2012 NBA Finals - Thunder vs. Heat / Celtics

[ljbab728]

I would hate to fall into the trap of thinking too far ahead but it might be interesting to start looking at a potential matchup in the Finals. It looks like Boston is following OKC's script in their series with the Heat. They can win the East with a win at home on Thursday. Am I correct that an OKC - Boston matchup would give the Thunder home court advantage?

[CCOKC]

We would have home court versus either team. The first game is Tuesday the 12th in either OKC or San Antonio.

[Pete]

As fans, we don't have to play the game so we can think whatever we want!

I'm super excited because I'll be in OKC during most the finals and it's almost too much to hope that we'll still be playing. But I've really got my hopes up now.

[ljbab728]

I hope you could get tickets, Pete. You sure won't be watching the games in Thunder Alley. LOL

[CCOKC]

I'm just glad I am a season ticket holder and don't have to worry about where I am going to be for all of the games. I am too nervous to predict the winner tomorrow night. I have been an NBA fan since 1979 and just cannot believe I get to see a future hall of famer play with my own eyes. Believe me, I know what a good thing that this community has been blessed with.

[Bellaboo]

I'm just glad I am a season ticket holder and don't have to worry about where I am going to be for all of the games. I am too nervous to predict the winner tomorrow night. I have been an NBA fan since 1979 and just cannot believe I get to see a future hall of famer play with my own eyes. Believe me, I know what a good thing that this community has been blessed with.

We are so lucky, we could be doing this (finals) for several years to come. I too am a season ticket holder, and I'm trying not to be overly optomistic for tonight.....

[SoonerDave]

Hey, this is an awesome time for OKC. I must admit I *never*, repeat *never* thought OKC would ever have a pro sports franchise, let alone have a truly authentic shot at a championship title. Unbelievable.

And for those of you who have tickets, hold on to those things like gold, because they may be the hardest ticket around since OU-Texas!! Tried to put out some feelers for some as a surprise to my kiddo and there just aren't any to be had (clarifying that the $8,500 floor seats on stubhub are out of my budget

ThunderUp!

[Pete]

Hey, this is an awesome time for OKC. I must admit I *never*, repeat *never* thought OKC would ever have a pro sports franchise, let alone have a truly authentic shot at a championship title. Unbelievable.

I will admit to thinking the same way about OKC never being able to get or support a pro team.

And now we are legitimate contenders for a world title... I still sometimes have a hard time believing it.

[Lord Helmet]

Ugh. You guys better not be jinxing us!

[Pete]

I know, there is still this dark fear we are setting ourselves up for disappointment.

Still, I wouldn't bet against us.

[SoonerBoy18]

I mist admit, I was a Laker fan before I knew Oklahoma City Thunder was actually an NBA team, I use to think they were some D-league team, up until we played the Lakers in the 1st round of the 2010 playoffs. After the Lakers beat us that year, I went back to supporting the Lakers until they won their title. I didnt no much about the NBA since it was my first time ever watching it but for some reason I hated the Boston Celtics, and I still cant believe we are one win away from playing THEM (Boston, a team whos been there and done it). I am so happy for our team and our city.

[Matt]

Let's do this. Again.

[Dustin]

FINALS FINALS FINALS FINALS!! OMG OMG OMG! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!! I'm so excited!

[Pete]

Unbelievable.

Incredible.

Fantastic.

[Dustin]

I'm wearing my Thunder shirt to work tomorrow. I don't care what anyone says...

[Matt]

Here’s the schedule. All times are Central, and every game will be shown on ABC.

Game 1: Tues., June 12 - Boston/Miami at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.
Game 2: Thurs., June 14 - Boston/Miami at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.
Game 3: Sun., June 17 - Oklahoma City at Boston/Miami, 7 p.m.
Game 4: Tues., June 19 - Oklahoma City at Boston/Miami, 8 p.m.
*Game 5: Thurs., June 21 - Oklahoma City at Boston/Miami, 8 p.m.
*Game 6: Sun., June 24 - Boston/Miami at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.
*Game 7: Tues., June 26 - Boston/Miami at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.

[blangtang]

Here’s the schedule. All times are Central, and every game will be shown on ABC.

Game 1: Tues., June 12 - Boston/Miami at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.
Game 2: Thurs., June 14 - Boston/Miami at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.
Game 3: Sun., June 17 - Oklahoma City at Boston/Miami, 7 p.m.
Game 4: Tues., June 19 - Oklahoma City at Boston/Miami, 8 p.m.
*Game 5: Thurs., June 21 - Oklahoma City at Boston/Miami, 8 p.m.
*Game 6: Sun., June 24 - Boston/Miami at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.
*Game 7: Tues., June 26 - Boston/Miami at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.

