Heat vs. Spurs: How things are going to pan out on court

The NBA Finals are just around the corner and we an experienced San Antonio Spurs side will take on reigning champs Miami Heat, in what promises to be an exciting clash. The Spurs swept the Memphis Grizzlies in their Conference Finals, while the Heat were taken all the way to Game 7 by the Indiana Pacers. So let’s take a look at the decisive match-ups this series is going to throw up:

Point Guard: Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs) versus Mario Chalmers (Miami Heat)

Tony Parker doesn’t just shoot well, but he has also been at the centre of the creation process For the Spurs. The Frenchman is an assist machine and also defends so well, that there are bound to be turnovers. So far in the playoffs, he has been the most pivotal point guard in any team’s line-up and even when he was matched up against the likes of Stephan Curry of the Golden State Warriors or Mike Conley of the Memphis Grizzlies, he was able to ease his way out of the match-up. Parker is in the form of his life and could well seal the series single-handedly if he isn’t marked efficiently.

Mario Chalmers, on the other hand, is a point guard whose form has yet to level out. Over the years, Miami has fancied Chalmers to show up in tough games with his threes and crucial turnovers that he generates. However, coming up against an elite point guard in Parker isn’t an easy matchup, for anyone, let alone Chalmers.

Prediction: Tony Parker outscores, outrebounds and gets more assists than Mario Chalmers throughout the series.

Shooting Guard: Dwayne Wade (Miami Heat) versus Danny Green (San Antonio Spurs)

Throughout the series against the Pacers, Wade did everything right in offense till it came to shooting the ball. He found the space, drove in when necessary and took threes only when open. Yet, something seemed to be off. Wade has been the biggest disappointment of any superstar in the playoffs so far. Not only is he doing poorly from the field but he hasn’t guarded any of his men with the vigour that defines D-Wade defence.

Danny Green is as solid and consistent shooting guard as it can get. Often shied away from limelight due to his quiet persona, Green has been a revelation in the past two playoffs. Two years ago, teams didn’t want to sign Green to a contract but today, he racks in big money. And his contribution on the court shouldn’t go unnoticed either. Danny Green will be a big threat to the Miami Heat line-up considering he steals the ball better than anyone the Heat have faced so far and could hit the threes as well.

Prediction: It is going to be tight for Dwayne Wade playing Danny Green and this could be another match-up that could tip in the Spurs’ favour should Miami’s number 3 continue to not show up in the playoffs.

Small Forward: Lebron James (Miami Heat) versus Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs)

Kawhi Leonard is an extremely talented individual. Despite predictions that Tayshaun Prince would shut him in the Grizzlies series, he played a great basketball game and emerged victorious. But his next match-up is against the best basketball player in the world today. Leonard can shoot, dribble and play strong defence. However, his objective in the entire series would be to not let LeBron shoot. Even if Leonard came out with a 5 PPG and 3 RPG average but curtailed LeBron to a meagre 20 PPG, Gregg Popovich would be more than content with the San Diego State product’s performance.

LeBron is in the form of his life. Having just won back to back regular season MVPs, LeBron is going for his second straight Bill Russell Finals MVP trophy. And there is nothing stopping him. Having carried Miami on his back throughout the playoffs, LeBron isn’t done yet. His biggest test so far was to face Paul George but now come the Spurs and the tactical genius in Greg Popovich. LeBron James can expect anything from the Pope to ensure that his MVP numbers drop in this series. But will it stop LeBron? I don’t think so.

Prediction: LeBron James to score 29 PPG, grab 8 RPG and pass for at least 7 APG and Leonard expectedly has no answer for it.

Power Forward: Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs) versus Udonis Haslem (Miami Heat)

Just like the previous match-up, this is going to be a one-sided affair. Haslem is not a proven scorer on the offense and neither will he match-up to Duncan’s plethora of experience in the NBA Finals. Haslem could perhaps rebound more effectively than Duncan but overall, in terms of production, Tim Duncan has the edge. Haslem struggled to guard David West of the Indiana Pacers and marking Duncan wouldn’t be any easier. More importantly, Haslem is perennially foul plagued and Duncan is the maestro of generating fouls on him.

Prediction: Duncan to win this hands down.

Center: Tiago Splitter (San Antonio Spurs) versus Chris Bosh (Miami Heat)

Tiago Splitter is a beast when it comes to offensive production. He uses his height almost perfectly to either grab offensive boards or tuck them back into the basket. So far in the playoffs, he has been effective in defence and that is something that could concern Erik Spoelstra and Chris Bosh. If only talents were to be compared, Tiago Splitter ranks nowhere close to Chris Bosh.

But the man from Georgia Tech has been annoyingly quiet in the playoffs. He doesn’t make his perimeter shots neither is he dwelling effectively on his post plays. Another difference could be the point guards around them. Splitter will have a primo point guard in Tony Parker passing the ball to him while Bosh has to rely on a sporadic Chalmers.

So far in the playoffs, Bosh has averaged lesser rebounds than Chris Anderson, Dwayne Wade, LeBron James and Udonis Haslem and hasn’t shot better than any of them either. From double-double regular season averages to a miserable playoff run, Bosh, one of the game’s best mid-range shooter has to step it up against Tiago Splitter should the Heat consider nicking this series.

Prediction: Chris Bosh has a difficult task up his hands but I expect him to shoot more threes than usual in this match-up in order to make Splitter uncomfortable. It should be a close one but it is always safe to pick the experienced superstar in Bosh.

Sixth Man role: Manu Ginobili (San Antonio Spurs) versus Chris Andersen (Miami Heat)

Although everyone expects Ray Allen to be the first man off the Heat’s bench, I expect Chris Andersen to be the more effective bench player. Andersen isn’t to be underestimated when it comes to guarding big men. He is renowned for showing up in defence and in the playoffs so far, has been Spoelstra’s biggest asset. Should Haslem fail to match up to Duncan, Spoelstra might well have to give Andersen valuable minutes early on in the game.

Manu Ginobili has been the Spurs’ go to man in the 4^th quarter for many years now. The buzzer beater against the Warriors was another evidence of what the Argentinean can do in clutch situations. Moreover, the renowned back court specialist’s strong defence could come handy to guard a fading Wade or even James.

Prediction: Ginobili might be the more effective player in terms of offense but Andersen might fill the missing link in the Heat’s line-up to stop Duncan. If the Heat are to win the NBA Finals once again, Chris “Birdman” Andersen might prove to be as decisive as LeBron James racking up 30 point games.