Ibaka is going to make Bosh's life a living nightmare. Same for Sefolosha and Wade. Unless Spoelstra starts Haslem and Bosh together(or Battier/Bosh), Perkins will be free to roam and disrupt shots at the rim because the Heat centers aren't a threat to score. Miami will also lose the point guard matchup by 10-15 points a night in a best case scenario. OKC just has more weapons than the Heat. Therefore, they win in 6.
This is going to be really exciting. Something tells me the Heat will win a close series, but that's just a hunch that James is on a mission and that the bright lights might slightly overwhelm the young Thunder.
The Thunder had to go through the defending champs, the Kobe show, and an extremely well-oiled team. They've seen Dirk, a good center in Bynum, and faced off against the best coach in the game. I don't think anything will faze the Thunder, at this point.
Damn dude. You might as well called it a sweep then. Bosh is a perimeter player. An elite shooter at his position. That'll neutralize Ibaka's defense some since Bosh is not a banger. This series will be very competitive if Bosh continues to regain his rhythm and shoot lights out like he did in game 7.
Ibaka has the wingspan to contest and bother Bosh's shot. Just getting a hand in Bosh's face consistently will make him less effective. You aren't going to completely neutralize Bosh and Wade, but OKC has strong defenders that will make them exert a lot of energy to score. I'm not calling a sweep because LeBron is good enough to will his team to a win, and OKC still has issues closing out games. But the Thunder are deeper, and more talented than Miami. Unless Wade morphs into beast mode in the finals, the Heat aren't winning this series.
Ibaka loves to roam; if Perkins was guarding Bosh, then that would be a problem, but Ibaka is athletic enough, laterally, to guard Bosh, whether Bosh is shooting or driving.
How can Ibaka bother Bosh? Bosh's opportunities will primarily come from looks created by Lebron/Wade. When Lebron/Wade attack the basket, Ibaka will leave Bosh to protect the rim. That'll leave Bosh with an open 17 footer.
Perkins will be the one protecting the rim unless the Heat go small with Haslem or Battier starting with Bosh playing center. Against the Spurs, he had to help more because Diaw and Duncan were both able to pull Perkins away from the basket. Unless Miami can pull Perkins away from the basket, Ibaka will not have to leave Bosh.
But the problem is when james or wade uses Bosh as the pick man, unless the man guarding Bosh (Ibaka) traps or hedges and help defend Wade/Lebron, it would leave Perkins alone in the paint against an attacking wade/lebron - not a good scenario. Ibaka therefore will definitely have to either trap or aggressively hedge until the primary defender is able to recover, thereby leaving Bosh open momentarily for an mid-long range jumper. This will get further acerbated when Miami has James play PF and Bosh or Haslem at C and is IMO miami's best lineup advantage and hope to win the series. I got Miami in 6 despite believing OKC to be the better team and definitive favorites.
I think OKC may just continue switching PnR's unless it sticks Westbrook on Bosh. Guys like Sefolosha, Ibaka, and Durant have enough length and athleticism to not be at overwhelming disadvantages in a switch. Also, the LeBron scenario would worry me, but Wade is not as scary right now. Perhaps he's not healthy, but I wouldn't be that worried about having Perkins protecting the rim on the current playoff version of Wade. If Wade picks up his game, then you make the adjustment. Also, I'd expect quick rotations when they hedge so that Chalmers is left with the open shot even if it means Westbrook covers Bosh until his man recovers.
not really, shane can probably still hold durant on the perimeter. sefalosha is way to small. did you see what kobe did to him and james harden? if he can do it, then lebron can easily back him down in the post and abuse him.
Although Wade has not been "superstar-like" for stretches, his playoffs averages are still: 23, 5, 4 on 47% shooting. Now compare that to WB, who's putting up 22, 5, 6 on 43% shooting. But for the Heat to win, the 2nd star matchup can't be fought to a draw. Wade needs to win decisively.
