Tonight is a big game 2 for the Brooklyn Nets. The veteran savvy squad led by champions Paul Pearce and Kevin Garnett will no doubt be up to the challenge tonight in Miami. With the Heat already up 1-0, in convincing fashion nonetheless, the Nets need to prove they can win in Miami. Whether it's 2-0, or 1-1, the series will shift to Brooklyn for two games beginning Saturday night. I should've done this earlier, preferably before game one, in any event, I have broken down the entire roster and match ups for the Nets-Heat series and who has the edge in what category. It should be a fun series. Team Attributes
1. Rebounding-Tie. Both teams struggle immensely not he rebounding side of the basketball. Both lack a true center, and if Lopez was healthy I'd have to give the Nets the edge in this category. I expect the rebounding totals to fluctuate game-to-game. Not one team will dominate the glass superior enough to claim they are the better rebounders. Big men Andre Blatche, Mason Plumlee, and Chris Anderson will be counted on to provide boards for their respective team.
2. Passing-Heat. Deron Williams is still an above average point guard, at times, but he's really the only legit passing threat the Nets have. Sure, Johnson, Pierce, Livingston, Anderson, Kirelinko, and maybe even Blatche can all pass the ball with accuracy, but they don't pass enough. The Miami Heat play a pass first offense led by non other than Lebron James. Lebron is an immensely skilled passer who gets his teammates involved every possession..until it really really counts late in the game. Dwayne Wade, Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole, and Ray Allen are all excellent passers. If we are looking to rack up assist totals, you have to give the Miami Heat the edge.
3. Scoring-Nets. I'm sure many will disagree with me, but I give this category to Brooklyn. With so many weapons, such as Pierce, D-will, Johnson, Livingston, Anderson, and Blatche, the Nets can score with anyone at anytime. The Miami Heat are potent as well, I mean they do feature James, Bosh, and Wade. When I think of the Heat I think of them more as a complete team than a team that dominates in one single category. The Nets are a scoring team built around the offense of Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, D-Will, and Lopez when he returns. If we are just going to be throwing up shots and playing no defense..I'll take the Nets. But, we won't be and the Miami Heat defense in all likelihood will be too much for the Nets' offense to handle.
4. Defense-Heat. The two time defending world champions didn't beat formidable teams without playing a little D. With the best defender in the game, Lebron James, on their team, the Heat sit as the gold standard of defense. Having Wade, Battier, and Chris Anderson help too.When we think of defense in the NBA, and many don't, we think of the Bulls, Pacers, Heat and Grizzlies, to name a few. The Brooklyn Nets are a much more offensive minded team than defensive minded. If Kevin Garnett was in his prime, then we'd have a different story. Fact is he isn't and the Nets lack the shut down defense that Miami possesses late in games. The Nets, lead by coach Kidd, played sensational defense in the second half of the NBA season. Many were surprised that they not only made the playoffs, but fought back over .500. Heat-Bulls or Heat-Pacers would be an extremely defensive minded series than the one we are witnesses currently. Having said all that, the Heat take the nod in the defensive category.
5. Bench-Heat. I didn't want to call a tie on this one, as I did for rebounding, so I went with the Heat. Just as easily I could've gone with Brooklyn. The Nets are an extremely deep team that often call on their bench for huge minutes in games. If you remember a few days ago, Jason Kidd left his second unit on the floor in game five against the Raptors after they made a miraculous comeback, only to fall short. Nevertheless, the Miami Heat's bench, while maybe not as talented, are smarter and maybe even tougher. Norris Cole has proven to be a professional back up on a championship winning team the past few years. Bird-Man Chris Anderson provides the toughness and grit off the bench that Brooklyn just can not match. Ray Allen's post season track record speaks for itself, as does Shane Battier's. Overall, I like the experience the Miami bench brings to the table over Brooklyn's. Would I be surprised if the Nets' bench outscores Miami's over the course of the series? No.
6. Coaching-Heat. In time, I believe Jason Kidd can be an excellent coach in the NBA. It's only year one for Kidd and he's already a good coach. We can all sit and laugh now, on May 8th, and think back to how Kidd's coaching tenure with Brooklyn began. From terrible lineups, to "accidental" time outs, to strange firings (see Lawrence Frank), many question if Kidd could coach at this level. After Lopez went down, the Nets found their identity. Kidd did an excellent job making a season out of almost nothing. Eric Spolstra, in my opinion, doesn't even need to coach his team to victories. The Miami Heat are just so much talented than anyone else at this point. Many say Spolstra is not an "elite" head coach despite having won back to back NBA titles, but I do give him credit. He's managed the minutes of his aging veterans tremendously, and he's kept his team together long enough to make their four straight run at a title.
While I do expect this to be a series, five or six games, the Miami Heat are just too vaunted for the Nets, or anyone else for that matter. But, upsets do happen and I will be having a front row seat in my living room if one does occur.
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