Miami's record against top teams in February/March

[TMT]

Miami against top teams in league over last 2 months
- For purposes of this thread, top teams = top 5 in respective conference

MARCH
3/26 - Loss to Pacers (83-84) on road
3/24 - Win against Blazers (93-91) at home *No LMA or Wade
3/16 - Win against Rockets (113-104) at home
3/12 - Loss to Nets (95-96) at home *No KG
3/9 - Loss to Bulls (88-95) on road
3/6 - Loss to Spurs (87-111) on road
3/4 - Loss to Rockets (103-104) on road

FEBRUARY
2/23 - Win against Bulls (93-79) at home *No LBJ
2/20 - Win against Thunder (103-81) on road
2/5 - Win against Clippers (116-112) on road *No CP3

Overall: 5-5 record, 2-4 on the road, 3-1 at home
- MIA lost both games against teams with better records (SAS & IND)


Obviously as back-to-back champions Miami will find themselves less concerned about record against the best as compared to other contenders, but still interesting to analyze nonetheless.

[LeGOAT]

TL;DR. Heat in 5

[navy]

Heat have been losing to scrubs as well...

[DaSeba5]

Tired legs, the rotation changes have taken them out of a rhythm, and they are the oldest team in the league. I'm not sure if they will gun for HCA now. 3-peating is going to be very difficult. If they don't win this year, they blew the 3-peat when they choked in 2011.

[FLDFSU]

It's not that hard really. All Miami has to do is get to 100 points and they will not lose to any Eastern Conference opponents. That's it. Problem solved.

No Eastern team outside of MIA is capable of consistently scoring 100 points. So instead of trying to hold the Pacers, Nets, and Bulls to 75 points...MIA should focus a majority of their effort into scoring and pushing the pace.

But Spo has had James, Wade, and Bosh for 4 years now and still the concepts evades him.

[TMT]

Tired legs, the rotation changes have taken them out of a rhythm, and they are the oldest team in the league. I'm not sure if they will gun for HCA now. 3-peating is going to be very difficult. If they don't win this year, they blew the 3-peat when they choked in 2011.

This is definitely going to be the toughest playoffs since they all came together. Another fact going under the radar is Wade's health. I don't think this guy can sustain through a whole month+ of the playoff grind.

Didn't he hurt himself at the end of the game? What was the deal with that?

[navy]

This is definitely going to be the toughest playoffs since they all came together. Another fact going under the radar is Wade's health. I don't think this guy can sustain through a whole month+ of the playoff grind.

Didn't he hurt himself at the end of the game? What was the deal with that?
Just a cramp.

It cant get harder than last year. At least in my mind it forces more effort in every game if they lose HCA. As opposed to only showing up when needed like they did last year.


Then again the only player I would trust to outplay Lebron in a seen game series is Durant.

[TMT]

It seems to me like they will be playing as tough of teams as last year, if not better in Indy and OKC/SAS. But this time around they won't have HCA in either series. It looks really rough on paper.

[navy]

It seems to me like they will be playing as tough of teams as last year, if not better in Indy and OKC/SAS. But this time around they won't have HCA in either series. It looks really rough on paper.
The Heat win when they need too.It wont be easy but they have faced adversity in the last three playoffs as well. Like I said, in a Game 7 nomatter the building I would Lebron over anyone besides maybe Durant.

[DaSeba5]

It seems to me like they will be playing as tough of teams as last year, if not better in Indy and OKC/SAS. But this time around they won't have HCA in either series. It looks really rough on paper.

I'm not scared of the Pacers as much as I was in the beginning of the year. They can beat Indiana without HCA. They lost HCA the last two years to the Pacers and still won. I don't think it's the deciding factor in the series like people claim even if there's a game 7 in Indiana. I think their offense is too stagnant and their PG play is still terrible. Yes Indiana will have advantage with HCA, but you're going to have to win on the road eventually anyways.

The Heat have proven that it doesn't matter where they play OKC. That series heavily favors Miami no matter what until OKC gets a post threat. Now the Spurs with HCA scares the living shit out of me. I don't see them beating the Spurs without HCA.

[russwest0]

LeBran James, scrub destroyer, statpadder :applause:

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

Wish they'd eliminate conferences all together so we get the BEST teams making the playoffs. Would expose this fraud team.

OT, I left ESPN on for the halftime show ... BIG mistake. I heard that dumbass Doris Burke call Pacers vs Heat "Ali vs Frazier" :oldlol:

[LongLiveTheKing]

LeBran James, scrub destroyer, statpadder :applause:
Why are you calling KD a scrub?
LeBron destroyed him but he's not a scrub? :confusedshrug:

[DaSeba5]

Wish they'd eliminate conferences all together so we get the BEST teams making the playoffs. Would expose this fraud team.

OT, I left ESPN on for the halftime show ... BIG mistake. I heard that dumbass Doris Burke call Pacers vs Heat "Ali vs Frazier" :oldlol:

3 titles in 8 years. 2 x defending champs. "fraud" team lol.

