LEGACY VS. CULTURE

In 2009 the Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets 4-2 in the Western Conference Finals, sending the storied franchise back to the NBA Finals for the then NBA-record 30th time. But the team didn’t celebrate. They didn’t smile. And the teams’ superstar, Kobe Bryant, stood to the right of head coach Phil Jackson sternly focused with his arms folded tight like a guy who had just finished second place in his high school decathlon.

In fact, the entire team held this disposition, including the veteran point guard and longtime teammate of Bryant, Derek Fisher–the team mirrored Bryant. It was no time to celebrate, because as Bryant would famously say that same year up 2-0 in the NBA Finals versus the Magic, “The job is not finished.”

Fast forward 11 years and the 2020 Lakers have carried the same mentality that 2009 Laker team had. Led by their star Lebron James who sat on the court as the rainfall of confetti covered him following the gentleman’s sweep of the Nuggets in the WCF. His lips bunched tightly and his eyes scowled with his hands clasped together, carrying the look of a ravenous lion with blood dripping from his jaws, yet still operating on an empty stomach, because a title was just put on his plate.

As for LeBron’s opponent, it’ll be the same franchise that he helped win back-to-back NBA titles just seven years prior. Some teams’ identity is woven into its roster makeup, but this teams’ identity is woven into the entire franchise. The Heat culture starts with President Pat Riley and falls down to the bench guys like Udonis Haslem who, born out of Miami, represents the DNA fabric of that tenacious approach to outworking the man across from you.

And this particular team is a squad full of castoffs, draft gems, and “washed up” talent that has drawn the comparison to another famed team of similar makeup, the 2003-04 Detroit Pistons. I don’t love this comparison for many reasons, namely that that 2004 Pistons unit was an All-time great defense, but there are undeniable similarities.

Bam Adebayo is the Ben Wallace of this team. The Heart and sole. His stuffing of Jayson Tatum at the rim as he attempted to posterize the third year big man in the waning seconds of game 1 of a tie game, was a Big Ben heart over height type of play. 

 

 

Jimmy Butler is Rasheed Wallace. The attitude of the team. The guy who was a “piriya” that people labeled incorrectly.  And much like Sheed with Larry Brown, Jimmy Butler has an affinity for Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra–one that allows him to be unapologetically himself.

Dragic is the Chauncey Billups on the floor. Hits big shots. Not the same game, but that cool, calm and collected mentality that as the pressure mounts up, he instantly rises to meet it.  

 

Andre Iguodala is the Lindsey Hunter of the team. The elder who was greater defensively in his prime, but has pedigree as a champion and can still guard at a high enough level to provide a spark.

Tyler Herro is Tayshaun Prince. The young rookie who flashes largest when the lights are brightest. His 37 point outburst in a critical game 4 likened to Tay’s four blocks and two steals, including the clutch chasedown block on Reggie Miller in game 2 of the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals. This Heat group walks in a parallel line to that ‘04 Pistons team, but they know their largest task is ahead of them. Comparisons can only be validated with jewelry in this case study.

The stage has finally been set. Lakers vs. Heat. NBA Finals

Here’s what we know about the L A K E R S:

The Lakers are 12-3 in the playoffs, ending each series in five games. They have outscored opponents by a total of 27 points in the 3rd quarter during their 12 wins this postseason.

Anthony Davis leads the team in points, blocks and minutes: 29/9/3 1.2 blocks – 36 minutes. 

 

LeBron James leads the team in assists and rebounds: 27/10/9 – 35 minutes. 

 

Both players have a 30 point PER, which is the first for a pair of Lakers’ teammates since, checks notes, NEVER.

This team obviously has two of the top five players in the NBA, arguably numbers one and two, but several others have stepped up and played pivotal roles along the way.

Rajon Rondo missed the first five games of the playoffs with a broken right thumb, but since his return, he’s been a menace. Although he’s coming off the bench averaging just 24 minutes per contest, the former NBA champ is scoring 9/4/7 and leading the team in steals (1.6). He’s up there with LeBron and AD with the highest defensive rating among those totalling 200-plus minutes in the postseason.

The addition of “Playoff Rondo” has unlocked several functions of the offense as well. Having the second floor general on the court has enabled LeBron to just be this wrecking ball to the weak side of the defense as a cutter and interior threat, offsetting some of the ability of the defenses to hone in on AD.

Also, Rondo knocking down 46 percent of any jump shot is almost fictional, but he led both teams’ guard/wing players from beyond the arc against the Nuggets; albeit only 11 attempts, but still a major impact to how defenses defend the ball.

Ahhh good ol’ Dwight Howard. Dwight was relegated to more of a bench role in the Houston series, but he was pivotal in frustrating Jokic and using his physicality to impose his will on the boards in the conference finals.  His numbers don’t leap out at you, but they were ultra efficient and at this point in the season, efficiency is a key element in winning. Dwight posted eight points and five rebounds in 20 minutes of play, shooting 79 percent from inside the paint.

