People laugh at the Knicks' defense but the Heat defense has been inconsistent as well. A lot of times they won by outscored their opponents and not shutting down their opponents. They won't go very far in the playoffs if they themselves don't turn up their defensive intensity.
They're older, more mature, entering their primes and playing together on a team that is banking on them. You can be cynical about it based on historical contexts, or you can try and see the possibilities out there for an upset based on basketball savvy.
Heat, Lakers and Celtics all tied with 3 games left. LA has the tiebreaker over Boston, Boston has the tiebreaker over Miami and Miami has the tiebreaker over LA. Remaining schedules are: LA - OKC, SA, @ SAC Mia - BOS, @ ATL, @ TOR Bos - @ MIA, @ WAS, NY In other words, it's possible for the Heat to finish with the 3rd best record in basketball if they win out. Not bad for a team with a limited bench that suffered injuries to Haslem and Miller.
I can't see possibilities that defy what players have shown the committment to do. It's just as possible for Rondo to get a jumper as it is for Amare to suddenly become committed to playing defense. In other words, neither has shown anything to make one think they will suddenly start doing well in that area. The same goes for the Suns coach, as far as emphasizing defense.
Also, if Miami wins every game left they will get the 2nd seed, and play 76ers, which is a lot better then getting the Knicks right now.
unless wade shows up. wade is the xfactor in the boston series b/c ray allen usually plays well and he usually struggles this year in the 3 games.
good post. tomorrow is soooooo big for Miami... they have to beat the Celtics at least once... I mean how can they go into a round 2 matchup, knowing they are 0-4 against Boston?
it's definitely bigger for miami just as a psychological edge. boston has been playing .500 ball for the past month or so and if miami loses at home to them, it'll be huge. but let's look at wade's play in 3 games vs boston: 12.3pts on 26.7fg%. those are absolutely atrocious numbers. that's the primary reason why they have lost to the celtics. lebron always dominates pierce; bosh finally outplays KG in the 3rd game. wade is still lost.
Boston is a shell of it's former shelf, if Miami plays like this in the playoffs, its will be Lakers/Miami finals. And next year they will get a pg/center upgrade, and watch out!
What would you like to bet? I'm glad Miami won. Now there will be more idiot lines for me to win money on.
If Miami runs the table for the remaining two games they would have home court against the Lakers in the Finals which would be huge for them.
why would the get to finals when they are 3-8 against the other top teams in the east, and have a proven choker lebron james on the team? a proven choker.
IMO, home-court wouldn't matter in a Heat/Lakers finals because of the players involved and because neither set of fans exactly sets the arena on fire. A decent amount of the crowd in Miami would be for the Lakers. I don't really think the Heat have a home-court "advantage". Almost the same for the Lakers. Home-court would be very significant for the Bulls, Celts and Spurs.
What was Boston's reasoning behind the Green for Perkins trade? More bench time for their aging wing players??
I know I'm late but are you seriously comparing the Knicks defense to the Heat defense? Miami is 8th in pts given up and 2nd in opponent fg% so I will say defensive intensity will not be a problem for them in the playoffs.
