TNT's analysts check in on Boston/Miami

FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ
TV analysts don't expect Miami Heat to survive first round of NBA playoffs

By BARRY JACKSON
bjackson@MiamiHerald.com

The Heat enters the season's final day with a good chance of drawing Boston as its first-round opponent, with Atlanta a less likely possibility. The Heat will finish as the No. 5 seed and play Boston if Miami beats New Jersey or if Milwaukee loses to the Celtics. So would Miami have much chance against Boston?

``No,'' TNT's Charles Barkley said off-air Tuesday. ``The Celtics are going to be energized and fresh for the first round. Quite frankly, Miami is just a decent team.'' Barkley scoffs at Michael Beasley drawing motivation from Barkley's playful shots at Dwyane Wade's supporting cast.

``If they need me for motivation, they need to get a life,'' Barkley said. ``Give me a break. . . . I said something in jest because Dwyane is that great and he's playing with a bunch of Marlon Jacksons, Tito Jacksons.''

TNT's Doug Collins said the Celtics allowed more big scoring games to stars recently. Still, ``I don't think it gives Miami a chance to win the series,'' Collins said.

``But it gives them a chance to maybe win a couple games.''

Miami was 0-3 against Boston, losing by seven, six and five points, but 3-1 against Atlanta. Miami ``beating either Boston or Atlanta in a series would be an upset,'' ESPN's Jeff Van Gundy said Tuesday. ``Certainly, I would favor Boston over Miami . . . but Wade will clearly be the best player on the court, and when you have that, you have a chance. But Miami would have to win two games in Boston, because Boston is a very good road team.''

The Heat's concerns, Van Gundy said, would be Boston's experience: ``Rajon Rondo's speed against Carlos Arroyo could be problematic; and Wade would have to guard a primary scorer so he will have to expend a lot of energy. And if Kevin Garnett is Beasley's matchup, that's going to be difficult to score over Garnett's length. . . . But the Celtics just don't rebound.''

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/04/14/1578039/tv-analysts-dont-expect-heat-to.html#ixzz0l8Xq1xGp

If I'm not hearing him wrong, I think Kenny Smith has bent over backwards to tout the Boston Celtics. He knows what this team is capable of and is expecting to see it in the playoffs. My hats off to just one analyst that is in our ballpark and knows what he is talking about. I think he has them beating CLE. It takes a lot for me to say that given I grew up in Raleigh, NC and was and is an avid N.C. State fan for life. I was 10 when David "Skywalker" Thompson came to town and will always have some fond memories of my dad and I going to the opening round in '74 in Reynolds Coliseum on campus to watch State open their championship run against Providence and Ernie Degregorio, who subsequently became rookie of the year in the NBA that next season. Reynolds at that time was the equivalent of Cameron Indoor now. It was electric, to say the least. I think that was the game where I first observed from a distance what streaking was all about.

A sign of a true N.C. State fan, you may ask? Under no circumstances do you ever pull for Carolina...EVER!

And to my surprise, he had a brief stint with the Celtics in '74. Sorry I missed that. Well, and fact checking it was the ABA right, Buffalo Braves.

dbrown

Buffalo was never in the ABA.
If that is what i read.

After the 76 season, 4 teams merged from the ABA, Indiana, Denver, NY Nets (ABA's last champ) and San Antonio.

Buffalo came into the NBA in the 70-71 season.

beat

Saw Kenny Smith interviewed last night and he's picking a surprise team to be in the Finals from the East: Atlanta.

You're right, beat. Hurried research never pays off. That was all right in my blind spot anyway. Was way into N.C.State at the time to give time to the Celtics. I knew there was pro basketball and I was at that stage where I would even imagine to have a college team playing a pro team. ACC was and still is way too big down here. Closest pro team is Charlotte and they are 3 hours away.