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“It was the best of times, it was the worst times, it was
the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,” this "Tale of Two Cities" quote
explains the current state of the NBA Finals. Tied at one game apiece and the
series heading back to San Antonio, both the Heat and Spurs have shown signs of
supremacy, however their weaknesses have been just as present.
The Spurs have played their usual smart game, but also made senseless
decisions costing them game two. The Heat have played out of sync and looked
awful, while they have also been able to dominate. Who would have ever thought
Charles Dickens would be able to describe basketball?
I have provided 3 keys and an X-factor player for each team
to win the Finals:
San Antonio:
1.
Make the Heat a one-man team
When San Antonio beat Lebron James and the
Cavaliers in the 2007 Finals, James was a one-man show. That was not by the
excellent basketball mind of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, James was literally a
one-man team. Throughout the playoffs, the Heat and James included have
struggled when Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh fail to contribute. The streaky two
thirds of the Big 3 caused the Heat to go to seven games with the Indiana
Pacers, and lose the Finals’ game one at home.
If Lebron can carry the Heat single
handedly to a title over a team as talented as the Spurs, which is highly
unlikely, he deserves it. If Lebron will win a title, make him earn it.
2.
Control
the tempo and play their own game
The Spurs and Heat play two very different
games of basketball. The Spurs vie for perfection in execution through slow,
methodical gameplans, whereas the Heat put on a show of fastbreaks and
highlight reel dunks. In their building, the Spurs need to control the game’s
speed and slow down Miami.
When the dunk contest starts or when the
Heat get on a big run, the Spurs need to be able to slow the game down and
regroup. San Antonio cannot let the Heat break out into other 30+point outburst,
like in game two, the Heat are a team based off of momentum, and once they lose
their momentum, they have no rhythm.
3.
Limit the turnovers and play smart
This key builds off of the last one. By
limiting their turnovers, the Spurs will also limit Miami on the fastbreak,
slowing the game down. In game two, Tony Parker alone committed five turnovers,
while as a team, the Spurs combined for sixteen. In their game one win, the
Spurs as a team turned the ball over just four times. The majority of the
turnovers have been because of bad passes, which cannot happen.
Out of the twenty Spur turnovers, the Heat
have been rewarded with a steal only thirteen times, which means San Antonio is
making mental errors like shotclock and kicked ball violations. The Spurs also need to foul accordingly.
Rather than contest every shot, San Antonio needs to take a smarter approach to
playing defense.
Team’s X- Factor: Tony Parker
Running the point, Parker needs to
control the game on offense and conduct what happens on defense. Parker did not
turn the ball over at all in game one, while committing five in game two. Likewise,
the Spurs won game one while dropping game two. As with all teams, the point
guard’s performance alters the other four players’. When Parker gives the Heat
free possessions, the rest of the team will follow.
In game one, Parker caught fire in
the fourth quarter, where he scored ten points. Parker can be so lethal and his
experience will be key through the remaining Finals games. The mixture of
experience, court control, and scoring will be essential to the Spurs’ quest to
win the necessary three remaining games for the crown.
Miami
1.
Play a complete game
The story of the Heat’s season has been their recurring inability to play
a complete game. Most teams struggle finishing games, however the Heat often do
not actually, “flip the switch,” as ESPN describes, until late in the game.
Miami almost believes their pure talent will power them to championships. In
game 2, the Spurs were within five points for most of the game, until the
middle of third quarter, where they exploded on a 14-3 run, en route to a
nineteen-point victory. The Heat need to play four quarters to win, because
eventually Tim Duncan, Popovich, and Parker will figure out a way to make them
pay for their lethargy.
2.
Move beyond the Big 3
Even if the Big 3 seems like the Big One and Small Two, the Heat need to
continue utilizing everyone on the team. Players like point guard, Mario
Chalmers; guards, Mike Miller and Ray Allen; and forwards, Chris Andersen and
Shane Battier. In game two Lebron could not find his stride shooting, but was
able to help the team by giving the players around him opportunities.
Other than Andersen, all of these role players specialize beyond the arc
which makes them much more useful with Lebron in the post and Bosh down low. In
game one these role players combined for 25 points, but in game two they were
able to score 53 points.
3.
Leave the emotions in the locker room
The Heat’s biggest obstacle has been themselves. Miami has become
notorious throughout the league for sometimes shutting down when games do not
go as planned, arguing calls with referees, and their infamous flopping.
To win the Finals, Miami will need to control their emotions on the court
and not let them get in their way of a title. Miami needs to prove their
resilience to the league and themselves, by getting up when San Antonio knocks
them down, which will happen many times this series.
Team’s X-Factor- Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh
As of late, Bosh and Wade have
been almost dead weight, just taking up space on the court. These two supposedly
all stars need to step up their game and play with Lebron. To beat San
Antonio’s Big 3, Miami’s own Big 3 needs to first work together. Usually when
superstars team up there is a power struggle, the issue here with Miami is that
two superstars are both relying solely on one.
Game two was an improvement with
Bosh collecting a double-double and Wade reaching double digits in scoring, but
there needs to be more done. When all three of this players are on, there is
nobody, I repeat nobody, in the league that can beat Miami.
Series Prediction
After 2 Games- Miami in seven
Miami is just too good to not win.
The Heat may be generally old, but they are a much younger team than the Spurs,
and have experience. Benches make the difference in these series, and Miami has
a much deeper bench with Andersen, Allen, Miller, and Battier.
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