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Game Two Tells the Tale
Published: 6/13/2012 2:04 PM
Last Modified: 6/13/2012 3:56 PM

Sometimes it's this simple: The best team wins.

Forget the excuses, forget the alibis, forget the conjecture, forget the idiotic electronic media, forget the hypotheticals, forget the injury rumors from bad pickers. Sometimes the best team wins.

That was the case in game one of the NBA playoffs.

LeBron seemed scared to death to shoot a jump shot. He is a world-class driver and dunker. But on numerous occasions in game one, his jump shots were lucky to catch some rim. D-Wade is not as good as he was six years ago. Bosh doesn't like to mix it up. Tuesday night, OKC was the best team.

Game two is everything. The Thunder was supposed to win game one fairly easily. And it did. Now things get more meaningful. If OKC goes to Miami leading 2-0, it will be in great shape. If Miami goes home 1-1, it will be in great shape.

By the way, exactly who anointed LeBron as the best basketball player in the world? Oh yeah. The dopey electronic media. Guess what. He might not be the best player in the world. This series will help to determine that. He can drive and dunk. But oftentimes he can't shoot from afar when it counts. He doesn't seem to care to play defense. If we were starting a team from scratch with the first pick, we'd take Durant, no question about it.

Miami played about as well as it could in game one. LeBron needs to do more with his jump shots than hit the rim. Wade could shoot better. But the beard did nothing for OKC.

Game two is the key to the title.

Thursday will be one of the best sports days in recorded history. First, there's the U. S. Open golf tournament outside San Francisco on a course that can make the cry-baby pros look even lamer than some of them really are. Scores of routine 80s are predicted. Then it's the monsterously important game two with pro hoops.

Some will call in sick at work. Then call in sick at home.


Reader Comments 13 Total
Gene M (8 months ago)
What is that faint sound I hear? There it is again. Yes . . . its the roar of a Tiger!
Glenn616 (8 months ago)
I always look forward to the U.S. Open every year, due to the challenging nature of the tournament, even for the pros. It makes me get more excited about the great shots that happen.
Opus (8 months ago)
Excellent analysis, Jay. Much as I hate to say anything nice about Kobe, he's twice the player LeBron is, and KD is better than Kobe.
The Picker (8 months ago)
Gene, Gene, Gene.....that's a mouse, not a Tiger. He'll be lucky to make the cut.
236840 (8 months ago)
completely agree that miami played as well as it could in game 1 ... expect the tempo to be much faster in game 2, which absolutely should favor the thunder ... i also think fatigue will be a big factor with miami tomorrow
241362 (8 months ago)
Tiger shoots 79.
Why would anybody take LeBron over Durant?
norsemustang (8 months ago)
Will feel much better if OKC wins Game 2. Then at worst they only need to win 1 out of 3 in Miami so they can have Game 6 and 7 at home to win the championship. If they can't close it out in Miami, then they at least need to return to OKC up 3-2.
Jayo (8 months ago)
I think that's it!, about James' hesitation last year in the fourth quarter(s): he's not sure about shooting a jump shot or driving to the basket. The same thing this year.
SLOTH is the real Goonie (8 months ago)
I think the Thunder just have better athletes. Miami was gassed in that 4th quarter, and OKC looked like they could have pulled off a double-header.

I think OKC wins tnnight, Miami steals a couple, and OKC wins in Six.
The Picker (8 months ago)
The team that wins tonight is in great shape.

The other, it's near curtains.

Gene-o: You can relax, Tiger will make the cut. If you pick him every week, you have to come close sometime!
hootie (8 months ago)
WOW!!!! The heat talk is a total 180 from the "Oppressive Heat" write up!!
colhi64 (8 months ago)
OKC is doing super great considering they are actually playing 4 against 5.
241362 (8 months ago)
Hootie, what was that? The pick stands. Miami in 6. Colhi, you're exactly right, it's four on five, Perkins couldn't hit his backside with a brick.
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Out Pick The Picker

The Picker began entertaining – and infuriating – sports fans in 1993. Each week during football season, he writes about his picks of college and NFL games in his Thursday Sports column. He's never afraid of sharing his opinions about the game and the personalities who play it. Readers have a chance to go against him each season in the Outpick the Picker contest. He welcomes the competition.

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