5-On-5 Roundtable: Conference Semifinals Predictions
(2) Miami Heat vs. (6) Brooklyn Nets:
Regular season head-to-head record: BKN 4-0
Dunlap: It’s payback time for the Heat and they’re coming in as the physically (and mentally) rested squad. The Nets beat the Raptors on the strength of their experience and perseverance, but they won’t have that benefit against the Heat, who have played more meaningful games than any team in the world over the past three seasons. Dwyane Wade should be healthy, LeBron James is terrific as always and Chris Bosh will have a favorable matchup against the Nets’ gentle big men. If Deron Williams turned back the clock five years, I’d give the Nets more of a chance, but it’s obvious he’s just not the guy he used to be. Prediction: Heat in 5
Watson: The Nets went 4-0 against the Heat in the regular season. Neither team rebounds well, which makes that a wash, but as I’ve said before, Miami’s the champs … until they’re not. Prediction: Heat in 6
Bourguet: This one is tricky. Miami could very easily sweep this series or the regular season trend could continue and we could see “Nets in six.” The Heat have been resting this whole time, which is great news for Dwyane Wade’s paper mache knees and bad news for Brooklyn’s dinosaurs, but there’s always the chance that rest gives way to rust. You can’t discredit the Nets after sweeping the Heat in the regular season, but three of those games were decided by one point and the fourth was an overtime game. There’s also something to be said of how Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett play when their opponent is LeBron James. But at the end of the day, you just have to go with the best player on the court here and if the Nets prove you wrong, so be it. Prediction: Heat in 5
Young: It’s the series we’ve all been waiting for. Wait, isn’t that Indiana-Miami in the East Finals? That was such a 100 percent certainty during the first half of the season, wasn’t it? Until Brooklyn realized they were becoming the worst disappointment of recent memory (besides the 2012-13 Lakers), and owned one of the league’s top three records since January 1. Paul Pierce looked aggressive – on both ends – in the seven-game series with Toronto, a team that can compare with Miami from an athletic standpoint. Dwyane Wade takes Miami as far as they can possibly go, not LeBron James. James can’t do everything on his own, and we’ve seen that in the late-season struggles that cost them the No. 1 seed. A 4-0 season series sweep for Brooklyn cannot be negated, so don’t try. It gave Jason Kidd‘s unit confidence, and they have enough scorers to get it done on the road in an hostile environment. With Brook Lopez and the way Miami has played this season, it’s more clear cut who I’d take. But without Lopez in the middle, it’s going the distance. Prediction: Nets in 7
(EDITOR’S NOTE: LOL at this transition.)
Giese: I don’t want to hear or see a single person say the Nets will win this series because they beat the Heat in every head-to-head meeting in the regular season. Those games have no standing with the playoffs. Got it? OK, then. We can move along. Miami had the only sweep of the first round and Brooklyn was battle-tested against a very young, inexperienced but talented Toronto team. That shouldn’t be a signifier that the Nets have the edge. If anything, Brooklyn should be worried. The Raptors had so much inexperience on that team, yet they took Brooklyn to the final seconds of the final game of the series. They brought in Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce for experience, but if they can only help you narrowly escape the Raptors, what’s ahead against the two-defending champs? Miami has everything on their side right now and they should be able to cleanly handle this series. I don’t see LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh possibly finishing their time together in anything less than the conference finals. Prediction: Heat in 6