No way they are. Heat are not getting past Boston without Bosh, not sure why everyone is underestimating that team. I guess people forget about Rajon Rondo?
That, and Garnett is playing some of his best basketball since their championship year. Avery Bradley has stepped it up, Ray Allen is still deadly from three, they have a top point guard, good chemistry, a deep bench, and Paul Pierce is durable and consistent. I look forward to a Miami-Boston matchup.
I'm with you if Pierce's MCL sprain doesn't hinder him too much. They need to sweep the Sixers and get some rest.
Because Boston just narrowly beat the Sixers depending on the Sixers stupidity and a second turn the clock back game from Garnett and they weren't overly impressive in defeating a mediocre Hawks team that was suffering through injuries to their best player.
Yep. Boston isn't gonna get past Miami even without Bosh. They barely beat Atlanta at home with Smith and Horford out.
Offensively for the Heat it is a big loss in terms of pulling Hibbert from the basket and having someone to nail the 14-20 footer. but... The Heat defense is better without Bosh, or at least the effort is. Bosh is exactly the type of guy Hibbert can often dominate. Turiaf and Anthony are much more physical, like Big Baby, who despite being 6'8" pushed Roy off his spots in round 1.
And? The year they won it all they barely got past anyone they played. That's just how they roll. People need to stop comparing a matchup to an entirely different team and projecting it onto another team. What happened against the Hawks or 6ers has little to do with how they matchup against the Heat.
Indiana has the fifth best record in the NBA this season and everyone is healthy on that team. They are young and inexperienced but they are very solid in terms of talents (3 current or former all stars plus another 3 to 4 solid NBA starter calibre players). We will see if Indiana causes more problem to Miami than Boston if Miami gets past Indiana. I think that Indiana's got a chance to upset the Heat.
I think Indy has a punchers chance at it. If... Hibbert can stay out of foul trouble he will make easy work out of their frontline. The bigger if is can George and Granger step up to bring it against Wade and Lebron, not outplay them (since they can't) but bring it. As for Boston, I think they match up well against Miami. First there is Rondo, then there is Garnett. Also though there isn't going to be fear or intimidation and all the mental errors the Pacers made against miami in the end 2nd half, there won't be much of that going on. Pierce isn't going to back down from Lebron. AND if bosh is not there Miami will be too perimeter based to defeat a Doc Rivers defense when they need it most. To me Boston was always the 3rd best team in the East going into the playoffs (chicago being 2nd, then Rose went down that made the celtics 2nd IMO) I think even with Bosh Boston will still be a big problem.
you forgot the most important. hit their damn free throws. they missed so many. game would have gone to the wire if they shoot their avg.
People are being dramatic...plug born at the 4 and battier at the 3....you guys act like bron can't be the best big man on the court if he plays te 4...if I'm spoelstra I go Joel/bron/battier/wade/chalmers and I say a big fat prayer for d west bc he has no prayer guarding lebronnnnn and in case nobody noticed heat were down 6 or 7 when bosh went down and won by 15...stern had the fouls rolling in the 3rd Indy has no shot at causing a ratings nightmare imagine Indy vs San Antonio finals haha
Of course Lebron can play the 4. His body is a 4 not a 3. The question is not about positioning. The loss of Bosh is in terms of talent. Outside Lebron and Wade there is no one else on that Miami team that can match Bosh's talent. With Bosh Miami's talent level is on par with a team with OKC. Without Bosh I think their talent level is now roughly equal to Indiana's level and a step below the Thunder even with two superstars in Lebron and Wade.
From an interview he did with the media earlier today, he walked fine. So it's most likely mild. Some players and their prognosis with the ab strain: JJ Redict missed 17 games to end the 10-11 season, but later found out he had a tear (the most severe) Manu missed 5 games earlier this season (missed 2 weeks) KG sat out 9 games in 08. Al Jefferson didn't miss any games earlier this year. So basically, "indefinitely" out is the right word. But seeing how he walked, I think he most likely will be back v. Boston. But the thing is, can he play with that injury and maintain that aggressiveness or will he just be a jumpshooter?
