San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat

The Spurs had a while to prepare and now they have to defeat the defending champions to win the franchise’s fifth NBA title.  The Spurs are not short on experience, but they might be short on athleticism.  But they make up for that with excellent coaching from Gregg Popovich.  He is the best at making adjustments on the fly during the game and he will likely have to make a few with the fast paced Miami Heat.  San Antonio’s big weapon is the pick and roll with Tony Parker and Tim Duncan.  Miami’s big men, Chris Bosh, Chris Andersen and Udonis Haslem are not ideal at defending it.  Should Tony Parker continue to slice his way through Miami’s frontcourt to the basket, it might be another quick series for the Spurs.

Miami had a tough seven game series with the Indiana Pacers and that long series has given the Spurs plenty of tape to study.  What many teams have had trouble with though is how to contain LeBron James.  San Antonio doesn’t really have one player that can contain LeBron without help.  When that happens the Heat have many shooters that LeBron can then pass too for open shots. Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh have had a rough playoff run, but this will be a redeeming series for them if they can do more to help take the pressure off LeBron.  It should be a tough series for Miami, but when they start to get it going their opponents have a tough time catching up.

Key Players: G Tony Parker and G Dwayne Wade

Results: Heat in 7 games

1. Miami Heat vs. 3. Indiana Pacers

These two teams do have some history between them.  Recent history actually.  Ever since this current Miami Heat team was assembled with LeBron James and Chris Bosh joining Dwayne Wade in South Beach, it was no surprise that almost every team in the NBA was going to give Miami their best.  The Heat will be looking for their third consecutive NBA Finals appearance, but the Indiana Pacers have been a thorn in Miami’s side.  Indiana does not like Miami and it’s probably the same with the Heat not liking the Pacers.  The Pacers must establish themselves in the post early and often if they want to beat the Heat.  They have a clear size advantage and will be attacking the glass often with a huge rebounding advantage.  Roy Hibbert is quickly becoming a force in the paint and the Heat don’t have an answer for that unless they get him in foul trouble.  Indiana will have to try to slow down Miami for as long as they possibly can.  If Dwayne Wade isn’t healthy for the entire series the Heat might find it more difficult for them to make that Finals appearance.

Key Players: G Dwayne Wade and C Roy Hibbert

Results: Pacers in 7 games

2. San Antonio Spurs vs. 5. Memphis Grizzlies

It really shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Memphis Grizzlies are in this position.  Both Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol are two formidable post players and they will create havoc for the Spurs. Tim Duncan is playing like his younger self, but he has a tough task ahead of himself and his teammates on the block against Memphis.  Mike Conley is quickly establishing himself as one of the best point guards in the league for the Grizzlies.  Tayshaun Prince is doing a great job with Tony Allen defensively and making smart decisions on offense.  Memphis’ bench is just as good as any other team’s in the NBA.  If San Antonio has any shot of beating the Grizzlies, they will need to outduel their bench.  Which means Manu Ginobili needs to play much better in the Conference Finals.  It’s to be expected that Tony Parker will perform up to his standard of play, but if he slows down or gets hurt it will be a quick exit for the Spurs.

Key Players: G Tony Parker and C Marc Gasol

Results: Grizzlies in 6 games

1. Miami Heat vs. 5. Chicago Bulls

Key Players: F LeBron James and G Nate Robinson

Results: Heat in 6 games

2. New York Knicks vs. 3 Indiana Pacers

Key Players: G J.R. Smith and F Paul George

Results: Pacers in 6 games

1. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 5. Memphis Grizzlies

Key Players: G Reggie Jackson and C Marc Gasol

Results: Grizzlies in 6 games

2. San Antonio Spurs vs. 6. Golden State Warriors

Key Players: G Tony Parker and G Stephen Curry

Results: Spurs in 7 games

1. Miami Heat vs. 8 Milwaukee Bucks

Key Players: G Dwayne Wade and G Brandon Jennings

Results: Heat in 4 games

2. New York Knicks vs. 7. Boston Celtics

Key Players: F Carmelo Anthony and F Kevin Garnett

Results: Knicks in 7 games

3. Indiana Pacers vs. 6. Atlanta Hawks

Key Players: C Roy Hibbert and F Josh Smith

Results: Pacers in 5 games

4. Brooklyn Nets vs. 5. Chicago Bulls

Key Players: C Brook Lopez and F Luol Deng

Results: Bulls in 6 games

1. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 8. Houston Rockets

Key Players: G Russell Westbrook and G James Harden

Results: Thunder in 5 games

2. San Antonio Spurs vs. 7. Los Angeles Lakers

Key Players: G Tony Parker and F Pau Gasol

Results: Spurs in 6 games

3. Denver Nuggets vs. 6. Golden State Warriors

Key Players: G Andre Iguodala and F David Lee

Results: Nuggets in 7 games

4. Los Angeles Clippers vs. 5. Memphis Grizzlies

Key Players: F Blake Griffin and F Zach Randolph

Results: Clippers in 7 games

The NBA and the entire sports world lost one of their greatest owners in Jerry Buss.  The things he did not only changed the NBA for the better, but changed the landscape of sports as we know it today.  

Winning championships was one of his mainstays, but the other was making the fans happy.  That can be said with his ‘showtime’ Lakers of the 1980s who brought titles and entertainment to what many consider the entertainment capital of the world in Los Angeles.

Cheerleaders started in the NBA with the Laker Girls the first year Jerry Buss took over the team.  He started an exclusive television network to broadcast Lakers games in 1985 with the launch of Prime Ticket.  Ultimately it set the stage for many other sports teams to acquire exclusive television rights deals in the near future.

He was honored as a Hall of Famer in 2010 with his formal induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame.  He once said in an interview that when he purchased the Los Angeles Lakers that he wanted folks to think of the Lakers when they thought of the city of Los Angeles.  He certainly succeeded in that regard.  But perhaps what I will remember the most about him is that he had one of the best runs of success in sports history.

For the thirty two years he owned the Los Angeles Lakers, there were only two years in which the Lakers had losing seasons. Sixteen appearances in the NBA Finals and ten titles to show for it. That is an incredible run of success.

In my mind he is without a doubt one of the best owners in any sport.  He wanted to win and he was willing to spend to do it. That’s what you would want out of the owner of a professional sports team.  Win at all cost.  If you win, the fans will come.  They have and they will never forget the great Jerry Buss.