Because of
the inconsistency of internet access here in Manila, I wasn’t able to post this
at the time I intended to, which is, suffice to say, not one hour before Game
1. I rounded up some fans of both teams and gave them some questions about the
titular series and this is what we all came up with.
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| The Protagonists of the 2013 NBA Finals. (image from Streetball.com) |
My questions:
1) Who will
come out stronger in Game 1 -- the rested Spurs or the pushed-to-the-brink
Heat?
2) Can
anybody in Florida stop Timmy and Tony?
3) For that
matter, can anybody in Texas stop LBJ?
4) Who has
the better coach?
5) Will
LeBron enjoy the help he didn't have back in '07?
6) Will the
Spurs' experience really be a significant edge?
7) Who/what
are X-Factors for either team?
8) Call it.
Which team wins and in how many games?
Please take note that the following were
the ones who gave their responses:
Jay Santiago
(JS) – Spurs Fanatic #1
Joao Pablo (JP)
– Spurs Fanatic #2
Alwin San
Jose (ASJ) – Celtics Fanatic who is now more focused on the 2013 Draft rather
than the 2013 Finals
Rolly
Mendoza (RM) – Super Bosh fan. Super Wade fan. By association, Super Miami fan.
J
and super Hoop Nut, too!
Roundtable:
1) Who will come out stronger in Game 1 --
the rested Spurs or the pushed-to-the-brink Heat?
JS: Miami
will definitely come out from the gates a better team. But if San Antonio can
keep close and not be down by more than 8 at halftime, their rested legs should
give them an edge in closing the game and stealing Game 1.
JP: The
Spurs will need a quarter to shake of the rust from the long layoff. The days
off between Game 1 and Game 7 of the ECF is enough rest for Miami to come out
stronger early on. If the Spurs methodically execute its strategy through 48
minutes, they should surprise the cHeat to steal Game 1.
ASJ: I
don’t want to hear about the rest vs. rust argument for the Spurs. Whether in a
pickup game, alumni league or professional league, the team with the much
needed rest would hopefully come up stronger, especially given the age of the
Spurs’ Big 3. Also, give Pop this downtime and he will have much needed time to
make extra tweaks and wrinkles in terms of plays that the Heat have not seen.
So, objectively, I am giving the slight nod to the Spurs.
RM: Miami
will probably start stronger and try to establish a big lead. If this is a
close game, I think the Spurs will prevail due to their preparation and extra
rest.
2) Can anybody in Florida stop Timmy and
Tony?
JS: Tim
Duncan and Tony Parker are players that are relatively easy to contain
individually (relative to some other marquee player in this series). But I
think this is not the right question against the Spurs 5.0. While containing
the two, particularly in the 4th quarter, would have certainly given any
opposing team the win during the early 2000s (you can check this with Phil
Jackson), that is definitely not the case now. The Spurs play in a system that
actively involves all 5 players on offense because of how well they move the
ball. So the question should be, "can Miami contain the ball against the
Spurs?" I feel like they could for a good part of each game, but the Heat
feature banged-up and not-so-young players too, so I don't see them doing so
for the full 48 minutes. As a Spurs fan, this gives me some confidence and
belief that the Spurs can win against the Heat on any given night.
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| The Two Ts of Texas will lead the Spurs. (image from Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images) |
JP: Hopefully
no one from the cHeat. There is a
fountain of youth somewhere behind the Alamo. Bosh and Haslem have the ability
to limit Duncan's numbers. Don't be surprised if Timmy D turns back the clock
and "parties" like its 2003. But good luck stopping Tony, Miami
guards! Don’t ask tips from Tony Allen and Mike Conley. Expect Parker to
showcase a balance of scoring and playmaking in this series.
ASJ: I
think the question applies more to Tony rather than Tim. Lebron has shown the
ability to guard bigs in certain situations and with hopefully, the
Bosh/Birdman/Udonis combo can play Timmy to a draw. It’s a different case
altogether with Tony since he has shown that he is playing in an MVP level that
Chalmers and Cole would have a hard time matching the entire series.
