2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: Heat vs 76ers


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While it wasn’t the season that everyone expected, the Miami Heat come into the playoffs with the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference behind the Chicago Bulls. Miami finished the year 58-24 and are set to face the Philadelphia 76ers, who earned the No. 7 seed in the East with a record of 41-41.

These two teams faced off three times during the regular season, and the series was all Miami. The Heat won all three games by at least nine points, including a 111-99 win in the final meeting on March 25. Game 1 of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 3;30 ET.

Here is a closer look at what both of these teams bring to the table and what it will take for them advance to the semifinals in the East. If you want a more complete picture of the postseason, then check out our 2011 NBA playoff predictions.

Miami Heat

While it comes as no surprise that the Heat are one of the best offensives in the NBA, not enough credit is given to just how good this team is defensively. Miami really smothers you on the defensive side of the ball. I believe this will be the biggest key to the Heat making a run for a Championship. LeBron James and Dwayne Wade are two of the best defenders in the game at their positions, and I look for this team be even better defensively in the postseason.

Offensively everything is ran through the “BIG THREE” of James, Wade, and Chris Bosh. These three combined for just under 72 points game. It took some time for them to get use to playing with one another, but they come into the playoffs playing exceptional basketball. Miami finished the year on a 16-3 run, and in the playoffs the team with the most superstars usually ends up winning.

The biggest weakness for Miami is the guys on the roster not named James, Wade, or Bosh. The Heat spent so much money to bring these three stars together they had no money left to spend on their role players. For Miami to make a deep run in the playoffs they have to get production from guys like James Jones, Mike Miller, and Mike Bibby.

Philadelphia 76ers

Things didn’t look good for the 76ers early in the 2010-11 NBA season. Philadelphia started the year 6-14, and didn’t look anything like a playoff contender. This team got things figured out under head coach Doug Collins and are one of most promising young teams in the league.

Philadelphia really works together as a team on both sides of the ball. They are very underrated on the defensive side of the ball, and offensively they have six guys who average between 10-15 points a game. They have one of the best all-around players in the game in Andre Iguodala, who averaged 14.1 points 6.3 assists, and 5.8 rebounds a game. He is also a very good defender and one of a few players in the NBA who can hold his own against James.

I think the key for the 76ers to make this a series, and possibly upset the Heat, is that they have to get great play from their reservesThey will have the clear advantage in talent when the second units are on the floor with the likes of Lou Williams and Thaddeus Young coming off the bench. If the starters can hold their own, Philadelphia will have the opportunity to build a lead with their reserves.

Prediction: Heat Win in 6 Games

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