****The Official 2013-14 NBA Thread****

That would be very true I think. Heat will need to stop the Spurs pick and roll game and defend those swing passes back to the outside. I'm always worried if Danny Green gets going again from the 3. Duncan plays slower but he's so smart around the basket. Then you have Diaw off the bench to give them something extra.

Other than the start of game 6 I don't remember Spo calling Lebron plays. Lebron had been playing so well just within the Heat system. This series though, Spo should press the Lebron button and have him take over games and at times press the Wade button.

I'm also interested to see if Spo uses Beasley and Oden at some point during the series as cards up his sleeve. He never used Reshard Lewis last year but we could see him more this series.

 

This spurs team is a machine, plus they have home court. This will be tough. 12 of 18 reporters on ESPN predict/take Spurs.

 

So?

 

I can live with that.

I'm more bothered that Screamin' A Smith picked the Heat. Yeah, the same guy who's been wrong every single year since 2007.

 

He's a Heat fan at heart and in training.

 

I don't think that describes what Bosh does well. The thing is he's been playing this way since he cam to Miami. Hes never been a post up player here by design. Is that good or bad? I can't tell you.

I can tell you that I hope Bosh retires a Miami Heat player.

 

Chris Bosh is a wimp because he has no post game?

 

I expect the Spurs to throw a little zone or matchup zone at the Heat. It's not an ideal scheme because of Miami's outside shooters...but it makes sense from the standpoint that Miami isn't a great interior passing team, they aren't a great offensive rebounding team anyway, Chalmers isn't a real quick carve-em-up improviser, Duncan could stay in the paint, and Bosh struggled last year against the Spurs. Playing zone would put the ball in Bosh's court: he'd be the key guy at the elbow and he'd probably be the last rotation on the perimeter.

It'd be interesting. If I'm Pop I give it a go with those smart vets they have. At least test the waters a little. It's also a good way to keep his older, less athetic team more fresh through stretches of the game. Saves some legs.

 

For those who didn't heat it.

[video=youtube;yzGbhsjD71Y]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzGbhsjD71Y[/video]

 

I was dang near dead at the Michael Beasley part.

 

Well, I'm really not unless they play Indiana.

Sometimes when Lebron is Lebron he is such a joy too watch that I pull for him to dominate a game, a lot of times that goes hand and hand with Heat success. #Ohiobornnbred#askChrisCarter

 

Only one more series then I'll be accused of being a Cavs fan.

 

If I recall correctly, the spurs used a lot of zone d in last year's finals

 

With a little Tannehill thrown in at the 8:44 mark.

 

This series needs to start already

 

I ****ing hate how they have all the finals games on weeknights. Kills me at work the next day.

 

I prefer it to weekends so I can go out before 10:30pm.

 

Well I am married with a kid, I don't "go out".

 

Well I have to make my own sandwiches... So there's that?

 

I do the cooking in my house

 

He still scores at the same efficiency in the Post than he did in Toronto. he is BETTER than he was 3-4 years ago since he is actually a ace defender, and a much better shooter.

You still haven't explained what makes him a wimp. Again..his numbers seem to improve vs. Physical front lines.

 

They didn't use any.

They just dropped off Lebron and packed the paint.

 

I have to say, I like how little respect the Heat seem to be getting heading into this. Everyone seems to be conceding it to the Spurs in the media. I've always felt the Heat play with laser focus when they feel disrespected.

 

Me too but I'm pumped for a threepeat. I love how we are back to back champions AND underdogs. Lets do this.

 

As a HEAT fan, I don't feel disrespected as an Underdog. They have home floor, they play in the tougher conference and teams are matched pretty ****ing good. I say home floor is what determines the underdog here (on paper).

But I do enjoy it, I prefer for the team to be looked as an underdog.

 

IMO We as a team determined a healthy Wade was more important than gunning for home floor pretty early on. I can honestly say I'd make the same call, though home floor would be nice.

Last year they had a chance to put us away at home in game six, almost did...but in the end couldn't. Home court is nice but i feel there are more important factors in play for both teams.

 

I find it odd that we would be considered an underdog. Home floor or not.

 

Game 6 was in Miami.

 

Heat are slightly favored in Vegas.

My gut is telling me Heat in this one, which is a change from how I felt a month ago. Spurs looked scarier a month than they do right now, and the Heat are cresting at exactly the right time.

It just feels like the Heat were holding some of their best cards for the playoff run (Wade), and then found out that they have even more in hand than they thought because of Rashard Lewis' defensive efforts.

That's the thing that affected me most, I think. Everyone knew Lewis was a good enough shooter even if he had these weird spurts where he'd miss a lot. He's one of the most efficient three point shooters of all time. But he steps into the game to guard David West and before you even realize it you're thinking damn, this guy is defending the hell out of West who had been a guy that I thought could really hurt Miami.

But that's Miami. They have a lot of depth. They always get someone making an impact in the series. Norris Cole will end up shutting down Tony Parker on defense for a game or two, something like that.

 

As for player props I thought Ethan Skolnick made a good point about Wade's over/under on points being set at 18 on Bovada. He averaged 19 points a year ago against San Antonio, and that was hobbled. The over could be a nice bet.

The Chris Bosh over on 15 points per game in the series looks tempting to me. He grabbed 24 points in both regular season games and the Heat really seem to have found a groove giving him touches and getting him to score.

Last year Bosh's 3 point shot was something Miami found in the playoffs and everyone thought it kind of weird but then Game 1 of the Spurs series he takes 4 of them and misses all 4 and suddenly the turtle went back in its shell. There was no confidence in the Bosh 3 point shot to where you could stick with it even if they don't go down temporarily. This year feels a bit different that way. I think there's more confidence kicking it out to him and they'll stick with it all series long. That could help Bosh score more this year than his series average of 12 points in 2013.

I'm also kind of tempted toward the under on Lebron at 27.5 points per game and over on 6 assists per game.

 

You're right, I was thinking of the video of the Spurs watch party when Allen hit the three.

 

Wingstop and beer

 

If this is going back to Miami at 1-1, it will be a very good sign.

...and water is wet, I get it. I just think it will be huge to steal one in San Antonio.

 

Need to steal one of them, as the series is: 1,2,5,7 in San Antonio and Games 3,4,6 in Miami

 

Yeah and water is.....

Damn it!

 

I think he meant one of the first two not just one in SA overall. Lets steal both of them. Screw being happy with one.