Who has a better chance of beating the Heat?

[Monkhouse]

Just wondering who you think might have the best chance at beating the Heat?

I got the Pacers or Grizzlies beating them honestly.

[badshar]

I see Spurs making the finals unless refs don't let them.

If they do make the finals, I just can't see Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Greg Popovich blowing it away after making the Finals after 6 years.

[guava_wrench]

I see Spurs making the finals unless refs don't let them.

If they do make the finals, I just can't see Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Greg Popovich blowing it away after making the Finals after 6 years.

Nice way to go out on a limb there. Include a preemptive excuse if you are wrong.

 

6 years doesn't matter if Miami is better.

[CelticConcourse]

I'd love for the Grizzlies to do it.

It's very possible San Antonio does it.

It's not out of the realm of possiblity that Pacers do it, but it would be tough.

[SparzWizard]

In Stern's eyes..."Who the heck wants to see the Pacers and Spurs/Grizzlies in the finals? I'll be losing money like that! Let me make sure the Miami Heat reaches the finals so I won't be losing money. Alright Crawford, Salvatore, Mauer, Callahan, Bavetta, and Davis...do your job and control the games!" 

Pacers are physical and they'll bully the Heat just like how the Bulls have been trying to. But I don't see them beating Miami.

Spurs, Grizzlies, and Warriors are all tough teams but if Stern wants an interesting finals, he'll make sure it's MIA-SAS.

If it's going to be another physical battle, sign me up with MIA-MEM. They are capable of pounding the Heat but it won't be an interesting series for much of the media.

I'll be honest and say that MIA-SAS is an interesting finals to watch (even though not many of us want to see the Heat going into the finals ever).

[Donoghus]

At the beginning of the playoffs, I thought San Antonio had the best shot of beating the Heat.  I've been swayed slightly by Memphis since then.  Love their style and it'd be interesting to see how the Heat dealt with their interior. 

I actually think we're looking down the barrel of a Heat/Grizzlies NBA Finals at this point.

However, I do still think the Heat will most likely repeat.  Hope I'm proven wrong.

[ManUp]

Grizzlies or bust. They could potentially force MIA out of their small ball game and dominate them in the paint. They have a top ranked defense and the guys to stop everyone not named Lebron.

The Spurs just aren't that good anymore.

Golden state would get out small balled by MIA.

OKC doesn't have the fire power and honestly never did.

[Roy H.]

I'd say Memphis has the best shot.  They have two strong wing defenders to harass Lebron, and a good interior defender in Gasol.  They can also punish Miami inside with Randolph and Gasol.

San Antonio is the only other team that has a shot in my mind.

[badshar]

I see Spurs making the finals unless refs don't let them.

If they do make the finals, I just can't see Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Greg Popovich blowing it away after making the Finals after 6 years.

Nice way to go out on a limb there. Include a preemptive excuse if you are wrong.

 

6 years doesn't matter if Miami is better.

I thought it was pretty obvious when OKC won 4 straight after trailing 0-2 last year that the refs messed up the Spurs chances. James Harden did well, but there were a ton of questionable calls.

Its motivation. Last year, part of the reason why C's took Heat to 7 games was because they were giving their all. KG, Pierce, Rondo were all putting their all.

I think Duncan, Ginobili and Parker will give their all. This would be one chance they get after repeatedly failing to even make the Finals for the last 6 years. Its hard to see that they would blow their chance that easily and not play while keeping the last 6 years worth of failure in their heart and as motivation.

[scaryjerry]

I see Spurs making the finals unless refs don't let them.

If they do make the finals, I just can't see Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Greg Popovich blowing it away after making the Finals after 6 years.

Nice way to go out on a limb there. Include a preemptive excuse if you are wrong.

 

6 years doesn't matter if Miami is better.

Yeah...not sold on the spurs beating Miami whatsoever and the 6 year reasoning and who they are reasoning is asinine. It's Memphis...no one else will beat them.

[badshar]

I see Spurs making the finals unless refs don't let them.

If they do make the finals, I just can't see Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Greg Popovich blowing it away after making the Finals after 6 years.

Nice way to go out on a limb there. Include a preemptive excuse if you are wrong.

 

6 years doesn't matter if Miami is better.

Yeah...not sold on the spurs beating Miami whatsoever and the 6 year reasoning and who they are reasoning is asinine. It's Memphis...no one else will beat them.

If I am being nice and holding myself back from insulting others and what they say, then I expect the same from you.

Its what I think. What reason do you have that Spurs will lose to the Heat? Have you seen the future? What reason do you have that Memphis can beat the Heat? Have you seen the future?

Also, just like you called my logic what you did, I could just as easily insult and mock the things you say, but I am not going to do that.

So how about you be a little respectful next time instead of using such words and straight up mocking someone.

[nickagneta]

There really needs to be an option of:

Nobody

because the odds likely favor a team not beating the Heat than any team beating the Heat.

The odds of the Heat winning it all has to be like even money and odds for the field winning it all has to be like 4-1.

[Fafnir]

Lets cool it down, we don't need a flame war over a difference in opinion.

Saying "I'm holding back from insulting you" and "I could easily mock you but I won't" isn't respectful anymore than saying "I could call you ugly, but I won't" is.

[Celtics4ever]

If the HEAT had the same set of rules as the rest of the league they are definitely beatable.    But LeBron can travel at will and it being a star league it won't happen.   Last years the finals refs were awful.   If Stern doesn't have greatness his refs will insure it.    I think LeBron doesn't need all the help the league gives him as he is immensely talented but Stern and refs have to back up their marketing.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Sadly they will repeat and I don't even think it's a question anymore.


With that said, the best chance of giving them trouble/tough fight... well, I thought it would be Chicago but they are gassed and that's all but over for them. The only teams I see that can make them work for it will probably be SA or Mem... I hope the Pacers put up a fight but I don't see it. If the Bulls can make them play one more game (6 games I mean) and the Pacers (if they make it) can take them to at least 6 while roughing them up, it will make it easier for the west teams to have a shot.


Mia will be 2013 champs and I hate it!