Heat versus Sixers

I take a more in-depth look at the Miami-Philly playoff match up.

Miami has won all three of its meetings against Philly this year, but that does not mean this will be an easy series for Miami. The Heat have held the Sixers under 100 points in all three of Miami's win over then this year.

Dwyane Wade led the charge in the first game. He has 30 of Miami's 97 points as the Heat beat Philadelphia by ten points and gave the Big Three their first win as teammates.

The Heat were struggling coming into their second meeting against the Sixers, but managed a win. The Heat won the second game of the series 99-90 and wade once again led the Heat's scoring with 23 points.

The last regular season match up once again had D. Wade lead the Heat in scoring. He had 39 points, but Lebron James also topped the 30 point mark as well. He had 32 for Miami. The Heat won this game by the score of 111-99. Wade led the Heat in points, assists, blocks, steals, and rebounds.

~

Now lets go position by position and see how each team matches up.

Point Guard

Miami - Mario Chalmers, Mike Bibby, Eddie House

Philly - Jrue Holliday, Lou Williams, Antonio Daniels

Consider House to be on the bench unless one of the other Pgs gets hurt. With that said, Lou Williams was having a good season up to this point, but he caught the injury bug as of late. Williams and Holliday have a slight advantage over Miami's PGs.

Advantage - 76ers

Shooting Guard

Miami - Dwyane Wade, Mike Miller,

Philly - Andre Iguodala, Evan Turner, Jodie Meeks

Regardless of how much of a disappointing season this has been for Mike Miller, D. Wade more then makes up for his problems on both ends of the court. Philly sports a decent trio of SGs led by Iguodala, but Andre might have to defend Lebron James for much of the series.

Advantage - Heat

Small Forward

Miami - Lebron James, James Jones

Philly - Thaddeus Young, Jason Kapono, Craig Brackins

With Lebron James continuing his great season it is hard for any team contain him. Sometimes Jones will give James a breather, other times both are on the court together where Lebron can penetrate and find Jones open behind the arc for his money shot.

Advantage - Heat

Power Forward

Miami - Chris Bosh, Juwan Howard, Udonis Haslem

Philly - Elton Brand, Andres Nocioni, Darius Songaila

The Bosh vs Brand battle will be the tipping point of the series. Both have stepped up their games since the All -Star break and bot are still trying to find a rhythm in their respected offenses. If Haslem can recover and come back for the playoffs it will be a huge boost for the Heat.

Advantage - Heat

Center

Miami - Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Joel Anthony, Eric Dampier, Jamaal Magloire, Dexter Pittman

Philly - Spencer Hawes, Tony Battie, Mareese Speights

Philadelphia is the one team in the east who can't really take advantage of Miami's lack of depth in the five spot. Still Miami has yet to find its true starting center all season long. It looks like big Z will go into the playoffs as the man, but it has been refreshing to see Joel Anthony start to step up as a decent bench performer.

Advantage - Tie

Yes, the heat seem to have the advantage in every category that counts. The Heat rank in the top ten in scoring, rebounds, and points allowed this season. They rank higher then Philly in each of those categories as well. Philly does hold the edge in the assist category however.

In the end this all should amount to a series sweep for Miami. (Hopefully)

NBA 2011 Playoff Predictions - East

1. Chicago Bulls
8. Indiana Pacers

4. Orlando Magic
5. Atlanta Hawks

2. Miami Heat
7. Philadelphia 76ers

3. Boston Celtics
6. New York Knicks

~

My thoughts? I think the Bulls, Magic, Heat and Celtics all win. Which would make the second round look like this.

1. Bulls
4. Magic

2. Heat
3. Celtics

~

I might be a Florida homer but I personally think the Magic and the Heat both win these match ups. The Magic have played the Bulls tough all season long and just barely lost their last meeting because of a Jameer Nelson three point attempt not quite making it out of his hands in time to beat the shot clock buzzer. The Magic were also without MVP candidate Dwight Howard for that game due to a one game suspension based on Howard's constant technical foul trouble he has battled all season long. I say the Magic win in six games.

And as for the Heat versus the Celtics, I think the Heat have finally figured out how to deal with the Celtics. Boston suffered its worst loss of the season against the Heat the last time these teams played. The Celtics have lost something on and off the court after they traded away their starting center, Kendrick Perkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Their defense has not looked the same and the players all seem to have lost a good friend and it shows on the court that they are still bothered by this move. I believe the Celtics run as the top team in the east is over and it is now time for the Heat to take over that title.

Which leads into...

2. Miami Heat
4. Orlando Magic

~

Heat win. Too much offense and not enough defense for Orlando to contain. The Magic can give the Heat issues if their three point shooting is on, but I doubt it will be enough to beat Miami in a best of seven series. Miami wins in six games. Miami goes to the finals.

