LeBron James and Miami Heat will win title, but Thinder won't make it easy - New York Daily News

OKLAHOMA CITY â€" With apologies to Kobe Bryant, the NBA Finals will give us the best matchup we’ve seen in years, pitting arguably the top two players in the game today. Three-time MVP LeBron James will try to make his biggest breakthrough as a pro and win his first ring after coming up empty in two previous trips to the Finals. To finally win the title, James has to get past scoring champ Kevin Durant, who finished second in the MVP balloting to James, and is making his first Finals appearance. A look at how the two teams match up:
Point guard
Russell Westbrook vs. Mario Chalmers
Westbrook is a wild card â€" a superb athlete and second-team All-NBA pick who has often let his emotions get the best of him. He’s struggled in four games vs. the Heat’s Big Three, shooting 31% and having almost as many turnovers as assists. He will guard Dwyane Wade a lot, and vice versa. Comes off bad shooting series vs. Spurs (38%), after strong series vs. Lakers (49% shooting and only four TO’s). Chalmers had best shooting series of playoffs vs. Boston (12 ppg on 46%). He’s not afraid to take the big shot.
Edge: Thunder.
Shooting guard
Thabo Sefolosha vs. Dwyane Wade
Sefolosha is a starter in name only. Plays reserves minutes. Strong defender, but a non-threat with the ball with only one double-digit scoring contest in the Thunder’s 15 playoff games. Wade made third-team All-NBA but is in midst of an inconsistent playoff run, perhaps due to season-long knee problems. Has posted lowest playoff scoring average (22.9 ppg) since rookie season. Flopper De Luxe at both ends and spends a lot of time in the refs’ ears. 2006 Finals MVP winner in Heat’s first title win, over Dallas. Failed to produce in clutch vs. Mavs last June.
Edge: Heat.
Small forward
Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James
It’s only the fifth time since 1967 that the scoring champ and MVP are meeting in the Finals, with the scoring champ winning three of the previous four. Durant increased his scoring average and shooting percentage in every playoff round, averaging 27.8 on 50% shooting, with nine trips to the line per game. Just 23 and in only his fourth season. If he can’t cover James, Thunder will be in trouble. OKC has no one else to guard the MVP winner in three of the last four seasons. James faces more pressure than any player to win the title, in light of disappearing for key stretches in Miami’s collapse vs. Dallas last June. Great playoff run in 2012 (30.8 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 5.1 apg) highlighted by epic 45-point, 15-rebound effort in Game 6 vs. Boston to save Miami’s season. One of the game’s elite defenders.
Edge: Heat.
Power forward
Serge Ibaka vs. Udonis Haslem
Ibaka gives the Thunder a formidable last line of defense, averaging 3.3 blocks in the playoffs. Averaging 10.7 ppg. Left open a lot. Had jaw-dropping 11-for-11 shooting performance vs. Spurs in Game 4 win. Haslem is one of the most popular Heat players in team history. Plays bigger than size (6-9). Can knock down a 15-footer when he’s left open.
Edge: Thunder.
Center
Kendrick Perkins vs. Chris Bosh
Perkins is one of the few Thunder players with Finals experience, winning a ring with Boston in 2008. Adds muscle and mean streak to OKC’s Big Three. Erik Spoelstra won’t say if Bosh will regain his starting job after missing nine games with a strained abdominal muscle. Heat went 5-4 without him. If Bosh doesn’t start, Shane Battier will. Either way, expect Bosh to play starter’s minutes. He played final three games vs. Boston, capped by a huge 19-point performance in Game 7 when he buried three 3-pointers.
Edge: Heat.
Benches
James Harden gives the Thunder an enormous edge. Averaged 18.5 ppg on 49% shooting vs. San Antonio in 32 minutes per game. San Antonio series turned when coach Scott Brooks put the ball in his hands late, proving he’s more dependable to make the right play than Westbrook. Strong driver and great finisher who shoots 87% at the foul line. Nick Collison is a key role player up front. Derek Fisher has won five rings and brings Finals expertise with history of making big clutch shots. Miami’s bench is thin. Mike Miller, playing with bad back, runs hot and cold with his 3-point shooting (43% on 3’s vs Indiana, only 32% vs. Boston). Joel Anthony gives Heat size and post D, but no offense.
Edge: Thunder.
Coaches
Brooks vs. Erik Spoelstra
Brooks’ first trip to the Finals as a coach. Won a ring as a player with 1994 Rockets. Playoff record of 23-15 includes this season’s 12-3 mark. Former Knick player under Jeff Van Gundy (1996-97). In fourth season as Thunder’s head coach. NBA Coach of the Year in 2010. Last season, the Heat went to Finals under Spoelstra for only second time in franchise history. Now in fourth season. Former assistant and Pat Riley’s hand-picked successor. Owns 30-21 playoff record, including this season’s 12-6 mark.
Edge: Thunder.
Intangibles
The Heat should be the hungrier team, having blown a 2-1 Finals lead vs. Dallas last June, and with James knowing he needs to redeem himself and win a ring as he completes his ninth season. OKC had the more impressive run to get here, sweeping Dallas, ousting the Lakers in five and defeating the favored Spurs in six.
It’s younger and will have the more raucous crowd in this series, but has to prove it can handle the pressure of playing in the Finals.
Edge: Thunder.
Prediction
LeBron gets his first ring, but it won’t be easy. Heat in 7.