2014 NBA FINALS PREDICTION THREAD Brought to you by Steve Ballmer’s NAACF (National Association for the Advancement of Colored Fans), Adam Silver’s Q-tips (now in Dumbo size!), Jay-Z’s new single “Hit Me,” the Nike Kobe 9 (never worn, we’ll skip to 10), the MFWC (Marquee Franchises Without A Coach), and Landon Donovan’s World Cup ad campaign (oops). Props to my main man Philo Phil who was the only one to correctly predict the outcome of the Conference Finals. A couple of others came close (including yours truly, within a game as always), but heres a chance for everyone to redeem themselves and come correct with the big cheese, the whole enchilada, the big ball of wax. Heres a breakdown of how both teams match up, and, subsequently, my logical prediction: Post play Besides LeBron and D-Wade who post up occasionally, Miami doesn’t have much presence in the box. As a matter of fact, the last time Chris Bosh was seen in the paint, Donald Sterling was still a good guy. It would be in the champs’ interest, however, to rely more on post play in this series, as a way of getting Leonard, Green, and Parker in foul trouble. On the other hand, expect to see a hefty dose of Duncan down low, as well as Diaw if he has a smaller man on him. At 63 years old, Timmy D aka Old Man Riverwalk still has some low-post moves that would make Uncle Drew proud. Advantage: Spurs. Perimeter shooting Leonard, Ginobili, Green, Mills, and Bonner are all viable threats from outside and should average more threes than Ray-Ray, Cole, Chalmers, and Battier, unless someone goes nuts. Actually, I predict that whoever wins the 3-point battle will win the championship. Both team are good at moving the ball from strong to weak side, although San Antonio likes to make multiple passes (and shrewdly set illegal screens on the weak side where the refs aren’t watching) to set up its sharp shooters, while Miami’s long-range gunmen usually get open when James or Wade get double-teamed or penetrate. Based on what we’ve seen in the playoffs so far, I give a slight edge to the Western Conference champions. Advantage: Spurs. Defense San Antonio can be pretty efficient when everybody’s locked in, but Miami still has the better defense for 48 minutes. Pop’s strategy has considerably changed in recent years. While he was a defensive Nazi during the Spurs’ earlier championship runs (remember those Finals games against the Knicks and Pistons that were as entertaining as a subway map?), he’s become more offense-oriented and developed the ultimate passing team. Low scoring games will favor the Heat, and we can expect to see a couple of those due to nerves or both teams just feeling each other out. Expect Miami to attack the paint as often as possible, using whoever Parker is guarding to expose his defensive shortcomings. Advantage: Heat. System Both teams pass the ball well, but the Spurs are like the Barcelona of basketball. When theyre on, the ball is constantly moving, they use very little dribbling except for Parkers intrusions in the paint and they seem to get a wide-open shot 9 possessions out of 10. Miami passes too, but more to create iso plays for BronBron and Flash, who can then kick it out for threes if double-teamed. The Heat can be stagnant at times, and their bench isnt made of interchangeable parts that can contribute the second they get in the game. Advantage: Spurs. Physical edge It’s hard to go against the second most unique physical specimen in the history of the game (the first will always be Shaq, and unless you’ve been in an elevator with him on multiple occasions like I have, you’ll never understand). LeBron is a beast, and as much as Leonard is from the same family of lemurs as Duncan with his 9-foot wing span and Hulk hands, nobody can stop LBJ on the break. Add to that that Wade is as fit as he’s been in the last four years and you have to favor Miami. The rests of the teams sort of even out. Advantage: Heat. Coaching Pop vs Spo. One is universally regarded as one of the greatest coaches ever and the other will always be the filmroom guy who got a lucky break because he was using the same hair product as Pat Riley. Even after three Finals and back-to-back rings, Spoelstra still looks like a deer in headlights sometimes. He’s good at designing quick plays after time outs and with little time remaining on the clock, though. But the Spurs have good assistant coaches that will have studied all of those. Advantage: Spurs. Mental toughness This is the only reason why I think the Spurs’ victory is in doubt. Sure, they look like they’ve exorcised their demons from last year, but said demons are only a bad play away from returning. You don’t think of Duncan and Parker as mentally tough. They have other qualities, of course, but this isn’t their forte. Shaq, Kobe, and Phil Jax used to salivate at the sight of the Spurs, because they knew they had the mental edge. Ginobili has a lot to prove and atone for in this series, and it’s hard to gauge Kawhi Leonard’s mental capacity, as his expression changes as often as the parting line in Marv Albert’s hairpiece. LeBron, who was notoriously fragile in his Cleveland days, has rectified that weakness with his two rings and Olympic gold medal, and D-Wade is as big a winner as they come. Advantage: yo’ mama. For all these reasons, San Antonio - Miami 4:3.
Posted on: Wed, 04 Jun 2014 15:25:03 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015