[FLDFSU]

I'm not scared of the Pacers as much as I was in the beginning of the year. They can beat Indiana without HCA. They lost HCA the last two years to the Pacers and still won. I don't think it's the deciding factor in the series like people claim even if there's a game 7 in Indiana. I think their offense is too stagnant and their PG play is still terrible. Yes Indiana will have advantage with HCA, but you're going to have to win on the road eventually anyways.

The Heat have proven that it doesn't matter where they play OKC. That series heavily favors Miami no matter what until OKC gets a post threat. Now the Spurs with HCA scares the living shit out of me. I don't see them beating the Spurs without HCA.

Exactly. Which is why the Heat should focus on outscoring the Pacers.

Miami is/can be the best offensive team in the East.

Miami is/will never be the best defensive team in the East.

So Miami needs to stop playing against the Bulls and the Pacers on their terms.

[TMT]

I get where you guys are coming from.

The Pacers definitely don't appear to pose as much of a threat as they did at the beginning of the year. They are inconsistent at times, but they are scrappy enough defensively to make a 7 game series a struggle for Miami. Not to mention they will have two playoff series to get their shit together for when they face the real deal. I would probably give MIA a slight edge in this series still without HCA, but it's really close.

When it comes to OKC, who I am personally determined will be in the Finals this year, I think Heat fans who think they have it in the bag against them are dead wrong. It would be one hell of a competitive series. I keep thinking about that first matchup of the year OKC vs. Heat, where even without Westbrook the Thunder just dismantled them. I think a much more poised and seasoned Kevin Durant on the verge of his first title will be a much bigger challenge to face as compared to two years ago. If the Heat don't have home court, I think OKC can give them fits and win it all.

[DaSeba5]

I get where you guys are coming from.

The Pacers definitely don't appear to pose as much of a threat as they did at the beginning of the year. They are inconsistent at times, but they are scrappy enough defensively to make a 7 game series a struggle for Miami. Not to mention they will have two playoff series to get their shit together for when they face the real deal. I would probably give MIA a slight edge in this series still without HCA, but it's really close.

When it comes to OKC, who I am personally determined will be in the Finals this year, I think Heat fans who think they have it in the bag against them are dead wrong. It would be one hell of a competitive series. I keep thinking about that first matchup of the year OKC vs. Heat, where even without Westbrook the Thunder just dismantled them. I think a much more poised and seasoned Kevin Durant on the verge of his first title will be a much bigger challenge to face as compared to two years ago. If the Heat don't have home court, I think OKC can give them fits and win it all.

I agree that OKC isn't a pushover. Even when Miami beat them in 5, every game came down to the wire except game 5. But Miami still matches up well against them. I still have a hard time seeing the Thunder beat Miami in a series without a post threat. I fear the Spurs because they have both a post threats and a scary perimeter. Miami is forced to pick their poison. But with the Thunder, Miami doesn't have to worry about getting killed in the post. They can play fast and rotate quickly. Although that's been a problem this year with old tired legs. They just have their number. If anything, it would come down to who steps up outside LeBron and Durant (who pretty much do what they do).

[navy]

I get where you guys are coming from.

The Pacers definitely don't appear to pose as much of a threat as they did at the beginning of the year. They are inconsistent at times, but they are scrappy enough defensively to make a 7 game series a struggle for Miami. Not to mention they will have two playoff series to get their shit together for when they face the real deal. I would probably give MIA a slight edge in this series still without HCA, but it's really close.

When it comes to OKC, who I am personally determined will be in the Finals this year, I think Heat fans who think they have it in the bag against them are dead wrong. It would be one hell of a competitive series. I keep thinking about that first matchup of the year OKC vs. Heat, where even without Westbrook the Thunder just dismantled them. I think a much more poised and seasoned Kevin Durant on the verge of his first title will be a much bigger challenge to face as compared to two years ago. If the Heat don't have home court, I think OKC can give them fits and win it all.
So why does the first match up matter more than the second? Both are irrelevant. :rolleyes:

The Thunder cant beat the Heat because Ibaka is their best big. The Heat's weakness. I dont trust any the bulls and pacers because they cant match the Heat in a seven game series. THey just dont have the firepower.

[JohnFreeman]

Heat will beat Thunder in another finals match up in my opinion. Bosh, Oden and Birdman would eat up Ibaka.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

3 titles in 8 years. 2 x defending champs. "fraud" team lol.

Nothing to do with THIS year. But alright.

[Mr. Incredible]

Until the Heat lose, you're just grasping at straws.

[DaSeba5]

Nothing to do with THIS year. But alright.

So you are saying the #2 seed in the East and probably favorites to 3-peat in the East are frauds/pretenders? ok

I'm sure you thought they were extremely stacked a month ago.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

So you are saying the #2 seed in the East and probably favorites to 3-peat in the East are frauds/pretenders? ok

Explain how they're "probably favorites" if you and your butt-buddies continue on with the sarcastic "stacked" bullshit? This should be good :oldlol:

[DaSeba5]

Explain how they're "probably favorites" if you and your butt-buddies continue on with the sarcastic "stacked" bullshit? This should be good :oldlol:

People say they are extremely stacked, even to the point of saying most stacked team in history... at least they used to before this month. Fans are fickle that way. Whatever fits the agenda I suppose. In a series, people will "probably" pick Miami in a series against Indiana even without HCA. Slight edge. If they lose in the ECF, I'm not sure how being in the final 4 makes them a fraud team. I really don't get what you mean, but you're probably trolling.

