MVPs

I didn't see the all star game but the stats showed some things. The Battle of LeBron and KD seemed to be the story, with LeBron slightly outstating Kevin Durant. KD wins MVP though as the West beat the East. It's really easy to assume that these two teams in the finals. So let's break down some team stats:

Record: Both 27-7
PPG: Heat - 103.7 (1st), Thunder 102.68 (3rd)
PPG Diff - Heat +9.36 (2nd), Thunder +6.44 (4th)
FG% - Heat .488 (1st), Thunder .475 (2nd)
3PT FG% - Heat .398 (1st), Thunder .347 (14th)

OKC is dominating the league in blocks at 7.88 BPG. Miami is in 15th, at 5.12 BPG.

As for their star players:
LeBron - 27.4 - 8.1 - 6.8 APG (In 42 club, 42.3), 36.7 minutes per game.
Durant - 27.9 - 8.1 - 3.4 APG (Not in 42 club, 39.4), 38 minutes per game.

The 42 club is a very exclusive group of players who have averaged over 42 in a combined PPG, RPG, APG. LeBron Is the only player in the league on average for the group this year.

Active players who are have reached the 42-Club:
Kobe: 1x
LeBron: 3x
Kevin Garnett: 1x
Dirk: 1x

As a total, you have to call the Heat the best team in the league undisputed. As for players, you have to give season MVP race to LeBron. To those who are saying Kobe should undoubtedly be MVP, his shot selection this year has been horrid and I can't agree with that choice. 
Regardless, I believe the finals match up will be Thunder and Heat. My next post will be my projected playoff predictions.  





Image from:

hiphoptitan.com

Lincompetent?

No, the title takes it a little too far, but J-Lin definitely had his ass handed to him in Miami last night. The Knicks lost 102-88 after leading in the first half, despite horrible shooting and a poor handle on the ball. Lin had a game high 8 turnovers and Stoudemire had 6. Reckless for a team that had only 14 assists TOTAL.
The guards of the Heat - Chalmers, Cole and Wade - kept Lin to 1-11 shooting Baron Davis shot 0-7 and Carmelo Anthony shot 7-20 (Who does he think he is, Kobe?).
The big 3 (2 1/2) shot 28-55, with James almost hitting a triple double with 20-9-8, 5 steals and 2 blocks. 

Could Lin's NBA stardom be over as fast as it appeared? I doubt it, everyone has those game where the ball just jumps out of your hands and the shots can't get through the rim.
Mike D'Antoni - ""He didn't have the legs. He played last night. It happens. It was a learning experience ... We probably just played maybe arguably the best team in the NBA."
Partly true, but as I wrote previously about the shortened season, the youth of Lin should prove able to prevail in back-to-back's or back-to-back-to-back's.
I think that this was just a case of a far more superior team, continuing to keep their streak rolling. The Heat want first and they're going to plow through many more teams like they did Lin and the Knicks last night. 
The Heat are on a 8 game win streak, all by double digits.

Just for fun, here are some words you cold say about last night.
Lincompetent, Linane, Linauthentic, Lincombustable (he's not on fire!), he's still Lincubating.

Take this lightly, it's all in fun.

Image from nydailynews.com

Great Read

As a post-MJ basketball fan, it's hard to grasp how the league used to be. I got this book from my girlfriend for Christmas and I strongly suggest any NBA fan to grab it for a good read. Lots of facts and a good knowledge to help create an idea of how the NBA became the NBA.

The Book of Basketball: The NBA According To The Sports Guy

Although I think Simmons remains slightly biased (despite countless statements otherwise), it's still unbiased enough to get all the facts to the reader.
It's really hard to disagree with Simmons on almost the whole book. He knows his stuff and presents it in a way that anyone can grasp.
 From how the league came to be, to the top players EVER and the greatest team imaginable, it has plenty to keep any fan happy.
He uses a comedic approach and some of his footnotes are LOL worthy.

I strongly, strongly suggest this as a read.

Year of the Heat

The season is half over. The Heat are on top. LeBron, D-Wade and the rest of the Heat seem to be breezing through the season, now at a 6 game win streak. They finally seem to be in, "the zone". They lead the NBA in FG%.485 and 3PT% .400. Not a bad spot to be.

This year, the condensed season could be just what the Heat need to finally bring home it's inevitable title since bringing the "big three" (more like 2 and a 1/2) together.  The lack of days off are proving to be a task for the older teams and the younger teams seem to be thriving on it. This will automatically cut out some major threats in the playoffs.
The Lakers and Celtics being the major 2, that are struggling with a condensed season and even more with the Lakers after trading Odom and Gasol trade rumors kicking up again. Kobe himself said to either get it over with or leave us the eff alone. (Not those exact words but you get the picture). For now I'm saying count those teams out of at least the first round.
Along with that, the East is just a weaker conference. 7th and 8th place teams (Knicks and Celtics) aren't even floating above .500. If this trend continues you can bet on a Chicago and Miami final (both also with highest pt diff. 9.1-9.2). But until that both teams should breeze through the playoffs conserving some much needed energy.
The West has a much more competitive conference with 9 teams above .500 and their veterans proving more versatile (Spurs on 11 game win streak).

The biggest factor in the Heat winning a title will be LeBron's composure during crunch time games in the playoffs. He's been to one finals, but that's it. Now that they've had 1 1/2 years to gain whatever chemistry is there and find their game it's now or never. Especially after LeBron claiming he'd like to return to Cleveland in the future.

Either way, it's going to be a good, youth filled playoffs. I think for the Heat, it's a good of a year as ever to bring home another title. 

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beinglatino.wordpress.com