This has set up one of the sexiest NBA Finals we have seen in a long time. What's not to like? We have two superstars that will go head to head in Kevin Durant and Lebron James, two excellent guards in Russell Westbrook and Dwayne Wade, and then of course good inside players such as Chris Bosh and Serge Ibaka.
I continue to look at these teams on paper and there aren't a lot of differences. However, the production from the Thunder bench could cause a lot of problems for Miami. James Harden, the NBA's sixth man of the year, is averaging 17.5 points per game in the playoffs coming off of the bench. The Heat don't have a player that can match that level of production, which has to worry Heat fans. I think if Miami is going to win this series, they are going to need more from guys like Norris Cole, Mike Miller, or even James Jones.
Miami will also need to attack the basket. If Lebron James and Dwayne Wade settle for outside jumpers, rather than getting into the paint, this series could end quickly. Miami must attack Ibaka and Perkins and force them to either foul or give up the easy score. Miami clearly can't matchup physically with Oklahoma City, but if they can force the front court of the Thunder to make decisions, I think Miami could do some damage.
Russell Westbrook has an opportunity to have a special series. Dwayne Wade can't guard Westbrook for 48 minutes a night, so there are going to be situations that he has Chalmers or Cole guarding him. This is a major advantage for the Thunder. Westbrook is stronger and quicker than anyone the Heat can throw at him. If he plays like he did in the final four games of the San Antonio series, look for Russell Westbrook to go off against the Heat.
For the first time in a while, we have the league's MVP squaring off against the league's scoring champion in an NBA Finals. We saw it in 1997 with Carl Malone (MVP) and Michael Jordan (scoring title) battling it out for a championship with the Bulls coming out on top. Kevin Durant is a three time scoring champion in the NBA. Thats quite an accomplishment at age 23. Lebron James is now a three time MVP of the league at the age of 27. James is likely the best all around player the game has ever seen. He can guard any position on the floor from the point guard, to the center, all while averaging 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists per game throughout the regular season. Impressive right?
The Thunder have to frustrate Lebron as much as possible throughout this series. Force Lebron to take jump shots and harass him whenever he enters the paint. It's not easy to stop a guy with incredible strength, skill, and size, but the Thunder have to get him out of a groove and force someone else to beat them. Its not going to be easy, as Lebron has improved his play in the postseason this year. He is averaging 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists per game in the playoffs. Those kind of numbers aren't comparable to anyone else in the league. The guy is a freak and nearly impossible to stop.
What a series this should be. I can't wait to sit back and watch these games unfold. The series could go either way really. I have had a difficult time making a pick, so I went back to see what I thought about the finals, prior the the playoffs beginning.
PICK: Heat in 7
If you go back and see my entry that I wrote on the NBA playoffs before they began, I predicted this finals matchup and it came true. I also predicted that Lebron James would finally get the monkey off of his back and get a ring this season. I'm going to stick with my gut as I have for most of the postseason. I think the fact that Lebron James and Dwayne Wade will each be playing in their third finals will play a role in this series and that they can steal a game early on the road. With the Finals format of 2-3-2, it is crucial for the Heat to win one of the first two. If Miami falls behind 2-0 early, that puts a lot of pressure on them to win three in a row at home, which lets be honest, will be tough to do against the Thunder. If Miami can take a 3-2 lead back to OKC for the final two games, I think they can win the series. I truly believe that Lebron is going to be unstoppable in the finals and silence the critics that believe he isn't clutch. It's time for Lebron to get that ring he covets so much. Both the Miami Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder have emerged as legitimate finals contenders for years to come. Buckle up NBA fans, because we are about to see a run with the Heat and Thunder that we may never experience again.
--GM
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