Throwdowns > Closed

Mr. Jolly said 09/18, 02:51 PM
I'm taking the Heat.

Let's skip talking about how good Lebron, D-Wade, & Bosh are and address the criticisms going into the season.

* Chemistry

They'll have 82 games to find a rhythm.

The same experts that question whether Lebron and D-Wade can share the ball are the same that knock Lebron for being too pass-friendly and afraid to take the last shot.

Wade has shown the ability to play with superstars in the past and Lebron's willingness to go play in Miami, alone, should tell you he's open to not being the lone-gun.

* Eric Spoelstra

Obvioulsy, he isn't the coach that Jackson is, but he doesn't need to be in a 7-game final with the Lakers.

He'll have 2 of the 3 best guys on the court at tip-off.

The best coach doesn't always win.

Nobody was on the Doc Rivers train prior to the 3-headed monster.

Plus, Spoelstra's strength is defense and there isn't any reason to think that Miami won't have one of the NBA's better defenses.

* Roster

The Heat don't need a gallery of excellent role players. They'll just need capable players.

Ilgauskas, Chalmers, Haslem, Miller, Randolph, Magloire, etc.. aren't the Dream Team, but they'll do enough.

MTC

Mr. Jolly said 09/19, 02:24 PM
You say trendy, I say Vegas favorite.

I knew you would bring up the silly chemistry issue, so I dealt with it.

Brown never had D-Wade and Bosh to go with Lebron.

It will be interesting when the legendary Zen Master meets up with the Heat, because the Heat look a lot like a team that Jackson usually coaches.

All-world talent will usually make a coach look real good.

Except this time, Jackson doesn't get the best toys.

There is definitely an uncertainty with the Heat, but it looks much more exciting from my point of view.

NEVER in the modern NBA have 2 of the 3 best players in the league, while still being young, joined forces.

D-Wade and Lebron (both demand double-team) will be a match up nightmare for anybody they play against.

A team will have to limit the capabilities of these 2 players for 4 nights out of 7 to win a series.

Not to mention the fact that they'll get as much, if not more, of the officials' love that the Lakers tend to enjoy as they fall over each other getting to the line.

We saw the 3-headed monster win for Boston their first year together.

This monster is, as Daft Punk would put it:

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

Mr. Jolly said 09/20, 09:21 AM
The 82 game season is a great advantage to the Heat.

It's a long season to figure things out.

I'm gonna use common sense and figure that 3 superstars who dreamed up this scenario in advance to free agency will actually know how to co-exist.

For somebody supporting a coach who has had the luxury of going Jordan-Shaq-Bryant, you seem to feel that Eric won't be able to get out of his own way.

It's not like Jackson had multiple rings on his fingers prior to beating Riley and Lakers once upon a time.

Let's say your doom scenario works out and Spoelstra turns into the Chernobyl of coaches.

It's not like HOF'r Pat Riley won't step up and take over, this time finally having superior talent in the starting 5 over Jackson.

As for assumptions, I'm glad that we've already decided that it's a given that Blake will allow Laker fans to forget all about Fisher.

It must be easier to bring the ball down the court when you're wearing purple.

This Lakers team damn-near lost to an old Boston team lacking a front court presence.

Mainly because they got to the charity stripe constantly, a Heat advantage that you didn't question.

And did you really talk up Luke Walton?