2013 NBA Finals Preview from isportsweb’s NBA experts

After 82 games, three playoff series and the most thoroughly-documented nine days off in NBA history, we’re finally here.

The NBA Finals are upon us, as the Miami Heat get a chance to keep the Larry O’Brien trophy for the second straight year, but facing them are the talented, well-coached, and certainly well-rested San Antonio Spurs.

This series is certainly poised to be a great one: it has a little bit of everything.  Great players (cough *LeBron James* cough), great coaches (nobody outcoaches Pop. Nobody), and great storylines (remember the infamous sitting of SA’s “Big Three”?).

Our NBA experts at isportsweb analyzed the finals and each predicted a winner.

Zach Tennen:

There were times in the Eastern Conference Finals against Indiana where Miami’s offense looked stagnant and hesitant to make plays.  The Pacers did a fantastic job of pushing the Heat to the brink, but when Miami had no choice but to execute down the stretch, they did so.

Miami doesn’t just suddenly click on offense because of their offensive talent alone.  It all starts with their terrific effort on defense.  Miami’s athletes do a great job of cutting off passing lanes and forcing their opponent to settle for off-balance, contested jumpers.  Their tremendous effort on defense allows them to take advantage of the game when they get the ball back.  Almost any turnover committed by their opponent results in a quick two or three points at the other end.

For the Spurs, that means making sure they protect the ball at all times.  In the regular season, Miami forced the most turnovers per possession and they did so at a rate of 16.8 percent.  That strength has carried over into the playoffs and it was an absolute killer for an Indiana team that had a great opportunity to win that series.  San Antonio had the second best assist to turnover ratio in the regular season: they do a fairly good job of taking care of the ball.  However, taking care of the ball against Miami is much more difficult because of their top-notch athletes and tendency to go for steals.

Tony Parker has brought his best in the playoffs and no team has been able to limit his impact on the game.  Parker may see a variation of defenders being thrown at him throughout the game.  He could have Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole often chasing him around the court, he could have D-Wade playing lockdown defense on him, and he could have a super athletic defensive anchor in LeBron James hounding him at the end of games.  Other perimeter players such as Danny Green, Manu Ginobili, and even Cory Joseph are going to have to cut Parker some slack.

It doesn’t really matter which individual player is going to guard LeBron James because his game has gotten to the point where it is impossible for one man to take any sort of power away from him.  You can only stay in front of him for as so long, and even if you put him in a very tough position to score, he could easily make a play for another teammate.  No matter how inconsistent Dwyane Wade has been, we know he has a wicked ability to finish, and being set up by James makes it even easier for him.

When sizing up the shooters from both teams, the amount of shooters Miami has combined with LeBron’s unbelievable ability to set up other teammates may give Miami the edge when it comes to outside shooting.  Ray Allen needs to play the way he did in Game 7 and knock down any open three that comes his way.  The sooner Miami starts hitting outside shots, the more momentum and encouragement it’ll give them to continue doing so throughout the series.

One last factor of this series that I’d like to talk about is rebounding.  Minus Game 7, Indiana demolished Miami on the boards in the Conference Finals.  However, being the better rebounding team always seems to be a top priority for Popovich and the Spurs.  I’m not sure that having a rebounding advantage will be the X-factor in this series, but at the very least, it will keep the series close and competitive.

Prediction: LeBron James gives Miami too many advantages and even the dynamic duo of Tony Parker and Tim Duncan may not be able to do much about that.  LeBron James wins his second straight championship ring as the Miami Heat take down the San Antonio Spurs.

Heat in 6

Morris Fabbri:         

Why the Miami Heat will win:

Defense: The Heat’s swarming defense, led by all-world defender LeBron James, will be able to handle the Spurs’ attack in a way that the Grizzlies and Lakers could not. Tim Duncan will still be able to have a huge impact against the small lineups the Heat prefer, but the Heat have athleticism that the Grizzlies lacked in addition to their great defensive chemistry. San Antonio’s wing players will be limited, and Erik Spoelstra can deploy the most potent defensive weapon in the league in James to lock down Tony Parker during crunch-time situations.

