The Miami Heat have once again advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the third consecutive year, but have already been picked as the early favorites to repeating for an NBA title.

However, new developments suggest that the road to a second consecutive title will be a difficult one. But if they manage to make it out the Eastern Conference finals alive, here's an interesting scenario of who they could be facing for the title.

The San Antonio Spurs have once again made it to the Western Conference finals, but it's their opponents the Memphis Grizzlies who are the team to watch.

Sure the Spurs can't be taken out the equation as contenders, being led by the veteran leadership of Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan, but so do the Grizzlies.

What the Grizzlies have as their advantage oppose to the Spurs is that they're physical bullies on the court. With bodies like Marc Gasol and Zack Randolph down in the paint, and the defensive pressure of Tony Allen and Tyshaun Prince, they pose as a big threat to not only the Spurs, but to the Heat as well.

Say the Grizzlies meet the Heat in the NBA Finals, that will be a grueling and exciting matchup to see being that both teams play similar.

The Heat have become highly known for their defense, but the Grizzlies ranked No.1 in defense this season and are no push overs on the offensive end.

If the two were to meet most of the battle would take place in the paint, and though Miami is smaller in comparison, they still manage very well.

Though many expected this year's finals would be LeBron James finally receiving his revenge over the Spurs, a Grizzlies-Heat matchup will be more exciting.

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