Will this be the year when Lebron wins it all?

You damn right it is!

Miami's Problem

Let me start off by my history with Miami and all of its sports franchises. First of all I am not from Miami. I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. Tampa is but a four hour drive away from Miami, so it really is not that far from where I live regardless. I have been a fan of Miami teams since I was a little kid. I was heavily influenced by my father to like Miami teams. You could say i was forced into liking these teams. I remember that my room (and later my brother's room) had Dolphin memorabilia hung on every corner in every available spot. My dad bled all those colors and it ultimately was passed unto myself.

I did have family in Miami, so I would often visit the city quite frequently when I was younger. Actually I was forced to stay in Miami for the Summer every year while I was away from school. My mom passed me over to my aunt and uncle and I would basically live with them for three months out of the year. If you guessed that my uncle was another die hard Miami fan, you guessed correctly. So, even away from the clutches of my father, I was constantly around people who adored everything sports related involving Miami.

I make it seem like it is a bad thing, and it could very well be. I am obsessed with sports, and I blame my guardians for that. Let me retract that last sentence. I enjoy sports, but I almost enjoy it to a fault. I like it too much. I want my life to revolve around sports. I want a career where I can watch sports for a living and write about it or be someone who works and fixes stats for specific sports.

The Miami Dolphins, Hurricanes, and Heat along with the Florida Marlins all represent all that is bad with Miami sports. It has nothing to do with the teams, although they all have their faults. The biggest issue these teams face on a daily basis is... their fans.

Simply put, the fans in that city suck. I watch every game for all these teams. (except the Marlins. I watched them when I was younger, but switched to the Rays when they were formed ... (even though the Rays do not even play in Tampa, but lets not get sidetracked.) ) The fans don't support their teams. Every game I have watched for these teams has had numerous empty seats. How does that happen? Where is the fan support?

I could see reasons that the economy is affecting attendance, but other cities do not seem to have this problem. That fact, combined with most of these teams being on the wrong side of the winning percentages can also be a reason for the low attendance ratings.

But... there is a team that has no reason to ever NOT have a sold out arena. The Miami Heat showcase two of the most electrifying, exciting, and athletic basketball players to grace us. Say what you want about Chris Bosh, even though I regard him as another great player, but Lebron James and Dwayne Wade are the best of the best. There is no debate or measure to say otherwise. James is lacking in the trophy department, but his skills are one of a kind. Wade has already brought a ring to the city, so his skill and determination is unquestioned.

For the sports fans around at this specific time in history, those two players are two of the greats. They should draw a crowd alone, let alone paired up. So why haven't they? Most radio networks and ticket sales show that the Heat are selling out every home game of the season, but if you actually watch the games you can spot empty seats all over the American Airlines Arena. It sickens me. Where is the support for this team?

Other examples.

The Miami Hurricanes are one of college football's greatest recent teams. Since the 1980s they have brought five championships to the city, the last one being in 2000-01. Since then they have seen their talent level drop and have come back to reality in some harsh ways. Still, where are the fans? The games can't sell out for a college team with so much history? Last year was not a good year for the Canes, but it was also not a good year for the Florida Gators and you better believe that the UF fans packed the swamp for every home game. For shame people of Miami, for shame.

The Dolphins share the same sad fate as the other local teams. The only football team to EVER finish a complete NFL season undefeated and house one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game (Joey Harrington) and where are all the fans? Dolphin home games usually have more visiting team fans in the bleachers then people sporting the orange and teal. It's downright wrong.

The Florida Marlins also do not have the greatest fan base, despite winning two recent World Series title. Though that is more on the owners themselves due to selling the entire team after winning both titles. You can't build a crowd around past accomplishment if all those that were responsible are now part of the rivals squads.

Currently I live too far away and the gaudy price tag of 150+ for a nosebleed seat to go watch the Heat play keep me away from being someone in the crowd. But that is not what makes a fan, so I digress. Miami has a long list of storied franchises, but it is not known for its deep fan base. Miami fans are flaky. They like a team if they are winning, and will not support the team if they are losing. Many cities might share the same type of support, but this particular fan is disgusts me.

If Cleveland can sell out its arena with just Lebron James, why can't the Heat fans show the same type of support for him D. Wade and Chris Bosh as well. That seems like a better product to sell, and yet the results are less then impressive. I'm not talking about the team or its record, mind you. I talk solely on what my eyes have seen so far this season and what I have been seeing for every Miami based sports franchise.

