The NBA Finals have been great two games in, just as expected. After an exciting game 1 where the AC system was broken, LeBron James cramped up and the San Antonio Spurs shot 14-16 in the fourth quarter, the series looked to be in the Spurs favor. Then game 2 came around and the Miami Heat pulled out the victory in a close contest to the end behind an excellent performance by LeBron. Now with the series tied up at 1-1 and heading to Miami for two games, this series is anyone’s to grab. Regardless of which team you have a preference for, you have to admit that the Spurs and Heat are very similar.
When looking at the box score for the game I noticed something for both teams. For Miami there were four players who scored in double digits and for San Antonio there were only three. Each member of each teams Big 3 scored in double digits while Miami was joined by Rashard Lewis who had 14 points. As amazing as both teams are they always need that extra guy to have a great game in order for them to secure important victories in the playoffs.
Both of these teams play a similar brand of basketball when it comes to strategy as well. Both Miami and San Antonio play a very unselfish brand of basketball as the ball swings around the perimeter until a shooter is found. These two teams always pass up good shots for great shots and always keep everyone involved in the offense. Both teams play great defensive as well and have no problem switching off defenders.
Both coaches also aren’t afraid to make changes and employee players who are ok with not playing sometimes for the better of the team. During their last series versus the Oklahoma City Thunder, Coach Popovich threw the little used Matt Bonner in the lineup and won the next two games. Similarly the Miami Heat began starting Rashard Lewis late in their playoff run. Both coaches make rotation changes when necessary and play players who will get out there and play hard.
Both the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs play an amazing brand of basketball and have an equal chance of winning the whole thing. There’s a reason both of these teams made the finals for the last two years.