Series Thread: 3) Miami Heat (48-34) vs 6) Charlotte Hornets (48-34)

[TurnUpTheHeat]

#playerswanttobehereexceptforlebron

Really?
You better go back and watch the jersey burnings in the street of Cleveland in July 2010.
James' problem became thinking he learned enough here to leave and still win championships there.

#wrong

 

[WiggyRuss]

Playing Miami in the first round of the NBA playoffs was the worst possible postseason draw for Charlotte in 2014.

But playing Miami in the very same round two years later is the best possible scenario for these Hornets.

By virtue of the way everything shook out, Charlotte not only avoided the dreaded “LeBron Bracket” of the playoffs but will also play a Miami team that is technically a No. 3 seed compared to Charlotte’s No. 6 but in reality is pretty much a wash in talent. Miami has exactly the same overall record (48-34) this season. The teams tied 2-2 in the head-to-head series this year

The series opens Sunday at 5:30 p.m. in Miami on TNT. The winner of the best-of-7 series will play the winner of Toronto and Indiana the second round; No. 1 seed LeBron and Cleveland get to pound their way through the other side of the Eastern Conference.

Miami and Charlotte are both remarkably different from two seasons ago. LeBron James pretty much could and did beat the Hornets by himself then, averaging 30 points, eight rebounds and six assists in Miami’s 4-0 playoff sweep over Charlotte. Now LeBron has left South Beach. Chris Bosh is still out with blood clot issues. Only Dwyane Wade of the Heat’s original “Big Three” remains.

And although D-Wade can never be overlooked and has a new and talented cast around him, this Heat team is nowhere near the colossus it was a couple of years ago when it made the NBA Finals for four straight seasons and won two.

“We had no chance against that Miami team in 2014,” Charlotte point guard Kemba Walker said. “None.”

“We have a lot better team,” said Hornets coach Steve Clifford, whose team will look for Charlotte’s first playoff win of the 21st century Sunday. “Two years ago our guys did a great job, but we didn’t have nearly the talent level or depth we have now.”

Hornets fans understandably fret that Nic Batum isn’t going into the series healthy – he has an ankle issue, and the worry is that he will be diminished much like Jefferson was in that 2014 series. Clifford said before the playoff draw was announced that he hoped the Hornets began Sunday instead of Saturday mainly so Batum would get an extra day of rest.



Read more here: Charlotte Hornets could not have asked for a better playoff matchup than the Heat

Read more here: Charlotte Hornets could not have asked for a better playoff matchup than the Heat

 

[WiggyRuss]

I want to see Kemba- now that he is near his prime- and with a decent supporting cast- and against a team he has a realistic shot of making a series out of it. I just remember how much of a fighter and clutch player this kid was at UConn. Still very young- but i think itll be fun.

Toronto and Cleveland should cruise i think- but these middle 2 series should be fun.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

I want to see Kemba- now that he is near his prime- and with a decent supporting cast- and against a team he has a realistic shot of making a series out of it. I just remember how much of a fighter and clutch player this kid was at UConn. Still very young- but i think itll be fun.

Toronto and Cleveland should cruise i think- but these middle 2 series should be fun.

I think Raptors win the series, but I doubt they cruise.
Cavs win in 4 unless they shoot really bad from behind the line (they really average 34 3's pg?)or Pistons get red hot from downtown which rarely happens.

 

[bksballer89]

Playing Miami in the first round of the NBA playoffs was the worst possible postseason draw for Charlotte in 2014.

But playing Miami in the very same round two years later is the best possible scenario for these Hornets.

By virtue of the way everything shook out, Charlotte not only avoided the dreaded “LeBron Bracket” of the playoffs but will also play a Miami team that is technically a No. 3 seed compared to Charlotte’s No. 6 but in reality is pretty much a wash in talent. Miami has exactly the same overall record (48-34) this season. The teams tied 2-2 in the head-to-head series this year

The series opens Sunday at 5:30 p.m. in Miami on TNT. The winner of the best-of-7 series will play the winner of Toronto and Indiana the second round; No. 1 seed LeBron and Cleveland get to pound their way through the other side of the Eastern Conference.

Miami and Charlotte are both remarkably different from two seasons ago. LeBron James pretty much could and did beat the Hornets by himself then, averaging 30 points, eight rebounds and six assists in Miami’s 4-0 playoff sweep over Charlotte. Now LeBron has left South Beach. Chris Bosh is still out with blood clot issues. Only Dwyane Wade of the Heat’s original “Big Three” remains.

And although D-Wade can never be overlooked and has a new and talented cast around him, this Heat team is nowhere near the colossus it was a couple of years ago when it made the NBA Finals for four straight seasons and won two.

“We had no chance against that Miami team in 2014,” Charlotte point guard Kemba Walker said. “None.”

“We have a lot better team,” said Hornets coach Steve Clifford, whose team will look for Charlotte’s first playoff win of the 21st century Sunday. “Two years ago our guys did a great job, but we didn’t have nearly the talent level or depth we have now.”

