Dethroning the Champs: Miami Heat "Rules"

The NBA season has been great so far watching players, coaches and ultimately NBA franchises get ready for what we call the stretch run of the NBA season. As teams fight for a spot in the NBA playoffs there is one common denominator, one purpose and that is winning the NBA Championship. The trade deadline has passed and the blockbuster trades never materialized. Therefore the DNA of your favorite team is already set; remember the phrase "They are who we Thought they were". Well its true barring major injuries or dramatic increase in player level the type of dramatic increase that turns Joe Johnson into Reggie Miller  NBA teams are set.

Like the great Ric Flair once said "In order to be the man you have to be the man" and the 2011-2012 NBA Champion Miami Heat are currently storming the NBA on a 12 game winning streak. Dwayne Wade "W.O.W" or Way Of Wade is taking over 4th quarters and the Miami Heat look primed to defend their NBA Championship. So it’s not a matter of who will make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, it’s who has the better shot of defeating the Miami Heat in the postseason. In the end it comes down to matching strengths versus weaknesses.

Deep analysis of the Miami Heat shows glaring holes in several categories 46.6 is the number of rebounds the Heat average per game ranking 30th in the NBA. Miami's Offensive rebounding percentage 22.5% allows opposing NBA teams to grab at least 77.5% of Miami's missed shots on the boards. Heat average a total of 8.5 offensive rebounds tied 28th with the Boston Celtics in the NBA worst in the Eastern Conference. Miami is able to combat these stats with an Effective 54.9% FG best in the NBA and low turnover rate of 12.9%. Miami's perfect storm would be a team that can apply pressure on defense forcing turnovers while controlling the glass. Perimeter and Paint defensive oriented teams with an effective offensive system. Reasons why the Boston Celtics with Rajon Rondo normally give the Miami Heat great intense battles.

Contrary to belief the Miami Heat only excel greatly in three out of eighteen major/sub stat categories Points per Game 103.9, Turnover % 12.9 and Steals 8.7. Heats moderately perform in two major stat categories Point Differential +7.1 and Effective FG% 54.9. Miami is great at making up their flaws in the post offensively with great perimeter play as well last season the Heat shot 35.9% from three point range this number drastically increased in the NBA playoffs against the OKC Thunder when Mike Miller and Shane Battier got "White Heat Hot" from downtown. During the 2012-2013 NBA season the additions of Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen has increased the Heat's three point percentage to a scorching 39.1%

While the Miami Heat has several flaws mostly in the post/ paint it would take a multi-faceted team in order to dethrone the NBA Champions. List of Eastern Conference playoff teams with the ability to create havoc in the playoffs and strip the Heat of another NBA Finals appearance is slim. Here's a list of playoff teams with the ability to control the post defensively and offensively Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks fit the bill here. Defensively the Heat could struggle against a defensive and aggressive Indiana team Pacers lead the NBA in PPG Allowed 89.6 other notable Eastern Conference playoff teams include Chicago  Bulls 91.6, Brooklyn Nets 94.8, Boston Celtics 96.1 and Atlanta Hawks 96.2. Only three playoff bound teams hold opponents to a worst FG% Indiana Pacers 41.3%, Chicago Bulls 43.4% and Boston Celtics 44.1%.  Once we look at the overall Adjusted FG% which shows the effectiveness of the opponents offense versus the defense only the Pacers 44.5%, Bulls 46.7%, Bucks (8th seed) 48.2%, Celtics 48.2%, Hawks 49.2% are same or better than Miami Heat.  Once again the Heat combats these issues with effective offense and unmatched intangibles in LeBron James and Dwayne Wade.

Eastern Conference playoff teams prove that defense is the call Miami Heat’s offense sets them apart and beyond the rest of the pack. Heat average 103.9 ppg , 49.7 fg% and effective 54.9% fg rate. New York Knicks average 100.1 ppg but the offensive system is only generating a 44.3 fg% and Miami's defense is more effective due to lack of perimeter pressure. Atlanta Hawks DNA proves they have a good offensive system with Jeff Teague at the point and Josh Smith and Al Horford controlling the post generating a 46.3 fg% and Effective/ Adjusted 51.9 fg%. Issue for Hawks terrible home court more Heat fans in Philips Arena than Hawks fans you can actually hear the "Let's Go Heat Chants" drain out the announcer saying "Defense" when Heat have the ball, secondly Josh Smith and Al Horford always look overwhelmed by James and Wade being on the same basketball court. Injuries to Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose eliminates the Celtics and Bulls, I wonder what the Bulls offense would look like versus the Heat with a healthy Rose in uniform.  Brooklyn Nets offense despite Deron Williams at point guard are terrible 95.2 ppg, 44.1 fg% and 49.1 effective fg%. Brook Lopez and Reggie Evans undoubtedly have the ability to control the post offensive/ defensive but where is Williams and Johnson?

