As the classic paradox goes: What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? For the NBA, it means ratings - and lots of them. Basketball fans everywhere (myself included) clamored for a Heat-Thunder Finals matchup, and here it is. Whatever the result, one of the league's brightest stars is guaranteed to get his first ring. On one hand, we have the Oklahoma City Thunder, the seventh youngest team in the league (average age 25.8 yrs.) who have enjoyed a quick ascent to the top thanks to the shrewd drafting (Durant/Westbrook) and clever trades (Perkins) made by management. The Thunder are the textbook example of how to build a winning team from the ground up (well, maybe not entirely - sorry Sonics fans). OKC breezed past the Mavericks and Lakers before winning four straight from the #1 seed in the West, the San Antonio Spurs. They definitely have the look of a champion after eliminating the top competition in the West. Headed by 1-2 scoring duo in the league in Durant and Westbrook, the Thunder are explosive on offense having averaged 102.3 pts/game this postseason - good for best in the NBA. From top to bottom, the Thunder boast a deep roster full of talented complimentary players. OKC fans are the most energetic in the league and the team definitely feeds off of their home crowd. The Thunder hold home-court advantage in this series - a significant factor than cannot be overlooked. On the other hand, we have the Miami Heat. In my years following basketball, I cannot recall a team that has been more universally scrutinized than the Miami Heat. The Heat are in year two of their "Big Three" experiment and are looking to rid themselves of the bitter memories from last years Finals loss to Dallas. Team president and basketball icon Pat Riley assembled this talented unit and is hoping that James, Wade, and Bosh (three top-20 NBA players) can overcome the overwhelming pressure and win together. On their way here, the Heat made quick work of the Knicks before rallying against the Pacers and Celtics. Lebron James has been especially brilliant in these playoffs, averaging just shy of 31/10/5 in 18 games played. James has been the unquestioned leader of this Heat team and his performance in game 6 vs. Boston (45/15/5) showed why he is also the league's MVP. With Chris Bosh returning to full health, Miami's Big Three is hopeful that they can silence the skeptics and win the franchise's first 'ship since 2006. Personally, I haven't been this excited for a Finals matchup since 2008 - when the Lakers and Celtics reignited their decades-old rivalry. The Thunder and Heat split their two regular season games, with both teams winning at home. Simply put, this will be a fiercely competitive and spirited matchup. Only time will tell if Lebron vs. Durant evolves into the next Magic vs. Bird. Speaking on behalf of NBA fans across the world, let's hope so. Both teams live and die by their star player, so let's take a look at that matchup first. Key Matchup: Lebron James vs. Kevin Durant![]() On its surface, this would appear to be one of the best showdowns at the SF position in NBA playoff history. For all their similarities, however, James and Durant have a number of differences between them. First off, they play different styles of basketball. Durant is the better scorer - a more efficient shooter from practically anywhere outside the paint. Moreover, "The Durantula" has proven to be a deadly closer who will hit crucial shots when they are needed the most. In comparison, James is a more well-rounded player who will not only score, but do everything else as well. Lebron is considered to be an elite defender at the wing position and is versatile enough to cover the 1-4 positions on D. Last series alone, Lebron put together five 30pt/10reb games - he is truly the definition of a stat-sheet stuffer. In their two regular season meetings, Durant and Lebron were primarily assigned to cover one another. With Lebron on the floor, Durant averaged 23.5 pts on 51% shooting per 36 minutes. With Durant on the floor, James averaged 22.6 pts on 46% shooting. To say that the two will cancel each other out would be an oversimplification. Rather, both players will need to do much more to involve their teammates and limit their own mistakes and inefficiencies. Case in point: in the 103-87 Thunder win over the Heat, Durant matched his season high with eight assists. In the loss, however, he committed nine turnovers. Clearly, both Durant and Lebron are special players who will be fighting neck and neck for the coveted Finals MVP. I would have to give the slight advantage in this matchup to James because he's been here before. This will be Lebron's third Finals appearance and I think he has finally turned the corner. Statistically, Lebron's worst playoff rounds have come in the Finals; you can bet he will be more assertive in changing that this year. At the end of the day, Durant is only 23 years old and will be playing in his first NBA Finals. He also has a better surrounding cast than does Lebron. From a team and individual standpoint, Lebron needs to win this matchup if the Heat are to win the series. Under the microscope: Chris Bosh, Thabo SefoloshaThe performance of Chris Bosh and Thabo Sefolosha will be critical towards their team's success in the Finals round. I'll start with Bosh, the much maligned PF who represents 1/3 of Miami's Big Three. If you were watching Saturday's game seven between the Celtics and Heat, then you know just how important Bosh is for this Miami team. After suffering a strained abdominal in the Indiana series, coach Erik Spoelstra has been easing Bosh into significant minutes as needed. None were more significant (or needed) than the 31 minutes in game seven, in which Bosh scored 19 points (8/10, 3/3 from 