The Miami Heat have won the last two NBA Finals on the shoulders of the Big 3; LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh (above). The Heat are trying to become the first team to three-peat since Shaquille O'Neal's Lakers squad in the early 2000's.
The Second-Round Opponent: Brooklyn Nets (6-seed)
Season Series: Nets 4-0
The Nets swept the season series against the Heat this year. The Nets are a seasoned team with many veterans at the helm. The starting lineup of Kevin Garnett, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, Deron Williams, and Shaun Livingston have played a combined 61 years in the NBA. Johnson and Pierce played big in the first round series against Toronto, and expect them to go at the Heat with the same intensity. The Nets also have a strong bench loaded with three-point shooters like Alan Anderson and Marcus Thornton to go along with bench bigs Mason Plumlee and Andray Blatche. The Brooklyn Nets have a legitimate shot to knock off the Miami Heat in the second round.
The East's One Seed: Indiana Pacers
Season Series: 2-2
The Indiana Pacers have been on a huge skid for a while now, and that came back to bite them as they almost lost to the 8-seed Atlanta Hawks in the first round. The Pacers managed to pull it out in seven games, but a look back at the Atlanta series spells trouble for the Pacers (actually, a look back at the Atlanta series spells Atlanta series, but you know what I mean). Roy Hibbert was exceptionally terrible in the first round, including a no-point no-rebound game in Game 5. Add that to the fact that he is 7'2", and the Pacers are going to have a lot more trouble against the Heat. The Pacers have yet to find an offensive identity. Their point guard, George Hill is not skilled enough. Wings Paul George and Lance Stephenson aren't willed to take over ball games, and big men West and Hibbert aren't talented enough. Off the bench, your only scorers are going to be C.J. Watson (a 3-point specialist) and Chris Copeland. While the Pacers are good enough defensively, their offense is too bad to move on. If they can even get past their second-round matchup, the Washington Wizards, the Pacers cannot beat the Heat.
The Surprise Team: Washington Wizards (5-seed)
Season Series: 2-2
"With the number one pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards select John Wall..... With the third pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards select Bradley Beal." Those draft picks and terrible years are paying off now. The tandem of Wall and Beal makes the two one of the deadliest guard combos in the NBA. With Wall's speed and finishing ability combined with Beal's shooting, the Wizards also have a very, very bright future. Not only do the Wizards have the two great youngsters, they also have seasoned veterans, like Trevor Ariza, Nene, and Andre Miller. The Wizards have enough firepower to take down anyone. They are incredibly tough-nosed, with physical players like Wall, Nene, Trevor Booker, Marcin Gortat and Drew Gooden getting regular minutes. In the future, expect big minutes from rookies Otto Porter and Glen Rice Jr. The Wizards have a strong future ahead of them, but they can also win now. If they meet the Heat in the East Finals, the Wizards have the best shot of knocking them down before a West team gets a shot.
The West:
The MVP's Squad: Oklahoma City Thunder (2-seed)
Season Series: 1-1
Kevin Durant has had a magical 2013-14 for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He is the consensus MVP, and his team is spectacular too. Russell Westbrook is a two-time All-Star, Thabo Sefolosha is a lockdown defender, and Serge Ibaka is still the best rim protector in the NBA. Add that to the emergence of backup point guard Reggie Jackson and the veteran leadership of Caron Butler and Derek Fisher, and you got yourself a team. More good news about OKC is that they are still young. Except for veterans Fisher and Nick Collison, the Thunder players will still have many more opportunities to get a title. The Thunder will have to face the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round, but they should be able to win there and get to the Finals where they can beat Miami.
The West's One Seed: San Antonio Spurs
Season Series: 1-1
Remember last year's Finals? When the refs "missed" Ray Allen stepping out of bounds with 41 seconds left in Game 6? When San Antonio could've put the game away? Probably not that, but it happened. Below is a picture
So Miami got away with it. Nothing anyone can do now. Except for getting revenge by winning the Finals. In a dream situation, Manu Ginobili would step out of bounds, come back in, and hit a four point play while fixing his bald spot. But San Antonio doesn't need a dream situation to beat Miami again. I believe that San Antonio can win a series in five games. With the Big 3 of Ginobili, Tony Parker, and Tim Duncan, the Spurs can beat anyone in the Finals. Maybe it is a Big 4 now, with the emergence of star small forward Kawhi Leonard. With the bench power of Marco Belinelli and Patty Mills, the Spurs are deep enough to run anyone off of the court. Expect the Spurs to make a deep run to the Finals to take down Miami.
L.A's Other Team: Los Angeles Clippers (3-seed)
Season Series: 0-2
The Los Angeles Clippers are probably the most athletic team left in the playoffs. Led by dunk champion Blake Griffin and Deandre Jordan (above), the Clippers are a highlight reel waiting to happen. Led by assist leader Chris Paul and a whole arsenal of snipers (notably J.J. Redick and Jared Dudley), the Clippers can fill up the bucket. The rebounding prowess of Jordan and the rest of the Clippers squad can take down Miami's small front line easily. The Clippers pose a serious threat to any and all of the teams in the NBA, and left in playoffs. They will have a tough road to the Finals, but if they make it, they can produce a victory.
The Up-and-Comers: Portland Trail Blazers (5-seed)
Season Series: 0-2
The Blazers are quickly getting better and better. Led by point guard Damian Lillard's amazing on-court abilities, the Blazers have found themselves in the second round for the first time since 2000. Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge have led the Blazers team of seemingly unknowns past Houston and hopefully past San Antonio. The Blazers have the ability to fill up the basket in a hurry, but they still do not have a very good bench. The Blazer's best bench players are Mo Williams, Dorell Wright, and Thomas Robinson. Good thing their core of Lillard, Aldridge, Nicholas Batum, Wesley Matthews, and Robin Lopez produce enough so that they do not have to rely on bench points. The Blazers have a legitimate shot at making the Finals, where they should take down the Heat.
RANKING THE COMPETETORS:
7. Portland Trail Blazers
6. Los Angeles Clippers
5. Washington Wizards
4. Brooklyn Nets
3. Indiana Pacers
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
1. San Antonio Spurs
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