The NBA Finals are set after the Miami Heat defeated the Indiana Pacers in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Finals. Awaiting the defending champions is the San Antonio Spurs, back in the Finals for the first time since their last title in 2007.
It is a curious match up.
The Spurs are playing their best basketball of the season, coming off a sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference Finals. Their last two series victories have come against teams that are drastically different from one another, showing that they are adaptable to several styles.
Meanwhile, the Heat come off a tough seven-game series against an Indiana Pacers team that made them look vulnerable at times. The question is did the Eastern Conference Finals show that the Heat are just plain vulnerable or are they vulnerable to the Pacers?
You see, in addition to being an exceptionally good defensive team, the Pacers had two big men that the Pacers could work their offense through. The Spurs, with Tim Duncan and Tiago Splitter, may cause the Heat similar problems in terms of clogging the paint on defense, but I am not sure they will cause the Heat the same problems on offense.
Duncan should have a very productive series, but Splitter, while very good passing and moving without the ball, is not a low post threat like Hibbert or West.
Meanwhile, how the Heat defend Tony Parker is going to be just as interesting as any other match up in the series. Parker just finished roasting Mike Conley, one of the premier defensive point guards in the league. Will Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole be able to keep him in check at any point? Will LeBron James see any time guarding Parker?
Whether the Spurs just let Kawhi Leonard go one-on-one defending James is another question. In the past, the Spurs have been perfectly happy letting players like Steve Nash score at will while limiting the open looks he got for his teammates. Do you just let the league's best player score at will and hope he struggles to get his teammates involved? Isn't this how the Pacers won Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals?
I am still too excited about this match up to make a pick. I think it is going six games. If the Spurs are going to win they will have to get either Game One or Two in Miami. It just seems impossible to beat Miami three times in a row. It is too early for a pick, but someone in six.
