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I think Shaq said it best...
"Miami is going to win the le, unless they face the Spurs."
Pretty much.
"Tiiiaggooo Spliitter" -Stephen A. Smith
I still don't think Smith gives Tiago the respect and credit that he deserves for the Spurs' success this season.
I think Shaq said it best...
"Miami is going to win the le, unless they face the Spurs."
Pretty much.
Wow, can't believe SAS is giving SAS props.
Still don't see Spurs winning though. Both OKC and MIA will go small with Durant and Lebron at PF. That'll take Tiago off the court except as TD's backup - and that great defense we've had all season will suffer playing small. Maybe without Harden, SAS can take down OKC, but no one has an answer for Lebron. Birdman will help them tremendously in the playoffs and when they get 1 more veteran big man (for cheap) they'll be virtually unbeatable (no weaknesses).
that referee free throw thing will pretty much kill us ... Lebron or KD can get to the line as often as they want ...
We'll see...the fix may be in for the Spurs this year, a la 2007.
Spurs/Grizzlies
I don't like small ball, the Spurs can't get stops/rebounds and TD is forced to defend the PnR...Maybe Pop will not adjust and will make them play big...
For once in my life I would love to Pop force the other team adjust to the Spurs, but as usual its always Spurs adjusting to the compe ion.
If the Spurs play with their existing starters and stay big can we still beat either of those two?
The way I see it, the only way to beat Miami is to outscore them, there’s no other way, you can’t stop Lebron/Wade/Bosh 4 times in 2 weeks, no way.
Assuming the Big 3 + Tiago do their thing (no more, no less), two players are going to make the difference in the series:
- Danny Green
- Kawhi Leonard
If those 2 play great defense and score 45%+ 3PTs, we can win.
If those 2 can’t score and open the floor and can’t stop Wade / Chalmers, the Big 3 + Tiago won’t have a chance in a crowded paint.
It's hard to stand pat when the opposition is superior. LeBron at PF, the Spurs have no answer for. Spurs will go small with Leonard or Jackson at the 4, which isn't horrible imo, it's not like Jefferson or Finley will be the PF. If LeBron is their PF in the playoffs, Tim or Tiago cannot guard him, and we will be forced to adjust, it's the luxury the Heat have because of LeBron James.
Spurs should not go small against any other team though
The Spurs would get plastered in 5 going against Miami. The Spurs have no one who can check LeBron or Wade. Even Bosh plays well against the Spurs since going to Miami. Battier and Mike Miller love to murder SA.
Also, Spurs struggle against good defensive teams and Miami would completely disrupt the Spurs offensive flow.
They didn't struggle against Chicago; though I'm probably going to regret saying that come Wednesday.
Lebron would absolutely destroy anyone the Spurs put on him. However, I think if Pop puts Leonard on Wade and lets Lebron do his thing the Spurs would be fine. IMO with Splitter and Duncan starting I don't think Bosh will play all that great. Mike Miller hasn't been seeing as much playing time, but Battier may single-handily win Miami the series.
I can see Spurs outshooting Miami in couple games.
I`ll go with Jax and Diaw on LeBron and keep Leonard on Wade.
The trick is to make the Heat 1 dimensional, LeBron doesn't have to score in order for the Heat to be successful, he facilitates and creates for other players and then he'll get his when the time comes. The trick will be to let him go off every game, let him go for 30 or 40 a night but have to close out on the perimeter shooters, stick wade in a vacuum and don't let Bosh take easy shots. Easier said than done but this season LeBron has been successful dictating the pace of the game, he's not exerting himself like he was in the past, he can have a long dry spell because he can score in bunches quickly when the game is on the line.
Outscoring is generally the way you win any basketball game...
The problem isn't winning the finals vs the Heat, it's getting there
what?
the Heat are basically coasting to the best record in the league and home court throughout. and they are coasting at the moment.
Spurs have no ing chance, then again, neither do the rest of the teams.
In the NBA there really is no such thing as a sure thing, the Heat will probably get there but going through Boston or Indiana will be a task. If Lebron gets hurt then its over for Miami.
Boston? u kiddin? Boston would not even make the playoffs in the west.
MIami has cakewalk all the way to the Finals. Indiana are a bunch of youngsters with no superstar. Overhyped as IMO.
A broken Boston team took them to 7 games last year when clearly the Heat were the best team in the NBA last year, styles make fights. Sure the Heat have the X factor with LeBron but he's not going to play every minute of every playoff game and play all 5 positions at once and lock everyone down. Battier can go cold, someone can get hurt and people can miss shots. Its why we play the game.
The Spurs and Thunder have pretty much coasted through most of the season too. Big deal!!!
the Heat are basically coasting to the best record in the league and home court throughout. and they are coasting at the moment.
Spurs have no ing chance, then again, neither do the rest of the teams.
Heat sleptwalked through East last year. They woke up in the Finals and you know what happened.
I think this year will be even easier for them. Seem a little more focused and awake. We really won't see the awakened beast till Finals again, it's gonna be brutal to whoever comes out of West.
yes injuries can happen, but let's face it, Lebron is made of Adamantium. West teams can always pray I guess
Unless we can hide Tiago on somebody like Thabo/battier and just punish them on offense and on the boards, forcing them to adjust to us. Last year Tiago struggled against the small thunder, and that's why the infamous "Tiago couldn't post fisher" posts started. Tiago has improved this year and will punish a team with a guard on him.
Against Miami, if we actually slow the game down, Lebron finds himself in the paint area anyway when he's at the 4. Tiago defended him for a handful of possessions in our reg season matchup and did decent. It's a matter of making them adjust to us by imposing our will with Tiago and Tim togethet
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