Postseason Thread 2022, ECFinals Version 1.0

[eddieheatfan]

i just saw what the mavs did to phoenix lmao


that's how you dominate another team. you just destroy them without qualms or mercy.

hope our heat is ready for the challenges up ahead

[Heat3]

If Heat make the Finals vs GSW, GSW at will have home court advantage.

Heat lost to GSW without Klay, Steph and Draymond. Same game Haslem threatened to beat Butler’s ass.

Had the Heat won that game, they would have home court vs GSW due to other tie breakers.

I think it will be a good story to overcome in a championship year. As a point where everything changed. Similar to 2006 when Heat got beat down by Dallas then next game had a big win vs Pistons and went on a huge win streak. Ultimately to beat Dallas in Finals.

The story is written!

[TroubleS0me]

damn this is gonna be a tough series
Celtics have every position covered

We have home court
but what other advantages do we have over them?

[TroubleS0me]

we need the Mavs in the finals

[AirP.]

damn this is gonna be a tough series
Celtics have every position covered

We have home court
but what other advantages do we have over them?

Miami has the best center left in the playoffs.
Miami had the ability to put a full switchable defense on the court for most of the game. Horford can't do that, Williams not so much either.
PJ is able to guard their best options while resting on defense by being a spacer in the corner. I'm not sure Boston has a player in that type of unique situation.

Boston and Miami have altered their teams throughout the season. Both teams have been weeding out their bad defenders, Boston started this run Jan 8th but really made their move by trading Schroder and adding White. Miami basically did the same thing but later into the season, Spoelstra gave Robinson basically every opportunity to stay in the starting rotation as he was given a big contract this last summer but finally gave in and gave Strus the nod, a lesser 3pt shooter who is a more dynamic offensive player and better defender. Also, the addition of Oladipo has given Spoelstra the ability to replace Herro's minutes with a better defender if Herro isn't scoring well.

Strus starting over Robinson is a huge upgrade because Strus makes the offense more dynamic while not losing a gunslinger from 3pt range and he makes the weakest defensive starter not nearly a s weak. Miami is 22-5 with Strus starting 14-2 in the regular season and 8-3 in the post season. Miami just waited late in the year to make this big move with the starting lineup.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

So that magic game at the end of the season could bite us on the ass if we make it to the warriors lmao

[3ammy3uck3ts]

Heat in 7. This is a very tough matchup, they matchup very well with Jimmy and Bam. Herro as well. If we can hit open 3s we win, if we shoot like we did against the Celtics we’re more than likely cooked.

We have to win 1 road game at minimum this series imo. Game 1 is a must win. They’re fresh off a tough 7 game series and they’re beat up. Take advantage.

Of course Lowry is doubtful and we’re going to be at like 80%. We can just never be healthy.

[AirP.]

Heat in 7. This is a very tough matchup, they matchup very well with Jimmy and Bam. Herro as well. If we can hit open 3s we win, if we shoot like we did against the Celtics we’re more than likely cooked.

We have to win 1 road game at minimum this series imo. Game 1 is a must win. They’re fresh off a tough 7 game series and they’re beat up. Take advantage.

Of course Lowry is doubtful and we’re going to be at like 80%. We can just never be healthy.

I don't get people who pick Boston in 7 with them on the road, it makes way more sense to pick Boston in 6 and expect one of the road victories to happen in the first 3 road games, not the final one, I've never understood the logic in picking the road team to win the last game when both teams have won 3 each already. Unless there's a critical injury, I just don't understand that type of thinking. I understand the road team can win like it happened last night with Dallas but that doesn't make a lot of sense.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

Heat in 7. This is a very tough matchup, they matchup very well with Jimmy and Bam. Herro as well. If we can hit open 3s we win, if we shoot like we did against the Celtics we’re more than likely cooked.

We have to win 1 road game at minimum this series imo. Game 1 is a must win. They’re fresh off a tough 7 game series and they’re beat up. Take advantage.

Of course Lowry is doubtful and we’re going to be at like 80%. We can just never be healthy.

I don't get people who pick Boston in 7 with them on the road, it makes way more sense to pick Boston in 6 and expect one of the road victories to happen in the first 3 road games, not the final one, I've never understood the logic in picking the road team to win the last game when both teams have won 3 each already. Unless there's a critical injury, I just don't understand that type of thinking. I understand the road team can win like it happened last night with Dallas but that doesn't make a lot of sense.

I agree, if there’s any Boston prediction it should be in 6. I’m just shaking my head at Boston in 5 or 7 predictions.

