The San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat have a date tonight as they meet up for Game 1 of the NBA Finals at the American Airlines Arena. For the Heat, it's their third straight Finals appearance and for San Antonio, they are trying to win the franchise's fifth championship. Here's how both teams stack up as Game 1 is just hours away.
The main question people are asking themselves, "Who is going to guard LeBron James?" Well, the answer might be a 6' 7" 21-year-old by the name of Kawhi Leonard.
Leonard vs. James: Advantage- James
The bad news for the Spurs is that James has seen some of the toughest defenders in the NBA. The Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers are two tough teams with big bodies and James still found a way to score willingly. Tim Duncan is a master on defense, but Leonard will be on the front line of defense before James can even get to the hoop. Sports Science breaks out down best as they state that Leonard has the "ideal skill sets" to slow down the king.
Wade vs. Green: Advantage Green
If Dwyane Wade isn't 100 percent, then Danny Green will have the advantage on defense. The only way Green can make a difference on offense is if his three-point shot is falling. However, in the overall scheme of things, if he's able to stop Wade, who has been inconsistent during the playoffs, then Green will have the edge and give his team the opportunity to win the series.
Chalmers vs. Parker: Advantage Parker
Who is averaging the second highest points per game in the playoffs behind James? If you guessed Mario Chalmers then you are wrong. At age 31, Tony Parker is still crossing dudes over like it's 2005. Averaging 23 points in the playoffs, Parker has been on a tear becoming the No. 1 option when the Spurs need to make a run and score some points. Chalmers has had big games in the Finals, but he will have to step up his offense and defense greatly if he wants to give his team a chance to win.
Bosh vs. Duncan: Advantage Duncan
Duncan is a defensive wizard. When you think of a wizard, you think of an aged man with a beard that schools pupils. Duncan might be aged, but he has no beard yet he's still taking pupils to school round after round in the playoffs. The best option for Chris Bosh is to stay in the perimeter, keeping this big man out of the paint. If Duncan is allowed to clog the paint, then guys like Norris Coles, Chalmers and James will have a hard time finishing. Duncan still has a sweet turnaround and he can still bank shots off the glass. Duncan is the superior player on both ends of the floor.
Haslem vs. Diaw/Splitter: Advantage Haslem
Believe it or not, Haslem is the favorite here. He is the better option on offense and in Game 7 he proved he could matchup versus the taller defender as he did his best to slow down Roy Hibbert. When Haslem's sweet jumper is falling, the opponent is in deep trouble. The Heat breezed to victory when Haslem went 8-9 from the floor in Games 3 and 5. The good thing about Haslem is that he is a perimeter player, so getting his defender out on the open floor is preferable. If they fall back and don't defender Haslem, then the jumper might save the day for Miami.
Rebounds: We all know how important it is to control the boards. The Spurs also have the advantage in that department. San Antonio has the length and toughness, while the Heat have a better perimeter game.
Bench: The Heat have this advantage. Although, Matt Bonner is dangerous from three, similar to how the Heat have Ray Allen. Historically, Allen has the advantage, but in the short term, Bonner has been absolutely on fire hitting over 50 percent from beyond the arc. With guys like Mike Miller, Coles, Shane Battier and Chris Andersen on their bench, the Heat truly have the more talented bench.
