NBA FINALS - Dreams Do Come True

"NBA COULDN'T DRAW A BETTER PICTURE"

  (White Plains, New York)   Here we all are staring at a dream match up, which we all assumed would happen back in January in the first place. However the NBA playoffs is not as easy as many of us fans think it is. 


   No, Lebron James cannot score 50 points every game, yes Chris Bosh not being healthy affected the team, yes Rajon Rondo is a top 10 player in the league and the old dogs weren't going down without a fight. Even after game two of the Western Conference Championships there were talks of the Oklahoma City Thunder getting swept. Nonetheless the journey to the NBA Finals is over and the NBA did what it was suppose to do keep us excited, change our expectations and in the end give us what we wanted. In one series Dwayne Wade was one game from being traded, Scott Brooks (OKC coach) was being called a fool and said to be out coached, and Erik Sproelstra was suppose be replaced with Pat Riley, but here we are at the dream match up we all wanted.




          This NBA Finals will be the most viewed no doubt about it not only because it has the two best players on the planet facing off but, more importantly we will watch either to see Lebron James succeed or to watch him fail which many want to see. Kevin Durant is a great player but all eyes are on Lebron James and if he can finally get the monkey of his back. Who ever you have your money on know this one will be a roller coaster of a series and the person we least expect will have the most influence/ impact on the series.


        The key to this series will be the match-ups and if Westbrook doesn't try to steal the shine from Kevin Durant. Everyone is saying that the Heat are in big trouble but I'm here to disagree we all saw the Thunder go through the Mavericks, Lakers, and Spurs to land a spot in the finals. The media, the fans and the nation are all being prisoners of the moment we see a Heat team barely get past the so called old Celtics and assume that the Thunder are way beyond the Miami Heat.
       
      The teams OKC Thunder got passed have pretty much dominated the NBA for the last fourteen years but those teams are a thing of the past, other than the San Antonio Spurs, the Los Angeles Lakers, and Dallas Mavericks weren't real contenders to anybody but their fans. The Lakers and Mavericks had flaws which came to light even more in the playoffs. I bring those teams up to give you perspective because if you listen and watch media outlets they will make you believe the Thunder had to go through the 2000 Lakers to get to the NBA Finals. I'm not saying the OKC Thunder players are overrated but the team is beatable and don't match up as well as we all think against the Miami Heat.


    The Oklahoma City Thunder big three Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden will be the focal point of the Thunders offense but other than that they have many liabilities, everyones talking about Perkins, and Ibaka's presence in the paint but the fact is they are a liability offensively especially Perkins. The Thunder have absolutely no post play and the teams that give the Miami the most trouble are teams with big men that can produce. For example: Boston's Kevin Garnett, and Indiana's Roy Hibbert. Another argument for OKC Thunder being everyones pick to win it all is Russell Westbrook who now everyone thinks is all of a sudden is Derrick Rose.


        I believe Russell Westbrook is a great player but he's no D Rose and he's no Rajon Rondo. Westbrook's Jumper is inconsistent and not a superior passer like the other two and often makes many bad decisions in the game. The more upset Russell Westbrook gets the more he chucks up terrible shots. The key to his game is driving to the basket which is something the Miami Heat are good at stopping.  Mario Chalmers cannot cover Russell Westbrook but if history tells us anything Russell Westbrook worst match up is himself. The OKC Thunder also do not have a bench other than James Harden but lets be honest, if you think James Harden will be hitting fade away threes with a hand in his face every game, I suggest you see a doctor. The Thunder's lack of depth will be a problem against a physical team such as Miami. The Thunder out match many of their opponents athletically but I doubt that will work against the Miami Heat because they like to run the floor as well. The OKC Thunder team is good but it's not great as many want to believe.


    The Miami Heat are suppose to be great but their really just good because they lack many intangibles. I'll give you seven seconds to guess what Lebron James is averaging for the 2012 playoffs..... well if you don't know the answer is 30ppg, 9 RB and 5 assists. That's his average folks. I want you to remember your  most average class in high school or college. If Lebron James basketball average was a letter grade, that would equal an A average. What keeps this team from being great is the simple things, however let's start with free throws. The Miami Heat seems as if they are keeping worse and worse at the line, especially in the fourth quarter.
     
   The second thing I would say is the injuries to Wade and Bosh. We have watched most of the post season. Without bosh, we forget this team is very different when Bosh is taking the mid range shot instead of Haslem or our favorite Mike Miller (that was sarcasm.) Which leads me to the second biggest flaw of the Heat: They miss too many open shots. I know you can't make them all, but there are times where Miller, Battier and Haslem are so open  they could grab a snack before they shoot and yet they air ball it. But the real reason why many doubt the Heat and it's there biggest flaw: It's heart, desire, and hunger at times. This team can look untouchable and yet  there are times when the  Miami Heat look disengaged and relaxed. If you play relaxed against the OKC Thunder, they will destroy you with their  stellar mid range game especially Kevin Durant. Lebron James carried the Miami Heat on his back this post season now it's time for D. Wade and the rest of the team to join the party on a consistent level. It's also time for Lebron James to bring the same intensity to the Finals because in all his Finals appearances he has never  dominated or took control of a game.


   I believe this series will be a battle, but I believe it's Lebron James and the Miami Heat time to shine. It's now or never for Lebron James but either way the NBA champion of 2011-2012 season will make the NBA proud to call them the new face of the league. 






My Pick: Miami Heat in 6 






Key Notes


Pressure bust pipes. While Heat have all the pressure in the world, the Thunder have alot and with pressure comes alot a missed shots from role players.


Thunder and Heat split series this regular season.


The Heat force many free throws and are not a primary jump shooting team like the Spurs so Ibaka will be in foul trouble alot.


Oklahoma City Thunder is the favorite to win.


The key to the series is if Dwayne Wade can match Russell Westbrook's output or surpass it if so Miami Heat win because that leaves too much up to Kevin Durant to overcome.


Roy Hibbert, Kevin Garnett, and now Ibaka were all said to give the Miami Heat problems so far the Heat have over come good defensive big men and both Hibbert and Kevin Garnett are better scorers than Ibaka.




by Phillip "Stats" Rodney

"The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials." 
-- Chinese proverb 

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