Heat in 6. NBA wants a heat championship, and the Heat are probably the worst matchup for OKC in so many ways, especially if Bosh is anything close to normal.

I think OKC has the better team, but they'll just get abused this series. Expect 15 free throws for Lebron a game, give or take.

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You guys picking the heat do realize the over the hill and extremely worn out celtics to them to 7 games right?

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You realize that you could say the same thing about the Spurs and the Thunder took just a game less right?

I initially picked Heat in 6 and am going to stick with that. For all the crap Lebron gets, he, Wade and the rest of the team are far more seasoned and experienced at this level than the Thunder.

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You can't compare the Celtics and the Spurs. The Spurs were the best team in the NBA during the regular season.

And accomplishing the defeat in one game less is a big deal.

The fact remains that OKC is the better team. They play well together. This will b a fun series to watch.

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You realize that you could say the same thing about the Spurs and the Thunder took just a game less right?

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Lol at comparing the spurs and celtics

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You can't compare the Celtics and the Spurs. The Spurs were the best team in the NBA during the regular season.

And accomplishing the defeat in one game less is a big deal.

The fact remains that OKC is the better team. They play well together. This will b a fun series to watch.

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Best team in the regular season... that eventually couldn't overcome the athleticism of the younger team. Same thing happened to the Celtics.

1 game earlier in a basketball series means little to nothing when considering the variability of officiating and the fact that a couple of bounces can drastically change a series. If you are coming at it from the factor of who is better rested, the Heat are still getting a full 3 days rest before starting... that's a ton of rest.

OKC is the better team. Lot of people around here were declaring that about the Spurs too... until they went sort of cold. That can happen to any NBA team anytime, but I give the team who has some experience at this level a better chance of keeping it together than the new kids on the block.

Thunder in 5.

Not sure who to pick but I think it's going 7 games.

Heat in 7. Looking forward to a great last two weeks of basketball.

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You guys picking the heat do realize the over the hill and extremely worn out celtics to them to 7 games right?

OKC. In 5. They are simply the better team. And teams win championships.

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THIS!

You guys picking the Heat don't understand how good this OKC team is. They are deep. Their two best defenders and their three best scorers are all different players...and none of those five are the already-ringed Fisher and Perkins.

OKC beat a Spur team that won 20 GAMES IN A ROW...in FOUR STRAIGHT GAMES! Pop is on record as saying this was the hardest team to guard he's had to play and also said this was his best team he's coached...and I'm a Laker fan people. Pop doesn't blow smoke up people's ass. OKC has also been resting for half a week. They haven't lost a home game in the playoffs. I could go on and on. The Thunder are the real deal folks.

Unless there is Pacquaio-type officiating this thing is OVER in 5.

i dont care how the series ends but i do want to see lebron and durant go head to head. you know lebron is going to guard durant the majority of the time but will durant take the challenge of guarding lebron. if he does and the thunder win then the debate really starts for who the best player in basketball is

It is not a coincidence that Miami ousted The Celtics with 2 wins by 32 combined points once Bosh returned.

It will be glorious to see the excuses and hedging when Lebron wins the finals.

Heat in 6 or 7.

But I'm rooting for the Thunder, so I hope I'm wrong.

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if he does and the thunder win then the debate really starts for who the best player in basketball is

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Durant is an amazing player, and I think the Thunder will win a close series, but James is unquestionably the best player in basketball. There is no debate.

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if he does and the thunder win then the debate really starts for who the best player in basketball is

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Durant is an amazing player, and I think the Thunder will win a close series, but James is unquestionably the best player in basketball. There is no debate.

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Wrong.

James plays better defense but Durant is the best offensive player in the league. He is godly. 23 years old and he's already won three scoring titles. Imagine what he'll be like in a few years when he's added more moves to his game.

Also, okc in five. They're a much deeper team and they've got enough studs to match up with miami's top three

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Wrong.

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Well, ask 10 NBA GMs and all 10 will tell you the same thing. James is the best player in the world. Period. No debate. When he gets surpassed, it will probably be by Durant, but that is years away from happening.

Oh, and James' offensive numbers are as good as Durant's.


LeBron James, 37.5 min, .531 shooting, 27.1 ppg

Kevin Durant, 38.6 min, .496 shooting, 28.0 ppg

Here are the playoff numbers:

James, 42.4 min, .508 shooting, 30.8 ppg

Durant, 41.6 min, .505 shooting, 27.8 ppg

When you add in the fact that James gets far more assists, about the same rebounds, and is a far better defender, there is no rational argument. James is still the better player.

[This message has been edited by Whistling For Flies (edited 6/11/2012 11:51a).]

I've got the Heat in 6. I think they will probably do better in a situation where they're not the clear favorite or maybe even the dog (haven't checked Vegas odds).

I don't have a clue... will go with what I want: Thunder in 5.

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Lebron is in championship mode. Heat in 7.

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That's what they said after the bulls last year.

Sticking to original prediction of Heat in 7.

Didn't have a lot of confidence in that prediction early on but I am slowly starting to believe Miami has a shot at running with the Thunder.

Should be an excellent series for NBA fans!

OKC in 7.

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Didn't have a lot of confidence in that prediction early on but I am slowly starting to believe Miami has a shot at running with the Thunder.