RM: No
one player can stop them, but Miami employs double teaming and traps during
pick and rolls so expect Miami to be more focused on trapping Parker to prevent
him from launching jumpers or driving to the paint. Miami also does a good job
on rotating in the paint so Duncan wont always have a free ride to the lane.
That strategy though opens the possibility for open threes which the Spurs are
very good at.
3) For that matter, can anybody in Texas
stop LBJ?
JS: Practically
everyone expects Kawhi Leonard to get the nod to try to stop Lebron one-on-one,
and too I expect the same. But I am also betting that Leonard will used as the
help man (a la Scottie Pippen) when the Spurs double the self-proclaimed King.
So another Spur will have the burden of manning Lebron on D, and I won't be
surprised if the versatile big man Boris Diaw gets the call. Just like on
offense, it would be the Spurs' entire defensive system that would be tested by
LBJ. Lebron would light it up for the most part, and he will probably average
on the high 20s during the Finals. Whether that is enough for the Heat to win
is still debatable.
JP: Nope.
No one man can stop King James. Kawhi Leonard - (Can you hear Andy Jao on local
commentary: "Kaw-hee Liyonard guarding Lebron!") will channel his
"inner-Bruce Bowen", but all 5 Spurs on the floor will be focused
defensively to contain LeBron, who is too good of a playmaker to double. The
Spurs will stick to single coverage and not put themselves at risk of letting
LeBron finding open looks for the cHeaters.
ASJ: Unfortunately,
no. He is at his apex and undoubtedly the best player on the planet (I will
light myself in fire, as Bill Simmons would say).
RM: They
can slow him down and Im sure Pop has lots of schemes to flummox LBJ. Primary
assignment goes to Kawhi then Danny Green. If both got into foul trouble, we
might see Manu or T-Mac too. A big possibility is to trap and double team him
as well.
4) Who has the better coach?
JS: The
Charlotte Bobcats... C'mon man! What kind of a question is this? Spoelstra may
have the makings of a great coach in the future, but Popovich is hands-down the
best coach in the NBA. Next question, please!
JP: Easy
answer. While both coaches know how to maximize their player's talents and put
his team in the best situation to succeed, Pop is the master of both in-game,
series adjustments and courtside interviews.
ASJ: Pop
is still the better coach, but Spo is getting there. Spo has the” materials” to
build a winning legacy in South Beach, but given the level of development of
players and resurrection of careers of certain players, you have to give it to
Pop.
RM: Easy
question. The best in the business is with the Spurs. Coach Spo needs to hold
his ground and not get over-matched for the Heat to win.
5) Will LeBron enjoy the help he didn't
have back in '07?
JS: Miami
will get production from other players. The Heat would probably win 1 or 2
blowout games in devastating fashion, and that would be because some of Lebron's
supporting cast will get key baskets in the 2nd half to break the game wide
open. How often will Lebron enjoy the support? Let's answer this a few
questions down.
ASJ: If
Wade and Bosh are at least 70-80%, Birdman doing Birdman things and Jesus Shuttlesworth
would recapture his shooting, then yes he will enjoy the help that he did not
have in 2007. To many ifs in my book.
RM: He
will enjoy the help if Wade and Bosh play a lot better. Sometimes, just even
one of them needs to show up. Parker/Duncan will more or less negate
James/Bosh. This series will be decided on who plays better between Manu and
Wade. Both of them arent healthy and they have struggled scoring in the first 3
rounds.
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| Will LBJ (L) get a ton of help from Bosh & Co.? (image from Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) |
6) Will the Spurs' experience really be a
significant edge?
JS: Yet
another Spurs stereotype. No, there is no true experience edge for San Antonio.
This will be the third Finals appearance for A LOT of Heat players, while no
one outside of the Spurs Big 3 have been to the Finals. If anything, it's the
Spurs who should worry about jitters.
JP: Not
really an edge but enough to be a factor. Both teams are old, fossil, veteran
squads that have the championship experience. But unlike the Pacers, San
Antonio won't lose a game on wide open lay-up at the buzzer. There is no team
in the NBA more playoff tested. This will allow them to win 2 road games down
in Miami.
ASJ: It
would be an edge if they place themselves in a position to be in close games
because that’s where Pop and the Spurs’ Big 3 can thrive. But if the games would
have Miami in the driver’s seat (they are the best when the lead is at 10 or
above anyway), then experience don’t mean much.