I see it in Tampa too. Buccaneer and Rays fans are just as bad. The Bucs and Rays both had great seasons in 2010, but neither could produce a large crowd to show up for the games. The Bucs did not have one game air locally due to none of the home games being sold out and the ridiculous blackout rule the NFL enforces. No one got to see a great season of football by a young team that everyone counted out before they even stepped on the field to play one snap. The media hyped them as failures and the fans listened like sheep in a flock.

Maybe it's just a Florida thing.

Either way, the one thing I know for sure is that Miami fans suck.

Also...

Mr. Two bits works ut at Palma Ciea. I doubt anyone cares or even knows who that si, but that is AWESOME!

Two Bits!
Four Bits!
Six Bits!
A Dollar!
All for the gators stand up and holler!

HOLLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Miami,

Fear not, for though you may start to be losing a lot of fans off the bandwagon...I have not stopped believing. All teams go through slumps, and this is just a bump in the road. Do not let all these fake fans get to you. You still have true supporters ad believers to your greatness.

Good luck. The playoffs are where it really matters anyways.

West Grades

(Records differ slightly from the East due to a two day delay on my half.)

West

San Antonio Spurs (44-9) - The best team in the NBA as far as records go, the Spurs are defying logic and their age by playing some of the best team ball in the league. The Spurs play as a unit and no single person is the focal point of their offense. The defense has taken a step back, but teamwork and an improved synergy level has created a very potent offense to compensate. They certainly are one of the few surprise teams this season. A+

LA Lakers (38-16) - The defending champs are collecting more scrutiny then anyone else in the NBA. Kobe and the gang aren't playing bad, but they have a losing record versus the best teams in the NBA. Ron Artest needs to step his game up, and if Andrew Bynum can stay healthy the two time champs could look to three-peat. B

Dallas Mavericks (37-16) - Another team I can't stand. Even with Corran Butler gone for the year, the Mavs are staying consistent. Dirk is playing with a great supporting cast and Dallas has one of the best benches in the league. B

Oklahoma City Thunder (33-18) - The Thunder are a fun team to watch. Kevin Durant is explosive and leads the league in total scoring. Westbrook has emerged as one of the brightest young guards around. The team has dropped off a bit since last year, but they are still controlling their division. B-

New Orleans Hornets (33-22) - This team has to find its identity. They haven't been able to stay hot at all. They go through these great winning periods and then just fall off the radar. Sometimes they look unstoppable, and sometimes they stop themselves. Before this win against Orlando they had dropped four in a row and seemed lost. Chris Paul needs to take over or this team is looking at an early exit in the playoffs. C+

Denver Nuggets (31-23) - The Melo-drama continues. I'd prefer Carmelo to stay right where he is. Denver is a great team with him, but if he goes to New York or LA he makes them that much better. This is another team with a deep bench. Melo has also been playing his best basketball during all this trade speculation. B-

Utah Jazz (31-24) - The Sloan-less Jazz need to figure out their problems and fast. The West is a lot more competitive then the East as far as bottom seeds go. If the Jazz continue this downward spiral they could be fighting just to make a playoff berth. As a team with Deron Williams as their point guard, that is a very sad stat. D+

Portland Trailblazers (29-24) - Crazy how this team manages to stay in the hunt despite key injuries to some of its best players. Greg Oden has yet to show if he can stay healthy and be reliable throughout a single season. I bet they are smacking themselves about picking him over Durant now, huh? On the plus side, Brandon Roy is coming back and LaMarcus Aldridge is the biggest snub in this years All-Star game. He should have made it over Duncan. B-

Memphis Grizzlies (39-26) - All I know about them is they have Rudy Gay, who is a beast, and Pau's younger brother. They also sit right outside the eight spot. C-

Phoenix Suns (26-25) - Another team looking at the playoffs from the outside. I like the Gortat trade a lot, but Vincanity is not the same. C

Houston Rockets (25-29) - Now the teams start to dip under 500! All offense, no defense. D-

Golden State Warriors (23-29) - Curry and Ellis make for some good basketball to watch, but David Lee hasn't looked as dominant as they wanted him too. The warriors lack the big presence in the middle and their defense is horrible. Still, the team is going through a youth movement and could make a push into the playoffs should they get hot. Trading Curry away would be a bad thing. C

LA Clippers (20-33) - Yes, they beat Miami. Yes, they have the rookie of the year. Yes, they are fun to watch......BUT their record is horrible, they aren't going to make the playoffs AND they just lost to the Cavaliers. Fail, thy name is Clippers. F

Minnesota Timberwolves (13-40) - Micheal Beasley was wrong. He said that he was on the worst team in the league. That title belongs to the Cavs, but he wasn't far off. I bet Love would trade all those Double-doubles for wins any day. F+

Sacramento Kings (12-37) - Eh. they suck. F

East Grades

Well it's like 6am and I am feeling like a NBA progress report, so here goes.

