Miami Heat level NBA playoffs with Pacers at 2-2

Heat now 3-2 up after Battier finds his range.

There is a significant difference between being washed up because of injury and washed up because of deteriorating skills. NBA stars and superstars who pass their prime before 27 do so because of two reasons 1) injury - see Grant Hill, Shaun Livingston, Jay Williams, Andrew Bynum, Larry Johnson, Ron Harper but hopefully not Andrew Bogut. 2) Lifestyle choices, meaning, DRUGS - see Richard Dumas, Vin Baker, Michael Beasley, John Crotty, Roy Tarpley. There is no 3) skills have declined. LeBron will be competing for the MVP for many years yet. (There is a third reason why young pros don't make it - they are wrongly considered to be superstars or even adequate pros in the first place - Ed O'Bannon, Joe Forte, Marjc (sp) Lampe, Yinka Dare, Troy Bell, Johnathan Bender).

Worst part is that if the heat do fold the blame will still be on Bron.

I have that DVD Ryan and saw that plus watches the 7 games series i got the tapes and read on forums about the series. I have had some shockers today for sure everyone has them mate. But that series was one of the most exciting I am a lakers fan and still may of just backed them but the hypothetical of Worthy he had one of the best jumpers around, and byran scott had a real hot hand. Another myth about Jordan for what it is worth is this. I think he is the no 1 player ever just beating wilt chamberlain. But when Jordan who won a NCAA title at north carolima it was on fact James worthy who was the star of that team and was the marquee player not Jordan. James worthy was one hell of a player and one of the most naturally Basketball players ever he was underrated at times, but everyone respects fans and players respects James worthies shot and his play off stats. And the Bad boys were a great team too from detroit those pistons.

The Pacers really needed to win this game to have a shot at winning the series. Lebron having to put up numbers not seen since Elgin Baylor 50-odd years ago is not a good sign for the Heat.

I'm baffled how you can make such an astute comment after some of the the other shockers you've made today! Absolutely spot on. It's a complete myth that Pippen shut Magic down in the 1991 NBA Finals. A myth that was perpetuated by the DVD 'Untoucha-bulls', which documented the Chichago Bulls championship. Magic had a great series individually, averaging 19 points, 7 rebounds and 12 assists. He also had a massive triple double in the fifth game, with a whopping 20 assists. Not exactly 'shut out'. I completely agree that a healthy Worthy could have turned that series. What's often forgotten is that Byron Scott, the Lakers starting shooting guard (and now Cleveland coach) also went down injured in game 4 and never returned. Scott was the Lakers best outside shooter, and few teams can win when two starters are out injured. I still think the Bulls would have won the series because I believe it was just their 'time', particularly Jordan. But the series wold have been a lot closer.

Yes Ryan i meant magic johnson in 1988, . Contrary to popular belief there was myth Ryan that in 1991 Pippen shut Majic out and Jordan couldn't handle Majic. Well the facts were both struggled on D marking Majic, Majic Johnson had a good series, what hurt Majic in 1991 his wingman James Worthy was busted and could hardly play in that series as worthy is a playoff star, and was such a major part of that Lakers dynasty. I still think in my opinion the LA Lakers would of won in 91 had Worthy been fit, that was such an exciting series that 91 Lakers V Bulls.

Johnno, it was stupid, as I stated, because there are examples of the best athletes ever, in history, of all time, that were better after 27. For every example you could give of an athlete peaking before 27 I could give you one peaking after. You clearly have zero clue about the NBA as well. Lebron James is a freak of nature. His stats this past season have been his best ever across the board. There is no reason to think they won't be better again next season. The counter point to your entire argument IS the San Antonio Spurs - their core big 3 are fading athletes but are increasing in smarts to the point they are sweeping aside all newcomers (teams with stars largely under 27). As a team they are peaking right now. They are old and creaky and by your definition should have been dispatched by the Clips. Mmmm... -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.

Mushi, I think you understated things - Johnno's statements were *both* moronic and disingenuous.

Jason Kidd hit his prime at the tender age 38!

Um because other sports clearly have other demands and you only did it because you couldn't make a case for your mind numbing ridiculous assertion using Basketball references. It was either moronic or disingenuous. Hell even some of your other sports were cherry picked exceptions. Hollinger did some work (you know actual research not staring at faecal matter and trying to read it like tea leaves) where I think he found that it was 32 ish (can’t recall exactly) that players started to decline even then he found players that had better size, shooting or passing for their position tended to decline later and more slowly.

Magic Johnson probably was past his prime in 1998. That's because he would have been 38 years of age at the time, not 28. I presume you mean that Magic's last title was in 1988? That's true, but he was named MVP of the league in 1989 and 1990, so he was hardly past his prime in the voter's opinion. He also made the NBA Finals in 1989 and again in 1991. The fact he didn't win the championship doesn't mean he was past his prime. If winning a championship equals your prime, does that mean Charles Barkey, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone never even HAD a prime?

good awnser Aljay.

Why swampy is it stupid to compare other elite athletes in other sports.

Majic Johnson was past his prime by 1998 he was aged 28 that was Majic's last NBA title, and Dwayne mclain was past his best when he came to OZ but was still amazing. 27 is a tough age to find Ryan but there may be some but not many. Isiah Thomas was finished by aged 29 last title 1990.

*Fingers crossed Andrew Bogut will not become a legitimate answer to that question*

Yep either way I don’t think the Thunder are going to be playing then anyway. Spurs have looked the goods for some time. On the 100% just a question anyone know much about abdominal strain and what condition to expect him to be in? Though probably at 10% he’s better than Dexter Pittman and Anthony only has value if you can put three elite scorers on the floor.

Wow. Johnno, you have made the most stupid argument I've ever heard. Pulling in athletes from other sports as examples is stupefying. I can list countless athletes who were at their prime physically after 27. In basketball, mental ability increases dramatically with age. Jordan was a tremendous athlete before 27 but after he developed his 'smarts' he turned into the best player ever. Athletes from other sports who dominated after 27. Carl Lewis, Lance Armstrong, Gary Ablett Snr, Michael Schumacher, John Eales, James Tomkins, Joe Montana, Brett Favre, Andrew Gaze etc etc etc -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.

HAHA! No Mushi, Bias does not count!

He'll be back, but will he be 100%? Wade certainly isn't. And anything less than 100% James, Wade and Bosh will be a lot to overcome for a team that lacks depth. But I think we're aggressively agreeing with each other any way.