NBA Finals Prediction: It's The King's Court

Will the San Antonio Spurs win their fifth NBA
Championship or will the Miami Heat repeat?

LeBron James said he believed the Miami Heat would win multiple championships after he joined the team in the summer of 2010. Now, the only thing standing in his way is one of the most dominating teams in the past decade.

The San Antonio Spurs are the definition of success. They have won four World Championships since 1999 and defeated James’ Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0 in the 2007 NBA Finals. Since then, James has won four Most Valuable Player Awards and has ascended to the top of the NBA.

Can The King lead his Heat to victory against a Spurs team that has never lost in the finals? Will Spurs point guard Tony Parker continue playing at the level he has played at during these playoffs? The answer to both of these questions is yes.

Parker will play great against the Heat and will lead his team to multiple victories in this series. He will help Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili get open looks around the basket. After the Spurs swept the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference Finals, my mind was made up. They were going to win the championship. But, as I write this less than 90 minutes before tip-off I have changed my mind.

James is The King for a reason and he isn’t going to lose his spot at the top of the basketball world right now. Not at the age of 28 and in his prime.

 The Heat are just too good. Everyone talks about the depth of the Spurs. How about the depth of the Heat? They have a Hall-of-Famer coming off the bench in Ray Allen who is deadly from behind the arc. James will have help in this series. The help people were clamoring for in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Chris Bosh will play better. He was outmatched physically against the Indiana Pacers. There isn’t a player on the Spurs who can do what David West physically in the Eastern Conference Finals. Bosh will be more comfortable and become a big-time contributor in this series.

LeBron James will lead the Miami Heat to back-to-back championships in
a grueling seven game series versus the San Antonio Spurs.

Dwyane Wade has struggled in these playoffs. But, when it’s time to win he always seems to deliver in the clutch. The 2006 NBA Finals MVP knows how to win and wants to win as bad as anyone. Even though he is battling injuries, he will still outplay his counterpart Ginobili.

The Spurs have a real advantage at point guard with Parker. But, after that they don’t have any tremendous advantages. Is Duncan better than Bosh? Sure. Will he dominate Bosh in this series? The answer is no.

 Both teams have three stars and have surrounded them with great role players. But, 

who is the best player on the court? That is the one question that needs to be asked in a series like this. The answer is James. The Heat have the best player in the world and the Spurs don’t.

This will be a great series that we will talk about for many years, but The King will return to his throne in seven games, after the Heat defeat the Spurs and repeat as NBA Champions.

Prediction: The Miami Heat will defeat the San Antonio Spurs 4-3.

Game 1: Miami Heat: 102 San Antonio Spurs: 99

Game 2: San Antonio Spurs: 97 Miami Heat: 91

Game 3: San Antonio Spurs: 110 Miami Heat: 93  

Game 4: Miami Heat: 110 San Antonio Spurs: 103

Game 5: Miami Heat: 110  San Antonio Spurs: 93

Game 6: San Antonio Spurs: 92 Miami Heat: 83

Game 7: Miami Heat: 96 San Antonio Spurs: 89

Parker must lead Spurs against LeBron's Heat

The buzzer sounded and the San Antonio Spurs were NBA Champions for the third time in five seasons. They swept LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Tony Parker thought this was just the beginning. He had just been named NBA Finals MVP at 25 years old.

Can Tony Parker lead Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and the
San Antonio Spurs to another championship?

Parker was going to be the next superstar of the league. He had three world championships and was on a team that was built to win more. But, the victories never came.

In 2012, they had their best chance, but lost four-straight games to the Oklahoma City Thunder after taking a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals. Parker promised teammate Tim Duncan that they would reach the finals once again.

"I'll get you back to the NBA Finals," the point man told Duncan (via Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports). "We aren't done. You aren't done."

Parker has delivered on his promise, averaging a team-high 23 points, 7.2 assists and shooting nearly 48 percent in the playoffs.

