Leave it to 'Balky' Van Gundy to cite a highly recognized “Sheedism” during Game 2, i.e., “Ball Don’t Lie”.
This timeless Rasheed Wallace quip dovetails quite well into an additional 'truism' about stats & numbers.
Incidentally, of all one-liners Sheed dropped, my personal favorite stands alone as: “C-I-T”
During turbulent stretch of Games in Portland,
w/Wallace's shooting % & scoring down; Wallace was asked if he was bothered by ever-increasing criticism:
(Wallace' ‘Both Teams Played Hard’, Press Conference was a masterpiece, also)
Honesty; often prefaced in differing ways.
Barkley was/is honest in mostly AMUSING ways.
Wallace - like him or abhor him -
Was/is honest in mostly coldhearted ways.
Though I did respect Sheed's candid authenticity, &
Wallace illustrious 15-Year Career On-Court numbers Speak volumes about the guys' tireless, consistent & resourceful play.
Yet, Wallace didn’t do HIMSELF any favors w/press;
Thus, it's truly difficult to feel too sorry for him.
Sheed either didn’t see &/or care how much he hurt himself by such comments.
Rasheed Wallace is clearly one of the most misunderstood people in the sports world.
Wallace did more for disadvantaged families (including his OWN), beyond that of the average person w/such resources - without most folks knowing a thing about it.
Lastly, the testimony about Sheed to throw in:
A certain former Coach when interviewed by local talking heads the day Rasheed Wallace signed w/The Portland Trailblazers:
Digress – back to hoops
________
Slicing up numbers from Finals Games 1 & 2
Many pertinent numbers rising to surface, FYI
(as always, these may be redundant)
(THE 1ST QTR of EACH GAME)
MIA HAS WON 1ST QTRS BY COMBINED 17 PTS
OKC HAS WON 4TH QTRS BY COMBINED 17 PTS
OKC & MIA STATS RAN 'TRUE-TO-FORM' THRU GM 2:
OKC: 88
MIA: 84
Paint Points:
Undoubtedly #1 Gm-to-Gm Swivel to Tie Series OKC DOMINATED Paint, Gm 1 (OKC 24 | MIA 4)
MIA flipped this, Gm 2 (MIA 44 | OKC 32)
(FT Att per FG Att)
OKC: 29.7%
MIA: 29.7%
OKC: 14
MIA: 14
2Q GAME 1: MIA 25 | OKC 25
2Q GAME 2: MIA 28 | OKC 28
Game 1: 89 Possessions
Game 2: 90 Possessions
OKC: 79
MIA: 75
OKC: 20
MIA: 18
MIA: 40
OKC: 38
OKC: 14
MIA: 11
OKC: 36
MIA: 33
OKC: 20
MIA: 23
#1: TEAM FT%
MIA 83.7%
OKC 73.6%
OKC FT: 39-53
MIA entered Finals shooting 72.3%
(Good deal below MIA Regular Season Avg 77.5%)
OKC came into Finals shooting sparkling 84.4% FT’s
(Even higher than OKC’s #1 NBA Reg Avg 80.3%)
OKC: 10-11
MIA: 8-8
MIA encapsulates this unusual category
(Heat +18 Dunks Last 2 Series)
OKC’s +5 Dunks Game 1 (OKC 8 | MIA 3)
Set early tone for Series
MIA coming back w/5 Gm 2 Dunks
Equally noteworthy
OKC: 62.5
MIA: 23.5
(Thunder +39 Minutes Played/Gm)
OKC: 21 PPG
MIA: 10 PPG
(Even w/Bosh off Bench in Game 1)
OKC: 43
MIA: 33
MIA: 42.4%
OKC: 32.6%
OKC: 35
MIA: 14
OKC: 30
MIA: 23
______
Gathering insight from many of these numbers
Back w/Gm 3 Play this evening on Graveyard Shift
W-O-W