 Indiana Pacers represent the Miami Heat’s greatest defensive threat but lag far behind in all offensive categories 94.0 ppg, 43.4 fg% and 47.6 Adjusted/ Effective fg%. Middle to end of the pack NBA free throw and three point team. Since the All-Star break the Indiana has outpaced their offensive season averages posting 125pts v. Knicks, 114pts v. Pistons, 90pts v. Pistons and 108pts v. Warriors opening up to a 4-0 start after the break. Former All-Star Danny Granger is back from injury and the Pacers seemed posed with all the potential to threaten the Miami Heat if the offensive explosion continues. Most of all the Pacers don't seem fazed by the intangibles LeBron James and Dwayne Wade.

Follow us on Twitter @JMCSPORTSBOOK or feel free to leave a comment below
Twitter link: http://twitter.com/#!/JMCSPORTSBOOK 

Also listen to Clenaure Carter U.S. Sports Correspondent on Israel Sports Radio http://israelsportsradio.com/      

Also check out Pro Sports Lives (Atlanta GA 1190AM) at http://www.prosportslives.com/ every Saturday 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EST....

NBA Eastern Conference: Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks fighting for the #8 seed...

NBA Playoffs start April 28th and the playoff race in the Eastern Conference is starting to turn the corner headed for the home stretch. A glimpse into the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference where the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks are currently fighting for the #8 seed.

New York Knicks currently have possession of the #8 seed but the Bucks are primed to make a playoff run. The acquisition of Monta Ellis gives the Bucks one of the most talented back courts in the NBA. Brandon Jennings averaging 18.7 pts. 5.6 apg. and 3.4 rpg are all above his career season averages. Milwaukee Bucks offense is explosive currently ranked#7 in the NBA at 98.1 ppg and #3 in assist at 23.2 apg.

Milwaukee Bucks are deep at every position on the court. Drew Gooden's recent interior play has presented an inside presence giving the Bucks head office enough confidence to trade the oft-injured Andrew Bogut for Monta Ellis. Bucks major problem is on the defense. The Bucks allow 98.3 ppg a -0.2 offense to defense differential in points. Forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is finally healthy and the addition of Center Ekpe Udoh should help the defense immensely. Bucks roster is mostly shaped by spare parts  (Mike Dunleavy, Carlos Delfino and Ersan Ilyasova) keeping the engine running but that engine is running pretty smoove right now.

New York Knicks hold the final playoff spot but this has been a disappointing season for the Knickerbockers. Carmelo Anthony and Amare' Stoudemire have been stuck in a funk all season long. Pundits place the blame on Mike D'Antoni saying his coaching style did not fit the team yet in the same breathe they say Jeremy Lin could be like Steve Nash. Last time I checked Amare' Stoudemire had his best career seasons while playing for D'Antoni in Phoenix w/ Nash at the point. D'Antoni was also the coach of the Knicks last year when STATS arrived and produced New York Knicks franchise scoring records. With Amare' broken and Carmelo growing tired of an offense that did not feature his style of play D'Antoni quit, resigned and was eventually fired at the same meeting.

Knicks now have a head coach whose X's and O's feature the strengths of Carmelo Anthony. Mike Woodson the infamous creator of the Iso-Joe offense when coaching the Atlanta Hawks now posses one of the best Iso players in the NBA. Mike Woodson is a tough defensive minded coach who will keep a emphasis on the defensive end of the basketball court and allow Tyson Chandler to control the defensive box. Issue is can the Knicks grasp Mike Woodsons defensive adjustments before the Bucks knock them out of position.

Josh Smith 2012 NBA All Star snub seems to be overlooked in the Atlanta sports media market.  Talk to anyone who follows the Atlanta Hawks and they will say Josh has great potential and fans are waiting for more. What are the fans waiting for, Josh to average 20 pts per game and snatch 12 rebounds per contest?

If Josh played in New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago he would be a two time All Star playing for a big market team. Instead Josh is the perfect example of a hot talent in a underperforming sports media market. Atlanta fans were recently accused by sports media reporters as being “a bad sports town”. Residents in Atlanta claim that Atlanta is a transient city full of out of town citizens creating a gap in fan support.

During the CBA agreement David Stern lobbied for more growth in underperforming markets like Atlanta, New Orleans and Milwaukee. Commissioner Stern and Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert made resounding remarks during the lockout making a case that underperforming and smaller markets should be the new focus in the NBA. If small underperforming markets are the NBA’s new focus then Josh being snubbed from the All Star game roster after averaging 16.0 ppg, 9.5 reb, 1.5 stls and 2.1 blks is a slap to the NBA’s new direction.

Atlanta Hawks have one of the top records in the Eastern Conference. Josh continues to be a huge contributing factor for the Hawks stepping into a leadership role with the absence of injured NBA All Star center Al Horford.  Josh is no longer the player waiting on the arrival of his Oak Hill Academy potential he has arrived.