LeBron and AD need guys to make shots in order for the Lakers to win a championship. And Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was actually really solid for the Lakers this previous series doing just that. He shot 44 percent from 3-point range and 53 percent from the field. 

Pope led the team in 3-point makes (11) and he was second in effective field goal percentage.

Obviously the concern isn’t in what happens between AD and LeBron so much, we expect them to perform. I believe AD will get to whatever spot he wants regardless as to what zone or matchup zone coach Spoelstra puts in place. And if there’s anyone capable of  dissecting the defensive schemes that are thrown his way, it’s LeBron. But the question is what role players will step up in the finals. 

Knocking down shots and taking advantage of what the defense gives the others is the difference here.

Danny Green is 4th in the team in minutes played (387) just behind KCP. He has shot 36 percent in the playoffs, but he shot just 32 percent in the previous series–at one point shooting below 30 percent and that’s not going to cut it. Lakers would like him to be closer to his career playoff average of 39 percent rather than 30 as it would help to space the floor and open the lanes. 

 

 

Additionally, Alex Caruso was 2-for-13 from 3-point range and Kuzma was 5-for-17. The point is, these guys are going to need to knock down shots versus a Miami Heat team that isn’t deficient in following defensive assignments or game plan.

But at the end of the day, the Lakers hoisting their 17th NBA championship will hinge on their stars’ ability to rise above just one more hurdle in what’s been a series of mountains that they’ve had to climb. 

 

From early season expectations under the Laker brand, Kobe’s passing, the NBA shut down, and the fight for social justice while competing in a bubble separated from their families, this season has been riddled with physical and psychological obstacles. 

 

But as the Miami Heat prepare to battle the Lakers, they are reminded that this job won’t be finished until the Larry O’Brien trophy is lifted by the Purple and Gold once again.

Here’s what we know about the H e a t:

The Miami Heat are 12-3 in the NBA postseason. The Heat have shot the ball fairly well from deep. Six different players have shot better than 35 percent during the playoffs and in 2 of the 3 series played, the Heat have had five or more players shoot over 35 percent for the entire series.

All led by Duncan Robinson, who was 3rd in 3-point makes during the regular season at 47 percent, which was second among those who attempted at least 400 shots. And now he has made 44 threes on 40 percent during the postseason.

Rising rookie Tyler Herro has knocked in 37 threes at 38 percent and Goran Dragic has 37 threes on 36 percent. The Heat guards knocking down threes has been essential in spacing their offensive attack. 

 

But it’s the Heat’s attack that I want to focus on. They don’t have a go-to player per say, because everyone is a threat, depending on who has the hot hand. In the first round Jimmy Butler led the Heat in scoring (23.8), in the second round Goran Dragic led the Heat in scoring (22.8) and in the conference finals Bam led the team in scoring (21.8).

Although the Lakers have the series’ best two players, the Heat have arguably the next 3-6 best players with Bam, Jimmy, Dragic, and Herro.

It truly varies from game to game–series to series. In the ECF versus the Celtics, the Heat had three different leading scorers, including highlight games by Tyler Herro who dropped 37 points in a game 4 victory and a dazzling 32/14/5 by Bam in the closeout game 6.

Despite the fact that the Heat have a balanced offensive attack that stacks up fifth in points per game in the postseason (112.2) and third in assists at (25.1), it’s on the defensive end where the team will hang their hats.

The Heat aren’t the best defensive team, but they scheme well, covering up some of the deficiencies on that end. In the previous series Spo deployed various zones that obstructed the flow of the Celtics offense. And they walled off Giannis, forcing other players to create in halfcourt sets, taking away the best aspects of what each team wanted to do. 

 

They rank 7th in defensive rating just behind the Lakers who rank fifth, 8th in defensive rebounding percent, 4th in steals and 7th in opponent points off turnovers during the playoffs. The Lakers rank ahead of them in several key categories defensively, but in order for the Heat to win, it’ll be conquering the margins.

No statistic or glamor play will be good enough to come up on top. It will be won by muddying the waters and digging deep to channel the will of all the other unlikely underdogs of the past. 

And if there’s any team to defy the odds and knock out Goliath, it’s this Bad News Bears group of misfits from Dade County who are always ready for a street fight.

My pick: Lakers in 6 games. Sound defensively, good rebounding team, and the two best players in the series. The Heat will make it hard on them, but no one will be able to cover AD and LeBron will exploit the gaps in the Heat’s defense. 

 

 

To put it like Lakers’ fans, “17 is on da way.” 

#NBAFinals #LilLakerBoy #LeBronJames #AnthonyDavis #Lakers #Heat #JimmyButler #TylerHerro #BamAdebayo #Bubble