The phrase defense wins playoffs games is a bit overrated. Balance is what wins playoff games. While you can't win if you can't make stops in the clutch, you also can't win if you can't score in the clutch either.
The east is going to be particularly tough w/ the new look Heat-- the only notable player they lost was Eddie Jones, but they got back plenty in return. The Pacers lose the face of the franchise (Miller) and the Pistons lost their championship coach.
The way I see is it is that anyone who DOESN'T FACE MIAMI in the first round has a chance to make some noise. The longer you last in the playoffs, the greater chance that Shaq comes up lame with some injury or Wade turns an ankle or something from his aggressive drives to the basket... at which point things get wide open.
Posted by bobs3304:
^...Ya, in the regular season. But defense wins playoff games, and that's the one area where the Nets are lacking. Put them up against Indiana, Detroit, or Miami and they don't stand a chance...
Hell, as far as out-finessing teams is concerned, the Cavs may very well be just as good at doing that next season.
[Edited by - bobs3304 on 08/08/2005 14:07:15]
