The two-time defending champion, Miami Heat are the number two seed in the Eastern Conference and are facing the seventh seed Charlotte Bobcats. During their regular season matchup the Heat swept the Bobcats, 4-0. If the regular season is any indication of how the series will play out this then the Bobcats do not stand a chance. But, I believe that this series will be more interesting in the playoffs.
The Bobcats have had a tremendous season and the stellar play of Al Jefferson, who was recently named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for March after averaging 24.7 points, 10.6 rebounds and shooting 55.5% from the field. In his (Jefferson) first season in Charlotte, he has averaged 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds. Jefferson causes a matchup problem for the Heat because Bosh can not deal with his size in the post, Chris “Birdman” Anderson does not have the lateral quickness to stay in front of him, Greg Oden may not be healthy enough to participate in the series, and is too tall for Udonis Haslem.
If the Bobcats want to win they are going to have to feed the ball to Jefferson. If there is an area the Bobcats can exploit the Heat it would be work the ball inside because the Heat’s biggest weakness has been stopping the opposing team’s post scorers. Also, (Bobcats) point guard Kemba Walker who averaged 17.7 points and 6.1 assists during the regular season will have to dominate the inferior Mario Chalmers. If these things happen and Gerald Henderson, Gary Neal, Michael Kidd- Gilchrist and Cody Zeller step up on the offensive and defensive side of the ball the Bobcats could win a couple of games in this series.
But let’s be real here, the Bobcats need a miracle to win this series. The Bobcats had a hard time trying to win a game during the regular season so it is going to be hard for them to win a game, let alone the series.
To be fair to Charlotte, they played the Heat tough in their second matchup, on December 1st the Bobcats only lost by one point and a score of 99-98. In the third season matchup, the Bobcats played the Heat close enough to force overtime.
But in the fourth and final matchup the four-time MVP, LeBron James put on a show, scoring 61 points. James is arguably the best player in the world and he is a matchup nightmare for anyone or everyone on the Bobcats, despite the maturation process of Kidd-Gilchrist on the defensive end.
Owner Michael Jordan, General Manager Rich Cho and Head Coach Steve Clifford have done a great job constructing this team, and getting the most out of this roster. The Bobcats have a bright future because of the personal decisions those men have made. But the Bobcats are not ready to contend with a team like the Heat right now. The Heat have too much experience and talent to falter in the first round.
Prediction: Heat in 5
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