Let's get some banter going on this. Is King James up to the task? Getting the Heat at plus odds might not be a bad thing.
Steve

I think my Thunder are going to win, but not for the reasons you may think. It is not because The King disappears in the fourth quarter. It is because Perkins and Ibaka will dominate the Heat inside. Good matchups for the Thunder. Thunder in 6.

If I've learned anything Steve, it's not to wager with my heart (ok, maybe a stretch when it comes to the Cowboys and Longhorns) so I'll lay off the series bet because I am so bias against King James. I am, however, confident he'll fade with Wade to get a ring. Thunder in 6 sounds about right to me.

Jason,
Good to see you recovered from your "tough" stay at the Waldorf. Nice seeing you; it's good to put a face to the name. The Thunder are going to be a handful. Should be fun to watch. Might back off the series play and just bet some individual games. Actually the Thunder look good in game 1 only giving 4 1/2.
Steve

Cooler: keep wallet in pocket.

Dirbud- the day was a blast. Wish we both would have made some money, but loved hanging out with our crew. That is hilarious about the person coming up to you and asking if you were Dell. Next time, we will have to preset the races where we will meet up so that there is less confusion. Just glad we got to hang out and talk horses!

Agree that this should be a lot of fun to watch. Jason, good luck to your team. It's not very often a city in Oklahoma can boast of having a world champion.

LL

Not getting invloved but I think at most OKC should be a very small series favorite give the home court.

Heat when it comes to crunch time plays better D.Hope I'm wrong but I see Miami winning the series which doesn't exactly thrill me.

I'm goin' in deep on the Thunder (so much for betting with my head and not my heart). I'll pick n choose my games but #1 I'll lay the 4' to us Mr. Baker.

Dug out my old white Rabbit's foot/lucky horseshoe to help nullify the Cooler effect.

That's music to my ears Spanky but I can already hear the wailing and gnashing from Oklahoma. Am taking my young stepson to Game 3 on Sunday , he's a huge Heat (especially Wade) fan . Will try and take some photos but can't get Spider type seats for this one - they are asking for $10k for courtside seats right now.

Bev- not a problem. My little boy may be willing to share either his KD or Westbrook jersey come BC time when your stepson decides to change over to a winner.

Cooler!..................................

Didn't bet the series but still think the Heat plus 145 is a good bet. Flip flopped on game 1. When line went to 5 1/2 I took the Heat. Just think it's alot of points.
Steve

6:40 left in 3rd qtr and tie game. This could be a classic series!!

Battier 17 pts in the 3rd? Seriously?

After that 1st qtr I am shocked the Thunder are winning at the end of the 3rd.

Holy s!!! I have never been so nervous over an event with no money involved! Already a 4 Maker's Mark night.

Hoping OKC does what it is supposed to do, win on their home court and that Lebron does what he always does- disappear during the 4th qtr.

One down, Jason! Okies look deeper, younger, quicker, at least for tonight. Don't figure Battier to shoot like that very often, and they should get more from Harden. Must be crazy in OKC--biggest thing since the rodeo. Don't get too cocky too early, though. Remember, The Cooler lurketh.

Gooch- no worries there. OKC merely held serve. Plus with Spankys big Belmont win, I am hoping he can go on an all time streak (2 wins in a row).

Great job by the young guns to play so well in crunch time. KD never ceases to amaze me. That said, OKC did not do anything but preserve home court advantage. They were supposed to win that game. If they lost it, Miami would have probably won in 5 or 6 given the 2-3-2 format.

BTW, I don't think D Wade is anywhere near 100%. Also, OKC had too many easy dunks inside. Miami will need to account for those two things to win.

Wade looks old, but part of that is the quickness of Westbrook and Harden. He'll have better games, as will Bosh. Still think the OKies are a more complete team, deeper bench, all dat. You are right, though, serve was merely held. These have been back and forth playoffs, though out. Hey, going to any games?

I've always had a mathematical theory of sorts (which isn't supported by anything results-wise) that this format equalizes HC advantage from this standpoint.

It goes like this- consider breaking the series into 3 smaller series: a 2 game set, followed by a 3 game set, followed by another 2 game set. IF you have two teams that are evenly matched the most likely result of any given 2 game set should be a split. The most likely result of any 3 game set would be to give the edge to the home team. Under this formula the team which doesn't have the "HC advantage" parlays 2 splits on the road with 2 of 3 at home for a 4-3 series win.

The problem of course is with small sample sizes and that its huge to have a game 7 at home if you get that far.

