<font color="Red">Who would you like to see the Heat play in the 1st Round of the Playoffs ?</font> Which team would be the <font color="Red">most difficult </font> to beat? <font color="Red">Easiest?</font> -I would like to see the Heat play the Cavs. -I think the 76ers would be the most difficult, simply because Iverson can steal a game or two on his own.. -I think Cleveland would be the easiest opponent for Miami. I think the Heat can contain Lebron and sweep the series. -The Nets can be dangerous if Carter stays hot and Kidd is healthy. <font color="Red">Possible Opponents:</font> with current Standing Indiana Pacers (5) Washington Wizards(6) Cleveland Cavaliers (7) Philadelphia 76ers (8) New Jersey Nets (out)
I don't think AI is a threat, if he wants to hog the ball then the Heat would be more than happy to rough him up and throw double/triple teams until he coughs it up. I would like to play the Cavs because despite whatever performance they get from LBJ they just struggle to win. I think we'll end up playing the Nets. They have an easy schedule remaining and the Sixers have a tough one. They also own the tie breaker over the Sixers so that's gonna really help their chances.
Heat do not want to face The 76ers in Round 1, infact no high seed wants to be rewarded with Webber and Iverson, trust me. 76ers have plenty of big bodies to throw at Shaquille O'Neal like Chris Webber, Samuel Dalembert, Rodney Rogers, Marc Jackson, and Michael Bradley. Allen Iverson is just as dangerous on both ends of the floor as Dwayne Wade, the two ALL-STARS are likely to offset each other's production. Than you have the role players who are matched pretty evenly. Should be a VERY VERY interesting matchup, 76ers won't go down without a fight, that's for sure.
The Nets, by far. Vince Carter or not, they have no inside presence. The Cavs have Z, the Sixers have Webber, the Nets have nobody. Vince and Jason Kidd may get hot and steal a game or two, but there is no chance they would survive against Shaq in a 7 game series.
Whether it's the Cavs, Nets, or 76ers I don't think it's going to make a difference. The Heat should sweep any of these teams. The easiest draw would be the Cavs. Even though I still don't think they will even make the playoffs, the Cavs are playing terrible basketball and have zero playoff experience. The Heat would walk all over this team in the post-season. The 76ers would give the Heat some competition, but in the end the Heat's depth and speed is too, much for the 76ers to handle. The Nets present the toughest challenge IMO. They get back Richard Jefferson if they make the post-season, and with the trio of him, Kidd, and Carter, the Nets give some nasty matchups for the Heat. The Nets have no answer for Shaq, but in reality, no one really does. One thing Jason Kidd did against Shaq in the Finals a few years ago was drive in on him to pick up some quick, cheap fouls. It's a tall order to expect more than 1 or 2 wins from any of those teams though. The Heat should move on and I'm looking forward to their war with the Pistons.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">The 76ers would give the Heat some competition, but in the end the Heat's depth and speed is too, much for the 76ers to handle.</div> Well in the playoffs Depth becomes less of an issue, most teams usually use a 7-8 man rotation for the majority of games. The 76ers aren't lacking depth anyhow, they go 10 deep... Chris Webber Allen Iverson Kyle Korver Andre Iguodala Aaron McKie Rodney Rogers Samuel Dalembert Marc Jackson Willie Green John Salmons The 76ers have some very nice role players as well. Kyle Korver and Aaron McKie are excellent 3-Point Shooters. Willie Green and John Salmons are youthful, high energy players, their spark off the bench is very valuable. Marc Jackson and Samuel Dalembert are two of the most under rated Centers in the entire league. Jackson averages 12.2 Points and 5.1 Rebounds in just 24 Minutes a game. Samuel Dalembert averages 8.4 Points, 7.5 Rebounds, and 1.68 Blocks in just 25 Minutes a game. So in 48 Minutes they're getting roughly 20 Points, 12 Rebounds, and 2 Blocks from their Center rotation. Rodney Rogers is a crafty veteran who's played in several meaningful games, averaging 9.1 PPG in 22.7 Minutes over his 27 Game Career Playoff Apperances. Andre Iguodala speaks for himself. His open floor ability is off the page, he's back door cuts are deadly, and he's always dangerous cutting to the basket. Throw in Allen Iverson, league's leading scorer, and Chris Webber, who when healthy is still among the league's top power fowards, and you have the potential for a MAJOR MAJOR upset in the first round. Honestly, people need to give The 76ers a little more credit!
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> the Sixers have Webber </div> That made me laugh. You actually think Webber's going to even attempt to guard Shaq?? I think the toughest threat for them would be the Nets but I expect Miami to take it 5, considering Shaq is healthy. Let's hope he reinjures himself (no hard feelings hehe).
New Jersey Nets VS Miami Heat Looks like the Nets will beat Boston and meet the Heat in the 1st Round of the Playoffs. The Heat swept the season series. Vince Carter has been red hot lately but they have no answers whatsoever for Shaq. Prediction: <font color="Red">HEAT IN 5.</font>
Trying to watch the Nets try to guard Shaq will not be a pretty sight. Heat should win this series in no less than 5 games.