With just over 50 games played, it's fair to say most teams in the NBA are starting to see where they are going to end up at the end of the season. Some teams have fared better the others in the gelling process, and some teams haven't had one minute of being entirely healthy. Overall I'd say the season to this point has been very enjoyable. It's safe to say this is going to be the first season where I have paid attention throughout the entirety of the season and not just during the start of the playoffs.

I'm going to give each team my own personal grade based on how I feel that team has played up until now. I will start with the team with the best records. Granted, some teams might have little or nothing under there name other then a grade. It all depends how much I care for them.

East

Miami Heat (38-14) - Tied with Boston for the best record in the East - What can I say. Miami has two of the best players on the same team. It hasn't been easy, but Miami is starting to play how everyone feared they would from the get go. Injuries haven't allowed this team many breaks, but the big three have not suffered from too many long term problems. The defense has been impressive as Spoelstra trust Wade and James to float around the court while the remaining three other players play a stiff zone scheme. The Heat are still looking for a win against Boston and Dallas and has yet to play San Antonio, but they have played well against every other opponent. Chris Bosh is the team's anchor right now, and it was apparent how badly the team missed him during his injury absence. Even being a huge Dwayne Wade fan, I would have to admit that Lebron James has been playing at a much higher level as of late and should be in serious discussion about a third MVP regardless of where he took his talents in the summer. Just take a look at Cleveland without him. Miami might share the best record in the East, but I feel they still have not reached their peak as far as potential goes. I will give them a B+ for right now.

Boston Celtics (38-14) - Tied with Miami for the best record in the East - I hate them so much, but they are playing at a high level despite possibly the most setbacks for any competitive team in the league. The injury bug has plagued Boston all season, but it does not show in there overall performance. The new-found big four have been playing well all season, but KG is starting to show signs of decline. Allen, Pierce and Rondo are all playing at a high level. Doc Rivers trust Rondo with the ball. He knows Rondo will not force shots and is always looking for the open man. Ray Allen, well...he got game. His field goal percentages are all up from prior years and he is the one player of the original big three who is not showing any signs of slowing down any time soon. Paul Pierce is still the best fat kid on the court in my eyes. He is douche, but at least he hasn't pretended to get hurt as of late. Amidst all the injuries they have faced, I will give Boston a A- for right now.

Chicago Bulls (35-16) - Derrick Rose is the biggest speed bump blocking Lebron James' third straight MVP award, and he is very much deserving of it. The Bulls have yet to see Rose, Boozer, and Noah on the court at the same time this entire season, yet the Bulls have the third best record in the east. Impressive. Rose just might be a better slasher to the rim then even Dwayne Wade, but we shall see. The Bulls did however beat Miami in their only meeting this season. Also, the only team in the NBA with a perfect record in their own division. I would say this is the scariest team that Miami has to overcome and for that I give them a A as of right now.

Atlanta Hawks (33-19) - Eh, they are a team with a whole bunch of great players. No one on this team is crazy good, but when they are working on all cylinders, this is a fierce team. They just are too up and down for me to give them too high of a praise. C+

Orlando Magic (34-20) - My poor Magic. They weren't playing all too well before the trade, and even after they have yet to find a working rhythm. Gilbert Arenas' play is the talk of many as one of the biggest reasons this trade hasn't worked. Where is the agent zero who used to dominate games? Howard might be the only great big man on the court, but he is still just as dominant. He needs help. C-

 New York Knicks (26-25)  - Look at that drop off. Eight games separate the 5th and 6th teams in the East. Someone said that  NY is back to being a good team, but their record does not show it. The Knicks are the Toronto Raptors of yesteryear. Learn to play some defense. D+

Philadelphia 76ers (24-28) - Losing records go! Not much to say, they are doing ok. C 

Indiana Pacers (22-28) - Uh, they beat Miami...once and played them very tough a second time. I guess that's good? They are barely holding onto that elusive eight seed in the East. D+

Charlotte Bobcats (22-30) - They really miss Raymond Felton. It's just not the same ball club with him gone. They need to pick their game up if they want to make it back to the playoffs. D-

Milwaukee Bucks (20-31) - Pedestrian, at best. where's the team that looked so impressive last year? D-

Detroit Pistons (20-33) - Soon to be twenty and thirty-four after Miami gets done with them. Age is a crazy thing, no? D-

New Jersey Nets (16-37) - Nothing good comes from New Jersey. F

Toronto Raptors (14-39) - Hey, at least they won recently! I guess? F+ seems justifiable.

Washington Wizards (14-37) - Work in progress I suppose. D-

Cleveland Cavaliers (8-45) - This http://www.terezowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/cavscover.jpg and also Dan Gilbert is one funny guy. As for a grade...what is worse then a F?

West in a few.