Chemistry: The defending champions have a roster replete with savvy veterans who have bonded throughout these playoffs and will not shrink from the moment. The Heat destroyed any doubts about their team chemistry by following a Game 6 collapse with an absolute evisceration of a very good Pacers team in Game 7. With Ray Allen lighting up the floor, Dwyane Wade contributing on both sides of the court, and guys like Chris Andersen and Udonis Haslem stepping up, the Heat are a more complete team than any the Spurs have faced during these playoffs.

Lebron James: Simply put, the Heat have the best player in the league, in his prime. Lebron has the unique ability to shut down another team’s best player on defense and still compete on the offensive end with unparalleled intensity. When it has mattered, he has gotten his whole team involved to create a beautiful, unstoppable brand of basketball. He is capable of taking over a game through his scoring, his defense, and his offensive creativity. Despite the injuries to some of his teammates, this is still the best supporting cast James has ever had. If James asserts himself on both ends of the floor while still involving his teammates, there is little that any team in the NBA can do to stop the Heat.

Why the Spurs will win:

Inside Play: Much like the Pacers, the Spurs have a big man in Tim Duncan who is an imposing interior defender and a skilled post scorer. Duncan is also a better passer than Roy Hibbert, and while he may not have Hibbert’s athleticism, he is still a force on the boards. Duncan and the rest of the Spurs will be well rested compared to the Heat, who are coming off a fiercely-contested 7 game series against the Pacers. Tiago Splitter must also be accounted for. He is an effective post defender and another 7-foot body the Spurs can throw in the mix. But in the end the Spurs will rely on Duncan, who is coming off a series in which he completely outplayed Defensive Player of the Year Marc Gasol.

Tony Parker: While the other two members of the Spurs’ Big Three have lost a step or two to father time, Tony Parker has elevated his game this season to become a top point guard in the league. He would be a legitimate MVP contender in a league without Lebron James. He has developed a silky smooth midrange jumper to complement his lightning-quick first step to the basket. He orchestrates a Spurs’ offense that seems to always be one step ahead of the opponent. Through series of picks in the Spurs offense, Parker is able to get off an open jumper at will. There is little any defense can do to stop him except to hope that he gets cold.

Coaching: Erik Spoelstra is a good coach. He has managed the Heat locker room well for the most part: it takes skill to massage the egos of such high-profile players and produce a consistent championship contender. But Gregg Popovich has been one of the premier coaches in the NBA for the past 15 years. He has spent the whole season preparing this Spurs team for the playoffs, and thus far they have overwhelmed the competition. With 10 days to prepare for the Finals following their sweep of the Grizzlies, Pop will have the Spurs playing superb basketball from the opening tip of Game 1 until the end of the series.

Prediction:

The Spurs have more depth than the Heat, and a huge matchup advantage on the boards with Tim Duncan. They are also more athletic than last year with the developments of Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard, among others. The Heat won’t be able to run them out of the playoffs the way the Thunder did last year. However, I think the Heat will prevail in this series. Throughout their entire season, they got contributions from unexpected sources when they needed it most, especially during their 27-game win streak. They were the best regular-season team, they are the defending champions, and they are led by a player I believe will end up being a top-5 player all-time.

This series should be a treat for basketball fans across the country. It will be basketball played at its highest level, featuring at least 6 future Hall of Famers. It will be an opportunity for LeBron James to assert his place in history.

Heat in 7.

Mohamed Saneh:

The San Antonio Spurs certainly have been tested during this playoff run. Other than the first round sweep, the Spurs have played a hot, young and fast paced Warriors team in the second round and proved to everyone they can still keep up despite their old age. In the Western Conference Finals, they played a tough Grizzlies team- don’t be fooled by the sweep! The Grizzlies tried to physically wear down the older Spurs team, but it didn’t work.

On the other hand, the Miami Heat played a tough Bulls team and that also tried to physically intimidate them, though that didn’t work and the Heat won a tough series in 5 games. In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Heat fell victim to adversity. Bosh and Wade had by far their worst playoff performances in their career, yet the King still found a way to carry his team on his back. Game 7 only proved to the world that the Heat signed up to win and they found a way to shake the rust off and fight. Both teams are going into the Finals on a roll and a bit of a swagger.

Getting straight to the point, I believe the Spurs are the better basketball team, but does that mean they’ll win? Not necessarily. The Indiana Pacers in my opinion were also a better basketball team and outplayed the Heat but they still lost. I believe Tim Duncan is going to abuse the Heat down low such as Hibbert did. Unfortunately, Duncan is getting older and he doesn’t have much interior help. The Heat are just too talented despite the mismatch in the paint. If Wade and Bosh can show up, then this series should favor the Heat.

