I'm really pulling for the Heat, but I know there are alot of people thinking the Spurs have this one in the bag just 'cause they took 2 games in Phoenix and the Heat lost the first one at home. But I see the Heat pulling it all together and getting to the Finals to play the Spurs. Difference is when the Spurs play the Heat it won't be as easy to win the first 2 games because the Heat actually play DEFENSE. The Suns don't...
I just can't see Miami pulling it off against the Pistons. I think the Pistons will get their back-2-back.
I voted for Spurs over Pistons. Spurs has a very efficient offense to go along with their stellar defense. The Pistons defense is just as good if not a bit better but their offense is very inconsistant and that will cost them a repeat championship. IMO of course.
For some odd reason there are even more closet Spurs fans and Shaq haters on this board than Spurs haters. I would prefer the Suns win, than Heat, than Pistons. I think Pistons with win, SA has a good chance, Mia less than that, and Phx extremely slim. I still believe Phx could make a serious out of it, but I think they have no chance versus the defense and discipline of Detriot. I think if Wade/Shaq can't take out Detriot it is doubtfull the Spurs can either, but we will see.
Man... ya'll guys are scaring me... I just put down something big on the Heat. The Heat will either make me or break me... Im my opinion... I see the Pistons breaking down... the Heat are a better shootin team, they have the better big man, the only thing in their disadvantage is the coaching, the advantage obvisouly goes to Larry Brown. I see a Spurs and Heat Finals... I just don't know for sure who will win, but I see them as similar teams, but the Heat as a better version of the Spurs, except in the defense column. Heat have the better big man and shooting against the Spurs, but I'm scared of the Spurs coaching and experience. (this is all my opinion and how I feel about the teams) I'm looking at the voting and ya'll guys are scaring me, no one has love for the Heat. And "Shaq haters", how can ya'll hate Shaq, Shaq is a cool/funny guy and he stuck up for ya'll when he made fun of Erick Dampier, atleast I think he was sticking up in a way. Honestly I really think the Spurs are a great team, but I feel the same way for the Heat. When I look at things... I think everyone is caught up in the way the Spurs took 2 games in Phoenix, but Miami lost the first home game. 1. Miami plays defense, Phoenix doesn't. And 2. When/and hopefully they get to the Finals and play the Spurs, the Heat in my opinion have more advantages in all the areas and are a better overall team. Heat have leadership in Shaq and Zo. Spurs have Duncan, I wouldn't call him a leader. Spurs advantage is experience and coaching/and Robert Horry, one of the best clutch shooters there are still in the game. Heat have the better big man, shooters, playmakers, In my opinion. Wade/Dooling/DJones/EJones > Ginobli/Parker/Barry/Horry Shaq/Zo > Duncan/Muhamad (I don't know how to spell it) Do ya'll not agree with this^^???? Another reason, even though Shaq is playing hurt, so is Duncan, Duncan has both ankles hurting, Shaq just has a muscle injury. And another reason, even if Shaq doesn't produce, Zo is no push-over, Zo didn't come back for no reason... he came back to win the Championship... is this many any sense?? I'm kind of drunk, so this is prolly the biggest post I've ever written. I need everyone's opinion, thanks and I hope the Heat win... for my sake... Please reply back with some good arguments.
That would be a great Finals. Don't think the Heat will win unless Shaq gets 100% healthy and Wade doesn't run out of gas because if they're in the Finals that means he carried the Heat there. Shaq's not funny anymore, he was for a while than it got old, to me at least. That made me chuckle. IMO, the Heat backcourt will have to rely big time on Eddie Jones to be considered even an equal backcourt to the Spurs. I mean, Wade is awesome and would find it easier to score on Bruce Bowen instead of Prince but Manu and Parker together are an elite backcourt, better than Billups and Rip to me. Than they come off the bench with Brent Barry and could play a lineup of Parker, Manu, and Barry which would be better than Jones, Wade, and Jones to me. More versatile, better shooting, better defense, better passing and everyone of the Spurs guys could penetrate and kick and everyone of them could feed the post. Of course the one thing holding the Spurs back is Parker, he's been known to disappear in playoff series. Duncan is better than Shaq and has always outplayed him in playoff basketball and now that Shaq isn't close to 100% I would say it won't even be a contest. Duncan, although somewhat hurt is still playing better than he was in the regular season while Shaq's game has taken a few steps backwards because of that thigh bruise. Nazr is playing great basketball for what he's asked to do, much better than Rasho ever played in the playoffs and if Zo wouldn't flex his muscles after every rebound maybe you wouldn't think he was playing that great. All you said could happen so it makes sense. However, there's a good chance it doesn't happen, good luck. BTW, I don't know who has homecourt, but I think that team will win.
Never Underestimate the Heart of a Champion..... I guess that means the Pistons are the favorite. Or does that mean the Spurs are? I pick Pistons over Spurs..
If it's a Heat and Spurs Final, the Heat will have homecourt. They had the same exact regular season record, and split the season series, but when the playoffs started the Heat were a higher seed, therefore they will have homecourt.
In my mind Billips and Rip are the toughest and saviest back court in the playoffs. I think Billips, Rip and Price > Parker, Manu and Bowen. Spurs have Duncan and a better bench than the Pistons, all other edges pretty much fall the Pistons way. Duncan will have to dominate whoever guards him for the Spurs to win, tough task as the Wallace's are outstanding in their own right in many ways. Probably the most talented backcourt is Miami, simply because Wade is by far the most talented and explosive of guards left in the playoffs. But other guys have a lot more help, Wade would have to provide the best 2 guard play since Jordan for Miami to win--and that includes some fine runs by AI and Kobe.
Is this true? I heard since the Spurs have a better record than the Heat do in their opposing conference that is the next tiebreaker for the final series. Any confirmation?
Yeah, I'm pretty sure this is true, I had a buddy do the research, and it was said since the season series was split, and there regular season record is identical, the higher seed to start the playoffs will have homecourt. I didn't see it for myself, but yeah this is what I was told.
Spurs in 6. Before I said that Miami will advance to the finals, but right now I dont know who is gonna win the East.
We had this debate a few weeks ago, and someone found a link from a few years back that the next tiebreaker for the finals with teams with the same overall record and who split the two season games was record in opposing conference. Can anyonbe confirm, who gets the breaker in Heat-Spurs if it come down to it. The series might be close enough where it wouldmake the difference.
The Spurs would have homecourt. From a Q&A last season on NBA.com: http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/question_040405.html
I didn't do the research, but the article was on NBA.com so I assume it's reliable. I've also heard it reported for weeks in the SA media as a formality that the Spurs would have HCA over Miami. They could always be wrong, but I'd be surprised.