Now he finds himself against a familiar foe. Parker’s Spurs are set to face James again. A lot has changed since they last met. Since then, James joined the Miami Heat and is considered to be the best player in the NBA. The Spurs have stayed consistent. They are still led by the trio of Parker, Duncan and Manu Ginobili. They continue to fly under-the-radar and once again find themselves on the biggest stage, just four wins from another championship.

This is a challenge the Spurs embrace. They are the old heavyweight boxer that wants to win the belt one more time.

"Every team wants to beat you," Parker said (via J.A. Adande of ESPN.com). "And that's why it makes it even more special to go back after all those years playing at a high level with the same coach, with the same Big Three."

They are facing the young guns that came together for one reason: to win championships.

If there is one team that can beat the Heat, it’s the Spurs. They have a mastermind in Gregg Popovich, a hall-of-fame power forward who has found the fountain of youth in Duncan and Ginobili is as crafty as they come. But, the 2013 Spurs begin and end with Parker. He is their leader and the oil that keeps San Antonio’s engine running.

"He (Parker) was the best player in the Western Conference playoffs each game and we're well aware of that," said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. "Every time he stepped on the court, he was the best player, the most impactful player, and he was driving their success. They have obviously Hall of Famers and a well-oiled system, but he creates so much offense for them. What you have to respect more than anything is his engine and he's tireless to work for those opportunities."

Tony Parker has beat Lebron James in the NBA Finals
before. He will need to play well if the
Spurs are going to do it again. 

If Parker has a great NBA Finals so will the Spurs. If he is average, it will be tough to win their fifth NBA Championship. In fact, it won’t happen. The pressure of earning his fourth ring has set in. This could be Parker’s last opportunity to win with the Spurs.  

The most underrated player in the league has to be great if he is going to take down the king on his own court. Parker realizes how much effort he puts into the game for the Spurs to be successful.

"I took it as a challenge to improve my game and get better every year," Parker told NBA.com. I got a great example in Timmy (Duncan), who has been unbelievable all those years. I want to try and do the same thing. I want to try to improve my game, as the responsibility and the ball came in my hands. I try to do more and try to deliver."

This is when the stars come out

It's time for Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh
to step up for the Heat.

The final buzzer sounded. The crowd was cheering and Roy Hibbert was ready to do his best Bart Scott impression during the postgame interview. The Indiana Pacers just defeated the Miami Heat 99-92 to even the series 2-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Pacers outmuscled and outplayed the Heat. They won the rebounding battle 49-30 and shot 50 percent from the field. They were more physical and held the Heat to just 39 percent shooting.

With the series tied and the teams headed to Miami for game five, it is now time for the stars to come out. Does that mean Lebron James has a vintage 40-point game or posts a triple double? Maybe. But, ultimately game 5 will come down to Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade.

The winner of Thursday’s game will be guaranteed a chance to win the series on their home court.  It will be about the stars. Who will step up? Can Wade shake off his knee injury that has plagued him throughout the playoffs? He has only reached the 20-point plateau once in the playoffs when he scored 21 points way back in game two of the first round. Wade scored 16 points in game 4, but wasn’t his normal self, shooting just 5-15 from the floor.

Bosh was also ineffective shooting just 1-6 from the field and finishing with 7 points. Bosh has battled down low with Pacers center Roy Hibbert all series, but only grabbed three rebounds in game 4. When Ray Allen leads your team in rebounding (7), you aren’t going to win many playoff games.

Lebron James has been consistent in the series,
but he needs help from Wade and Bosh.

When the Heat are focused they are virtually unbeatable, but aside from game two versus the Chicago Bulls and game three against the Pacers, they have looked very ordinary so far in these playoffs.

It is now time for the mighty Heat to show why they’re the defending NBA Champions. They need to win game five and take the momentum back. If they lose game five they would be forced to win game 6 on the road. The Pacers have posted a 7-1 record at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in the playoffs.

Now the Heat are headed home and face the pressure to perform well. After all this is the team that was going to win “not one, not two, not three…” and now they find themselves in a must-win situation.

Wade is averaging a career worst 14.3 points per game in the playoffs. The Heat need him to play well tonight if they’re going to win. Can he regain his old pre-injury form and lead this team to the Finals? Probably not, but they need more out of him if they’re going to win another NBA Championship. Wade is a superstar and the playoffs are when the stars come out. It’s his time to shine.

