The NBA Finals start today...

[m>s]

^ like the cleveland mavaliers fans of last year?

[ElNono]

big/small "markets" has to do with TV markets... neither city is in the top 35 TV markets in the nation, IIRC... that's why they're called small market...

[LkrFan]

I want KD to win his first ring before LeHype. Maybe then he will get more respect around these parts.

[mavs>spurs]

They got beat by the Mavs last year. Tbh, how good could they really be?

what's that supposed to mean? the mavs were easily the best team in basketball last year. last years mavs were better than any team this year, too. it's a shame cuban is a dumbass or you'd be watching us go back to back.

[tesseractive]

what's that supposed to mean? the mavs were easily the best team in basketball last year. last years mavs were better than any team this year, too. it's a shame cuban is a dumbass or you'd be watching us go back to back.

Just messing around.

Last year's Mavs were really good -- I don't think they were better than this years's Spurs imo, but it's a shame there's no way to play a game and find out.

[DMC]

The same three couldn't beat Dallas last year. They haven't gotten much better. Dallas got worse. Everyone said Miami would beat Dallas last year. People now talk about how strong Dallas was last year, but that's hindsight. There were some white knuckle moments in those first few games.

Miami might win, but they have to prove it to me before I will believe they even can. Otherwise I see SA or OKC. I don't think Boston can beat Miami.

[GuerillaBlack]

SA has the 6th largest population of all US cities and yet it's still a small market, so the population ain't the only element to take into account when the market size is measured imho

That's because you're looking at city limits, which don't mean anything. If you look at the metro area or tv market size. SA is in the low 20s.

[KD4MVP]

miami can beat either SA or OKC..this is NOT the finals at all tbh

If Bosh can't play, they aren't beating either especially without HCA.

[KD4MVP]

did yall see the way the 2 s cranked up the heat once got real in indiana? don't be led astray by the lackluster performances while coasting..i think miami has a 45% chance WITHOUT bosh, 55-45 in their favor with him if he's performing anywhere near 100%. nobody on either SA or OKC can guard the 2 s when they get going.

Both teams have long, athletic defenders who they can throw at both of the 2 s.

They won't shut both down, but if they can limit both to around 50-55 combined, that's good enough.

Also, without Bosh, you think Pop will let both go off, he'll double/trap the other if Bosh can't go, they won't beat SA 2 on 5.

[mavs>spurs]

IMO, even without bosh neither the spurs nor the thunder have guys who can defend the 2 s effectively..they will crank up the head just like they did against indiana and start running that ass into the ground. especially the thunder, who have no big men to punish the heat with for their lack of an interior presence.

[mavs>spurs]

Both teams have long, athletic defenders who they can throw at both of the 2 s.

They won't shut both down, but if they can limit both to around 50-55 combined, that's good enough.

Also, without Bosh, you think Pop will let both go off, he'll double/trap the other if Bosh can't go, they won't beat SA 2 on 5.

sefolosha isn't quick enough to stay with lebron, he's better suited to guard guys like kobe. outside of that, yall have no one to put on them and you can't afford to put harden or durant on either of them. as for san antonio? leonard is young and unproven, he is NOT going to slow down lebron maybe he can be an elite defender a few years from now, however he is not one today.

[KD4MVP]

IMO, even without bosh neither the spurs nor the thunder have guys who can defend the 2 s effectively..they will crank up the head just like they did against indiana and start running that ass into the ground. especially the thunder, who have no big men to punish the heat with for their lack of an interior presence.

By that logic, who checks Westbrook on Miami, same with TP?

Who guards Duncan who looks great.

Like i said, neither will SHUT them down, but they can limit them, and make it tough. And Indiana, come on now!

They are not beating OKC or SA 2 on 5.

[Venti Quattro]

Let's go Heat!

[mavs>spurs]

By that logic, who checks Westbrook on Miami, same with TP?

Who guards Duncan who looks great.

Like i said, neither will SHUT them down, but they can limit them, and make it tough. And Indiana, come on now!

They are not beating OKC or SA 2 on 5.

Chalmers will do a good job on westbrook or parker. Lebron can cover them for short stints if they are posing a problem in crunch time, the same way they used him to stifle Rose in the past. no one will guard duncan, but neither will anyone on the spurs guard lebron/wade who at this point are the much bigger threat.

[ElNono]

Chalmers will do a good job on westbrook or parker. Lebron can cover them

last time Lebron tried to cover Tony:

[mavs>spurs]

I'm sorry but if you think Lebron James could cover pre injury Rose but not Tony Parker then we will just have to disagree on that

[ElNono]

I'm sorry but if you think Lebron James could cover pre injury Rose but not Tony Parker then we will just have to disagree on that

it's not complicated, tbh... Tony always drives off a pick, and unlike Rose almost never goes one on one. To stop Tony you have to defend the pick and roll well... Lakers have done it.

[m>s]

miami are unstoppable if both s get on fire, there's no effective solution to neither of them tbh. mental shortness is the only enemy that may beat them heat now, so the spurs only hope is that lebron steps into the same ditch a 3rd time and chokes like he did last year

[100%duncan]

Mavfan still butthurt
we woulda swept the pacers too
Least vs Best

[Ace]

Since the Spurs starting winning the general IQ of Spurs fans has reduced drastically.

at anyone on the Spurs or Thunder capable of shutting down, much less slowing down Wade or LeBron. Miami can turn it up when needed and they proved that, not just LeBron and Wade but on defense as well. You guys act like you've never watched basketball before...

[m>s]

miami's bench now is twice better then last year's tbh

[tesseractive]

miami's bench now is twice better then last year's tbh

And we all know what 2 x 0 =

[Axe Murderer]

The Heat's swarming defense seems perfect in guarding a team like the Spurs imho

[Ace]

The Heat's swarming defense seems perfect in guarding a team like the Spurs imho

Tim Duncan not playing like a TOSB is what scares me imo...

[Jacob1983]

LMAO Heat beating the Spurs in the Finals