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Why would you believe that? Was it their dogfight against a good/, but not great Indiana team? The way they beat an old, banged up Celtics team in 7?

The Heat haven't been very impressive this year. They got to the finals simply because nobody else in the East is all that good. The Thunder are a much better team. A solid 3 man rotation of athletic, physical bigs that can close down the lane and a ton of jump shooters. They play team ball and they're peaking as they head into the finals.

[This message has been edited by atfarmer (edited 6/11/2012 2:17p).]

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Was it their dogfight against a good/, but not great Indiana team? The way they beat an old, banged up Celtics team in 7?

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How many games did they lose with Bosh playing?

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The Heat haven't been very impressive this year.

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With all three, the Heat have been shockingly good: plus-16.9 points per 48 minutes

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They got to the finals simply because nobody else in the East is all that good

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Admittedly, Oklahoma City faced a higher level of competition than the Heat did in the postseason, but this difference has been grossly overblown. If you look at the quality of the opponents rather than the names on their jerseys, their entire advantage came in the conference finals; before that, Miami foes Indiana and New York combined for more wins and a far better scoring margin than the Lakers and Mavs.

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The only time the Superfriends Heat haven't been the clear favorite in a playoff series was against last year's Bulls.

I think when the Heat really respect their opponent they can rise to the challenge. I doubt they felt much respect for the old-men Celtics and inexperienced Pacers. They certainly didn't respect the Mavericks last year.

It could really go either way, because yes OKC does have the better team. I doubt it ends in anything less than 6 games.

my statement was qualified by if durant d's up against lebron. you get to be the best by beating the best. no doubt in my mind that lebron is in his own class as of today. but if durant can take that next step to not only want to guard the best player on the court but do so effectively then the debate ensues. his offensive game is ridiculous at only 23. if he gets a taste of a championship at this young of an age we may see the beginning of something special.

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Why would you believe that? Was it their dogfight against a good, but not great Indiana team? The way they bet an old, banged up Celtics team in 7?

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They have grown throughout the playoffs, especially James, and if Bosh continues to perform the way he did in Game 7 they have a good shot. I would expect him to start game 1. I don't quite understand why you are quick to discredit the Pacers and the Celtics. They weren't exactly pushovers. The Thunder had a tougher task of beating the Mavs-Lakers-Spurs but the Heat were not handed a spot in the finals, they had to earn it.

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They got to the finals simply because nobody else in the East is all that good

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Nobody huh?

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Oh, and James' offensive numbers are as good as Durant's.


LeBron James, 37.5 min, .531 shooting, 27.1 ppg

Kevin Durant, 38.6 min, .496 shooting, 28.0 ppg

Here are the playoff numbers:

James, 42.4 min, .508 shooting, 30.8 ppg

Durant, 41.6 min, .505 shooting, 27.8 ppg

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True, but LeBron HAS to do this for the Heat to win. Durant does not. This makes all the difference between the two teams.

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I don't quite understand why you are quick to discredit the Pacers and the Celtics. They weren't exactly pushovers.

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I'll be the first to say that the Pacers are a good team with a bright future, but they aren't there yet. Spurs and Thunder would have crushed them. Lakers, Grizz, Clips all would have won.
Celtics are good (Rondo is really coming into his own), but everybody on their team was banged up, and their big 3 all have a ton of mileage. This year's Celtics team was a shadow of the one that they had from ~08-10.

I'm just saying that the East was missing two of its best players (Howard and Rose), the second of whom ruined a truly bad ass team's shot at the title. It was a down year for the conference in the playoffs, and in that environment, the Heat struggled more than they should have. Now they're coming up against OKC, which is more talented across the board, battle tested, peaking at the right time, and they play like a team.

I might be wrong. We'll see.

[This message has been edited by atfarmer (edited 6/11/2012 4:47p).]

Miami in 4

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True, but LeBron HAS to do this for the Heat to win. Durant does not. This makes all the difference between the two teams.

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If Durant doesn't average 25+ per game, the Thunder don't make it out of round 2.

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I'll be the first to say that the Pacers are a good team with a bright future, but they aren't there yet. Spurs and Thunder would have crushed them. Lakers, Grizz, Clips all would have won.

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Spurs without Duncan, Thunder without Westbrook or Hardin, Lakers without Pau, etc. All of them would have struggled with the Pacers.

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Celtics are good (Rondo is really coming into his own), but everybody on their team was banged up, and their big 3 all have a ton of mileage. This year's Celtics team was a shadow of the one that they had from ~08-10.

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Again, take away any player listed above, and I doubt any team outside of the Spurs and Heat beat the Celtics.

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and in that environment, the Heat struggled more than they should have. Now they're coming up against OKC, which is more talented across the board, battle tested, peaking at the right time, and they play like a team.

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The Heat struggled because they were missing one of their best players. I will take Lebron, Wade, and Bosh over Durant, Westbrook, and Hardin every day - and so would anyone else. Then you are talking about Chalmers, Battier, Miller (hurt), and Haslem vs Fisher, Sefalosha, Ibaka and Perkins. Ibaka is good defensively but the rest are way overrated.

Well, considering I predicted this finals in Hotard's pre-playoff picks, I'll stick with Heat in 6

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but everybody on their team was banged up,

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did you see that heat team? other than Lebron, battier & chalmers, their entire team is banged up

Mobilehoma City in 6

Heat in 6.