After last year's classic NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs, they will meet once again in Game One on Thursday night in San Antonio.
The Heat is the two-time defending NBA champions as a result of the Spurs blowing a five point lead late in Game Six in Miami last June. The Spurs were on the cusp of their fifth NBA title until the ageless wonder known as Ray Allen drained a corner three-point shot to force overtime, where the Heat took over to win that game and then won Game Seven for the repeat title.
That was last year and this time around, it's the Spurs who have the NBA's best record and home court advantage for the Finals.
Led by the 'Big Three' of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, the Spurs advanced through the rugged Western Conference, beating back Dallas, Portland and Oklahoma City to set the stage for what should be a great championship series.
Meanwhile, the Miami Heat is led by their own 'Big Three' of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. The Heat swept Charlotte in the first round, then beat Brooklyn and finally Indiana in the Eastern Conference finals to reach their fourth consecutive NBA Finals.
Both teams have deep benches, with the Spurs going as deep as ten players while the Heat can go as far as eight (possibly) nine deep.
San Antonio Head Coach Gregg Popovich rates the edge over Miami Head Coach Erik Spoelstra and the Spurs run a great system based on team basketball, whereas the Heat love to run and gun and play one-on-one matchup basketball.
Figure this series to go six, possibly seven games once again with the San Antonio Spurs hoisting the Larry O' Brien trophy this time.
PREDICTION - SAN ANTONIO SPURS IN SIX GAMES
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