'shoes

Good points 'shoes...I still think it's all about making sure the series goes to at least six or seven games to squeeze every nickel possible from the fans and sponsors. That would involve scandal I suppose. But look around professional sports, is it really that far fetched, especially in basketball?

Some of the calls made last night were crazy. But that's one down for the good guys Mr. Baker!

to interrupt this conversation but I have breaking news...guess who's rumored to play halftime at the Super Bowl this year in 'Nawlins...no Piddy's Diddy's Sharikas, Moniques, LMAO, 50 Cents...Rock n Roll! Even though it's kinda old.




Thumbs up? hit 1...thumbs down...hit 2



As far as the game last night...clearly the better team won with clearly the real MVP leading the way. The King is a jester in the 4th quarter, again!

bad enough you have to post this garbage here, but twice?

but fixed pretty quickly! You're not stuck in an airport again are ya Gooch?...lol...could ya be more specific on what was garbage?

Okies finished very well after a shaky start.
Durant was huge, and Westbrook finally had a good game.
I expected their inside game to be a factor throughout.
Don't like the Heat's chances after losing their momentum last night.
However we have seen the Okies disappear before.
Probably shouldn't dismiss MVP James and Wade just yet.

Amazing how personally many of you take these things.

Spank-I have no idea who is in that pic of the Super Bowl entertainment.
Probably someone to whom i don't listen.

I tried watching last night's game from the beginning.
Was bored to sleep by the middle of the 3rd q

'Gooch- not going to any games. Really want to take my son, but he is too young to handle the crowd, late ending and drive back home. Am fully expecting to have more of these opportunities over the next ten years

Nawwww...I think Goocher knows it's nothing personal with me...nor anyone else...we just keep turnin' the page... At times I just start typin' before my first diet Mountain Dew of the day and it comes out wrong...lol...

And that pic is definitely not music that you listen to...no banjos, juice harps or fiddles....lol...but you may have heard of them since one is considered one of the best axemen ever! Eddie Van Halen! I prefer Van Hagar over David Lee Roth but...either way, it's gonna be a great halftime show in the Big Easy!

James is a great player no doubt. But as long as they let players walk at will, change the rules so the NBA can create "Superstars" (the continuation play is a joke) or allow Stephen A. Smith to talk to a camera...well...

"Our Lady of Perpetual Condescension"

Shoes- Interesting take on the 2-3-2 series. Never thought of it that way. However, I have always thought that the series is often over after game 2 because of the format. If the home team sweeps the first two, it becomes extremely difficult for the road team to hold serve three straight games. Conversely, if the road team obtains a split, the home team may not make it back home. Seems like they did it this way due to the old Boston-LA series where travel was such a nightmare.

BTW, just saw the ratings for Game 1 and it is the highest ever for a Game 1 on ABC. Have to disagree with Spider here, having the scoring champ against the MVP is very exciting for the nation.

http://newsok.com/nba-finals-okc-thunder-vs.-miami-heat-sets-tv-ratings-record/article/3684104?custom_click=pod_headline_nba-news

correct Spank--I don't listen to Van Halen, and don't own anything that they have done.
Eddie is a great axeman though. What I saw of him on a Les Paul tribute show blew me away.
I prefer the first singer over the second, however I prefer anyone over that Hagar guy.
A lot of people liked them--I can make it through half time--nbd

JB--not knocking last night's game
I thought that it was exciting, and could feel the momentum swing as it moved along.
I like OKC--Durant is a big-time player. Their inside game can be formidable.
LeBron still needs help. The Heat are hollow inside. I have never believed in Bosh.
I don't care for either coach.
I am on EST and get up every day at 5am. I don't stay up late without a good reason.
NBA games where I have no investment or rooting interest aren't important to me.
Not one person that I came in contact with today mentioned the game.

Enjoy it---your time in the spotlight.
Hope to see you again in the big city next June.
Stumbled in to an incredible Italian place Sat.night because Cipriani was packed.
Aurora--on Broome(or maybe Spring) and West Broadway
Candied figs and fresh sweet ricotta on a bed of prociutto
homemade wide spinach fettucine with a wonderful veal ragout
vanilla bean ice crean dusted with cacao powder, then crushed candied almonds with chocolate liquer
washed down with a mango rum punch filled with rum-soaked mango hunks
good stuff 2 blocks from my hotel!

Think I'll come back with the Heat plus 5 1/2 tonight. Maybe this time they can hang on a little better.
Steve

Think you are choosing the correct side of the spread. Will probably start a Game 2 thread where I post drunken musings.