Let's Be Honest, the Heat are Lucky to Play in the East

[Lebron23]

2012 Celtics were better than the Lakers, Mavericks, Grizzlies, Spurs and the Clippers. A past his prime Duncan outplayed Griffin in the playoffs. Kg was better than TD in the 2012 playoffs.

[ihoopallday]

not really the point. They only had to go through one decent team last year. All the teams that match up with them are in the West. They don't have to go through talented teams with different playstyles like the WCF. Playing in the West you have to go through at least two of OKC/LAL/LAC/SAS/Memphis. That is a lot different from playing the old Celtics or Roseless Bulls.

So what do you want Miami to do. Ask Stern to move them out west. These threads are so pointless.

[no pun intended]

How is this thread rated an average of nearly four stars with 7 votes?

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

How is this thread rated an average of nearly four stars with 7 votes?

Sock accounts / Kobe fanatics

[tmacattack33]

LOL at saying the Spurs or Grizzlies would have an advantage over Miami in the playoffs.

Miami has been the most dominant team in the NBA in the playoffs since the big 3 got there. The Spurs and Grizzlies don't even come close, so you have absolutely no evidence to say that they would have a shot against Miami in the playoffs.

And to mention the Mavs in there is hysterical. They don't have Jason Terry, Jason Kidd, or Tyson Chandler anymore. It's a completely different team.

[Nash]

Let's be honest, the West are lucky Lebron and Miami are in the east.

[ripthekik]

Miami has been the most dominant team in the NBA in the playoffs since the big 3 got there.

what have they done in the playoffs?
2011....
2012: beaten crappy Knicks, starless Pacers took em to 6, old Celtics took them to 7, finally beats a young team first time in finals and avg age is 23

Heat so dominant

[Clippersfan86]

The Heat would run ammuck on most of those teams defenses. The East is where real defense is played, and the West is where the best offenses are. Has been that way for years, and likely will be for plenty more.

Yet the Grizzlies are the 1st best defense right now, Clippers 9th and Spurs 5th. Basically all of these teams that match up well with Miami are significantly better defensively than Miami this year. I would bet money that these 3 could beat Miami in a 7 game series because it's just a bad matchup for Miami small ball. I think the Lakers when they gel and get Nash would also be a bad matchup.

Bottom line is hell yes Miami is lucky to be in the east. I doubt they even get passed the WCF in the west and even that isn't guaranteed because they are going to see one of the teams they struggle with like the ones mentioned.

[tmacattack33]

Playoff records the past two years:

Miami: 30-13

San Antonio: 12-8

Memphis: 10-10

Clippers: 4-7 (and these 11 games are all from 2012...they failed to make the playoffs in 2011)

...

[NumberSix]

Didn't the Heat bitch slap the team that mollywhopped the western conference?

[Clippersfan86]

Playoff records the past two years:

Miami: 30-13

San Antonio: 12-8

Memphis: 10-10

Clippers: 4-7 (and these 11 games are all from 2012...they failed to make the playoffs in 2011)

...

Wow the point of the OP went right over your head didn't it? In the west the top 8 teams beat the living shit out of each other every year. Nothing comes easy it's a straight up tedious bloodbath. Put the Heat in the west the last two years and no guarantees they even get to the WCF.

Now put the Clippers, Grizzlies, Spurs, Lakers etc in the west and they are a lock for the finals most likely as well or at worst ECF.

[tmacattack33]

Wow the point of the OP went right over your head didn't it? In the west the top 8 teams beat the living shit out of each other every year. Nothing comes easy it's a straight up tedious bloodbath. Put the Heat in the west the last two years and no guarantees they even get to the WCF.

Now put the Clippers, Grizzlies, Spurs, Lakers etc in the west and they are a lock for the finals most likely as well or at worst ECF.

...or so you say, based off of no evidence at all.

In the 2011 playoffs, the Heat trampled through completely healthy Bulls and Celtics teams that were definitely on par with this years Grizzlies and Spurs.

[tmacattack33]

Also, you can't just move Miami to the West. To make things fair, you'd have to swap them with the top Western team (right now that is Memphis).

So swap them with Memphis.

Okay, so in round 1 they'd get 8th seeded Houston.

Round 2 they'd play the Spurs.

Round 3 they'd play the Thunder.


So their path would be: Houston - San Antonio - OKC

That's not any harder than what they did in 2011 in the Eastern playoffs: Philly - Boston - Chicago.

[Clippersfan86]

...or so you say, based off of no evidence at all.

In the 2011 playoffs, the Heat trampled through completely healthy Bulls and Celtics teams that were definitely on par with this years Grizzlies and Spurs.

This year we have played what 15-20 games? It's WAY too soon to act like these teams are all finished products because most of the contenders still aren't conditioned or 100 percent.

Bottom line is you need to pay respect and acknowledge that some teams give Miami matchup problems. Every team in the NBA has matchup strengths and weaknesses. Miami doesn't do well vs these big, athletic and skilled frontcourts and we've seen it time and time again the last 3 years. Memphis and the Clippers have torched them winning 4 of 5 a piece vs Miami in the Lebron era.

Spurs have given Miami problems in recent years too. No shame in admitting that you have a weakness. For example my Clips have problems with the Lakers and Spurs. Doesn't mean they can't win, just means it's a huge challenge and would be a dogfight.

I'm not saying Miami wouldn't beat these teams but rather to act like they wouldn't be more challenged by these teams is stupid and ignorant.

[Lebron23]

The 2012 Miami Heat B1tchslapped the Spurs in the regular season. Back to back 30 points @$$whooping.