NBA Playoffs ECF: Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat

[King Taharqa]

LeBron is the best closer in the game.

The Heat dont need the refs to beat the Mavs, so I hope people dont fall back on that or cry about that. The officiating has been very good overall this playoff and hasnt impacted games nearly as much as last playoffs. If the Heat win this title, hopefully people will finally give them their due as the best team in the league instead of whine and pout.

[HeatCheck]

LeBron is the best closer in the game.

The Heat dont need the refs to beat the Mavs, so I hope people dont fall back on that or cry about that. The officiating has been very good overall this playoff and hasnt impacted games nearly as much as last playoffs. If the Heat win this title, hopefully people will finally give them their due as the best team in the league instead of whine and pout.

First off don't go crazy, LeBron is not the best closer in the NBA.

And I think many hate the Heat because of the talent they have. They should be the best team in the league. I don't want them to win because I think it will send a bad message. It'll make superstars want to join up with other superstars to create more "super teams." Small market teams will get left out.

I have nothing against LBJ, Wade, or Bosh. Just preferred if they were on separate teams or if 2 of 3 were on the same team. They should win the title, but I'll be cheering for the Mavs.

[Kevin Greene]

Is this what the NBA has come to?

Another pathetic 8-19 shooting, 4 turnover performance and you're the "best ever, 'King' of the NBA"?

NEWS FLASH!

After a combined 21 years of choke jobs and under achieving either Dirk or Bron Bron will get a Championship ring by default.

[King Taharqa]

First off don't go crazy, LeBron is not the best closer in the NBA

Let me guess 32 year old Kobe Bryant right? The guy that bricked a wide open 3 at the end of Game 1 of the conference finals and who's team got swept out the playoffs? Dude hit 1 3 pointer that whole series. LMAO. Who? Durant? Rose? The only guy you could maybe argue is better is Dirk, and thats a stretch because LeBron has come up clutch on both sides of the court unlike Dirk. LeBron James is leading in 4th quarter scoring this playoff. If these guys played for the Lakers or Celtics nobody would be upset about a team having 3 superstars, its happened so many times before. NBA fans are programmed to accept that, but when an expansion like Miami does it, its the end of the world.

[Panthers128]

Good win for the Heat. The Bulls are soft.

[King Taharqa]

Is this what the NBA has come to?

Another pathetic 8-19 shooting, 4 turnover performance and you're the "best ever, 'King' of the NBA"?

Newsflash, this was a series between the #1 & #2 defense in the league. Scoring was hard to come by this series. Your team got D'd up and shut down by the Mavericks. I repeat the Mavericks!!!! LOL!!!

[Kevin Greene]

Chicago and OKC fans have to be coming away from these 2 series with an optomistic eye towards the future.

So much youth and so much talent.

We will be watching Rose and Durant deep into Playoff series for years to come.

[HeatCheck]

Let me guess 32 year old Kobe Bryant right? The guy that bricked a wide open 3 at the end of Game 1 of the conference finals and who's team got swept out the playoffs? Dude hit 1 3 pointer that whole series. LMAO. Who? Durant? Rose? The only guy you could maybe argue is better is Dirk, and thats a stretch because LeBron has come up clutch on both sides of the court unlike Dirk. LeBron James is leading in 4th quarter scoring this playoff. If these guys played for the Lakers or Celtics nobody would be upset about a team having 3 superstars, its happened so many times before. NBA fans are programmed to accept that, but when an expansion like Miami does it, its the end of the world.

Yeah but this is different. They did it through free agency. The Boston's 3 was done through trade. Lamar Odom and Gasol came through trade. It's the way they did it. Getting together, making a hoopla about it. Like I said I have nothing against the players.

As far as being clutch, all I am gonna say is, LeBron has proven that he has choked a lot in clutch situations. A lot of times it's not that he misses but it's the types of shots he takes. He never takes advantage of his size and athleticism but would rather rely on his shot. I don't know how you can say he is the best closer in the league. Scoring the most 4th quarter points this playoffs mean nothing. 4th quarter points does not necessarily equal closing time.

I will say this though, he is the best player in the league.

[King Taharqa]

I don't know how you can say he is the best closer in the league. Scoring the most 4th quarter points this playoffs mean nothing. 4th quarter points does not necessarily equal closing time.

I will say this though, he is the best player in the league.

I say he's the best closer in the league because this playoff he's hit more shots to tie or win games in the closing minute than any other player. And he did it against stellar defensive teams like the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls. The Bulls were up by 11 points with less than 2 minutes left and LeBron was able to hit several shots and make defensive plays to rally the Heat to close out this series. This guy was checking D Rose at the end of the last game and held him to 1-8 shooting in the 4th & OT. It doesnt get much more clutch than that.

[HeatCheck]

All I am saying is you can't judge someone off one game, or one series, or one playoffs. You have to do it over a period of time for you to garner the title as the best closer. Not denying his talents offensively or defensively. He is a beast. It's okay for players to have faults. LBJ has not proven to me over a period of time that he has that clutch factor. Not anything wrong with that and it doesn't change my perception of him.

Noah just called the Heat "Hollywood as hell, but a good team." Hilarious, I love his soundbites and I am sure that is just another reason why Noah is Barkley's favorite player.

[King Taharqa]

All I am saying is you can't judge someone off one game, or one series, or one playoffs. You have to do it over a period of time for you to garner the title as the best closer.

Again I ask, if not LeBron who? Outside of the Spurs series in 07 when he was 22 years old and 1 game against Boston last year, LeBron's playoff career is stellar. His numbers are better than some all time greats, he's 2nd in playoff scoring average and has the highest against the Boston Celtics franchise (17 titles) in history.

[HeatCheck]

I'm still confused what we are talking about? Playoff performances? Playoff averages?

I thought we are talking about being the best closer. I think Kobe is the most clutch player in the game. Yes he is aging and that title might leave him soon. But as of now, not any player as taken that throne from him, not even LBJ. I am not a fan of rankings or whatever, but LBJ is not the #1 closer. He might be up there or improving but he has to be more consistent.

[King Taharqa]

If Kobe Bryant is the game's best closer why didnt he show that against the Mavs? Dirk was more clutch than him that series IMO. 90% of Kobe's game winning shots are regular season displays. What is Kobe's defining playoff moment that all NBA fans point to? He doesnt have one. Kobe's "reputation" is a lot bigger and more mythical than any athlete Ive ever seen. He's the only guy I know who can choke and look like poo and his fans will still swear he's clutch. This is the guy who got beat by 40 in a Finals elimination game, yet his fans ignore it. This is part of the reason the Lakers are so lazy, they're able to rest on their laurels like nobody else and it caught up with them big time this season. I give Dirk and LeBron more respect, since they're still playing and actually came up big this year.

[HeatCheck]

I don't want this to turn into a Kobe LBJ debate, but Kobe is still more clutch to me. Like you've pointed out he wasn't "clutch" in the Dallas series. But like I have said you have to look at the whole sample. One series doesn't define you. Kobe is on the decline but no on has overtaken his throne as the being the best closer. LBJ might get there one day.

Always have been a bigger Kobe fan than LBJ and can't see LBJ reaching his status when it's all said in done. But I will say this, James has passed Kobe as the best player in the league and his future is bright. Gotta respect your opinion but we'll just have to disagree, done discussing this.