re: NBA Finals: Spurs vs. Heat predictions

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This is exactly what I believe and the Spurs are much better than the Pacers .......

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I guess you are entitled to your opinion. But with respect to my original post about Bosh and Wade's OFFENSIVE production......

2013 Team defense stats (Regular season)

Points Per Game
Indiana (#2) 90.7 PPG
San Antonio (#11) 96.6 PPG

Opponents FG%
Indiana (#1) 42.0%
San Antonio (#7) 44.2%

Opponents 3 PT FG%
Indiana (#1) 32.7%
San Antonio (#12) 35.3%

Rebounds per game
Indiana (#1) 45.9 RPG
San Antonio (#21) 41.3 RPG

Rebound differential
Indiana (#1) 5.0 RPG
San Antonio (#19) -1.2 RPG

San Antonio's strengths are mostly on offense but Miami is statistically better than the Spurs in every category except FT%. But even there, the Heat have an advantage because they attempt more free throws. Nobody in the league is even close to Miami in FG%, 3PTFG% or Adjusted FG%.

SA didn't need to exert the extra defensive effort because they have one of the most fluid offenses in the league. Why would they be worried about rebounds? Isn't miami last in the league? Indiana is a defensive team and terrible offensively. Saying ind is better because they're strongest point is better than the same point in SA is ridiculous

Game 1: Heat
Game 2: Heat
Game 3: Spurs
Game 4: Heat
Game 5: Spurs
Game 6: Heat

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Saying ind is better because they're strongest point is better than the same point in SA is ridiculous

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It's already been stated, but Indiana presented such a huge matchup problem for the Heat. They were the best rebounding team in the league while the Heat were the worst. Every game Indiana one the rebounding differential was insane and a major key to victory.

Hibbert controlled the paint on both the offensive and defensive end. And while Duncan is an all time great, he doesn't have that skill set that allowed Hibbert to dominate. It will take a huge effort from San Antonio to keep the Heat out of the lane.

Also while the Heat were the worst rebounding team in the league, the were middle of the road in defensive rebounds, while San Antonio was second to last in offensive rebounds (an area the Pacers really hurt the Heat and kept themselves in that series).

San Antonio is going to have to win this game on the perimeter while going against one of the stingiest perimeter D's in the league.


I'd also expect Miami's 3 point shooting to get back to what it was in the regular season, and Battier to actually have an impact on the series.

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I don't think anyone in this thread is saying that Indiana is better than the Spurs. They are saying that Indiana matched up better with the Heat due to their size and strength.

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I think a lot of people don't get that just because a team is better then another team doesn't mean they beat them. Match-ups make the games and Indiana matched up with Miami better then San Antonio does. That said, I do think San Antonio, without question, is a lot stronger mentally then Indiana is. So I do think San Antonio will make it a tough series....... 6 or 7 games.

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2013 Team defense stats (Regular season)

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WEST>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>EAST..........

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WEST>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>EAST..........

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Yet the teams with the 3rd and 4th best records get eliminated in 6 games in Round 1 and the team with the best record gets eliminated in 5 in round 2. And I don't care about Russell Westbrook. Miami earned a trip to the Finals without Chris Bosh in their 2 toughest playoff series last year.

Good attempt. 6/10.