Prediction: I know to never underestimate the heart of a champion, but I don’t see the Spurs taking this to 7. Miami’s best bet is to make it an up-tempo game and pushing the ball will tire out the Spurs down the stretch. I see the Spurs outplaying the Heat in every game but losing a nail-biter in four out of six games.

Miami Heat in 6 very tough games

Omar Thabet:

The NBA Finals is a time where we usually see the best basketball being played from the two teams who are competing against one another. This 2013 version of the NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat solidifies that comment.

The Spurs head coach, Gregg Popovich, decided to start a new trend in the NBA by sitting his star players just for rest during the regular season so that they’ll be ready for the real stretch-run: the playoffs. I guess you can’t really judge the man if the results favor his decisions; I mean the Spurs are in the finals, aren’t they?

At the other end of the spectrum, Miami seemed like they have been playing at about 75% throughout the regular season and even in the playoffs. They too knew what their goal was heading into the season, and I believe we haven’t seen the best of them either. But that’s why we have the NBA Finals, to decide who will be crowned champions and the best basketball team in the league.

If the Heat thought Indiana was a well put together team, then they will have their hands full with the Spurs. Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan, and Tony Parker have more playoff games played together than some NBA players have regular season games. Waiting to see if the Spurs make it to finals each year is like waiting to see what the groundhog will do; if he doesn’t show up one year, you can expect him to be there the next. Honestly, talk about the greatest dynasty of all American sports in our era? The New England Patriots and the San Antonio Spurs are the two teams that come to my mind.

But payback is on the mind of the greatest player on the planet, and I believe he will take down this Spurs dynasty in his second crack at it. LeBron James talked to the media about how he has become a 20, 40, or even 50 times better than what he was in 2007 when he played the Spurs in the finals as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. His supporting cast in Miami also happens to have more experience than his 2007 club. With the Spurs having 9 days rest from the last time they played a game, I expect Miami to take game one, building off their momentum from the game seven win against the Pacers.

Game one prediction: 95-91 in Miami’s favor

Prediction: Miami in 7 

Zach Tennen's NBA Finals Preview

Let's get right down to business:

There were times against Indiana where Miami’s offense looked stagnant and hesitant to make plays.  The Pacers did a fantastic job of pushing the Heat to the brink, but when Miami had no choice but to execute down the stretch, they did so.  Even a highly powerful Indiana defense could not stop the Heat when the momentum was in Miami’s favor.  What happens in the first half of a game can be a significant indicator of the result, but Miami has shown their ability to completely flip the game around in the second half.

Miami doesn’t just suddenly click on offense because of their offensive talent alone.  It all starts with their terrific effort on defense.  Miami’s athletes do a great job of cutting off passing lanes and forcing their opponent to settle for off-balance, contested jumpers.  Their tremendous effort on defense allows them to take advantage of the game when they get the ball back.  Almost any turnover committed by their opponent results in a quick two or three points at the other end.

For the Spurs, that means making sure they protect the ball at all times.  In the regular season, Miami forced the most turnovers per possession and they did so at a rate of 16.8 percent.  That strength has carried over into the playoffs and it was an absolute killer for an Indiana team that had a great opportunity to win that series.  San Antonio had the second best assist to turnover ratio in the regular season.  When not taking the assist statistic into account, they do a fairly good job of taking care of the ball.  However, taking care of the ball against Miami is much more difficult because of their top-notch athletes and tendency to go for steals.

On the other hand, San Antonio is a team that is known for weathering the storm.  Miami might make a few huge exclamation points, but Tony Parker will often come back down the court and catch the defense off guard.  We may see the tempo of the game change as the series goes on as a possible result of Miami wearing down San Antonio.  In order for that to happen though, Miami needs to prove early that they have a strategy to outlast the competitive Spurs.

It’s no secret; if you don’t get enough stops on defense, you are going to lose games.  If there is absolutely no answer to an overpowering offense, games will get out of hand and that will take a dramatic toll on the outcome of the series.

