Back: Is that Chris Bosh or Robert Horry coming off the bench for the Heat? It is a well-known fact that Bosh is a jump shooter. He has made a career of knocking down pick and pop shots from mid-range. However, after going 3-4 from the three point line against the Celtics in Game 7, he seems to think he's Big Shot Bob. The Heat are already devoid of consistent shooters for LeBron to kick it to when he drives, and kicking to Bosh in the mid-range was a great thing. With him venturing further and further out, he is making himself a non-factor. Spolestra needs to remind Chris Bosh, that he's Chris Bosh, and not Robert Horry, so he can get back to his sweet spots and knock down shots if the Heat want a chance in this series. 

Pass Me Not: Bottom line, Dwyane Wade has been less than spectacular during this Playoff run. In a previous blog, I gave him credit for the few big games he's had, but other than that, he's looked bad. I'm sure when the season is over we'll hear about a nagging injury that is slowing him down. However, his pass has to expire. The Heat last won a championship in 2006. Wade has been flying clear of criticism due to that. That has to stop. In order for the Heat to win, they need monster games from LeBron and Wade. Wade isn't holding up his end. Here's hoping that fans and media members begin to be honest in our assessment of Wade's play. 

Too Many Weapons: Any objective basketball fan knows that the Oklahoma City Thunder are the more complete team of the two in the Finals. They have a starting five with guys that can all contribute in some way. There isn't much of a drop off when they go to their bench either. People are asking what the Heat can do to combat that during the rest of this series. There isn't much they can do, unless David Stern gives them a special pardon to change the roster around the Big 3.

He's only 23?: When the commentators mentioned Kevin Durant's age during the game, my lady looked up from her homework and asked that question. When I told her yeah, she shook her head, said "that's not fair", and went back to her homework. This is coming from a casual fan that has seen Durant play a few times. I can only imagine what the NBA coaches, players, and front offices are saying. Barring any significant injuries, I believe Durant can lead the league in scoring for the next 5-7 years easily. His offensive game is beyond superlatives, and he isn't close to his prime yet. It is a joy to watch him play, and I hope that he is spared any major injury so we can enjoy his game for years to come.

Be Careful Russ: Russell Westbrook is one of the better point guards in the NBA. He had a great stat line last night with 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 11 assists. However, there were moments where he reverted to I have to get a shot for myself mode. I don't mind his drives to the basket. A lot of those were good, and timely plays. My problem is when he takes a jumpshot, and Kevin Durant doesn't touch the ball on that trip down the floor. That had me yelling at the TV for him to get the ball to Durant. You have the best scorer in the world on your team, he can't go multiple trips in a row without at least a touch. This dynamic works for the Thunder, but it is something that could get them in trouble down the line. Freezing your big gun when he's hot is a dangerous thing. Good aggressiveness in the flow of the offense is good, but once you start forcing, it becomes a problem. Here's hoping Westbrook continues to produce well, but not at the expense of his team.

That is all I have for Game 1. I'm looking forward to seeing if the Heat can make adjustments in Game 2. In a game where James Harden only scored 5, and barely played in the second half, they still lost by 11. Harden won't play that bad, or that few minutes the rest of the series, that among other reasons lead me to believe the Heat are in big trouble. I hope you enjoyed the read, and please make sure to follow me on twitter @jimmylwilsonjr.

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message 

Sit Back and Enjoy: NBA Finals Preview/Thoughts

We are hours away from Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat. It has been stated over and over, but this is the Finals matchup most people expected coming into the season. That doesn't make the anticipation for the series any less. I could spend my time giving a typical preview, instead I want to ask that we all enjoy what we are about to see. There are so many points of intrigue that will go a long way to make this a special series.

This Finals has arguably the two best players in the world participating in them. I can honestly say it has been a good number of years since that statement could be made. Both LeBron James and Kevin Durant have played at an extremely high level during the regular season and playoffs.

LeBron has been a monster in these Playoffs. I would say that he has been the only consistent player on the Heat during this run. Dwyane Wade had a couple of big games, but the driving force and steadying influence for the Heat has been the reigning NBA MVP. His performances in Game 6 and 7 against Boston were excellent. He looked like a guy on a mission. However, he will be judged on what he does in this series. Last year in the Finals against Dallas, he came up very short. Win or lose for the Heat, he has to play at or even better than the level he has in the Playoffs so far. All eyes will be on him, and looking to see how he performs on the grandest stage of them all.

Kevin Durant has won three consecutive scoring championships. Watching him with the basketball in his hands is a thing of beauty. He is the best closer in this series. Should the game come down to a final possession for the Thunder, I believe they will be in better shape than the Heat. This is part of the reason that I picked Dallas to beat Miami last year. I felt that they had the best finisher in the series in Dirk. OKC has the best one in this series. On top of that, for those who are looking for someone to root for to take down LeBron, KD is your guy. He seems like a geniunely good dude, and is easy to cheer for. This is his first time on this stage, but I feel he has the demeanor and game to represent well.

This series also could be the beginning of a dynasty for one of these two teams. OKC is a very young team, and while Serge Ibaka and James Harden will be free agents after this season, they are still set-up to rule the West for years to come. They have a great front office, and will be able to make moves to assure that.

Meanwhile, the Heat, still have the Big 3. While I don't trust the supporting cast as far as I can throw them, they have done enough to get them to this point. I believe with a few tweaks to the roster, the Heat we be in this position a few more times in the coming years.

