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There's still teams out there who can beat the Heat.
I doubt it.
The west is transitioning with the Spurs being a little long in the tooth and teams like GSW and Memphis being very young and green teams for the finals.
OKC obviously is missing their 2nd best player.
The Heat probably would have repeated this year anyway but their path to repeat is just as easy as heck with all the key injuries to the teams that could present any real challenge.
The Spurs have a shot and Memphis has the size to give Miami the same paint problems that the Bulls do....but this is Miami's championship to lose.
Besides, the Heat have to win their titles NOW. Wade is getting older and more hurt every time I see him. Watching him badly miss a dunk in game 2 against the Bulls almost made me fall out of my chair....he's clearly hurting.
The heat have a shelf-life....how many can they win before their age becomes a factor? 2? 4? ???????
Noah only had 31 post-season games coming into this year and the Bulls didn't get much experience last year due to their 1st round loss (Noah only played in 3 games and was playing hurt in some of that which was what I was hinting at partially earlier)
Lebron had around 115 playoff games under his belt entering the finals last year.
The Bulls reaching the round where they could at least play against the world champs gives them experience that is more like the finals IMO and something they really really need.
Bellinelli coming into the playoffs had 173 MINUTES of playoff experience.
Nate Robinson...never started a playoff game, came in with 120minutes.....
That's 2 more guys with MINIMAL playoff experience and like I said, even Noah is gaining experience playing against the Heat in a fiesty, pressure situation like this.
Well, I guess the Knicks should be up 3-1 instead of down 1-3 to the Pacers.
The Bulls would beat the Heat with a full roster. Hell, they beat the Heat withOUT a full roster. Don't know where you get the notion the Bulls can't beat the Heat.
The Heat have lost more respect from fans than gained it this series.
I agree with your last statement. Before the series started, I would have said no way, but after watching this series, I think this was the best chance to beat the Heat with a full roster. It would have been a dog fight for sure. The Heat were up 18 and just couldn't put the Bulls away with a depleted roster until the clock ran out at the end of the game.
Did you see Lebron's podium interview, he said he was relieved this series is over and said it was the toughest close out series in his career, lol. One thing that came out of this is Jimmy Butler can defend and has game. Butler played 48 min defending Lebron almost the whole game and still scores 19 points and Lebron scores 23.
I agree with your last statement. Before the series started, I would have said no way, but after watching this series, I think this was the best chance to beat the Heat with a full roster. It would have been a dog fight for sure. The Heat were up 18 and just couldn't put the Bulls away with a depleted roster until the clock ran out at the end of the game.
Did you see Lebron's podium interview, he said he was relieved this series is over and said it was the toughest close out series in his career, lol. One thing that came out of this is Jimmy Butler can defend and has game. Butler played 48 min defending Lebron almost the whole game and still scores 19 points and Lebron scores 23.
Yeah, Butler really emerged this year.
Was nice to see the Bulls go down swinging and pushing Miami right up until the final buzzer.
Now we just have to wait and see how Rose does and wait for next year.
On paper, the Heat are by far the best team left in the playoffs. But I think the team that has the best chance against the Heat is the team that is going to be the least afraid of them. Pacers are tough, but they're a young team and you have to think that they'll feel the pressure.
Grizzlies probably match up with them best on paper, but the bright light of the NBA finals is probably a bit too much for a team making their first appearance.
That leaves the Spurs. That's the only team left that I believe isn't going to be afraid of the Heat. Even though the Heat are the better team on paper right now. But think about it. This time ten years ago, Duncan, Parker, Ginobilli, and Pop eliminated the three time defending champion Lakers in Hollywood. In a blowout as well. No bright lights or "Heat mystique" is gonna faze these guys and I think they'll be the team that would provide the biggest challenge to Miami. Jmo.
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