This is the matchup the Brooklyn Nets wanted. They were the only team to sweep the Miami Heat in the regular season and no matter what Jason Kidd says, they tanked the final few games in order to secure a playoff seed that would allow them to meet the Heat before the Eastern Conference finals. After beating the Toronto Raptors in Game 7 on Sunday, the Nets head to South Beach where they meet a highly rested Miami team looking for redemption.
The Nets beat the Heat four times in the regular season. Three of those games were a one-point win, but a win nonetheless. The series marks another chapter in the long-time rivalry between LeBron James and Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. The uniforms are different, but the hate is still the same. If there is a duo that has had James' number over the past few years, it is those two and the Nets hope that works in their advantage as they play the first game on the road with just one day of rest.
Shaun Livingston is hoping to be an x-factor in this series. The Heat were the team to lure him back into the league back in 2008 after the guard suffered a gruesome knee injury. He only played four games for the Heat before bouncing around teams and landing in Brooklyn. He has already had a big impact for the Nets and as an opponent of the Heat, something he aims to continue. After the Deron Williams tweaked his ankle in the final game against the Raptors, Livingston might have to seriously step up to the plate.
Kidd is another big time piece in this series and not just because he is the head coach. Dating back to the 2007-08 season, Kidd's teams have won 16 of 21 games against Miami. Most of those were with him as a player, but starting off his coaching tenure with a 4-0 record certainly helps.
The Heat are extremely rested. They wrapped up a quick series against the Charlotte Bobcats in the first round, barely breaking a sweat. They have been off for almost a full week, but do not expect rust to be a factor. Erik Spoelstra insists the team is in good form to start the next round of the postseason.
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