Whether in regulation or overtime, the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs have proven that home court advantage is real. Never mind whether opponents are intimidated by the crowd noise, the home team hasn't flinched late in the game hitting big shots and executing the right plays at the end of the game.
The Heat are 1-0 after their dramatic Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs against the Indiana Pacers. The Spurs are 2-0 after a Game 2 that had many at the edge of their sets. Game 1 was easy for the Spurs as they blew out the Memphis Grizzlies. After three Conference Finals matchups, the home teams are ahead of the competition and looking forward to wrapping up the series and making their way to the NBA Finals.
The Heat and Spurs have had very similar stories in the playoffs. Both veteran teams were idle for a number of days and they have used home court advantage to their favor having lost only one game at home throughout the playoffs.
Both Miami and San Antonio swept their first round series in the 2013 NBA Playoffs. The Heat blew away the Milwaukee Bucks and the Spurs barely struggled with the Los Angeles Lakers. Both teams lost at home in the second round as the Chicago Bulls came roaring after LeBron James and Dwyane Wade taking Game 1. The Golden State Warriors pushed the Spurs to the brink, but couldn't finish off Game 1. However, they bounced back and took Game 2 giving the Spurs their only loss at home so far in the playoffs.
Are the Spurs and Heat bound to meet in the NBA Playoffs?
Well, NBA Commissioner David Stern would surely like that. The Spurs have historically attracted low numbers dropping TV ratings across the chart. It's not a coincidence, people don't like watching the Spurs. However, if the Heat and Spurs meet up, many will root for San Antonio since plenty of fans still dislike James.
Here are the playoffs standings as the Spurs and Heat have taken the leads in their respective series:
Heat 1-0 Pacers
Spurs 2-0 Grizzlies
Conference Semifinals
Heat 4-1 Bulls
Pacers 4-2 New York Knicks
Spurs 4-2 Warriors
Grizzlies 4-1 Oklahoma City Thunder
First Round of Playoffs
Heat 4-0 Bucks
Knicks 4-2 Boston Celtics
Pacers 4-2 Atlanta Hawks
Chicago Bulls 4-3 Brooklyn Nets
Thunder 4-2 Houston Rockets
Spurs 4-2 Lakers
Warriors 4-2 Denver Nuggets
Grizzlies 4-2 Los Angeles Clippers
