I've cooled on Butler a lot the last couple of years and I don't think he's a "superstar" per se in terms of production or marketability. He's obviously an extremely good player and he and the Heat are the perfect match. But the Heat operate as a team, well coached and have their system. The Lakers have their stars. That's not to diminish them, it's just a contrast in styles and reminds me of the Lakers-Pistons Finals back in 2004. The "stars" vs the "team".
Yeah, they had Shaq/Kobe, but the rest of the team wasn't so much stars, as former stars. 35 year old Gary Payton playing 35 mpg in the playoffs? 40 year old Karl Malone playing 28 mpg in the playoffs? They even played Shaq and Kobe both over 40 minutes a game (Kobe was over 44 mpg).
Yep, Lebron is old too. But he is Lebron. And only Lebron and AD are playing over 30 minutes a game.
Well maybe not "stars, but "names"...LeBron and AD and then Rondo, JR Smith, Markieff. The Pistons, like the Heat, have a collection of very good players who play well together within a system where any guy can be "the guy" that night.
I think the Heat’s depth is being overrated. Their starting 5 + Herro are well rounded but they don’t go much deeper than that. The Lakers are also the best team the Heat have faced. I could see a world where Miami takes it but my prediction is Lakers in 5.
I think the Heat’s depth is being overrated. Their starting 5 + Herro are well rounded but they don’t go much deeper than that. The Lakers are also the best team the Heat have faced. I could see a world where Miami takes it but my prediction is Lakers in 5.
They go 7 deep with playoff worthy guys. I’d add Iggy to your list. Olynyk is playable as well for some offense.
And I’m not sure the Lakers are the best team they’ve faced. Milwaukee was the best team this season.
I think the Heat’s depth is being overrated. Their starting 5 + Herro are well rounded but they don’t go much deeper than that. The Lakers are also the best team the Heat have faced. I could see a world where Miami takes it but my prediction is Lakers in 5.
They go 7 deep with playoff worthy guys. I’d add Iggy to your list. Olynyk is playable as well for some offense.
And I’m not sure the Lakers are the best team they’ve faced. Milwaukee was the best team this season.
Giannis was hurt in 3 out of 5 games (and the one game he really aggravated it and could only play a few minutes, the Bucks won). I would still say the Lakers are much better than the Bucks team they played.
I think the Heat’s depth is being overrated. Their starting 5 + Herro are well rounded but they don’t go much deeper than that. The Lakers are also the best team the Heat have faced. I could see a world where Miami takes it but my prediction is Lakers in 5.
They go 7 deep with playoff worthy guys. I’d add Iggy to your list. Olynyk is playable as well for some offense.
And I’m not sure the Lakers are the best team they’ve faced. Milwaukee was the best team this season.
Well, if you’re basing it off the rest of the season then there’s no argument for Miami being the best team the Lakers have faced. Iggy is fine he’ll have some WIDE open shots because nobody respects it if he hits those it can really help and obviously his defense is good. Nobody is afraid of Kelly O.
I think their depth is fine with guys like Nunn, Leonard, DJJ, Olynyk, Crowder and Iggy. Even Solomon Hill is a decent enough vet to throw out there.
If you’re putting Nunn, Leonard, DJJ, Olynyk, or Solomon Hill out there in the finals and you lack the top end talent of the other team then I have some bad news for you.
I think the Heat’s depth is being overrated. Their starting 5 + Herro are well rounded but they don’t go much deeper than that. The Lakers are also the best team the Heat have faced. I could see a world where Miami takes it but my prediction is Lakers in 5.
They go 7 deep with playoff worthy guys. I’d add Iggy to your list. Olynyk is playable as well for some offense.
And I’m not sure the Lakers are the best team they’ve faced. Milwaukee was the best team this season.
Well, if you’re basing it off the rest of the season then there’s no argument for Miami being the best team the Lakers have faced. Iggy is fine he’ll have some WIDE open shots because nobody respects it if he hits those it can really help and obviously his defense is good. Nobody is afraid of Kelly O.
Sure that’s fair. I’m fine saying the Lakers are the best team the heat have played in the bubble, but I’d say the heat opponents were better than the Lakers opponents.
I think the Heat’s depth is being overrated. Their starting 5 + Herro are well rounded but they don’t go much deeper than that. The Lakers are also the best team the Heat have faced. I could see a world where Miami takes it but my prediction is Lakers in 5.
They go 7 deep with playoff worthy guys. I’d add Iggy to your list. Olynyk is playable as well for some offense.
And I’m not sure the Lakers are the best team they’ve faced. Milwaukee was the best team this season.
Well, if you’re basing it off the rest of the season then there’s no argument for Miami being the best team the Lakers have faced. Iggy is fine he’ll have some WIDE open shots because nobody respects it if he hits those it can really help and obviously his defense is good. Nobody is afraid of Kelly O.
Sure that’s fair. I’m fine saying the Lakers are the best team the heat have played in the bubble, but I’d say the heat opponents were better than the Lakers opponents.
I'd take Portland over the Pacers every single day. When it comes to Milwaukee with a gimpy Giannis vs Houston with a gimpy Westbrook, I think it is close. Same with Boston and the Nuggets. I don't think the case is as simple as you make it out to be.
The biggest advantage that Miami has is that if any coach knows how to beat LeBron, it's probably Spoelstra. Also, Miami wasn't taxed like any of their previous opponents were. That being said, I still think that the Lakers win this series, even though I'm going for the Heat. If the Heat win, I could see a lot of teams trying to replicate their formula, including the Suns, which are pretty close to it, imo.
"There are 3 rules I live by: never get less than 12 hours sleep, never play cards with a guy with the same first name as a city & never get involved with a woman with a tattoo of a dagger on her body. Everything else is cream cheese."
I think the Heat’s depth is being overrated. Their starting 5 + Herro are well rounded but they don’t go much deeper than that. The Lakers are also the best team the Heat have faced. I could see a world where Miami takes it but my prediction is Lakers in 5.
They go 7 deep with playoff worthy guys. I’d add Iggy to your list. Olynyk is playable as well for some offense.
And I’m not sure the Lakers are the best team they’ve faced. Milwaukee was the best team this season.
Well, if you’re basing it off the rest of the season then there’s no argument for Miami being the best team the Lakers have faced. Iggy is fine he’ll have some WIDE open shots because nobody respects it if he hits those it can really help and obviously his defense is good. Nobody is afraid of Kelly O.
Sure that’s fair. I’m fine saying the Lakers are the best team the heat have played in the bubble, but I’d say the heat opponents were better than the Lakers opponents.
I'd take Portland over the Pacers every single day. When it comes to Milwaukee with a gimpy Giannis vs Houston with a gimpy Westbrook, I think it is close. Same with Boston and the Nuggets. I don't think the case is as simple as you make it out to be.
Was meaning Milwaukee and Boston. I’d take both those teams over Houston or Denver.
Looked great for the Heat as they took a 13 pt lead and then the Lakers finished the Q on a 21-5 run. KCP hitting 3’s and AD doing some damage against the small guys.