In the semifinals, both Miami and San Antonio were the superior offensive teams.  Indiana had the fight and the heart to keep up with Miami but they lacked the offensive execution.  Memphis couldn’t have looked better in the first two rounds but they ran into a trap when they met the Spurs, as the Grizzlies found very little success knocking down outside shots.  Because both teams have such great offensive stability, it’s hard to assume that one team will regularly give the other team trouble scoring.

However, we can do our best of assessing this situation by taking what we do know.  Indiana was the best in the league at stopping teams from scoring in the paint but their constant turnovers offset that.  Duncan and the Spurs did a fantastic job of shutting down Memphis’ inside scoring after the Grizzlies dominated teams in the paint in the first two rounds.  On top of that, Gregg Popovich’s highly structured and well-organized offense will not present Miami as many opportunities to get easy buckets.  The Spurs’ chances in this series may lie on whether they will be able to make these games strictly half court.

Tony Parker has brought his best in the playoffs and no team has been able to limit his impact on the game.  Parker may see a variation of defenders being thrown at him throughout the game.  He could have Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole often chasing him around the court, he could have D-Wade playing lockdown defense on him, and he could have a super athletic defensive anchor in LeBron James hounding him at the end of games.  Other perimeter players such as Danny Green, Manu Ginobili, and even Cory Joseph are going to have to cut Parker some slack.

It doesn’t really matter which individual player is going to guard LeBron James because his game has gotten to the point where it is impossible for one man to take any sort of power away from him.  You can only stay in front of him for as long as you can, and even if you put him in a very tough position to score, he could easily make a play for another teammate.  No matter how inconsistent Dwyane Wade has been, we know he has a wicked ability to finish, and being set up by LeBron James makes it even easier for him.

It is a given that LeBron will continue to create plenty of space for three point shooters such as Ray Allen and Mario Chalmers.  It’s just a matter of the shooters being able to capitalize, which they did very well against the Pacers. 

San Antonio has shot considerably well in the playoffs.  Danny Green is one of the best percentage long-range shooters in the game, and they have other notable guys who can shoot from the perimeter like Gary Neal and Manu Ginobili.  Tim Duncan and Tony Parker are the players most responsible for opening up the court for three point opportunities.

However, when sizing up the shooters from both teams, the amount of shooters Miami has, combined with LeBron’s unbelievable ability to set up other teammates may give Miami the edge when it comes to outside shooting.  Ray Allen needs to play the way he did in Game 7 and knock down any open three that comes his way.  The sooner Miami starts hitting outside shots, the more momentum and encouragement it’ll give them to continue doing so throughout the series.

One last factor of this series that I’d like to talk about is rebounding.  Minus Game 7, Indiana demolished Miami on the boards in the Conference Finals.  However, being the better rebounding team always seems to be a top priority for Popovich and the Spurs.  I’m not sure that having a rebounding advantage will be the X-factor in this series, but at the very least, it will keep the series close and competitive.  Indiana had no choice but to control the glass in order to knock off the Heat.  That being said, San Antonio will have to hold a similar type of advantage that the Pacers had on the rebounds.

Prediction: LeBron James gives Miami too many advantages and even the dynamic duo of Tony Parker and Tim Duncan may not be able to do much about that.  LeBron James wins his second straight championship ring as the Miami Heat take down the San Antonio Spurs.

Heat in 6

San Antonio Spurs’ glory days continue

In 2007, the Spurs were the unmistakeable kings of the NBA.  Their toughest playoff opponent that year was Phoenix in the second round.  The Spurs defeated them in six games.  After knocking out the Utah Jazz in five games, the Spurs met the LeBron James-led Cavaliers in the 2007 NBA Finals.  Cleveland did not have nearly enough to compete with the Spurs.  San Antonio cruised to the Larry O’Brien trophy as they won in four games.

After a long six-year absence from the NBA Finals, the San Antonio Spurs are back.  Surprisingly enough, the Spurs still have the same core of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili.  Many teams would feel the need to break up the core after not returning to the finals for so long.  However, the Spurs didn’t feel it was necessary because they knew this trio had what it took to, someday, return to the NBA Finals.

