Let's Be Honest, the Heat are Lucky to Play in the East

[Indian guy]

Has any team actually fared better than Miami against elite competition(55+ wins) the last 2 postseasons? They defeated 2 terrific teams in Boston and Chicago in the 2011 playoffs, took Dallas further than anyone in the West did(despite LeBron not competing), and last season, they took care of OKC in 5 after OKC kicked everybody's ass in the West.

[Micku]

Yet the Heat beat the Thunder in 5 games, who was the best team in the West. Who beat the Mavs, Lakers, and Spurs.

The Pacers and Celtics gave the Heat more trouble than the Thunder, but that was because Bosh wasn't there in most of those games.

[quartwarier]

2010-2011 Bulls and Celtics would smash these weak west teams, and Heat are ten times better now.

[Clippersfan86]

heat vs thuder went to 5 games, heat vs celtics went to 7 games, hopefully next time the west can send out some "elite" competition that at least challenges the heat more than a team consisting of retirement home players.

Again people miss the point. Heat get to coast through first 3 rounds then play a legit contender. In the west every single round you can be facing a contender getting beat the fu** up. By the time Miami gets to the finals they are more rested and less banged up.

Also you have to account for matchups here. OKC isn't a team that could capitalize on Miami's biggest weaknesses. They got almost zero interior scoring from Ibaka+Perkins so Miami's size disadvantage didn't hurt them like it would vs the other contenders in the west. OKC was an ideal matchup for them almost. Memphis, Spurs, Lakers, Clippers and even teams like the Nuggets and Jazz are far bigger matchup problems.

[HEAT111]

And the only reason miami lost against Dallas because they choked. If not, it'd have been another 5 game series or sweep.

[Clippersfan86]

And the only reason miami lost against Dallas because they choked. If not, it'd have been another 5 game series or sweep.

Yes... it had nothing to do with Dallas running a defensive clinic with Kidd, Marion and Chandler obliterating them. Or Dirk having a top 10 playoff run in NBA history. Of course the average Heat fan is going to give zero credit though when it's convenient.

[oh the horror]

Yet the Heat beat the Thunder in 5 games, who was the best team in the West. Who beat the Mavs, Lakers, and Spurs.

Match ups match ups, and match ups are everything in this league.


You cant just sit there and say since the Heat took out the Thunder in 5, that by default they should be greater than the people the Thunder eliminated.


IMO, Heat do not go through particular teams in the west.


I'd venture to say San Antonio does not lose to Miami in a series.


Unfortunately that is speculation of what I know of both team's strengths, and weaknesses.




I KNEW before the Heat/Thunder series, that Miami would make short work of OKC. I was laughing when people figured that OKC, since beating on the west competition would exploit the Heat.


OKC is EXACTLY the type of team Miami can dismantle and it showed. When you break the Thunder down, they ARE a perimeter based team, plain and simple.

[Micku]

Again people miss the point. Heat get to coast through first 3 rounds then play a legit contender. In the west every single round you can be facing a contender getting beat the fu** up. By the time Miami gets to the finals they are more rested and less banged up.

Also you have to account for matchups here. OKC isn't a team that could capitalize on Miami's biggest weaknesses. They got almost zero interior scoring from Ibaka+Perkins so Miami's size disadvantage didn't hurt them like it would vs the other contenders in the west. OKC was an ideal matchup for them almost. Memphis, Spurs, Lakers, Clippers and even teams like the Nuggets and Jazz are far bigger matchup problems.

Not last year. When Bosh went out, they had to kick it up. Since Wade was injured and wasn't the same Wade of 2011 and below, LeBron basically had to do everything since he wasn't banged up as Wade or Bosh. If they didn't get Bosh back in the Celtics series, they probably would've lost because Bosh was great in game 7 or LeBron would've had to do more again like he did in game 6 (Bosh was in the game too, but LBJ was insane that game).

And when they got to the Finals, what really beat the Thunder were the role players of the Heat and Harden sucking. That's the big reason why. I do agree that I think other teams with big guys that are capable of scoring inside and getting rebounds. While I don't think they will necessary beat the Heat, I think they could give them problems and exploit their weakness better.

[asdf1990]

Again people miss the point. Heat get to coast through first 3 rounds then play a legit contender. In the west every single round you can be facing a contender getting beat the fu** up. By the time Miami gets to the finals they are more rested and less banged up.

Also you have to account for matchups here. OKC isn't a team that could capitalize on Miami's biggest weaknesses. They got almost zero interior scoring from Ibaka+Perkins so Miami's size disadvantage didn't hurt them like it would vs the other contenders in the west. OKC was an ideal matchup for them almost. Memphis, Spurs, Lakers, Clippers and even teams like the Nuggets and Jazz are far bigger matchup problems.

only on ISH can a team play 3 more games than the other team in the finals and have one of their major component out for majority of 2 rounds and still be fresher than the opponent who had no key injuries.

[ihoopallday]

Again people miss the point. Heat get to coast through first 3 rounds then play a legit contender. In the west every single round you can be facing a contender getting beat the fu** up. By the time Miami gets to the finals they are more rested and less banged up.

Also you have to account for matchups here. OKC isn't a team that could capitalize on Miami's biggest weaknesses. They got almost zero interior scoring from Ibaka+Perkins so Miami's size disadvantage didn't hurt them like it would vs the other contenders in the west. OKC was an ideal matchup for them almost. Memphis, Spurs, Lakers, Clippers and even teams like the Nuggets and Jazz are far bigger matchup problems.

Why you making so many excuses for OKC. Also, if its all about matchups, explain last year. Clippers match up well with SA, yet y'all still got swept.

[upside24]

Let's be honest, the NBA is lucky Wade has declined or it would be a wrap the way LeBron is playing.

[red1]

Even without a centre the heat can still beat all of the western conference teams you mentioned. If they grizzlies are truly as good as they have looked this season then they would give the heat hell but the spurs are outmatched.

[Derka]

I love watching the Eastern Conference constantly get degraded.

As much as I don't like the Heat, they smoked the bejesus out of the best team the West could offer last year.

[red1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgLMI784M4E

this shit right here would sink every team in the league, we all forget this because of lebron's once in a lifetime choke in the next round

[ihoopallday]

I love watching the Eastern Conference constantly get degraded.

As much as I don't like the Heat, they smoked the bejesus out of the best team the West could offer last year.

This.