After posting a dud in game four, the pressure is on the Heat and their stars to perform. Can they do it? Who will step up?

The stage is set and the world will be watching. The action starts at 8:30 ET on TNT.

It's winning time in Cincinnati

The 2012 edition of the Cincinnati Bengals have kept fans on the edge of their seats all season. These Bengals have shown how great they can be, going on winning streaks of 3 and 4 games this season. However, they’ve also shown when they’re playing bad; they’re really bad losing to teams with losing records like Miami and Cleveland. They also struggled to move the ball on a Philadelphia Eagle team that has struggled defensively this season.

With that said the Bengals still have all of their goals in front of them. The message this Sunday is simple: Win and you’re in. If the Bengals win this Sunday, it will be the first time they have reached the playoffs in back-to-back seasons in 30 years. This team made the playoffs last season and anything less this year would be a major disappointment.

The time to win is now. There isn’t a reason the Bengals shouldn’t win this game. They are healthier, younger and don’t have much pressure on them. The Steelers have the pressure on their shoulders. Most people expect them to win this game simply because of their track record. Former Super Bowl MVP Ben Roethlisberger has posted a 14-4 record against the Bengals since being drafted in 2004. He dominates the Bengals and should give them all they can handle on Sunday.
But, I still believe the Bengals can win this tough road contest. They have been playing like an AFC North team should: physical.

 Running Back Benjarvus Green-Ellis has proved his worth by averaging 5 yards per carry (YPC) in December games. The Bengals are 2-1 in December and Green-Ellis only had 12 carries in their lone loss to Dallas. In their wins he is averaging 25 carries per game and I would expect the Bengals to feed him the ball another 20-plus times.

The defensive line has been lights out this season pressuring the quarterback. They have a chance to set the franchise record for sacks in a season, and need to continue to put pressure on Roethlisberger this week. Led by Geno Atkins and Domata Peko, the D-line needs to have a big impact on Sunday.

The Bengals might be considered young, but the time to win is now. Players and fans have paid their dues. Now it is time to change the fortune around in Cincinnati. Andy Dalton is 0-3 against the Steelers, it’s time for him to go into Pittsburgh and get a victory. A.J. Green has yet to have a 100-yard game against the Steelers and only had 6 catches in his best game against the black and gold.

It is time for these young guys to become men. No matter how many spectacular plays they make, it will be pointless if they can’t take the next step and beat the Steelers. It’s winning time in Cincinnati and what better way to clinch a playoff spot than to eliminate the Steelers out of contention on their home field?

A.J. Green (18) and Andy Dalton (14) were both Pro Bowlers in their
 NFL Rookie campaigns, but they look to do something Sunday
that they've never done: beat the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ray Allen Shrugs Off Garnett, Scores 19 in Heat Win

It is no secret that Ray Allen is good at shooting from beyond-the-arc. In fact, he's made more three point shots than any other player in NBA history. The Miami Heat have dealt with guarding Allen for the past five seasons. But, they liked having Allen in a home jersey as one of their own as they faced the Boston Celtics.

Allen came into the game with two minutes left in the first-quarter. He greeted Celtics Head Coach Doc Rivers and the rest of the Celtics bench, including old friend Kevin Garnett who didn't acknowledge Allen.

It would appear the snub motivated Allen as hit a three on the first possession with his new team. Garnett downplayed the fact that he ignored Allen after the game:

"I was just trying to focus as much as I could. I am such an intense person," Garnett said. "It was a blank. Obviously he's on the other side. It's time to play the game, man."

Allen went on to score 19 points for the Heat, making 5 of 7 shots from the field. Allen proved he still had gas left in the tank, which benefits superstars Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. “A Hall of Famer coming off the bench,” James said of Allen. “It’s a treat for us and just another example of the sacrifices that guys make to play here.”

The Heat won the game 120-107 and they looked every bit as dangerous as people speculated when they added Allen in the offseason. 