Manu Ginobili is back and hungry for more at 35 years old.  At 37 years old, Tim Duncan defies the law of aging as he is still an elite big man.  This time around, 31-year-old Tony Parker carries the most responsibility for the Spurs.  Parker is an MVP-caliber point guard that helps Duncan stay in top-notch game shape.  Tim Duncan deserves a ton of credit as he takes care of himself.  But Parker’s excellent stamina and leadership gives Duncan a lift.  Younger players such as Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green also play big roles in the team’s success.

Russell Westbrook’s injury definitely helped open up the door for the Spurs to get to the Finals.  But nobody can use that as an excuse because it is what it is.  At the end of the day, the San Antonio Spurs are the last Western Conference team standing.  You cannot consider this a fluke because we all know the Spurs are made of concrete material.  Only the more unbreakable product can break the Spurs.

The Spurs didn’t just reach the NBA Finals in 1999, 2003, 2005, and 2007.  They won the NBA Finals.  San Antonio has made it clear that they don’t get to the final stage to lose.  They get to the final stage so they can put the icing on the cake.  Whether it’s the Heat or the Pacers, this will be San Antonio’s toughest finals matchup since the 2005 Detroit Pistons.  The Heat and that Pistons team are fairly unlike each other.  But the Pacers are very similar to the ’05 Pistons in that they rely on tenacious defense and don’t depend on a superstar.

No matter who the Spurs play, you can bet they will be fully prepared.  Perhaps, Gregg Popovich will be over-prepared.  If there is any coach that acts as the sixth man, it is Gregg Popovich.  Nobody gets the message across to their players better than Popovich does.  Pop is a genius and a viscous man when it comes to the coaching industry.

As for Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Tim Duncan, they want to make this season unforgettable (in a good way).  One common rule that we have seen throughout the history of the league is that winners stay winners.  Tony Parker’s craftiness with the ball might blow you away, but he plays the game to win.  Tim Duncan’s superiority at 37 years old might be satisfying enough for some, but he plays the game to win.

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WCF Game 3 Preview: Pressure faces Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies return to FedEx Forum arena tonight, where they haven’t lost a playoff game yet.  Memphis has arguably been the most dominant home team in the playoffs.  But this trip back home isn’t the same as the previous ones.  The San Antonio Spurs are a different monster than we’ve seen before.  Tonight is their chance to put the series away.

San Antonio’s mindset is one game at a time.  All they have to do is win this one away game and the series is basically a wrap.  The Grizzlies had to deal with the great wall of San Antonio, Tim Duncan, in the first two games.  This Spurs team knows how to go into another team’s building and suck the life out of it.

Memphis must prevent San Antonio from getting comfortable early in the game.  It is essential that the Grizzlies start out strong.  They must treat the first quarter like it’s the fourth quarter.  Randolph and Gasol need to attack Duncan early.  Mike Conley needs to make Parker use a lot of energy so Parker wears down on offense.

The Grizzlies found themselves in a 0-2 hole in the first round against the Clippers.  However, they owned up to their responsibilities and totally outworked the Clippers the rest of the series.  Memphis needs to hit San Antonio in their weak spot just like they did against the Clippers.  Make San Antonio work for every little bit.  Deny Duncan the ball in the post and make Parker move nonstop when he’s on defense.

Zach Randolph, the Grizzlies’ X-factor, has struggled in this series.  He can’t get many of his shots to fall but there is no need to panic for Randolph.  He should be able to work his way out of this slump by continuing to go strong to the hoop and drawing fouls.  He also must realize that Marc Gasol, a viable option on offense, is there to help him.

In San Antonio’s case, every game is one they expect to win.  Going into Memphis’ away building may not be of concern to them.  While most people are expecting Memphis to make this a series, the Spurs could easily shock us and wipe away the Grizzlies in Game 3.

In conclusion, Memphis has their back against the wall and they are aware they must deliver.  Coach Lionel Hollins is most definitely emphasizing that they need to fight at their will.  I like the Grizzlies to cut into their 0-2 deficit tonight.

Memphis needs to control pace tonight

Memphis goes back home with a 0-2 disadvantage.  The Grizz haven't lost a game at home in the playoffs.  But San Antonio is a much bigger challenge than their past two enemies.  Randolph and Gasol need to keep working it in the paint area.  Mike Conley needs to keep playing with confidence and give Tony Parker a run for his money.

Grizzlies really need to win both games in Memphis.  I think they should.

