can they really beat them

[MISSERY]

on pierce quote

Pierce: "I want to create a legacy here in Brooklyn. I want to be that guy to say I was one of the first guys to put a banner in Brooklyn."

if pierce got tired on lebron, ak47 can guard him while pierce is resting,
heat will probably used bosh and birdman at the same time since kg moves to pf, maybe bosh on pf and lopez on birdman
maybe plumlee blatche evans are better than joel anthony haslem and oden
i think d-will can match up with chalmers, but the other main concern is norris cole on tayshaun taylor or shaun livingston

terry can maybe beat ray allen or allan anderson
a healthy d-wade i think is better than joe johnson?
let ak47 move to pf when lebron is in pf or sf?
and pierce on battier?
loosing mike miller who gave them boost hitting 3's
reggie evans can out rebound them right away, rashad lewis or udonis haslem

just like the pacers adding luis scola i think pacers can somehow make a way to beat them?
or the nets can beat them on low post?
but nets are too slow? maybe trapped zoned defense?
pacer physicality?
but i just rely on hibbert george scola and hansbrough
so i think nets have a chance then the pacers, even a healthy d-rose back on bulls
chemistry issues on nets, hhmm i think it will be fine

any reactions? give your thoughts

[bleedGREENdon]

If the heat thought this past year was tough, next year barring any injuries will be beyond tough to make it out of the east. I see the Nets,Pacers,Bulls,Knicks, all giving the Heat a run for their money every game they play eachother. Pacers definately have a more rounded team then the Heat. If Hibbert continues what he was doing this year watch out. Greg Oden if healthy does help the heat immensely though. I wouldnt be shocked if the Heat went Back-Back-Back on the sole fact that They now actually have big men. Chris Andersen GregOden Chris Bosh Joel Anthony Udonis haslem. Good big man rotation. I wonder if they consider startinh Greg Oden and Chris bosh at sometime during the season. The floor spacing the Heat loved would hurt but that defense would be scary.

[slamtheking]

can they beat them?  sure.  Will they?  there's a decent chance of it IF they can get another quality 4/5 that's better-than-competent on both ends of the floor and a very good swingman that plays D and can shoot a respectable percentage from outside.  I think they're 2 solid role players away from being definitively better than the Heat.

The starters with their 6th & 7th men off the bench will be a tough match for the Heat.  The Heat won't be able to cheat off anyone on D and the Nets now have the size and athleticism to bother every player on the Heat.

[BudweiserCeltic]

They way they're constructed, they should give the Heat a lot of problems. Big wing defenders, strong PG, good inside offensive presence... they're capable of exploiting all of the Heat's weaknesses.

It's all a matter if the team has chemistry or not to perform.

[More Banners]

They way they're constructed, they should give the Heat a lot of problems. Big wing defenders, strong PG, good inside offensive presence... they're capable of exploiting all of the Heat's weaknesses.

It's all a matter if the team has chemistry or not to perform.

Well, it's all in Jason Kidd's capable coaching hands.

Not a good idea for a team planning on contending to hire a rookie coach with zero experience.  I don't get it.

[merkins]

Indiana had that series, a coaching blunder in Game 1 and the lack of experienced 'closers' is why they didnt win.

The Nets have the experienced closers now with KG and Pierce.  Id be more concerned about getting through Indiana now.  Green and Neal (gone anyway) wont be shooting crazy threes but the team's youth and energy with a couple years in the playoffs under their belt make them dangerous. 

If the Nets get their chemistry sorted out by the allstar break and stay healthy they can certainly beat Miami.

[JBcat]

I think one thing to look out for is if Wade declines a little bit more. If so that could even the playing field even more.

[CelticG1]

They can absolutely beat them.

Pierce and KG are going to change that team drastically.

It will be fun to watch

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I wish they could, but I say no, for one crucial reason: LeBron.

[MISSERY]

I wish they could, but I say no, for one crucial reason: LeBron.

what is the point of having ak47 and reggie evans who is a hustler, kg at pf vs lebron who can stretch the floor with lopez on center or blatche or plumlee

lebron is not the problem here, if you force lebron on lets say 32/57 field goals, that is ok now
like bass is doing before

another concern is can joe johnson beat a healthy dwayne wade?.... maybe yes and maybe no
we can force pierce to sg maybe he can guard d-wade, not terry or anderson

[CelticG1]

I wish they could, but I say no, for one crucial reason: LeBron.

what is the point of having ak47 and reggie evans who is a hustler, kg at pf vs lebron who can stretch the floor with lopez on center or blatche or plumlee

lebron is not the problem here, if you force lebron on lets say 32/57 field goals, that is ok now
like bass is doing before

another concern is can joe johnson beat a healthy dwayne wade?.... maybe yes and maybe no
we can force pierce to sg maybe he can guard d-wade, not terry or anderson

Yeah people speak in absolutes way too often.

Miami easily and should have lost to Spurs in 6 games last year. They went seven games against the Pacers. Lebron or any player is certainly mortal

[MISSERY]

I wish they could, but I say no, for one crucial reason: LeBron.

what is the point of having ak47 and reggie evans who is a hustler, kg at pf vs lebron who can stretch the floor with lopez on center or blatche or plumlee

lebron is not the problem here, if you force lebron on lets say 32/57 field goals, that is ok now
like bass is doing before

another concern is can joe johnson beat a healthy dwayne wade?.... maybe yes and maybe no
we can force pierce to sg maybe he can guard d-wade, not terry or anderson

Yeah people speak in absolutes way too often.

Miami easily and should have lost to Spurs in 6 games last year. They went seven games against the Pacers. Lebron or any player is certainly mortal

agree... but if pacers face the heat 2nd round playoffs with the addition of copeland scola watson, they are much hungry and better, beside joel anthony rashad lewis greg oden sucks big time

[LilRip]

i think the Nets team as constructed matches up with the Heat quite well. it might not be so apparent in the regular season, but come playoff when the pace slows down, i think the Nets have a realistic chance of dethroning the Heat in a 7-gm series

[lightspeed5]

deron williams and joe johnson is a better backcourt than the heat.


then you got pierce matching up with lebron. lebron has publically stated pierce is his best competition and is his arch rival.

KG vs bosh, we all know who wins that match up. then greg oden vs brook lopez, lol

[GreenEnvy]

I honestly don't see Miami being a problem for Brooklyn.

I don't think Wade will do what he wants against JJ.

I don't think Bosh will do much of anything against KG, Lopez, or Evens (or even Blatche).

Their role players can be kept in check.

Then their is LeBron, obviously. I don't think he can be "stopped", but throwing Pierce and Kirilenko at him at all times should slow him down as much as anybody.


The only team that I can see being a problem for Brooklyn is Chicago, assuming Rose is healthy. I don't think they have anyone to stop Rose. Jimmy Butler can check whichever wing is hot. Noah can anchor their D. Thibs should be the better coach, or at the very least more experienced.

We know the top 4 teams will probably be Miami, Brooklyn, Chicago and Indiana, but the top seed looks up for grabs at this point. Seeding will definitely be interesting, and all three of those teams will be gunning for Miami. Unless Oden  becomes a significant player, I just don't see them making it out of the East, and maybe losing in the second round.