It begins tonight.In a match-up setting itself up to be remembered for years to come, the new generation's superstars meet the old generation's superstars. Two of the best triumvirates of the past decade -- scratch that, two of the best triumvirates of all time -- showdown for the title, something that which both are familiar with. Here, flashy and athletic contradicts conservative and fundamental, yet they are equally as efficient.
The two most intriguing players in this series are, of course, LeBron James and Tim Duncan.
James is seen as the player at the helm of the new generation of basketball -- someone who plays, and wins, differently than any other player has before. Most believe that he will eventually be handed the torch from Michael Jordan and progress into the greatest player to ever play in the NBA.
Duncan is viewed as the veteran who's "been there" and "done that". His playoff experience and wisdom is comparable to only the likes of some of the best to play the game. While he sticks to a conservative, traditional big-man playing style rather than play as a polarizing, flashy player, he still plays with a definitive confidence and not like a player who's thirty-seven and in his seventeenth year in the league.
Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli have been building and maintaining chemistry since 2002, also while garnering three rings along the way; Duncan also won a ring with David Robinson in 1999, without Parker and Ginobli.
Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James seem to be at the point where, as a big three, they've built up stellar chemistry over the past few years and are getting better each year. They could very well be a force to be reckoned with for many more years to come depending on Wade's health and James and Bosh's contracts.
Why the Spurs Will Win
I chose the Spurs for three reasons:
1) Currently, the Spurs are a better team than LeBron James is a player. Wade has been a non-factor for most of the playoffs thus far, and Bosh disappeared during the Indiana series. Their key, veteran role players (i.e. Ray Allen, Shane Battier) have struggled throughout the playoffs, who are a combined 41-135 from behind-the-arc this postseason, good for 30-percent.
2) The Spurs are 6-1 on the road in this postseason. They lost only at Golden State, but swept the Lakers and the Grizzlies on the road (and in the series as a whole).
3) Look at who the Heat have had struggled with since the big three came together: teams with physical bigs. They've lost just one playoff series since they came together and it was to the Dallas Mavericks, anchored by Tyson Chandler. They've also been pushed to the brink in two seven-game series to Kevin Garnett's Celtics and Roy Hibbert/ David West's Pacers.
In order for the Heat to win, Bosh needs to be more physical, Dwyane Wade's knees need to be in better shape so he can play the way he is accustomed to playing and their bench needs to come alive. I just don't see it as likely for all of this to come about in a seven-game span.
Spurs in six.