Zach Tennen: Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs 2013

The Memphis Grizzlies have climbed their way up the ladder throughout the past few years.  They are finally here.  The Western Conference Semifinals.  On the other hand, the San Antonio Spurs are here once again.  Memphis has been exceptional throughout the first two rounds.  There really isn’t a clear favorite in this series as both teams are extremely tough and have winning atmospheres.

What San Antonio needs to do to win: The Spurs need to bring their absolute best post defense.  The Grizzlies wore down their first two opponents by consistently going to the post game.  Tim Duncan and other post defenders need to stand tall and protect their ground.  The Spurs really need to limit Memphis’ second chance points.  The Grizzlies have shown their ability to take advantage of that and it is a big reason they win games.  On offense, the Spurs just need to be all-around efficient.  Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard must continue to nail those spot-up jumpers.  San Antonio needs to keep utilizing the pick-and-roll where Tony Parker is one of the league’s most dangerous players.  Tim Duncan needs to be himself in the post and not worry too much about who is defending him.  Putting Marc Gasol in a position to be in foul trouble will really help the Spurs’ chances in this series.

What Memphis needs to do to win: Attack, attack, and attack some more.  Memphis has found it’s offense in the playoffs by pounding the ball inside.  Present a challenge for Tim Duncan by feeding both Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph down low several times a game.  Tim Duncan usually doesn’t budge down low and will proudly handle whatever task he is given.  However, Memphis needs to continually go at him because they have nothing to lose by doing so.  Memphis needs to continue their stellar defense.  San Antonio can be extremely difficult to defend at times.  Tony Parker is a serious weapon when he has space to dribble.  Memphis needs to be ready to pick him up when he comes off the screen as he will immediately look to score if he has any space.  Heckling Tony Parker will help to put the pace of the game in the Grizzlies’ favor.  We could see some Tony Allen on Parker.

Key Matchups:

Tim Duncan and Tiago Splitter vs. Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph: I put each player together because Memphis is definitely going to try to take advantage of whoever Splitter is guarding.  Splitter is a very hard worker and respectable defender but he doesn’t have the strength to guard Randolph or length to guard Gasol.  Tim Duncan has to do his job.  He needs to be a double-double player in this series.  Duncan can only do so much but he’ll have to maximize his impact against the dynamic duo of Randolph and Gasol.

Tony Parker vs. Mike Conley: Mike Conley has been outstanding in the playoffs thus far.  He practically matched Chris Paul in the first round and he controlled Reggie Jackson is the second round.  Now is not the time to shy away.  Tony Parker is going to be his biggest challenge of the playoffs.  Parker is going to make Conley work a ton when Conley is on defense and hope that Conley shows fatigue on offense.  We know Tony Parker is usually a great mid-range shooter but Conley has stepped in and felt great about his jumpshot lately.  It is a given that Conley needs to focus on getting other teammates involved but continuing to be an outside threat will make him that much better.

Manu Ginobili vs. Tony Allen: This is a huge matchup.  Tony Allen has been a madman thus far and he loves getting under the skin of his opponent.  Manu Ginobili has not shot the ball particularly well in the playoffs.  Ginobili will definitely shoot when he is given space but he needs to often drive to the hoop.  Ginobili has been really effective in his career with his crafty moves to the basket.  But against Tony Allen, you have to work twice as hard for everything.

Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green’s young legs: Tayshaun Prince has had a plate full of duties.  He had to guard Kevin Durant most of the time last round and that certainly took a lot out of him.  Leonard and Green are both very active players.  Leonard gives his opponent no rest and he also consistently hits open outside shots.  Danny Green is one of the league’s most efficient three point shooters.  Both of these guys could very well tire out Memphis and make them struggle on both ends of the floor.

Prediction:

Memphis has a lot of momentum.  San Antonio also has a fair amount of momentum.  But, most importantly, they have experience.  They know exactly what they have to do and when to carry out certain tasks.  Memphis’ physical defense and dominant post game has gotten it’s way but San Antonio often finds a way to slow down a team’s strong suit.

Then again, Memphis could just be too much for San Antonio.  Memphis has a full roster that is ready to exceed expectations.  Their starters have been excellent and their bench has also provided a big spark in the playoffs.  Maybe they will wear down the Spurs to the point that there is nothing more the Spurs can do.

I’ll give a slight edge to the experience.  Spurs win in seven games.

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