Time will tell if the Miami Heat can win more than one ring, but they were the better team on Tuesday night and have upgraded their roster from last year's championship team. It is a long season, but the Heat started it off the way the last one ended: with a victory.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/10/31/3075391/miami-heat-runs-rings-around-celtics.html#storylink=cpy

Ray Allen scored 19 points in his Heat debut against his former team.

Saints S Roman Harper: "We'd be 5-0 if not for bounty scandal"

On Sunday, the New Orleans Saints improved to 2-4 on the season when they beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 35-28 in a shootout. Saints Quarterback Drew Brees threw for four touchdowns and led his team to its second-straight victory, after starting the season with a 0-4 record. The Saints, who have struggled this season, would have a better record if not for "bountygate" according to starting Safety Roman Harper.

Harper was asked on NBC's Pro Football Talk “If you have none of this Bountygate in the offseason, if there's no problems, through five games, instead of 1-4, what's your best guess as to what your record would be?”

Harper's response: "5-0."

“Hey, it is what it is,” Harper continued when Kuselias suggested that the league punishment cost the Saints four losses. "It's all right. You know, you can't win ‘em all. And at the end of the day we have to climb out of it from here. And we still have a chance in this division -- that's the crazy thing. No matter how we started the season. I think the last two Super Bowl champs limped into the playoffs at 9-7. All you can ask for is a chance and an opportunity late in January and that's all we ask for." 

It is quite interesting to see a locker room leader admit how much "bountygate" has affected the team. Most people believed the Saints would contend even though Head Coach Sean Payton is suspended for the season. They do appear to be righting the ship, but would they have a 5-0 record with Payton? It's tough to say, but unless your head coach can come in and play defense, I highly doubt they would have an unblemished record.

Cincinnati Bengals Vs Atlanta Falcons Preview

The Cincinnati Bengals started out the preseason with a solid performance against the New York Jets, which led to a 17-6 victory. Now, six days later, the Bengals face a bigger test when they go on the road to take on the Atlanta Falcons.




Injuries on Offense:

 The team came away injured from their first game and will be without key players including running backs Benjarvus Green-Ellis and Bernard Scott.  This opens up the door for players like Cedric Peerman and Aaron Brown to get some carries and show the coaching staff what they can do. The offense will also be without Guard Travelle Wharton who is out for the rest of the season. Second-year player Clint Boling will get a chance to start. After a summer of strength and balance training Boling has an opportunity to prove he belongs in the NFL. Coaches say he has made strides and with the departure of Bobbie Williams, Boling seems to be the best option at Left Guard following the Wharton injury.

Can Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver Jordan Shipley
 show the Bengals staff he is the same player
he was prior to tearing his ACL?

Injuries on Defense:

The Bengals are entering Game 2 of the preseason without four of their cornerbacks. Dre Kirkpatrick, Jason Allen, Brandon Ghee and Shaun Prater are all out for tonight's game against Atlanta. Adam Jones has also been battling a calf injury and the team has not said whether he will play or not. The team is also without starting middle linebacker Rey Maualuga who was injured last week against the Jets. Defensive End Carlos Dunlap sprained his right knee during the Jets game and is out for the preseason and doubtful for the regular season opener against Baltimore. Robert Geathers is also out for the preseason which will give newcomer Jamaal Anderson a chance to make an impact. 

Questions I want answers to:

1. How will the wounded secondary handle the wide receiver tandem of Roddy White and Julio Jones?

2. Can Clint Boling show that he has improved and is a starting guard in the NFL?

3. Will MLB Vontaze Burfict continue to play well and cement a spot on the team?

4. Can Jordan Shipley show the explosiveness he had before he tore his ACL last season?

5. What will Brandon Tate and Armon Binns do to prove they deserve the 2nd wide receiver slot?

At the end of the day this is simply preseason game number two. The Bengals have injuries all over the field and the goal is to be as healthy as possible for opening night against the Baltimore Ravens. However, tonight's game will go a long way in answering some of the questions fans have about the Bengals. The game starts at 8:00pm on Fox. 




Follow me on Twitter: @JamesRapien