3pt) and grabbed 8 rebounds. The role that Bosh plays in the Miami offense is that of the facilitator. James and Wade thrive off the pick-and-roll game and he makes it that much easier for the Heat to space the floor and create open looks. Bosh has a solid mid-range game which will help take the pressure off of the aforementioned James and Wade. Other than Udonis Haslem, Bosh is Miami's lone skilled big man capable of playing away from the basket. He provides the post presence that is so desperately needed in today's NBA. Bosh's rebounding and toughness under the hoop will be vital against the dominating frontcourt of Ibaka/Perkins. At the time of this writing, it has yet to be announced whether Bosh will be starting or coming off the bench. In either case, he will depended upon to give the Heat valuable minutes for the various reasons mentioned above. For the Thunder, Thabo Sefolosha has quietly been playing shut-down defense. Coming off consecutive series of guarding Kobe Bryant and Manu Ginobili, 'Sefo' will be matched against the lightning-quick Dwyane Wade. If the Celtics series proved anything, it's that Wade is capable of being slowed down. Poor 1st-half performances were a consistent trademark for DWade throughout the seven-game series. Make no mistake - Sefolosha is a lockdown defender who is assigned to guard the opposing team's best scorer. Offensively, he is capable of hitting the outside shot and finishing at the rim. I wouldn't expect Sefolosha to hit 15+ points in any game of this series, but his impact is more clearly defined in the +/- numbers of his team when he is on the court. The Heat will be in a lot of trouble should Thabo be able to limit Wade's offensive prowess. The "Other Guys" - Battier/Chalmers, Perkins/IbakaObviously there are no shortages of storylines or players to discuss. Dwyane Wade, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden are premiere players at their positions - I'm not forgetting that. Instead of discussing the stars ad nauseam, I wanted to talk about the role players. These are the guys who will roll their metaphorical sleeves up and get to work on both sides of the court. For Miami, the addition of Shane Battier in the offseason has proven to be a good one. Battier provides much-needed veteran leadership (sorry Juwan Howard) and is a solid-jump shooter. He is perhaps the best player in the NBA at drawing charges, a skill that cannot be overlooked. On defense, Battier will body up players larger and quicker than himself and do a decently good job at it. Offensively, Battier's arsenal of mid-range jump shots and corner three's can prove to be all the difference. Mario Chalmers is much the same way. Though I've been underwhelmed by his defense at times, Chalmers is an accomplished shooter who thrives under pressure. It's no mistake that the Heat play their best when Chalmers is playing confidently and distributing the ball. Defensively, Chalmers must be able to force tough shots from Westbrook and Fisher. Kendrick Perkins is a beast in the paint and that could mean real trouble for the Miami Heat. The Heat simply don't have an effective match for Perkins if he is at the top of his game. Perkins and his size will give Miami fits if used properly. He won't be called to score 20 points/game, but he will have his moments. Of course, the former Celtic is a standout on defense and a quality rebounder. If there is a breakdown on D, Perkins and Ibaka will be underneath the rim to protect it. The battle in the paint is significant in this series and I would expect the Thunder to win that battle, hands-down. Serge Ibaka is a young, emerging star and is all sorts of entertaining to watch play. He adds athleticism and a shot-blocking presence like no other player in the league. On top of that, Ibaka has an effective mid-range jump shot as evidenced in game four against the Spurs when he scored 26 points on 11-11 shooting. Perkins and Ibaka are stalwarts on defense and will be key to limiting the Heat inside the paint. The Verdict![]() At the end of the day, a championship and a lot more are on the line for both teams. Ultimately, I think Lebron James and the Heat will go out and write their own legacy rather than have it written for them. The pressure on James to succeed is so great and his performance in these playoffs has not suffered. For a player of his caliber (as well as Durant's) the next step is winning a title. I just think it's not the time for the Thunder quite yet. Are they a deeper team? Yes. Are they a perfect team? No. This series is so evenly matched that it is difficult to predict. There are a number of factors, but I think Lebron will win his matchup against Durant by a small margin. Wade will need to elevate his game, which he has done many times before. Having been on the brink of elimination, I see the Heat as the more evenly-keeled of the two teams - Miami knows the significance of each win and loss. They have been talking about getting to this point all season and now they have arrived. Erik Spoelstra and the Big Three know what needs to be done and just needs to go out and accomplish it. The Heat will need to take as many as two games on the road and are fully capable of doing so. I fully expect Lebron to quiet his critics and to lead his team with efficient performances in several categories. This series is a matter of minimizing mistakes, playing as a team, and executing when it counts the most. I see the Heat doing just that and winning the series in six games. That's right folks, Miami in six.
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AuthorHey, I'm Ted Sorensen and this is my sports & personal blog. Leave some comments and let me know what you think! Archives
June 2016
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