So, I implore you to enjoy what we are about to see. Don't let your hate for the Heat, or should I say LeBron, blind you to the fact that this will be an excellent series. There will be close, hotly contested games throughout and in the end your new NBA Champions will be the Oklahoma City Thunder in 6 games. Please enjoy it because series with this much star power don't come along very often. From the aforementioned Bron and KD, to DWade and Russell Westbrook, this should be epic. Have fun watching, because I sure know that I will.

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message. 

Random Sports Thoughts: Conference Finals Edition

There isn't much that I agree with Skip Bayless on, but on Sunday before the Oklahoma City-San Antonio game, he tweeted, "The NBA playoffs are about to start". With all due respect to the twelve teams, that are on fishing boats right now, he was telling the absolute truth. We are a couple of games into the Conference Finals. The Western final has classic potential. While the Eastern, looks like it could end in a quick knockout. I won't count the Celtics out just yet, but they might be in trouble. Here are a few thoughts on the proceedings....

Mike Tyson Syndrome: Watching the Boston Celtics in these playoffs has been pretty sad. It's been a little like watching Mike Tyson after he got out of prison. He was able to beat the Peter McNeely's of the world that were put in front of him, but it was more of a struggle than normal. You just knew when he got in the ring with a fighter like Lennox Lewis he would be trouble. The pre-fight was hype was huge based on the names, but part of you felt the result of the actual fight was inevitable. You watched hoping for one more night of glory from Mike, but it ended with him taking a beating for eight rounds before being knocked out. 

The Celtics-Heat series has that same feeling. You have Ray Allen shooting free throws and threes like someone not named Ray Allen. Paul Pierce is looking like he's driving to the basket with cinder blocks around his ankles. Kevin Garnett going up to dunk, only to fall out the sky like a busted balloon. It feels like we are watching a washed up fighter give it his all, but not have enough to give. To Garnett's credit, he has been the most consistent Celtic during the playoffs. The rest of the guys have had big games at times, but they have yet to string together good games as a group. Here's hoping that the Celtics Big 3 don't go out like Mike Tyson, bloodied, battered, and on their back getting counted out. However, that's where I'm afraid they are headed.

Extra Heat: Since Game 4 of the Pacers-Heat series, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James have looked like the unstoppable duo that everyone expects. They are 2 of the top 5 players in the world, so their production, while very special, has to be expected. What has been less than expected though, is the production coming from the D-League all-star team surrounding them. 

When Chris Bosh went down, I was of the belief that getting out of the Indiana series would be tough for Miami. Yet, once Wade and James stepped up, and got contributions from "the others", it was smooth sailing. They also played well in Game 1 against the Boston Celtics. There is this thing called admitting when you're wrong, and I'm willing to do so in this case. In all honesty though, I still don't trust that collection of role players to help the Heat win the Championship. I picked against the Heat in the Finals last year for the same reason, and was right. That is the same way I'm feeling this year too. No championship team has won without contributions from role players, and guys you don't expect to come up big. Putting your hopes in guys like Mike Miller, James Jones, Joel Anthony, and Norris Cole is a dangerous proposition. Even if you have DWade and LeBron on your team. I'll gladly eat a big chunk of humble pie and chase it with a cup of shut-up juice if I'm wrong. 

Thunderstorm Warning: The Oklahoma City Thunder looked very good for three quarters against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals Sunday. The bottom fell out in the fourth, and they fell apart. Kevin Durant had a tough time getting easy looks. Russell Westbrook reverted to make a play by myself mode. James Harden played like he should have won the 12th Man of the Year award. It was a horrible fourth quarter for a team that has played with a lot of poise thus far in the postseason. 

I really think this series has the potential to be a classic. All the ingredients there. However, OKC is going to need their big guns to come up bigger from here on out. They need to figure a way to get Durant easier shots late in the game. Steven Jackson gave him no room to breathe in the fourth. James Harden needs to play like the Sixth Man of  the Year. He was thoroughly outplayed by Manu Ginobili, and even outscored on his own team by Derek Fisher. Harden has been one of the most consistent players in the league, and the Thunder need that from him to stay in this series. Westbrook just has to play within himself and avoid taking "hero shots". He is most dangerous when getting his points within the flow of the offense, and not forcing things. I am really looking forward to seeing what adjustments the Thunder make in Game 2 tonight.

Texas Tornado: In the previous topic I spoke on how bad the Thunder looked in the fourth quarter against the Spurs. The Spurs had everything to do with that. It was like the first three quarters were the calm before the storm. Then the Spurs erupted with devastating efficiency in the fourth quarter. They played great in all phases, and made the Thunder look like a young team with no answers for the first time all playoffs. 

The Spurs have been playing so well during the playoffs that they have flown under the radar. Now, they are center stage, and there hasn't been a drop off yet. The scary part about game one is that the Spurs didn't play well the whole game. The first half they were turning the ball over like they were Brett Favre facing a pass rush. They tightened that up dramatically in the second half, and come fourth quarter changed the entire tone of the game. So, it'll be interesting to see how they look in Game 2. Will they come out and play a complete game? Or do they not even need to do so to beat OKC? As I said a couple of weeks ago, it's to the point where I'll be shocked if they don't win the Championship. However, the Thunder are going to do everything in their power to make them earn a trip to the Finals. Tonight should be another fun game to watch.

So, there you have it. Just a few thoughts I needed to get off of my chest. I hope these series(especially the Western Conference) are as good as I think they might be. What do ya'll think?? Get at me and let me know. Also, follow me on twitter @jimmylwilsonjr, and hit me with any feedback on there. Ya'll be easy and until next time...

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message.