The Thunder roster is deeper. I'm not talking about the bench, but their Harden, Ibaka, Durant, Westbrook, Perkins, Sefalosha -- that is a good core of guys that are a little more durable physically than Miami. Any of those guys can score the ball.
The Heat are going to come out on a mission in game 1. Lebron has become an assassin overnight. Miami would have murdered Dallas last year if Lebron James was Lebron James. He has consistantly shrunk in the moment, but this time, he's going against a bunch of 22 23 year olds and those kind of kids don't get in the head of Lebron. He is the second vet star after Wade and that's huge.
D Wade has played great in 2/3 games he had his knee drained. He had his knee drained yesterday, and I feel a big game coming from a guy that's averaging what, like 32ish a game over 12 finals games. Sefalosha is a good defender and can guard him, but if Wade's going, you're done. I'm thinking its a great game.
Scott Brooks should not allow Durant to guard Lebron for the whole game. That's a mistake. Lebron is 270 all muscle. Sefalosha is a stronger defender and should be used to guard Lebron at times. If Durant wants the challenge, I guarantee he gets fatigued having to guard Lebron. Durant is also going to have to settle for some tough jumpers, which he's capable of hitting, but I bet he'll shoot less than 50% in game one and be surprised with Lebron's D early.
Harden can be used to guard Wade at the start of the second quarter. This is where Wade will be tested. I'm thinking Harden gets nervous game 1 for sure. THe magnitude of this stage.
The same goes for Westbrook. I still see a good game from Westbrook, but too many turnovers probably that kill them. Westbrook can get a shot off any time over chalmers, but I think Chalmers likes that challenge. Westbrook will make some defensive mistakes for sure for open 3s for the Heat.
Bosh is the mentally toughest player on the Heat. If he has open jumpers, I bet he hits 60%. I think Ibaka will want to be a hero and try and block all Lebrons drives leading to wide open shots for Bosh. Bosh can also take Ibaka or Perkins, he has a lot of offensive moves.
The Heat are the veterans and I like them to put the young Thunder in check gm 1. Ibaka or Perkins will rack of the fouls for sure and neither team is deep on the Bench.
The Heat should be starting Haslem and Bosh. Maybe Battier. Stretching Ibaka even further to guard Battier, that might be smart if Battier shows he can hold his own defensively. Both him and Haslem will play solid minutes. Fisher will start chucking up bricks to try and erupt the crowd. Dequan Cook might have a few wide open 3s, Sefalosha maybe, but Bosh will be the main help defender on Westbrook, Lebron and Wade are playing the wings so the THunder are not gonna hit to many 3's with the exception of Durant of course.
For all those reasons I'm taking MIA game 1.
The Heat are going to come out on a mission in game 1. Lebron has become an assassin overnight. Miami would have murdered Dallas last year if Lebron James was Lebron James. He has consistantly shrunk in the moment, but this time, he's going against a bunch of 22 23 year olds and those kind of kids don't get in the head of Lebron. He is the second vet star after Wade and that's huge.
D Wade has played great in 2/3 games he had his knee drained. He had his knee drained yesterday, and I feel a big game coming from a guy that's averaging what, like 32ish a game over 12 finals games. Sefalosha is a good defender and can guard him, but if Wade's going, you're done. I'm thinking its a great game.
Scott Brooks should not allow Durant to guard Lebron for the whole game. That's a mistake. Lebron is 270 all muscle. Sefalosha is a stronger defender and should be used to guard Lebron at times. If Durant wants the challenge, I guarantee he gets fatigued having to guard Lebron. Durant is also going to have to settle for some tough jumpers, which he's capable of hitting, but I bet he'll shoot less than 50% in game one and be surprised with Lebron's D early.
Harden can be used to guard Wade at the start of the second quarter. This is where Wade will be tested. I'm thinking Harden gets nervous game 1 for sure. THe magnitude of this stage.
The same goes for Westbrook. I still see a good game from Westbrook, but too many turnovers probably that kill them. Westbrook can get a shot off any time over chalmers, but I think Chalmers likes that challenge. Westbrook will make some defensive mistakes for sure for open 3s for the Heat.
Bosh is the mentally toughest player on the Heat. If he has open jumpers, I bet he hits 60%. I think Ibaka will want to be a hero and try and block all Lebrons drives leading to wide open shots for Bosh. Bosh can also take Ibaka or Perkins, he has a lot of offensive moves.
The Heat are the veterans and I like them to put the young Thunder in check gm 1. Ibaka or Perkins will rack of the fouls for sure and neither team is deep on the Bench.
The Heat should be starting Haslem and Bosh. Maybe Battier. Stretching Ibaka even further to guard Battier, that might be smart if Battier shows he can hold his own defensively. Both him and Haslem will play solid minutes. Fisher will start chucking up bricks to try and erupt the crowd. Dequan Cook might have a few wide open 3s, Sefalosha maybe, but Bosh will be the main help defender on Westbrook, Lebron and Wade are playing the wings so the THunder are not gonna hit to many 3's with the exception of Durant of course.
For all those reasons I'm taking MIA game 1.