Let me get this right cuz I don't pay too close attention to details - the NBA does a 2-2-1-1-1 in the early rounds of the playoffs but does a 2-3-2 in the finals?

Also, looking at the schedule you posted, there are no Fri/Sat games. What a bummer for the people who like to get rowdy on the weekends!

[Matt]

Let me get this right cuz I don't pay too close attention to details - the NBA does a 2-2-1-1-1 in the early rounds of the playoffs but does a 2-3-2 in the finals?

Yep.

Also, looking at the schedule you posted, there are no Fri/Sat games. What a bummer for the people who like to get rowdy on the weekends!

Yep. It's all about TV ratings.

This opinion piece is a couple of years old, but it addresses both of those things:

When questioned about the 2-3-2 NBA Finals format recently, commissioner David Stern attributed the change, now 25 years old, to Red Auerbach, who had complained that heavy travel for Games 5, 6, and 7 affected the quality of basketball.

In those days, back-to-backs for Games 1 and 2 and Games 3 and 4 were common and Red was right; given the schedule, which allowed off days only if there was a change of venue, the increased travel as the series wore on affected play.

That is no longer the case, yet the NBA seems married to this format that is annoying more than anything else.

(snip)

Stern has the power to make changes, but the question is whether he wants to because one of his primary goals is satisfying television demands.

A former NBA player questioned why the NBA doesn’t push Game 3 to Wednesday, then play Game 4 Friday and Game 5 Sunday. A grand idea, except television wants to avoid Friday night because of ratings.

The NBA could have scheduled Game 1 of this series last Friday, but the series started on Thursday for a reason. Stern is listening to his masters and if ABC wants two weekday games and then a Sunday game for ratings, that’s what Stern will do. But adhering to television requests as well as making for a fair series forces the league into some difficult decisions.

(snip)

And if the NBA is fine with the other playoff series in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, why are the Finals different? Stern dropped the responsibility in the lap of Auerbach, who eventually acknowledged he didn’t like the format.

Although Stern has more pressing responsibilities trying to formulate a new collective bargaining agreement, the commissioner can no longer throw up his hands and blame a 25-year-old conversation with Auerbach because of the format. He has the power to collaborate with ABC for an amicable 2-2-1-1-1 format that would satisfy television, because ABC/ESPN had no trouble with the Celtics-Magic series or even the Celtics-Cavaliers seven-game thriller two years ago.

Something hasn’t seemed right with the Finals since the format changed, and the progressive Stern should finally admit this trend has run its course. The NBA is the only professional league in which the finals format differs from the rest of the playoffs, and that makes no sense.

Stern scoffed at Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy’s earlier suggestion that the playoff series are too spread out and back-to-backs need to return. So if that old-school idea was so preposterous, why is he holding on to 2-3-2?

It’s time for Stern to blend a little of the progressive and old school, and he is brilliant enough to devise a format that would satisfy all parties because 2-3-2 will never stop giving off that uneasy feeling.

[Matt]

Season record against the Celtics:

Jan. 16 - OKC 97, BOS 88
Feb. 22 - BOS 104, OKC 119 (DNP: Rondo)

And the Heat:

Mar. 25 - MIA 87, OKC 103
Apr. 4 - OKC 93, MIA 98

[Matt]

Random Tweets of note. . .

Marc Stein ‏@ESPNSteinLine
If Thunder win Game 6, they'll have beaten West's last three champions to reach NBA Finals. Elias says that's never happened

Royce Young ‏@dailythunder
The Thunder went through the Mavericks, the Lakers and the Spurs. Also known as the last 13 Western Conference champions.

John Hollinger ‏@johnhollinger
So, if 94.2% of teams up 2-0 advance, it means cumulative probability of OKC-Bos Finals was 0.3% -- that's 3-in-1,000 -- on Thursday.

Numbers Never Lie ‏@ESPN_Numbers
3 = the Thunder are only the 3rd team in NBA history to win 4 straight games in the conference finals after trailing 2-0.

[ljbab728]

OK, so now do we hope for playing tradition (Celtics) or stars (Miami) in the finals?

[ljbab728]

I think I tend more toward the Celtics instead of watching Labron.

[Easy180]

Fine either way...Would rather watch a Heat-Thunder matchup but think it would be easier to beat another OLD team

[ljbab728]

This could certainly change but the latest odds I saw for winning the championship are:

OKC - 1/1
Miami - 13/4
Boston - 9/2

http://www.betvega.com/odds-to-win-nba-championship/


All of the the TNT talking heads are basically picking OKC. Shaq says the world want to see KD versus Lebron.

[ljbab728]

A limited number of tickets for first two games go on sale on Saturday.

http://www.koco.com/sports/thunder/N...w/-/index.html