Here we are, the last series of the playoffs and the season. No more basketball until October after one of these teams get 4 more wins. Okay I'm done with the depressing part.
I'd like to thank the Miami Heat for forcing me to wait til the last minute to finally be able to break everything down in this series, nonetheless, we're here so here it goes.
WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS: SAN ANTONIO SPURS vs
EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS: MIAMI HEAT
I'm going to do things a little differently this time. Normally I breakdown the series and then tell you who I'm picking. This time I'll give you my pick first, and then break it down and tell you why.
The San Antonio Spurs will win the Larry O'Brien trophy and NBA Championship in 7 games.
STAR POWER:
Tony Parker is probably playing at the highest level on either roster, and that's with multiple lagging injuries. Tim Duncan is still the fundamentalist and is still providing 15 points and 10 rebounds a game in the playoffs AT AGE 36!!!! Manu Ginobili is playing his worst basketball of his postseason career and he is doing so on a torn hamstring.
Lebron James is Lebron James, there's nothing else that needs to be said regarding the 4-time reigning MVP. Despite having an overall abysmal series in the Eastern Conference Finals, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade decided to show up in Game 7 when it absolutely mattered most.
Notice I've only brought up 3 players on each team, oh yeah the Spurs have a big 3 too. So who's big 3 will prevail in this series? The Spurs are older and will have had 10 days off by time tipoff arrives Thursday night. After 10 days off, it's hard to imagine that Parker and Ginobili aren't 100% now. Aside from that point, the banged up Spurs have been more consistent than the quicker and younger Miami superstars. With Lebron admitting revenge for 07 is on his mind, I'm afraid he might forget he has 2 other superstars on his team and go to Cleveland mode. He got swept in Cleveland.
Advantage: San Antonio
BENCH PLAYERS:
Another instance of a lack of consistency coming from Miami. You never know what you're going to get offensively from Ray Allen and Shane Battier. One night they can come out and hit a combined 8-9 3's and the next night they'll be lucky to score a combined 8-9 points. Norris Cole, Mike Miller and Birdman have been 3 relatively consistent role players off the bench for Miami. Cole has an opportunity to win the starting job from Mario Chalmers next season if he proves worthy in this series as he will see alot of time aganist Tony Parker. Miller is going to come in and drain as many 3's as you ask him to. His stamina and defense however are suspect due to whatever injury may be bothering him that particular night. Let's face it, Chris Andersen isn't going to put up the same remarkable FG percentage that he did in the last round. At the same he does give Miami what they always need; energy, rebounding, and a defensive presence in the paint.
San Antonio has a guy named Boris Diaw coming off the bench who came into the league as a PG and is now a built power forward who knows his role and plays it on offense and defense. They also have the RED MAMBA who can drain any shot outside of 22 feet with his eyes closed if he wanted. The Heat better not leave Matt Bonner open at all during this series. If Pop took notes from Indiana in the East Finals, he learned that Miami doesn't like physicality down low; cue Dejuan Blair.
Both benches are very respectable and filled with experience. This aspect is going to come down to Miami's 3 ball vs San Antonio's defense.
Advantage: Draw
COACHING:
I really feel bad and as if I'm insulting Gregg Popovich by comparing him to Erik Spolestra so I'll make this quick. 4 rings to 1. 4-0 finals record to 1-1. Proven history and respected league wide. I could go on and on talking about how great Pop is, and it's no disrespect to Spo, but he just doesn't compare.
Advantage: San Antonio
Those are the main factors that I feel will determine the outcome of this series. Just a couple extra stats if you somehow still aren't excited enough.
Teams coming of a conference finals sweep vs teams coming off a 7 game conference finals series are 4-2. Teams that have 66 regular season win and reach the finals are 9-2. Personally, I'm undefeated when not picking against Pop.
Starting tonight at 9, something's gotta give.
I'd like to thank the Miami Heat for forcing me to wait til the last minute to finally be able to break everything down in this series, nonetheless, we're here so here it goes.
WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS: SAN ANTONIO SPURS vs
EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS: MIAMI HEAT
I'm going to do things a little differently this time. Normally I breakdown the series and then tell you who I'm picking. This time I'll give you my pick first, and then break it down and tell you why.
The San Antonio Spurs will win the Larry O'Brien trophy and NBA Championship in 7 games.
STAR POWER:
Tony Parker is probably playing at the highest level on either roster, and that's with multiple lagging injuries. Tim Duncan is still the fundamentalist and is still providing 15 points and 10 rebounds a game in the playoffs AT AGE 36!!!! Manu Ginobili is playing his worst basketball of his postseason career and he is doing so on a torn hamstring.
Lebron James is Lebron James, there's nothing else that needs to be said regarding the 4-time reigning MVP. Despite having an overall abysmal series in the Eastern Conference Finals, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade decided to show up in Game 7 when it absolutely mattered most.
Notice I've only brought up 3 players on each team, oh yeah the Spurs have a big 3 too. So who's big 3 will prevail in this series? The Spurs are older and will have had 10 days off by time tipoff arrives Thursday night. After 10 days off, it's hard to imagine that Parker and Ginobili aren't 100% now. Aside from that point, the banged up Spurs have been more consistent than the quicker and younger Miami superstars. With Lebron admitting revenge for 07 is on his mind, I'm afraid he might forget he has 2 other superstars on his team and go to Cleveland mode. He got swept in Cleveland.
Advantage: San Antonio
BENCH PLAYERS:
Another instance of a lack of consistency coming from Miami. You never know what you're going to get offensively from Ray Allen and Shane Battier. One night they can come out and hit a combined 8-9 3's and the next night they'll be lucky to score a combined 8-9 points. Norris Cole, Mike Miller and Birdman have been 3 relatively consistent role players off the bench for Miami. Cole has an opportunity to win the starting job from Mario Chalmers next season if he proves worthy in this series as he will see alot of time aganist Tony Parker. Miller is going to come in and drain as many 3's as you ask him to. His stamina and defense however are suspect due to whatever injury may be bothering him that particular night. Let's face it, Chris Andersen isn't going to put up the same remarkable FG percentage that he did in the last round. At the same he does give Miami what they always need; energy, rebounding, and a defensive presence in the paint.
San Antonio has a guy named Boris Diaw coming off the bench who came into the league as a PG and is now a built power forward who knows his role and plays it on offense and defense. They also have the RED MAMBA who can drain any shot outside of 22 feet with his eyes closed if he wanted. The Heat better not leave Matt Bonner open at all during this series. If Pop took notes from Indiana in the East Finals, he learned that Miami doesn't like physicality down low; cue Dejuan Blair.
Both benches are very respectable and filled with experience. This aspect is going to come down to Miami's 3 ball vs San Antonio's defense.
Advantage: Draw
COACHING:
I really feel bad and as if I'm insulting Gregg Popovich by comparing him to Erik Spolestra so I'll make this quick. 4 rings to 1. 4-0 finals record to 1-1. Proven history and respected league wide. I could go on and on talking about how great Pop is, and it's no disrespect to Spo, but he just doesn't compare.
Advantage: San Antonio
Those are the main factors that I feel will determine the outcome of this series. Just a couple extra stats if you somehow still aren't excited enough.
Teams coming of a conference finals sweep vs teams coming off a 7 game conference finals series are 4-2. Teams that have 66 regular season win and reach the finals are 9-2. Personally, I'm undefeated when not picking against Pop.
Starting tonight at 9, something's gotta give.
