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Obviously full preview and other stuff to come, but five quick thoughts on the Thunder’s matchup with the Heat in the NBA Finals.
1. I’ll be honest: I wanted it to be Boston. Really bad. I was pretty sure that if the Thunder drew the Celtics for in The Finals, Oklahoma City was going to sweep. I think my official prediction would’ve been OKC in five, but that’s just because I was going to try and remain reasonable. The Thunder’s youth, athleticism, speed and ability to turn defense into offense was just going to overwhelm the Celtics. Boston could’ve taken a game or two just by pure heart and determination, but I couldn’t see any way the Celtics were going to win four against OKC.
The Heat? They come with a bit more fear. LeBron is stunning, Dwyane Wade can go off, Chris Bosh is really good and they’ve had the taste of a Finals defeat on their lips the last year. That kind of motivation can be a powerful thing sometimes. In terms of talent, the Heat are top heavy, but very top heavy. Which makes them dangerous. Game to game, the Heat could get a monster performance from one of three guys, making them a bit worrisome.
(Although, this is the part where I note that this was my preseason Finals matchup. EXPERT.)
2. The LeBron versus KD matchup is the biggest superstar head-to-head in The Finals since…? Since when? Can you think of a bigger one? I went all the way back to Clyde Drexler versus Michael Jordan in 1992. Am I missing one in there? Some mentioned on Twitter to me Patrick Ewing against Hakeem Olajuwon and Shaq against Olajuwon. Definitely good calls, but I can’t remember. Hard to quantify the size of LeBron vs. KD against those. Maybe it’s as big as MJ vs. Magic in 1991?
We’re talking probably the top player in the league against the second best player in the league. MVP vs. runner-up MVP. (Via @ThunderStats, Drexler-MJ was the last time an MVP faced off with an MVP runner-up.) LeBron and the anti-LeBron. In terms of an individual head-to-head, I’m not sure I can think of a bigger one. Durant against LeBron is going to be a massively massive matchup to watch.
One becomes an NBA champion. One is left searching. Wow.
3. The regular season matchups don’t feel like they tell us much. The Thunder whipped the Heat in Oklahoma City, playing harder, faster and stronger than Miami. Durant smoked LeBron, OKC’s defense caused the Heat major problems and the game was over early in the third quarter. The matchup in Miami seems to me to be more like we’ll see in The Finals. Hard, tough, physical and possession by possession late.
Obviously past history means something because the two teams were playing and there was a winner, but at the same time, this is the NBA Finals. The first trip for the Thunder, a return for the Heat. Things change when the pressure and intensity ramps up.
4. Chris Bosh’s health is the early X-factor. Throughout the Celtics series, it seemed like people forgot rather quickly that the Heat are a really, really good team. With a healthy Bosh, that is. He proved it in Game 7 knocking down some big time shots and with a few more days to rest, Bosh likely will be back in his starting spot and playing closer to 30 minutes.
Bosh spaces the floor, adds a much-needed weapon to Miami’s offensive attack and provides them length and versatility. He makes Miami better. Much better.
5. When this ends, it will either be the sweetest result possible, or the most bitter taste ever. There’s no in between. If the Thunder win the NBA title, not only will THE THUNDER HAVE WON AN NBA TITLE, but they will have also denied LeBron again while KD takes the crown as the league’s best player. Durant will have the trump card on LeBron, able to flash a ring around while LeBron carries his MVP trophies around his ankles like a ball and chain of shame.
If the Thunder lose… well, you can figure that one out. LeBron wins, KD loses and the Heat’s dynasty starter kit tops the meticulously constructed Thunder process.
In short: This is going to be one hell of an NBA Finals.
Did I mention I can't wait for Tuesday?
This will be the first time in the playoffs that the Thunder have not had the best player on the court (although it's becoming increasingly debatable). It will also be the first time Russ was not one of the best three players on the court.
I'd say it looks something like this in terms of talent ranking for the best 10 players in the series:
Lebron
Durant
Wade
Russ
Harden
Bosh
Ibaka
Battier
Chalmers
Perk
It's new territory. But I think the boys are ready.
Russ is the key to this series. Honestly, if we try to play 1-on-1 basketball and not move the ball, we decrease are chances of winning against the Heat...if Russ will use his elite athleticism against Chalmers and penetrate and look for the open man as well as stay aggressive and attack the rim, we got this! Also, we faced an elite point guard last round in Tony Parker and this series is a serious downgrade to Chalmers. On defense, all we have to do really is prevent Battier and Chalmers from getting wide open 3's and we got this, I promise. Battier was huge against Boston yesterday. We can't let him hit daggers!
Pretty much agree. LeBron is going to get his points. But we can't allow Chalmers and Battier to score meaningful points. You and I pretty much see this seeries from the same lense. Who is going to defend Russell? Who is going to defend James Harden?
@kdub Agreed on all counts!
This will be another chance for Russ to show why he helps makes this team so hard to beat.
