Can we now finally admit 'small ball' doesn't win

[ILLsmak]

If the Heat get it this year, they prove that small ball wins.

They gotta beat Indy, which is relatively a bully team. Then SA/Memphis... the latter being more of a bully, but SA has some size, too.

You can't say "This is true... LeBron exception." What you're saying is... you can win with small ball if your players are good enough. The Knicks, however, were not a small ball team. They started Tyson Chandler.

Melo is a legit 4.

-Smak

[Artillery]

- D. Howard's Magic depended on the 3 point shot too much, they got bounced every year.

DHo being a shitty offensive player didn't help them either. lol at averaging 14 ppg in the FInals and depending on Turkoglu to carry the team offensively.

[lucky001]

Coaches are just being more flexible is all. It's easier and more productive to slide a mediocre swing into the game than a mediocre big. At least the swing will be quick and probably have a little range. It just makes more sense in the current perimeter friendly environment than fielding a stone handed big, just because.

But if you have 2 productive bigs, you'd still play them both. Sadly, the L is lacking in productive bigs.

[stephanieg]

Seems every title team since the '90s Bulls have either had:

1. An multi-talented PF who can stretch the floor and pass (Duncan, Gasol, KG, Dirk, Bosh, Sheed)

2. Shaq

Point one is true of all the remaining teams: Duncan, either M.Gasol or Z-Bo (stacked!), Bosh, and West.

[Nastradamus]

If the Heat get it this year, they prove that small ball wins.

They gotta beat Indy, which is relatively a bully team. Then SA/Memphis... the latter being more of a bully, but SA has some size, too.

You can't say "This is true... LeBron exception." What you're saying is... you can win with small ball if your players are good enough. The Knicks, however, were not a small ball team. They started Tyson Chandler.

Melo is a legit 4.

-Smak

Melo is not a legit 4 in any way,shape or form.

[Rasheed1]

Basketball has always been about matchups and small ball can only be used in certain situations or it will have a negative impact..

Melo at the 4 is not gonna work on D. You can sneak him in there on occasion, but against the Pacers? c'mon thats not gonna get it done.. You can be undersized in some situations, but you are gonna get killed in others..

coaches need to expand their strategies and trust the players on their rosters a little more.

[Rameek]

[COLOR="Navy"]The Knicks didnt come into the year wanting to play small ball. They just invested in the wrong bigs. Tyson, Stat, Sheed, Camby, Kurt Thomas. Melo isnt a PF its good for spurts during the game.[/COLOR]

[Doranku]

As mentioned already, the team who JUST won the title last year played small ball more often than not in the finals.

This thread is April 2013 worthy.

[Byobob]

As mentioned already, the team who JUST won the title last year played small ball more often than not in the finals.

This thread is April 2013 worthy.

This. They've beaten Indy in 6 without Bosh!!
Their tallest player in that series was Joel friggin' Anthony at 6 foot 9 FFS!

[longtime lurker]

As mentioned already, the team who JUST won the title last year played small ball more often than not in the finals.

This thread is April 2013 worthy.

This. OP might as well just say not having 3 superstars doesn't win,

[Teanett]

small ball works fine but hero ball will fukk you in the ass hard sooner or later.

[Zodiac]

The only reason this conversation is remotely relevant is the lack of true and good 5s in the NBA.

Small ball would get it's ass kicked against the Dikembe Mutombos, Ewings, Shaqs, and Yao Mings of the NBA

[chips93]

I think any offensive style can win.

The point is that you have to be able to defend well in the half court to win in the playoffs. A lot of times that means having at least 1 big that can protect the paint and play great help side defense and still rebound.

But the Heat definitely play "small ball"...they just also play great defense mainly due to Wade and Lebron....and effort from role players.

this

also, durant played a lot of power forward for the thunder last year, and that worked great, got them to the finals

[Zodiac]

If the Heat get it this year, they prove that small ball wins.

They gotta beat Indy, which is relatively a bully team. Then SA/Memphis... the latter being more of a bully, but SA has some size, too.

You can't say "This is true... LeBron exception." What you're saying is... you can win with small ball if your players are good enough. The Knicks, however, were not a small ball team. They started Tyson Chandler.

Melo is a legit 4.

-Smak

No they don't, and Lebron at PF is not ****ing small ball, the man is 6'9 255.

He is a PF measurable wise. Bosh is a little undersized at C but it doesn't matter since the best East Cs aside from Noah are Al Horford and Greg Monroe, two PFs playing Cs.

Yes I get they beat the Pacers without Bosh, but that is disregarding the fact that Roy Hibbert is basically a decent version of Thabeet.

[LikeABosh]

Any team can win with the right personnel. The Heat won the 2nd round and ECF without Bosh and even he is no where near a traditional "big".