Spurs are too well-coached and too smart not to be ready for Miami's strengths. Miami is not smart enough to adjust in 7 games. Spurs in 6.
I agree with everything you said. Which is why I think it will be a great series. In the end though, LJ will be too much for the elderly spurs. I like what Colin Cowherd said about this matchup, "Spurs young guys are too young and their old guys are too old"
Totally agree. As much as I prefer the Spurs over the Heat, I think Miami plays well against finesse and efficiency, not physicality. Heat in 6.
True. If the Spurs are betting on a perimeter-oriented offense to beat Miami, then they are no Floyd Mayweather; they are going to get their asses handed to them big time. Miami's perimeter and PNR D is outstanding. Also Leonard/Duncan are no Butler/Noah or George/Hibbert, Spurs just can't control the paint like Chicago and Indiana did which means that Wade is finally relevant again for reasons other than his clothing style.
I think it's interesting if you go back over the past 2 years including this one and look at the playoff series threads where Miami is involved it's unbelievable how many people pick against them. I had some free time and read through the old threads - Here are some examples: 1. The Boston series thread in 2011. This is the series where LeBron and Wade went nuts and single handidly whipped the celtics and then went to Vegas and partied after the series. If you look thru that thread, a very high percentage of clutchfans picked Boston. 2. The very next series in 2011. The Bulls with a healthy Derrick Rose. The big two came in hungover from their stint in Vegas and they got whipped in game 1. According to clutchfans the series was over after game 1. Little did they know that Miami would win the next 4 games in a row, and yes this is the series where LEBRON COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN DERRICK ROSE. At this point I personally was starting to see a pattern of Miami turning it on or off when they feel like it. 3. Now the finals in 2011. I didn't see that many people picking Dallas actually. And I don't think Miami took them seriously, if you remember the LeBron/Wade coughing joke making fun of Dirk. I think this series was one of those things where Miami thought they could turn it on or off and Dallas actually got really Hot midway through the series and Miami wasn't able to turn it on - this series was kind of an anomoly for Miami. One thing that was VERY DIFFERENT about this series is that Spolestra didn't let Lebron guard the other team's best player in the 4th. IF LEBRON HAD GUARDED DIRK I THINK WE MAY HAVE HAD A DIFFERENT OUTCOME. Spolestra fail? 4. The next year in 2012, the first test was the Pacers series. Again a high percentage of clutchfans picked the pacers, especially after they went up 2-1. LeBron went nuts again and had that 40-19 game - so Miami flipped the switch when they needed to and sealed the deal in 6 games. 5. Same year 2012 celtics series. Again, even though Miami whipped the celtics the prior year we had clutchfans picking the celtics to win, and especially after Miam went down 3-2 and had to go on the road to win game six - If you read that thread on this very bbs THERE WAS NO WAY MIAMI WAS WINNING A GAME 6 IN BOSTON. Well we all know what happened, right? Miami flipped that switch and turned it on when they needed it the most. 6. Thunder, 2012 NBA finals. I would say the MAJORITY of clutchfans picked the Thunder, especially after game 1. If you read that game thread, the series was over and there were several king with no ring joke and "durant is better than lebron" statements were flying around freely. And then what happend, Miami reeled off 4 straight - again this series really reminded me of the Bulls series in 2011. Sure the games were close, but that's what Miami does. They coast until they need to turn it on and then they turn it on in the 4th.... It's a pattern. 7. 2013 Pacers. Lots of clutchfans picked the Pacers and even Barkley picked the Pacers in 6 games. WHY IN THE WORLD ARE PEOPLE MAKING THESE PICKS WHEN MIAMI BEAT THEM IN 6 LAST YEAR? Yes I know the Pacers are a bit better and more mature this year, but SO IS MIAMI. It's baffling how people continue to pick against Miami and once again I saw the pattern, Miami coasted, relaxed and looked beatable most of the series but then they turned it on in a big game 3 and of course they turned it on full speed in game 7 and dismissed the pacers and another common theme here? LEBRON SHUT DOWN PAUL GEORGE IN GAME 7. 8. 2013 Spurs. I still see people picking against Miami, including myself, but why? It's so ridiculous to pick against them. I fully expect the Spurs to take a 2-1 lead and maybe even 3-1 and then I expect to see LEBRON JAMES SHUT DOWN TONY PARKER IN THE 4TH QUARTER. I want to pick the Spurs in this series, but I don't know why..... look at Miami's history. So guys, based on the history WHY are you picking against the Heat?
I guess as I think about it. While the Heat do have the greatest player of his era. They have a very average coach. Pop will out coach Spo. But will LeBron tip the scale? I think he will. Clearly though, compared to the regular season. The Heat do not seem as dominant. If the Spurs take this series, they should thank the pacers, because they laid the ground work on grudging it out, and executing a pretty good game plan on beating Miami.
It's about style. OKC had the 3rd best defense last year and Miami trounced them offensively b/c they played at Miami's preferred pace/tempo. When teams do that, they're screwed. Yet they struggled heavily v. Boston and Pacers (2 teams OKC is CLEARLY better than). It's all about matchups/pace/temp. Miami struggles with big and physical teams b/c it exploit their main weakness: lack of size. And that's magnified when those teams slow it down and play halfcourt, which the Pacers and Bulls prefer. The Spurs do have size, but they're not a more physical team than the Pacers/Bulls. And the Spurs play a faster pace, which fits right into Miami. Both teams have pros/cons. It will be a great Finals. But trust me, Lebron James is relieved to finally not facing Butler/George/Hibbert/Noah. If he shot 51% v. the tough Indy defense, he's going to have a field day v. the Spurs.
And don't forget LeBron is looking for revenge from 2007 when he got swept. Look what happened to Jason Terry for beating him and talking mess in 2011.
Kawahi/Duncan is actually a good defensive combo. And Splitter is better than West/Boozer. The reason the Thunder got outplayed in the finals was because their coach was a dumbass. And the games were still quite close apart from Game 5. Ibaka got destroyed by 3 point shooters. That simply isn't happening with the Spurs.
Of course the games were close. Almost all of Miami's games are close. They turn it on and off when they need to. How do you not see that common theme? The Thunder got absolutely punked last year.
Miami's games were close v. the 76ers in the first round last year when they beat them in 5. The games were close v. the Bulls this year. In the playoffs, most games are close.
Thats what makes this series so darn intriguing... Just looking at the opponents that the Spurs beat: 1. Lakers(who actually thought they had a chance against the Spurs) were swept: so we know that the Spurs can just beat bad teams 2. GSW(This was were i thought the Spurs were gonna loose..)but they actually were able to keep up with this explosive scoring team. This just tells me that the Spurs can score with anyone... 3. Memphis(with a perimeter lockdown defenders in Tony Allen, and Mike Conley) and an imposing post presence in Mark Gasol couldnt slow Tony Parker down...And they just back doored the Grizzlies to death...And swept them..That is really remarkable. This series proved that they can also play a rugged brand of basketball All of these victims lost the series on their Home courts btw(with atleast 2 home losses)...This is another reason why i really am confident in the Spurs winning this in 6...They most likely win game 1, lose game 2, go 2-3 in San Antonio, and win game 6. This is what championship teams do... Tony Parker most likely will be the finals MVP... Regardless though, thats why we watch these games...and really hoping no one gets injured...thats all i want..and injury free finals...
Man don't ever post again about how lebron or wade would be dominate and beat the old guys legs. I mean cmon, lebron couldn't do it alone nor only with wade on his side. Bosh would be the factor here. I aint hating on lebron, wade or bosh. But the way that miami plays is bull. The team plays like superdivas. Acting and selling. That aint basketball.