Everyone is sleeping on us but what’s new? We managed to get the first seed despite all of our main guys missing a huge chunk of the season. Hell were still not healthy. If Lowry comes back he should come off the bench. That unit is missing a true Pg right now imo, the starters are fine. Lowry can play 30+ still but I’d like his first stint of each half to come with the bench.

If we lose and he doesn’t play or is just hobbled the entire time then I’d look to trade him, getting all this way and losing because he can’t stay healthy isn’t going to cut it with this short window we have with Jimmy.

[Gant]

Heat in 7. This is a very tough matchup, they matchup very well with Jimmy and Bam. Herro as well. If we can hit open 3s we win, if we shoot like we did against the Celtics we’re more than likely cooked.

We have to win 1 road game at minimum this series imo. Game 1 is a must win. They’re fresh off a tough 7 game series and they’re beat up. Take advantage.

Of course Lowry is doubtful and we’re going to be at like 80%. We can just never be healthy.

I don't get people who pick Boston in 7 with them on the road, it makes way more sense to pick Boston in 6 and expect one of the road victories to happen in the first 3 road games, not the final one, I've never understood the logic in picking the road team to win the last game when both teams have won 3 each already. Unless there's a critical injury, I just don't understand that type of thinking. I understand the road team can win like it happened last night with Dallas but that doesn't make a lot of sense.

You might be right and normally this would be good logic, but Boston is 4-1 on the road in these playoffs. So who knows?

It'll be a very physical series.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

So that magic game at the end of the season could bite us on the ass if we make it to the warriors lmao

Also the game where Jimmy and Spo got into it against the warriors where we were up 20 at home and they beat us with their B/C team

[3ammy3uck3ts]

Also Bostons getting gassed up because they beat the defending champs. If we faced the bucks without Middleton we’re ending them in 5, 6 at the most. Especially if Jrue is going to play like pure ****. They had no one out of Gianni’s that could consistently get their own or create for others. Spo is exposing the hell out of that.

You could argue the Bucks should’ve beat the Celtics in 5, they completely choked away game 4 which would’ve given them a 3-1 lead

[eddieheatfan]

Watch on YouTube

[greg4012]

Also Bostons getting gassed up because they beat the defending champs. If we faced the bucks without Middleton we’re ending them in 5, 6 at the most. Especially if Jrue is going to play like pure ****. They had no one out of Gianni’s that could consistently get their own or create for others. Spo is exposing the hell out of that.

You could argue the Bucks should’ve beat the Celtics in 5, they completely choked away game 4 which would’ve given them a 3-1 lead

It's pretty funny how the narrative is already shaped that the Heat have had an "easy" path so far with the Hawks being frauds and Philly being banged up. Miami MADE the Hawks into frauds. Miami also dismantled Philly to the point that they were exhausted and they felt all their limitations (Embiid playing hurt, Harden conditioning) and dwelled in them.

On the flip side, everyone is celebrating how monumental Boston is for their "grueling" playoff path so far. Nevermind the fact that Boston had the benefit of playing opponents in the first 2 rounds that were each missing a MAX CONTRACT player.

Let's go a little further on this assessment. Let's look at the NET rating since the All-Star break of each of the playoff opponents faced by both squads:

Boston (1st) faced a Brooklyn squad that was 16th in net rating since the All-star break, then followed it up facing a Milwaukee team that ranked 14th in net rating since the all-star break.

Conversely, Miami (7th) faced an Atlanta team that was surging after a rough start to the season and was actually 8th in net rating since the All-Star break. Miami then faced a Philadelphia team (without Embiid for Miami's first 2 home games) that was 5th in net rating since All-Star break.

Make it make sense. Media narratives are a VERY powerful force in the nationwide understanding of what's actually going on on a basketball court. I'm more interested in what is actually going on on the court.

Boston is a GREAT team. They have been clicking on all cylinders since 2022 started. Miami is also a GREAT team, but the national observer doesn't really know that. Miami is a counterpunch team, and I like Miami to see what Boston has to offer and then make it hell for them to do so.

[DayofMourning]

Greg, my And1 on your post is actually a And10. Good stuff.

[BFRESH44]

You will all see the true value of La Spoelstra Nostra in this series.

[unowen85]

Where tf is the Danny Ainge shocked gif?

[fishfuego.]

You will all see the true value of La Spoelstra Nostra in this series.

The guava Spoelstra Heat versus The cheese bread Boston.

[broke]

I wonder if we see a DRob appearance in this series

[al bondiga]

damn this is gonna be a tough series
Celtics have every position covered

We have home court
but what other advantages do we have over them?

our main advantage is not home court, our main Advantage is the psychological one, winners in the Bubble...home court is 2nd

I know they think they have already won a championship and are celebrating probably ...someone will get covid... jeje