Who You Got?

One of the reasons I have been on a blogging hiatus...(Even though it hasn't seemed like one) is because I've been watching these NBA playoffs...76ers vs Chicago Bulls, then 76ers vs The Boston Celtics and then finally the Boston Celtics vs The Miami Heat.

Once the 76ers were out of the playoffs I said that I could enjoy the playoffs because I wouldn't be emotionally invested in them.  This was true ,because I found myself watching the Heat and The Celtics with an objectivity I hadn't had since my 76ers were in the playoffs.

Out West, I watched the Young Oklahoma Thunder...A team I've had my eyes on since they left Seattle, advance past the Dallas Mavericks, The San-Antonio Spurs, who several of my friends picked to win it all
and now to the Western finals..to play the Miami Heat.

I can't say that I won't be emotionally invested in this series....I'm kind of going for the Oklahoma City Thunder in this series.  Why?  One is the Philadelphia connection. Former Sixers Guard, Scotty Brooks is their coach..and former Sixers great and coach ,Maurice Cheeks is their assistant coach.  That is one reason.

The other reason being is...I like how they are made up, Fresh young talent like Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant , Jame Hayden and Serge Ibaka. In many ways , the 76ers are like this team, minus the talent.  Young scrappy fearless and athletic players.

If the  emerging Oklahoma City Thunder are to have a chance in the NBA Finals, they'll need to slow down LeBron James. Good luck with that. If the Miami Heat hope to have a shot, they'll have to try to contain Kevin Durant. Best wishes to them, too. If the Heats Dwyane Wade or Thunders Russell Westbrook go nuts well, were not really telling you anything you dont know. What makes these Finals so interesting is that James will likely match up with Durant, and perhaps Wade with Westbrook. But those are only the biggest names and brightest stars. You also have to consider the Heats Chris Bosh and to a lesser extent, Mario Chalmers and Udonis Haslem. You also have to a keep close eye on the Thunders James Harden and Serbe Ibaka.

 Of course, the ringer may be Thunder center Kendrick Perkins, a longtime Lebron  James nemesis who makes his millions by protecting the rim, and if need be, tossing aside anyone who dares come near it. Or maybe its Heat forward Shane Battier, an underrated wing defender and occasional maker of 3-point shots. Bottom line: This is a best-of-seven series that has it all. The young, deep Thunder against the star-driven Heat. Or as some outside of Miami-Dade County might tell you, the good guys (Thunder) vs. the bad guys ,The Miami Heat(I don't subscribe to any of that). Oak City is the fun-loving team that gets up and down the court in the blink of an eye.The Miami Heat can crush you if you turn the ball over and let Lebron James and Dwayne Wade fill the fast-break lanes. Neither team is too shabby in the half-court, either with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook,Lebron  James and Dwayne Wade all capable off firing up some three pointers as the shot clock expires. Then you have the coaches. The job of Miami's Erik Spoelstra is more difficult than it looks. He has to manage three huge personalities (and egos) while making sure the supporting cast isn't totally ignored, and actually contributes something to the game.

 Meanwhile, Oak City's Scotty Brooks must find enough shots for both Kevin Durant and  Russell Westbrook, then try not to skip a beat when implementing a second unit that features James "The Beard"Harden.

Interestingly, both the Heat and Thunder are coming off victories over older teams that appeared to be on the verge of one last hurrah. The Heat won two straight to shovel a little dirt on the Celtics basketball grave. The Thunder then overcame a 2-0 hole and a Spurs team that had won 20 straight games to show the world they're not too ripe to adjust. Lebron James and Dwayne Wade haven't had to chase around anyone like Kevin Durant and  Russell Westbrook this enitre postseason.

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have never played on this grand of a stage either. So who has the advantage? I don't think that anyone will  know for another six or seven games. The Oklahoma City Thunder own the home-court advantage; the Miami Heat know how to win big games on the road.

The Thunder own a physical center, who used to keep LBJ at bay during Perkins days with the Celtics and LBJ's days with the Cleveland Cavaliers. But the  Miami Heat, it's pretty evident, have yet to shy from a challenge. So its impossible to find two teams more accomplished, more battle-proven, more ready for this platform.

The Oak City Thunder are younger, but the Miami  Heat are hardly old. The Thunder strive to work the ball for the best possible shot, but the Heat thrive on stepping into passing lanes. The Thunder figure you out and break you down, but the Heat possess head-scratching ability to thwart your every move. On and on it goes, who wins the 2011-12 title nobody knows. On paper, its too hard  and too early predict. On the court, it should be too good to miss. The Heat vs. the Thunder.

I might very well be on another blogging hiatus until the finals are over ...Who knows???