No one giving the Heat a chance?

[Dr. Jack]

All I keep hearing is Boston in 6

Dan Gilbert must be thrilled.

I think Miami will prove to athletic for Boston and they ain't the Knicks. They actually play defense and after defending a Sixer team that does not ever stop running - I think the older Celtics will play in to Heat's hands.

Oh and hope Shaq plays. Just need to find a way to stop Rondo

Heat in 5

[dave nz]

Hope you are right mate, GL to The Heat

[bigsportsguy2006]

Go heat!

[Dr. Jack]

Really good article here
What Heat-Celtics means to the Miami Heat | ProBasketballTalk

[dalers2k]

The Heat are in the playoffs ? Oh they must be defending the championship they celebrated after the decision to bring Lebron's talents to South Beach !
Nobody giving the Heat a chance ? Heat are close to 2 to 1 to win the series in most books and either favorite or co-favorite to go to the NBA finals. ESPN's "insiders" are on the Heat. An underdog, they are not.

All that said, Heat go down in 6.

[uva3021]

Heat get swept

[Keith]

Originally Posted by dalers2k

Nobody giving the Heat a chance ? Heat are close to 2 to 1 to win the series in most books and either favorite or co-favorite to go to the NBA finals. ESPN's "insiders" are on the Heat. An underdog, they are not.

All that said, Heat go down in 6.

was about to say the same thing. The Heat are -210 in the series with my book (Celtics +170). I was shocked the line was that high to start with. The Celtics have FOUR monster players (Pierce, Allen, Rondo and Garnett). They are a very good team. I intend to play them at +170 for sure.

[mrwho]

the sharp consensus picks are all on the celtics so thats good news for you..

[justdonating]

Celtics +170 is good value! This should be a great series!

[Dr. Jack]

Let me clarify - I know the Heat are big favorites with books. But if you look at any of the ESPN polls, all the prediction sites that I've seen everyone seems to be picking Boston.

All I've heard is Heat can't win close games, Boston knows how to execute and they are going to win - blah blah blah

It's mostly fans who really want to see this whole thing fail I think. Haven't been to many Lebron sucks threads but you can bet if they lose the series that's what we will see.

UVA - you crazy

That's what I was trying to say

[MCP313]

I hate the Boston Celtics so much I just might start cheering for the Heat.

[chibob]

Will be a fun series to watch, when in Boston. That announcer for the Heat who yells DEEEWAYNE WAAADDDDE when he makes a shot, just might be the biggest jag I have ever heard. I suppose if one is a Heat fan, it is music to their ears, but not for me..more like fingernails on a blackboard

But, go Heat

[whodi]

As much as I love my Heat I don't think they can beat Boston in a 7 game series. They will need to get 20+ from Bosh every game. We just don't match up well against them and as far as stopping Rondo, just don't see it. I think the Perkins trade helped us a lot and I'm still shocked Boston traded him away.

The lack of inside post presence for the Heat is what's going to expose them and has exposed them all year. J Anthony has played great for us, so I hope he continues. We are a jump shooting team and don't run too many offensive sets, so when we are hitting on all cylinders we are like the Suns and will roll all but when we are off we go through those games when we give up 30+ quarters and teams are running on us and the frustration kicks in and it becomes a one on 5 game between Wade and Lebron. This team doesn't have any consistent shooters like the 2006 team did off the bench. These guys are getting plenty of open looks but miss way to many. Miller has been a total bust and Haslem going down definitely hurt us.

What many don't realize is this isn't a 1-2 year window back when we had Shaq to get a ring, so I won't be disappointed if we don't win it this year. It takes time to have 3 elite players to adjust their games, especially a guy like Bosh who we need to play closer to the rim and be more of a post up player. $hit LJ needs to be more of a post up player and take advantage of his size, which I feel he hasn't done.

This team will be absolutely sick in the next 1-2 years and after they have played together a couple of years it will be very scary. IMO they will be unstoppable at that point and we will still have them for another 4-5 years with some pieces added to them.

I hope they can pull this series off because IMO this is the Eastern Conference Finals but I don't consider this year a failure if they don't win it all or get to the finals nor should any Heat fans. Next year is a different story.

[Jahred]

disagree Jack

Heat in 4

[SPORTSPICKS2003]

I've said Boston in 6 from jump. Wade and James can, and will win the Heat a game a piece. Bosh has always been key, he gives/provides the Heat with the one thing neither Wade, or James provide, low post scoring and presence on the blocks. The Heat won't win with 2.5 players. Bibby will be a non factor, as will be Chalmers, and Jones. They won't get anything from the middle. It will come down to Wade and James taking 25 FGA per game. James is good for an 8-28 shooting night. The Heat supporting cast will be lucky to get about 10 FGA combined.

Boston will take a way 1 of the big 2.5, and there will be 1 that will have a terrible night. The Heat will take Bosh out all by themselves. Boston can effectively, and efficiently score from every position on the floor. Rondo key number 32 points/assists/rebounds anything above that, is money in the bank.