Butt-buddies lol.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

People say they are extremely stacked, even to the point of saying most stacked team in history... at least they used to before this month. Fans are fickle that way. Whatever fits the agenda I suppose. In a series, people will "probably" pick Miami in a series against Indiana even without HCA. Slight edge. If they lose in the ECF, I'm not sure how being in the final 4 makes them a fraud team. I really don't get what you mean, but you're probably trolling.

Butt-buddies lol.

People say that relative to era, and they're right, just NOT this year. The Heat are no longer a "big 3" (not consistent enough).

Unless Wade picks up his game and Miami steps it up defensively (tonight was an anomaly), it wont matter what their regular-season record is, they're not "3-peating". :confusedshrug:

You're a homer, of course anything that isn't pro-heat, is trolling

[DaSeba5]

People say that relative to era, and they're right, just NOT this year. The Heat are no longer a "big 3". They're not consistent enough.

Unless Wade picks up his game and Miami steps it up defensively (tonight was an anomaly), it wont matter what their regular-season record is, they're not "3-peating", hence. :confusedshrug:

Doesn't make them a fraud team though. That would imply they are due to lose in the first or second round. I agree with you though. Like I said, if the don't 3-peat, they blew it when they choked in 2011 because making 4 Finals in a row is way too difficult.

[DaSeba5]

You're a homer, of course anything that isn't pro-heat, is trolling

I'm too negative to be a homer. My friends get mad at me when I say Wade is on a decline. I complain a lot about my other teams as well. Especially the Dolphins. I'm not only pro-Heat. I never said Miami is easily the favorites. We da bess.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

I'm too negative to be a homer. My friends get mad at me when I say Wade is on a decline. I complain a lot about my other teams as well. Especially the Dolphins. I'm not only pro-Heat. I never said Miami is easily the favorites. We da bess.

Nah you're definitely a homer.

'sall good though, nobodies perfect :cheers:

[DaSeba5]

Nah you're definitely a homer.

'sall good though, nobodies perfect :cheers:

Ok :banana:

[JBrizzy]

The Heat are not as good as last year when they dominated the second half of the season with that incredible streak. They are not as good as the year before that when they smashed OKC.

The Pacers are better than they were last year when they took the Heat to 7 games.

I don't know who I favour out of the Pacers and the Heat. I don't give a shit about any of the other teams in the East, so as far as I'm concerned they are a 50/50 shot of going to the Finals again this year.

[Castor Troy]

If anything, DaSeba5 is one of the more balanced Miami fans I have seen on this forum. He's a Miami fan, not a homer.

Anyway, moving on, while Miami is not firing on all cylinders, they are still probably the team to beat in the East this year. Everytime LeBron had the ball, in my mind, I knew he was going to make a play. Obviously this did not always happen, but the fear is there. He is ridiculously talented and makes any team better. Even a team of old tired legs.

Either way, I hope they dont make the Finals again. But that is simply because I dont like the team.

[All Net]

I think Miami will have problems if they have to go on the road in two back to back series to win the title considering they had two game 7's last year.

[Mr. Incredible]

I think Miami will have problems if they have to go on the road in two back to back series to win the title considering they had two game 7's last year.
Obviously.

[BlackVVaves]

:wtf:
Miami against top teams in league over last 2 months
- For purposes of this thread, top teams = top 5 in respective conference

MARCH
3/26 - Loss to Pacers (83-84) on road
3/24 - Win against Blazers (93-91) at home *No LMA or Wade
3/16 - Win against Rockets (113-104) at home
3/12 - Loss to Nets (95-96) at home *No KG
3/9 - Loss to Bulls (88-95) on road
3/6 - Loss to Spurs (87-111) on road
3/4 - Loss to Rockets (103-104) on road

FEBRUARY
2/23 - Win against Bulls (93-79) at home *No LBJ
2/20 - Win against Thunder (103-81) on road
2/5 - Win against Clippers (116-112) on road *No CP3

Overall: 5-5 record, 2-4 on the road, 3-1 at home
- MIA lost both games against teams with better records (SAS & IND)


Obviously as back-to-back champions Miami will find themselves less concerned about record against the best as compared to other contenders, but still interesting to analyze nonetheless.

Are you doing this just because the Spurs get flamed by fans and basketball minds alike for their embarrassing record against elite teams in the league this year?

You sly fox you.

[BlackVVaves]

If anything, DaSeba5 is one of the more balanced Miami fans I have seen on this forum. He's a Miami fan, not a homer.


He's the best Heat fan on this board by a LONG shot. And of the better posters on this swamp land of trolls in general.

[aj1987]

I think Miami will have problems if they have to go on the road in two back to back series to win the title considering they had two game 7's last year.
If Miami is the 2nd see though, we'd have to go through the Lolcats and Raptors/Wizards. Would be a cake walk. Without the Bulls roughing up the Heat players, they'd be fresh for the Pacers. Might have a chance to knock them out in 6.