Sixteen teams started this journey and two remain, each deserving its chance at history, the San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat.

• Game 1-June 6 San Antonio @ Miami 9 p.m. (ET) ABC                                          
• Game 2-June 9 San Antonio @ Miami 8 p.m. (ET) ABC
• Game 3-June 11 Miami @ San Antonio 9 p.m. (ET) ABC
• Game 4-June 13 Miami @ San Antonio 9 p.m. (ET) ABC
• Game 5-June 16 Miami @ San Antonio 8 p.m. (ET) ABC
• Game 6-June 18 San Antonio @ Miami 9 p.m. (ET) ABC
• Game 7-June 20 San Antonio @ Miami 9 p.m. (ET) ABC

2013 Regular Season Match-up

• Nov 29 San Antonio@ Miami 105-100
• March 31 Miami @ San Antonio 88-86

All good things come to an end and the San Antonio Spurs understand that, so Gregg Popovich and company has put on what looks to be a last run at the NBA title once again and this time they meet up with the defending champions Miami Heat.

San Antonio Spurs’ road to the 2013 NBA Finals

The San Antonio Spurs made it look easy, sweeping the Lakers, tangoed with the Warriors and swept the Grizzlies. This has to look promising if you are a Spurs fan because heading into the Finals, your big three is healthy, your bench is solid and everyone is on the same page and well rested. The Spurs are the New England Patriots of the NBA, they have been a standard in the NBA for the last decade. Both coaches Gregg Popovich and Bill Belichick have a dark sense of humor and they don’t talk a lot. They do what they do best, WIN. The Spurs are also an amazing 4 out of 4 in the NBA finals coming away away with a trophy every time they have been there.

San Antonio Spurs Locker Room

The big three is healthy, Tim Duncan is playing like he was in 1999, Tony Parker just gets better every year and Manu Ginobili? Well…he’s Manu, enough said. Danny Green has showed why he deserves to be in the starting lineup, he has played stellar defense, spread the floor with his threes and facilitated at times. Kawhi Leonard has took over the defensive specialist position that Bruce Bowen vacated a couple of years ago. The Spurs run a 10-deep roster throughout the playoffs with Bonner, Diaw, Neal, Joseph and Ginobili. Blair and McGrady have seen limited playing time  and we know how dominant those two are if they are inserted into the game.

Why the Spurs can win

Experience, defense and selflessness. The San Antonio Spurs have all the ingredients to win another championship.They have the 11-plus years of experience from each of the big three. They have defensive intensity which doesn’t show on the stat sheet and they are unselfish. They share the ball more than other team in the NBA, and extra passes get your open shots and break down any defense. The Spurs just have to play Spurs basketball and they can win their fifth championship in franchise history.

Key Players to watch-Kawhi Leonard and Matt Bonner

 ___________________________________________________________________________

Not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4….not 8…At least he finally got one and now he shoots for two. LeBron James got the monkey off his back last season when he finally won his first NBA championship and has escalated his game to a whole new level with the left-handed hook shot and some low-post moves added to his arsenal.LeBron looks to lead the Heat to their third NBA championship in franchise history. 

Miami Heat’s road to the 2013 NBA Finals

The Miami Heat breezed through the first and second round of the playoffs but were challenged in the Eastern Conference finals against the Indiana Pacers who needed a signature 99-76 blow out victory at home in Game 7 . Since signing Chris “The Birdman” Anderson, their defensive intensity has increased greatly in addition to his ridiculous field-goal percentage.

Miami Heat Locker Room

Miami does not have any major injuries other than Dwyane Wade, who has had back and leg issues all season and just seem to not be the old Dwyane Wade we’ve been accustomed to seeing. Mike Miller and Shane Battier seem to be healthy. The Heat really just needs Ray Allen to be consistent on a nightly basis to stretch the floor and be a facilitator. LeBron can score at will and so can  Wade, they just need some additional run support and that might be a hard thing to do against the San Antonio Spurs

Why the Heat can win

L.E.B.R.O.N J.A.M.E.S. that name is the reason why they won last year and will be key to winning this year. Miami runs on James, but in order for them to defeat the Spurs, they will need Wade and Bosh along with the bench to step up and take away the double and triple teams from LeBron. Ray Allen and company have been a disaster during the Pacers series from beyond the arc but finally showed some good signs in Games 6 and 7. The Heat  also have a similar defensive specialist in Shane Battier who has been known to shut down great players, and we’ll look to see Battier match up with Ginobili or Parker and force them to take tough shots off the pick and roll.

Key players to watch-Shane Battier and Ray Allen

___________________________________________________________________________

Final Predictions

Spurs in 6

____________________________________________________________________________
Thank you for reading The Cover 4! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook & Twitter.

Oh yeah, tell your friends too!

Chin Tan

Sports Activist for The Cover 4

http://www.facebook.com/thecover4
http://www.twitter.com/thecover4