Lets start with predictions. I got the Heat in 5. LeBron Finals MVP.
I know the Conference Finals aren't technically done yet, but I'm also predicting the heat win in double digits in Game 6.
Lets start with predictions. I got the Heat in 5. LeBron Finals MVP.
I know the Conference Finals aren't technically done yet, but I'm also predicting the heat win in double digits in Game 6.
Jordan Rio 2016
Bump.
Okay I was wrong about game 6. I guess the heat didn't want to try until game 7.
Still I got Heat in 5.
What you think?
I think that the key to this series will be the play of Tony Parker. If he can get in the paint consistently I don't feel The Heat have the rim protection to stop him. LeBron James is amazing and he will probably have to guard either Parker or Tim Duncan, which is incredible range, but he can only guard one at a time. Kawhi Leonard can probably be contained by Shane Battier, but Battier has not been shooting the ball well. I think the Spurs NEED game 2. The finals are a 2-3-2 format so if they can split the first two in Miami, then San Antonio has a good chance of being up 3-2 headed into game 6.
Heat in 6
Spurs have match up problem for both LJ and DW.
To bad, I actually recognize the Heat are a great team, but boy do I find them boring!
Spurs in 6.
An this is no about the matchups. This is all about the team-strategy, the coaching, facts like moving the ball, defensive rotations, bench scoring, etc.
Spurs are better team than the Heat. Simply as that.
Lebron is and incredible athlete. He's the well-deserved MVP. But D-Wade is tanking some games because his injury. He tanked game 3, 4, 5 and specially 6 and finally give his best in game 7. And Miami struggled to beat and average Indiana Pacers, a team that almost nobody could call "NBA championship material". And Bosh is suffering a slight ankle injury I think.
Kawhi is going to put his best effort and actually, Lebron numbers will be modest compared to what he did against Indiana and against Chicago. But not Kawhi alone, the entire team will be very focused in Lebron. Spurs can't stop Lebron, sure. But the plan is about Lebron taking contested shots...difficult fade-away jumpers, attacking the rim against 3 defenders...etc.
Plus, who´s gonna stop Tony Parker? Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole? I don't think so.
Ginobili doesn't need to score more than 15ppg in this series. But hey, he's averaging almost 4.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game in only 25 minutes. He can create easy points and open shots for his teammates like nobody OFF THE BENCH. Heck...he averages more assists per 48 minutes than Lebron, D-Wade, Mario Chalmers or any Heat player.
The Heat is very solid. In fact, is his 3rd final in a row. But believe me, the spurs are a very solid TEAM. That's my prediction. Spurs in 6.
XY wrote:
Spurs have match up problem for both LJ and DW.
Yeah cause Dwyane Wade is such a matchup nightmare right now. Kawhi and Danny Green will do a fine job defending them... Spurs in 6.
This seems like a Mavs/Heat finals all over so I say Heat will get the win this time over the ageless vets Duncan/Parker/Ginobili/etc. Refs will help them.
I am with you. Spurs in 6. Wade cant hit a consistant jumper to save his life. I am sure Gregg has a decent plan to stop Lebron, even though it wont be 100% effective. I know one of the bigs (Duncan, Tiago) can kick Bosh's ass. The driving (Parker, Ginobili) and kicking to open shooters (Neal, Green, Bonner, Leonard, somewhat Diaw) is better than what the Heat have. Blah Blah Blah on Wade and Lebron driving and kicking. Like I said before, let Wade shoot. Plus he isnt going to look to pass out of double teams while driving down low (unlike Lebron). Duncan will abuse the Heat in the post but be a lot more effective than Hibbert was. Add strong point guard play and you have the two areas the Heat are terrible at. Plus Popovich/Parker will make sure the game is run at their pace, not Miami's.
Spurs in 6. Spurs take games 1, 3, 4 and 6.
Ben L. Wrong wrote:
Spurs in 6.