RM: I
don’t think so since Miami has most of their core back from last year and they
have made the Finals three straight times. The advantage should belong to the
Heat since their key players have been in the Finals while Leonard, Splitter
and Green will make their debuts.
7) Who/what are X-Factors for either team?
JS: For
the Heat: The mid-range jumpshot of Bosh/Haslem when guarded by Duncan will be
key. At this stage in his career, Tim is now playing like a true center on
defense. When defending the pick-and-roll, Duncan now almost always sags to the
shaded lane, where he would use timing and length to bother and block shots in
the paint or get good boxing out position for rebounds, and relies on
teammates' rotation for perimeter defense. This leaves the roll-man momentarily
open for that mid-range jumper, and it would be up to Bosh and Haslem to make
Duncan pay and influence Popovich to make adjustments on what is a well-working
scheme for now.
For the
Spurs: They need the 3 point shooting of Green/Leonard to be on point if they
want to win the championship. The Heat rely on high-energy offense, fueled by
athletic play and strong drives to the basket by James and Wade. The Spurs need
the perimeter players of the Heat to expend more energy on defense and make the
Heat run a step slower by making them scramble to cover the Spurs shooters. It
starts with Green and Leonard from the starting 5, and just about everyone else
off the bench for San Antonio.
JP: T-Mac
and Rashard Lewis! Haha! This Finals matchup will be a true fan of the game's
dream. Too many x-factors to mention here. DWade's health, Chris Bosh and his
outside J for Miami. Manu Ginobili's
return to fearless basketball, Fat Boris' playmaking for San Antonio and 3point
shooting will be factors. I think ball movement and whoever dictates the
matchups will be the key. Both teams like to share the basketball and will make
the extra passes. Look for whoever wins in assists to have the upper hand. As
for the matchups, does San Antonio stay big with Tim and Tiago? Who will take
advantange of going small ball? If Duncan has to stay home on Bosh who guards
the paint from the Heat's penetration? During crunch time, will Timmy and Tony
be able to run the pick-on-roll to perfection like they did against Memphis?
ASJ: For
the Heat: it would be the Battier/Allen/Birdman supporting cast, if they can
click on all cylinders during the series.
For the
Spurs: two things – The shooting of Neal/Bonner/Green and if Kawhi can even
make a semblance of The Leap that Paul George made in the East Finals. If Kawhi
can do that, they this would be a razor-thin series.
RM: Manu
vs Wade. Both have struggled shooting and scoring. there will be lots of times
where they will be against each other. The player with more production should
lift his team and allow them to hoist the trophy
8) Call it. Which team wins and in how many
games?
JS: Lebron
will play out of his mind in the Finals. He will probably enjoy seeing a lot of
openings during the first 3 quarters of each game, but the Spurs will tighten
things up and give him a different look in the 4th. It will be up to the other
Heat players to step up, score and win the game. The Heat will win 4 games
against the Spurs, but that includes the 2 they already had during the regular
season. Great defense and offensive execution will be a constant for the Spurs
the entire series, and they win it all in 6 games. Go Spurs Go!
JP: Miami
should win in 7 because of their versatility on both ends of the court,
homecourt advantage and because they have a big 3 led by the game's best
player.
BUT. San
Antonio WILL win in 6 (a split in Miami, 2 Ws in Texas, and the clincher in
game 6.) Unlike Miami, the Spurs won't rely on one man to lead to them to 4
wins. These Spurs have surrendered the me for the we, and will win its 5th
title by playing team basketball every second. Lebron James may be the King but
the Spurs will rule these Finals.
ASJ: This
would be a very very very close series but begrudgingly, I have to give it to
Miami In an epic 7-game series. But I
would not be surprised if the Spurs would still have it in them and get their
5th title in 15 years, cementing their dynasty. (This comment is brought to you
by Haterade)
RM: No
reply, pero malamang Miami to haha J)
Follow them on Twitter:
Jay Santiago
– no Twitter so go to his FB page here.
Joao Pablo –
@Muchong
Alwin San
Jose – @alwinsj
Rolly
Mendoza –@rollzter
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