Only one caveat: When the Heat are on defensively, they are by far the best defense we have faced so far. We need to throw a lot of different looks at them offensively. We need to open up the offense by getting the bigs involved early. We need great shooting from the perimeter.
I also want to see more variations of the set where Harden handles while Russ sets screens to free up KD. What a lethal trio. What a lethal set if you can throw in a few more wrinkles and weak side action.
Greetings from Boston........PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE beat the Heat..... Boston is rooting for you guys.
The best of luck!
@Bostonfan
Thanks, Bostonfan. For what it's worth, many of us were pulling for you too. :)
@Bostonfan We will...Our team is ready for the next step!
Man. Is it Tuesday yet? Let's get this!!!
I can't freakin wait!!
@BRY BRY I feel u...anxiety levels are crazy especially since all the Heat fans are talking so much trash!
@kdub Trolls come and trolls go. But the Thunder always remain.
I live in FL. It's hilarious how much credit people give the Heat here. These were Magic fans 3 years ago..
Here Ya Go! It's my first try so give me a break if it sucks. Also turn up your volume because the sound is low.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUa9ENEMB98&feature=youtu.be
@ElMexiThunder
Not bad at all for your rookie try, El Mexi! With the right stuff to work with, you could be dangerous.
Eli--thought it was excellent. Had me very much stirred up in regards to the Finals. You got both the Perk headkick of Wade and Russell tacklingof Lebron in the footage. Plus--several others pearls of physicality I loved. And--I always enjoy the KD quote of work ethic and becoming a great player. Maybe a cameo in there from Al Pochino wouldn't suck. But definitely something I enjoyed watching. Put it on the pregame thread on gameday fvor sure.
@ElMexiThunder Great effort bro. I am aware the sometimes when a video is first uploaded on youtube that the HD quality isn't available immediately. Is that the results here? That's the only thing missing from this video.
@blueRAP nah i think its just windows movie maker. The cheapest video editing kit thats actually good is 80 bucks. Anything cheaper then that pretty much is WMM with a pricd
Anyone watching the Euros? Unlucky, very unlucky
@cleandoe I don't even care bout my home team
@ILikePancakes I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE FROM CROATIA
@ILikePancakes not very good, I know but what can you do
@cleandoe Oh
@ILikePancakes (s)
@cleandoe I'm not
@cleandoe Sad. I thought Ireland could tie it up and now they're just getting killed
http://twitpic.com/50utr1
In this series, Wade will be playing the role of Dirk
@FREE_COLE He looks like a little kid tattling to the teacher
@FREE_COLE Sigh, more whiny bastards, that's why i wanted to play the Celtics, the refs are unpredictable when anyone plays the heat
@ILikePancakes The only one who whines is Wade imo.
@FREE_COLE @Jooseppi They do
@Jooseppi @ILikePancakes Also the leader in throwing his body in to defender to get contact. Really glad refs aren't giving him that anymore
@FREE_COLE @ILikePancakes Wade's the only one that's in the over-the-top territory. He gives a death stare every time as he walks back to defend.
@FREE_COLE Heat
Florida
Nuff said, you can't battle my arguments, give up now
@ILikePancakes LOL come on. You prove ref bias and we can talk. Especially considering we average more FTs than any team.
@FREE_COLE Refs will still do anything to bail them out
@ILikePancakes Like I said, I disagree. We have Russ and James who both do their fair share of complaining. I just think Wade does it excessively and without reason
@FREE_COLE Battier
@FREE_COLE Chalmers
Also video is being uploaded to youtube as we speak. Only problem with the video is the volume is a little low.
Last night's Heat-Celtics battle was the highest rated non football game in the history of ESPN
@FREE_COLE This coming finals series could be absolutely huge if it ends up being competitive.
@Old Man Game A game 7 would be ratings gold
@FREE_COLE Don't worry, we will break every record
Cool Thing is since most of European teams best player are so focused on the EURO, and FIFA is going to make it very hard for those same players to play in the Olympics, The U.S. and Mexico have a good chance at maybe winning the Olympic Gold Medal. FIFA isn't going to ask either country's top players to step down since the only games they are playing now are world cup qualifiers!
@ElMexiThunder US didn't make the Olympics.
Its unfortunate the ECF wrapped on a weekend. There isn't anywhere near as much coverage of the series outlook on the various worthwhile blogs as I am currently craving.
@Old Man Game espn radio on the weekend may be worse than bleacher report...i heard someone seriously say that a westbrook-durant conflict could affect this series....and then alot of talk about us being young
@OBoymuzik @Old Man Game B/R at least has Mahoney, Strauss, Shoals, and Holly Mackenzie for good content.
@OBoymuzik Oh god, only on ESPN right. The "controversy" is always a bigger story than the competition for them.
@OBoymuzik @Old Man Game It depends who you're listening to. Dari and Mel on Saturday mornings are pretty good - Dari's actually a huge Thunder fan so he doesn't tend to buy into all of that tripe.
Feeling good about my pick of Croatia beating down Ireland.