2016 NBA Finals Preview
Mar 21, 2016 19:31:41 GMT -5
Tampa Bay Bull Sharks and Portland Trail Blazers like this
Post by Miege22 on Mar 21, 2016 19:31:41 GMT -5
Immortality. That is what the Bull Sharks seek. The chance to do what no team in league history has done before. To forever have their names etched into the top of the record book. Three championships. Last year, the Bull Sharks became just the second franchise to win two titles. This year, they look to cement themselves as THE best franchise in the NBA. From day one, that was the goal. They overcame early season injuries, and two losses to start the year, to reel off 17 wins in a row, a division title, and a thrashing of the Brooklyn Nets in the Eastern Conference Finals. This is easily the deepest, most talented team Tampa Bay has ever had. But for the first time, they'll have to deal with something they've never had to deal with before: expectations. The Bull Sharks enter as the favorites to win the title for the first time in their three appearances...
But it WON'T be easy. For their troubles, they will face, arguably, the most talented team the Western Conference has ever produced. The Houston Rockets are making their first finals appearance after falling just short in the conference finals last season. They enter with a 13-3 record and the best player in the game: Steph Curry. They've surrounded Steph with an incredible array of talented, young players that are hitting their stride at the perfect time. The Rockets may have the best backcourt and wing rotation in the game. Alongside Steph is Kawhi Leonard, now an all-around fantasy threat, Khris Middleton, once an afterthought, now a dynamite playmaker on the wing. Jrue Holiday has stepped up and cemented his status as a top-tier fantasy point guard. And Jabari Parker, after losing almost the whole season last year due to a knee injury, has become the inside-out threat the Rockets knew he always could be. The bigs may not be as good as the backcourt, but Alex Len, Nikola Jokic, Ryan Anderson and Enes Kanter are as diverse and solid a frontcourt as you'll find in the entire league. The Rockets are not here to be the final footnote in Tampa Bay's historic run. They're here to win.
CUE THE NBA ON NBC THEME MUSIC!
How They Got Here
Tampa Bay is the #1 seed from the East. They finished 14-2 and won the Southeast Division. The Bull Sharks defeated the Hawks 7-2 in the first round and knocked off Brooklyn in the conference finals, 7-2.
Houston is the #1 seed in the Western Conference, finishing 13-3. They were first in the Midwest Division. They defeated Golden State in the first round, 7-2, and Portland in the conference finals, 6-3.
Regular Season Meeting
These two faced off in week 1 (Oct. 27 - Nov. 1), a 5-3-1 victory for the Rockets
Key Injuries
Tampa Bay - Kenneth Faried (back)
Houston - Ryan Anderson (groin)
But it WON'T be easy. For their troubles, they will face, arguably, the most talented team the Western Conference has ever produced. The Houston Rockets are making their first finals appearance after falling just short in the conference finals last season. They enter with a 13-3 record and the best player in the game: Steph Curry. They've surrounded Steph with an incredible array of talented, young players that are hitting their stride at the perfect time. The Rockets may have the best backcourt and wing rotation in the game. Alongside Steph is Kawhi Leonard, now an all-around fantasy threat, Khris Middleton, once an afterthought, now a dynamite playmaker on the wing. Jrue Holiday has stepped up and cemented his status as a top-tier fantasy point guard. And Jabari Parker, after losing almost the whole season last year due to a knee injury, has become the inside-out threat the Rockets knew he always could be. The bigs may not be as good as the backcourt, but Alex Len, Nikola Jokic, Ryan Anderson and Enes Kanter are as diverse and solid a frontcourt as you'll find in the entire league. The Rockets are not here to be the final footnote in Tampa Bay's historic run. They're here to win.
CUE THE NBA ON NBC THEME MUSIC!
How They Got Here
Tampa Bay is the #1 seed from the East. They finished 14-2 and won the Southeast Division. The Bull Sharks defeated the Hawks 7-2 in the first round and knocked off Brooklyn in the conference finals, 7-2.
Houston is the #1 seed in the Western Conference, finishing 13-3. They were first in the Midwest Division. They defeated Golden State in the first round, 7-2, and Portland in the conference finals, 6-3.
Regular Season Meeting
These two faced off in week 1 (Oct. 27 - Nov. 1), a 5-3-1 victory for the Rockets
Key Injuries
Tampa Bay - Kenneth Faried (back)
Houston - Ryan Anderson (groin)