Keys to Beat the Cheat

[Venti Quattro]

Make them work on defense. I don't care how you do it.

[Fpoonsie]

Avoid the Noid.

[bostonguy]

@ a 6-9 Joel Anthony being a major factor in matching up with the Lakers size.

[HarlemHeat37]

The Heat will definitely need to add another piece to the frontcourt, but let's be real here..the odds of Bynum being healthy for the Finals is like 25%..not a joke, he's been injured at that time for like 3 years in a row, there's a very little chance he actually makes it that far..

[bostonguy]

The Heat will definitely need to add another piece to the frontcourt, but let's be real here..the odds of Bynum being healthy for the Finals is like 25%..not a joke, he's been injured at that time for like 3 years in a row, there's a very little chance he actually makes it that far..

Heat need a starting center and for Pat Riley to be coaching this team by November or December at the latest. Eric Spoelstra is a nice little coach but this team has Riley written all over it. If they can address those 2 things, I will start to believe they will be a super major threat to the Lakers.

[sefant77]

3. defense inside: just don't give them any easy penetration into your paint. Compared to conceding mass points in paint, I'd rather see them scoring from outside. They're all great players, which I have to admit, but their shooting skills are far below the top-class level.

nba refs will laugh and blow their whistles

[HarlemHeat37]

The Heat are a major threat either way, they have way too much talent and star power not to be..also, all the pieces they've added look like they're going to fit together, a good mix of shooting and defense..

I fully agree that they need a defensive C, but they're an elite team either way..

The Lakers weren't some dominant championship team like they were in '09, they were taken to 6 games or more in 3 of the 4 series', 2 of the series' basically ending by missed box outs from Phoenix and OKC..Kobe looked old against the only good defensive teams they played, and adding Blake doesn't really change the fact that they're extremely inconsistent at shooting from outside..

The reality is that the Lakers can be very dominant if Bynum is healthy, but if he isn't, which is likely, they won't have a major advantage over Miami, or even Boston/Orlando IMO..

[bostonguy]

The Heat are a major threat either way, they have way too much talent and star power not to be..also, all the pieces they've added look like they're going to fit together, a good mix of shooting and defense..

I fully agree that they need a defensive C, but they're an elite team either way..

The Lakers weren't some dominant championship team like they were in '09, they were taken to 6 games or more in 3 of the 4 series'..Kobe looked old against the only good defensive teams they played, and adding Blake doesn't really change the fact that they're extremely inconsistent at shooting from outside..

The reality is that the Lakers can be very dominant if Bynum is healthy, but if he isn't, which is likely, they won't have a major advantage over Miami, or even Boston/Orlando IMO..

Glad you at least agree they need a starting center.I agree they are already an elite team but do you really think Miami is just going to have it so easy and hardly have to break a sweat? That they won't face any adversity in the playoffs? That everything will be going their way all the time?

[HarlemHeat37]

No, I never said they're going to go 16-0 in the playoffs, I just believe they're going to win the le..it would be a lot easier with a decent starting C, but I also assume they will eventually find a way to acquire one..

If they don't, and Bynum is healthy, then I can see LA beating them..I just don't believe it's possible for Bynum to be healthy at that point..

[bostonguy]

No, I never said they're going to go 16-0 in the playoffs, I just believe they're going to win the le..it would be a lot easier with a decent starting C, but I also assume they will eventually find a way to acquire one..

If they don't, and Bynum is healthy, then I can see LA beating them..I just don't believe it's possible for Bynum to be healthy at that point..

Agreed about Bynum's health. The Lakers height advantage is gone if/when he gets hurt.

Let me ask you this Harlem, do you expect Riley to be coaching this year and do you think it is vital that he does? Spoelstra isn't a horrible coach but it just seems that this team is built for Riley. Riley knows how to handle a team like this. I know he said "Spoelstra will be the coach" but what else was he going to say?

[Andrew Bynum]

adding Blake doesn't really change the fact that they're extremely inconsistent at shooting from outside..

Adding a career 40% three point shooter doesn't really change their shooting from outside? Brilliant.