Hornets fans understandably fret that Nic Batum isn’t going into the series healthy – he has an ankle issue, and the worry is that he will be diminished much like Jefferson was in that 2014 series. Clifford said before the playoff draw was announced that he hoped the Hornets began Sunday instead of Saturday mainly so Batum would get an extra day of rest.



Read more here: Charlotte Hornets could not have asked for a better playoff matchup than the Heat

Read more here: Charlotte Hornets could not have asked for a better playoff matchup than the Heat

The feeling is mutual

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Bees in 6

 

[Heatles84]

It's great that Charlotte wanted the Heat so bad. Because the feeling is certainly mutual.

 

[The Derski]

Heat in 6

 

[bksballer89]

Heat in 6

You're smart.

 

[bksballer89]

#thuglife

 

[tducey]

Heat in 7.

 

[Flauge]

i think thats my pick as well....should be a good series...almost had miami in 6 but i think charlotte would fight it out on the road.....should be a good series. Ill laugh my ass off if the Heat lose though lemme tell ya...it would be great...a young up and coming charlotte team first time in the playoffs beating their old division rivals the Heat would be both awesome- and quite the statement and show a changing of the guard in both that division and the East.

I disagree with any statement of anything. I don't think the Heat are the standard bearer in the East anymore, especially with the a 10 time all-star out for this season, and possibly career threatening medical condition. End of the day, Hornets have the same record Miami does. Miami has homecourt and players like Wade/Joe Johnson who have hit big contested playoff shots before gives Miami a slight edge, but if Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson can carry them to a win, I am not going to be exactly shocked. The only shocking thing I can see happening in the East is if the Cavs don't come out of it. The rest of the East is playing to avoid the Cavs as long as possible.

 

[bksballer89]

I disagree with any statement of anything. I don't think the Heat are the standard bearer in the East anymore, especially with the a 10 time all-star out for this season, and possibly career threatening medical condition. End of the day, Hornets have the same record Miami does. Miami has homecourt and players like Wade/Joe Johnson who have hit big contested playoff shots before gives Miami a slight edge, but if Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson can carry them to a win, I am not going to be exactly shocked. The only shocking thing I can see happening in the East is if the Cavs don't come out of it. The rest of the East is playing to avoid the Cavs as long as possible.

Wiggy is an idiot. Those 4 teams ( Miami, Atlanta, Boston and Charlotte) finished with the same record for a reason.

 

[Flauge]

Really?
You better go back and watch the jersey burnings in the street of Cleveland in July 2010.
James' problem became thinking he learned enough here to leave and still win championships there.

#wrong

Impossible to prove, but had James stayed in Miami, I think they would have won the championship last year. They were up 2-1 with no Love and no Kyrie. Wade/Whiteside with LeBron probably close that deal. Who knows though? Either way, as a Heat fan, I am SOOOOO happy this GSW took off so quickly to become the beasts they are. The only way I ever want to see LeBron win a title is in a Miami uniform. I will love to see how he is viewed in Cleveland sports history if he stays there and never delivers a title.

 

[bksballer89]

Impossible to prove, but had James stayed in Miami, I think they would have won the championship last year. They were up 2-1 with no Love and no Kyrie. Wade/Whiteside with LeBron probably close that deal. Who knows though? Either way, as a Heat fan, I am SOOOOO happy this GSW took off so quickly to become the beasts they are. The only way I ever want to see LeBron win a title is in a Miami uniform. I will love to see how he is viewed in Cleveland sports history if he stays there and never delivers a title.

Guaranteed if he doesn't win a title in Cleveland, Lebron will admit after he retired that going back to Cleveland was a mistake

 

[Flauge]

Guaranteed if he doesn't win a title in Cleveland, Lebron will admit after he retired that going back to Cleveland was a mistake

WOW. I would love to see the fallout of that statement.

 

[trojanfan12]

WOW. I would love to see the fallout of that statement.

We already have.

 

[WiggyRuss]

We already have.

View attachment 108129

im pretty sure thats bskballers husband....

 

[Wamu]

Guaranteed if he doesn't win a title in Cleveland, Lebron will admit after he retired that going back to Cleveland was a mistake

I think you're full of shit & just pissed off he had the nerve to walk away from the Heat. It's funny that the vast majority of you Heat fans ignore then fact he's actually from NE Ohio. And keep in mind I'm not even a Cavs fan. Had he never left Miami about 99.8% of Heat fans today wouldn't have an issue w/ him.

 

[bksballer89]

I think you're full of shit & just pissed off he had the nerve to walk away from the Heat. It's funny that the vast majority of you Heat fans ignore then fact he's actually from NE Ohio. And keep in mind I'm not even a Cavs fan. Had he never left Miami about 99.8% of Heat fans today wouldn't have an issue w/ him.

But I don't have an issue with him.