Do the Heat have an unfair advantage over Western teams?

[MacheteConfetti]

Dont firget about lat year, Thunder had an easier way to the finals and then Heat destroyed them.

I'm pretty sure every team in the league would rather go Knicks/Pacers/Celtics over Mavericks/Lakers/Spurs.

[Ginger Bean]

Tougher defense in the East. OKC wasn't used to it after rolling through to the finals.

[Jimmy Recard]

Of course they have an unfair advantage; they have LeBron and 29 other teams don't.

[CB-Blazer]

When your the defending champs who are often picked to repeat, your schedule is going to be harder regardless of who you play for.

People gun for the teams at the top game in and game out.

[nykballa2k4]

This idea that you have to somehow "work harder" to beat better teams is ridiculous, because its based on the assumption that teams are only going 80% normally in the playoffs, which couldn't be further from the truth.

Its also dumb reasoning, based on who wins in the Finals. If the West team wins, instead of saying the West team was exhausted, you'd say the superior competition prepared them for any challenge they might face. See how that works?

It is naive to believe that going through the physical challenge of getting through the West does not pre-dispose a team to a greater injury risk.

IMO Heat are at a great advantage because, under the assumption that all contenders, by nature of that term, have a "fair" chance teamwise of winning a seven game series against the best teams. Therefore they only have one coin flip round as opposed to Lakers/Thunder, Spurs, Griz who have that coin flip EVERY round, therefore their odds of winning a ring each are impaired.

[BANGSKi]

I really think if the Heat were in the west TNT and espn would try to play two western conference games on wed, thur, and fri


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[Froob]

I love how you guys act like the heat swept the east last playoffs. Knicks look pretty good I'll admit it. Celtics will come around for the playoffs. Bulls with Rose back with be a contender. The east is top heavy they aren't a joke.

[MacheteConfetti]

I love how you guys act like the heat swept the east last playoffs. Knicks look pretty good I'll admit it. Celtics will come around for the playoffs. Bulls with Rose back with be a contender. The east is top heavy they aren't a joke.

Bosh, their one serviceable big man, was gone for a good chunk of the playoffs.

[ccvle]

I dont believe it. you still have to beat the best team some where along the line to be a champion.

[Froob]

I love how you guys act like the heat swept the east last playoffs. Knicks look pretty good I'll admit it. Celtics will come around for the playoffs. Bulls with Rose back with be a contender. The east is top heavy they aren't a joke.

Bosh, their one serviceable big man, was gone for a good chunk of the playoffs.

I believe the heat were in a tie game 7 with about 5 minutes to go. I may be wrong but, I doubt it. And Bosh wasn't the reason the heat won game 6.

[Tien]

Strong playoff teams in East:

Boston
Chicago
Knicks
Indiana
Miami

All of these teams play / will play elite defense.

Other sleeper teams:

Brooklyn and Philly (with Bynum).

Just because Miami matches up well in the East doesn't mean its an "unfair" advantage.

If you put any contender team from the West in put them in the East, its no guarantee they'll make the finals.

[Young_Star11]

Wouldn't say unfair but they do look to have an easier run to the Finals. Not their fault though.

Last year they were in a 2-1 hole against Indiana and were 3-2 down against Boston.

[narmerguy]

Better question is, who cares? The outcome of the finals will most certainly not depend on this. The better team is going to win. And for the record, Miami probably had a harder run last year simply because they lost Bosh (who was still slightly injured when he recovered) and Wade was injured.

But like I said, who cares about that either? They won 4-1, clearly the better team won. People overthink this stuff.

[Biz Gilwalker]

1. It is not the Heat's fault they are in the East.

2. There is no cakewalk in this league. Whether you are in the east or west, you have to win 16 games in order to win.

3. Injuries can change everything.

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There's a difference between beating Philly, New York, and Boston en route to the finals and beating Denver, San Antonio, and the Lakers en route to the finals. (Hypothetical choice of teams)

[Knicker23]

Of course they have an advantage. The Heat can pretty much coast to the 1 or 2 seed. But that is far from "unfair" or in their control. Any more than they control the 76ers and Pacers being bad.

And I'd be hesitant to call it an "advantage" -- constantly playing more competitive talent in the west will probably serve them better, whoever it is, come championship, than the team that never really had to assert itself or see what their made of, be reshapped etc --- not that I think that will be the case for the Heat..

I suppose it can have real benefits in being able to rest players etc... But the Heat would be a top team no matter what conference..... Your idea is more relevant to the boarder line playoff teams in the west that would be sure things in the east. That's more impacting.