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| 2012 Playoff Match-ups |
After navigating through a 66 game-truncated season, back to back to back nights and Skip Bayless nonsense...
The playoffs are finally here.
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the rest of the Heat start what hopes to be a title run against the New York Knicks today at the Triple A in Miami.
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| James & Anthony meet in their first playoff series |
This is not the ideal match-up to some for the Heat to start the playoffs, but I disagree. Carmelo Anthony is a top ten player and the Knicks have an abundant of talent from Amare Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler, J.R. Smith, Baron Davis and bunch of good young bench players. The problem with the Knicks, which the Heat had last year is that they haven't put it together for long stretches. With the Jeremy Lin phenomenon earlier this year and their coach getting fired mid season, I just don't think they will put it all together and take 4 games from the Heat in a 7 game series.
This is a wake up call for the Heat, who's been sleep walking for most of the last couple of weeks of the regular season. LeBron has put together a MVP season. That means jack if they don't win a title. Dwyane has been nicked up with nagging injuries all season. No excuse if they don't win it all. Bosh has stepped up his game and looks more comfortable with the team. Yet if they don't win it all he'll be the first to be shipped elsewhere.
Even though they finished with the league's fourth best record, they are still the odds on favorite to bring a title to South beach and give LeBron his elusive first ring. The pressure is on and the real season starts today.
Heat in 5 over the Knicks
The rest of my picks for the first round in the East:
Bulls in 5 over the 76ers
Pacers in 5 over the Magic
Celtics in 7 over the Hawks
In the West:
Spurs in 6 over the Jazz
Thunder in 7 over the Mavs
Nuggets in 6 over the Lakers
Grizz in 6 over the Clips
Eastern Conference Finals: Heat over the Bulls in 6
Western Conference Finals: Thunder over the Grizz in 7
NBA FINALS: HEAT IN 6 OVER THE THUNDER
