Second Round: Miami Heat (2) vs. Brooklyn Nets (6)

[Mori Chu]

Here's our thread for the MIA/BKN series. Personally I think this one will be boring because I don't think the Nets are nearly good enough to challenge the Heat. But we'll see.

[INFORMER]

So much for going 4-0 against the Heat during the regular season.

This cake walk that Miami will have to the NBA Finals may work against them. A battle-tested Western Conference champion may hit them in the mouth harder than they may be ready for. And I think that WC champion is going to be the Clippers.

[wpmiller42]

I think the Wizards could give Miami a test, assuming they get by Indiana. They have the bigs to throw at Miami.

[Mori Chu]

I don't think the Wiz have good enough shooters to really punish Miami. Love Beal, but I don't really trust anybody else to hit a big 3 or shot under pressure.

[Mori Chu]

So much for going 4-0 against the Heat during the regular season.

This cake walk that Miami will have to the NBA Finals may work against them. A battle-tested Western Conference champion may hit them in the mouth harder than they may be ready for. And I think that WC champion is going to be the Clippers.

I love the way the Clippers are playing. I picked the Clips to get to the WCF and push the Spurs to 7 but ultimately picked SA to advance. I just can't pick against the Spurs any more.

[INFORMER]

I don't think the Wiz have good enough shooters to really punish Miami. Love Beal, but I don't really trust anybody else to hit a big 3 or shot under pressure.

I think Ariza can.

[Mori Chu]

Wiz almost stole both games but tried to hero-chuck in a 3 in the closing seconds when an open one wasn't available. They had about 3-4 chances at it. Probably should have gone for a quick 2.

[Superbone]

So, the Heat finally got beat. Pretty handily too. I still don't think they're going to get much resistance until they get to the Finals and I think that will hurt them.

[Mori Chu]

So, the Heat finally got beat. Pretty handily too. I still don't think they're going to get much resistance until they get to the Finals and I think that will hurt them.

I'm interested to see what happens with the Heat. I assume they'll cruise to the Finals, but will Brooklyn make a series out of it and wear the Heat down a bit? Will the Pacers snap out of their months-long slump and finally give it 100% when they meet the Heat in the ECF?

I don't think Brooklyn has it in them to beat Miami or even make it close. Kevin Garnett looks 100 years old out there, and Deron Williams is older than his years. They just don't look healthy or spry enough to keep up. It's kind of sad that their best player has been Joe Johnson. You aren't beating the Miami Heat if your #1 weapon is 2014 Joe Johnson.

As for the Pacers, it looks like they'll defeat the Wiz and advance to the ECF to meet Miami. I actually think that'll be a good series. Indy has been horrible for so long, you'd wonder if they can even put up a decent fight. But I think they will straighten out because they've been waiting for this matchup against Miami for months. Any motivation issues they've been having will be set aside for that one. I don't think they'll beat Miami, but I think they will take it to 6 or 7 games. That should be a good series, the first good one Miami will have played in by then.