We've come to the end of the road. If you've been following me on Twitter (
@EnigmatikBGDB), you know I've been assigning piers for every team as they start #fishing season. Fourteen piers are occupied and only one pier is left. In one corner, we have a team that is an NBA Finals neophyte in the Oklahoma City Thunder. In the other corner, we have a team that feels they have unfinished business and are seeking redemption in the Miami Heat. Let's recap how they got to this point.
"It's only right. It's only right." -- LeBron James
First of all, salute the Oklahoma City Thunder for their resolve in the playoffs. Their postseason run has been impressive and their most recent series victory is the most impressive of the 2012 Playoffs. After starting the Western Conference Finals down 2-0 most people had dug them a grave, threw them in it and started tossing dirt on them while they were still breathing. Oddly enough, the Thunder weren't ready to go #fishing just yet.
They calmly returned to Oklahoma City and not only put a halt to San Antonio's 20 game win streak, but served up a reverse sweep to the Alamo City boys. Kevin Durant continues to improve, James Harden continues to be a spark plug off the bench and Russell Westbrook continues to frustrate fans and opponents alike. In successive order, the Thunder knocked off the three teams that have won all of the Western Conference Championships from 1999 to 2011. They enter the NBA Finals sporting a postseason record of 12-3 and are a perfect 8-0 at home. Impressive.
In the East, the road to the NBA Finals hasn't been as easy as expected for the Miami Heat. Most felt that Miami would moonwalk into the NBA Finals after Derrick Rose tore his ACL and the Chicago Bulls were unexpectedly bounced in the first round (#doodyface). Each successive series for Miami has tested their resolve and up to this point they have passed each test. Chris Bosh returned to their lineup and gave the Heat a boost off the bench. Shane Battier, Mario Chalmers, and Udonis Haslem provided some much need role player support. Dwyane Wade was setting himself up to be the goat since he was inconsistent throughout the Eastern Conference Finals. However, this team would be no where near this point if not for the efforts of LeBron James. LeBron didnt come to the Eastern Conference Finals to praise Boston's big 3, but to bury them. The three-time MVP was a complete #StatBeast in the ECF, averaging 33.6 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 3.9 apg and shooting 52.7% from the field. Salute that man's effort. The Miami Heat enter the NBA Finals with a 12-6 record and are 8-2 at home.
So here we are, faced with a matchup that in terms of star power can't get any better for the NBA. The 2012 Most Valuable Player squaring off against the 2012 Scoring Champ and MVP runner-up. Here is the NBA Finals matchup (series breakdown in parenthesis):
2 Oklahoma City Thunder (series tied 1-1)
2 Miami Heat
This Finals is going to be like watching Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay run the 100 meter dash seven straight times. Each team won a game at home against the other in the regular season. Both games were played with playoff intensity. Miami does not have an answer for Russell Westbrook. Oklahoma City does not have an answer for LeBron James. Outside of those two players, each team can employ strategies to limit the opponent's offensive threats. OKC has the bigs to battle on the boards and stifle Chris Bosh. Miami can throw LeBron or Shane Battier at Kevin Durant and can employ Battier or Wade on Harden. Sefalosha can lock down Wade. Miami is a better defending team on the perimeter and OKC has the advantage with their interior defense. The supporting casts will be the difference in this series and the advantage goes to the Thunder. LeBron has to do everything for his team to win while Durant has help all over the court.
This series will go the distance and in the end, the Oklahoma City Thunder will find themselves hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy and sending LeBron, Bosh and Wade off to Pier 15 to enjoy #fishing season.
OKC in 7.
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