An this is no about the matchups. This is all about the team-strategy, the coaching, facts like moving the ball, defensive rotations, bench scoring, etc.
Spurs are better team than the Heat. Simply as that.
Lebron is and incredible athlete. He's the well-deserved MVP. But D-Wade is tanking some games because his injury. He tanked game 3, 4, 5 and specially 6 and finally give his best in game 7. And Miami struggled to beat and average Indiana Pacers, a team that almost nobody could call "NBA championship material". And Bosh is suffering a slight ankle injury I think.
Kawhi is going to put his best effort and actually, Lebron numbers will be modest compared to what he did against Indiana and against Chicago. But not Kawhi alone, the entire team will be very focused in Lebron. Spurs can't stop Lebron, sure. But the plan is about Lebron taking contested shots...difficult fade-away jumpers, attacking the rim against 3 defenders...etc.
Plus, who´s gonna stop Tony Parker? Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole? I don't think so.
Ginobili doesn't need to score more than 15ppg in this series. But hey, he's averaging almost 4.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game in only 25 minutes. He can create easy points and open shots for his teammates like nobody OFF THE BENCH. Heck...he averages more assists per 48 minutes than Lebron, D-Wade, Mario Chalmers or any Heat player.
The Heat is very solid. In fact, is his 3rd final in a row. But believe me, the spurs are a very solid TEAM. That's my prediction. Spurs in 6.
Lebron will stop Parker if it becomes necessary. Remember how he shut down Mr. MVP Rose a few years back in the playoffs? Same thing here.
I can't stand the Heat but they are going to win this series. And it will not be close. The Spurs are just too old.
Heat in 5.
Heat in 6. As I said before, the Pacers were a match-up nightmare for the Heat. The Pacers gave the Heat fits as they outrebounded and pretty much shut down their best 3 point shooters (Ray Allen & Shane Battier). Roy Hibbert was a beast in the paint and man-handled Bosch.
The Spurs are not a physical team and they like to run. This plays into Miami's hands. The Spurs unlike the Pacers are not a great rebounding team (ranked 21st in the league, Pacers were #1). The Heat will spread the floor and the Spurs don't have enough big bodies to stop them.
If last year's Okla Thunder with 3 guys (Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden) couldn't outrun and beat the Heat, then what makes anybody think the Spurs can? Ginobli is old, Duncan is 37. Parker has the speed but that's it. The Heat will wear the Spurs down. Homecourt advantage rules and the Heat have not lost 2 consecutive games snce Jan 10th and it will remain that way.
The Heat repeats!!!!!
Agree with most of this. If Parker is consistently great or if Wade doesn't man up, the Heat can lose. But they're a slightly better version of the Thunder that beat the Spurs last year. They're a much better version of the Warriors that gave the Spurs plenty of trouble this year. Heat in...6.
This is much like debating over who is going to win the next Wrestlemania.
Wouldn't it be sweet if the Spurs took the series after a rant like this by Miami's leading sports journalist, Dan Lebatard, on the radio. His rants have become "epic" - I think it reflects more on the city and why this Heat team is so unlikeable.
Then maybe you should take acting classes and audition for the NBA
porkie pies wrote:
This is much like debating over who is going to win the next Wrestlemania.
I'll gladly do that as well. My pick is this years champion, John Cena, graduate of the same school where James Naismith, Sr. invented the game.
Heat win the first 4, then Spurs the last 3 when it doesn't really matter, but it'll end up looking closer than it really was.
I listen to Dan LeBatard every day after work (790AM The Ticket) with his co-host, Stu Gots. Obviously you don't get the joke. He does these "fake" rants a lot.
James Naismith, Jr. wrote:
Lets start with predictions. I got the Heat in 5. LeBron Finals MVP.
No way it goes all 5 games. I say Heat in 3.
Game 1 tonight at the Triple A in Miami. Spurs will be rusty after a long layoff. Heat 102- Spurs 99