2016 Playoffs: (3) Heat vs. (6) Hornets

The result of the clusterfuck in the 3-6 seed is fittingly a four way tie, with the Heat blowing a 26 point lead but getting the 3 seed anyway.

This one is tough to pick. On one hand, Charlotte is 0-8 in the playoffs since returning to the NBA in 2004. On the other, they have looked great as of late, and Miami is without Chris Bosh. This one should go back and forth, but Kemba has been excellent this year, as has the Hornets' defense, whereas the Heat have been inconsistent. I'll take Charlotte in 6.

I'll go with the Heat in six, but yes, the Crying Jordan memes will certainly continue to be run into the ground.

Hornets in 6, because, Wade....

I will be unbiased and say Heat in 5, because saying 4 would be a bias.

LIN FOR THE WIN

Great wall of Whiteside will destroy any Hornets' offense. Assuming he won't be suspended half the time of course.

i was hoping miami ended up on cleveland's side of the bracket as they are the team that matches up best with them. now they may not even make the conf semi's. i chastised this hornets team but they deserve their due credit.

Pretty sure we will have Crying Jordan memes ensue.

But iam going to go with the Hornets in 6

Miami in 6 if Wade lasts that long in this series

Great wall of Whiteside will destroy any Hornets' offense. Assuming he won't be suspended half the time of course.

No Chris Bosh?
Charlotte's defense is pretty good.
Charlotte has been playing very well since January.
Who is going to stop Kemba? (And Lin)

Dragic? Wade?

Lin's going to get dominated by Briante Weber.

Walker indeed is dangerous. He'd be probably a great 4th option on the Heat team.


You guys realize Batum's not at full health, right?

This should be a great matchup and a is a pretty tough pick. I feel like the Hornets can take this Heat team on. I don't see them having an answer to Kemba. At the same time, Wade is still in fairly solid form, Deng is playing world-class basketball, Dragic is Dragic, and Whiteside is a beast.

Heat in 7.

Sounds like Bosh won't be able to return for the Playoffs, despite some optimism a few weeks ago. I'm getting the feeling his career might be over; better to have a career-ending condition than a life-threatening one at the age of 32.

I really thought the Heat were done when Bosh went out the door due to his condition. But was pleasantly surprised to see the Heat playing so well without him, I think they are just good enough to get out of the first round, alive. Let's worry about Bosh's heart, Wade's knee, Whiteside's contract later and give this run something to remember for! Go Heat!

Great game so far. Great team effort and great Deng.

EDIT: Perhaps the Heat purposely had that historic meltdown in season ending game against the Celtics because Hornets are an easier foe to devour. The Heat are toying with them right now.

EDIT 2: The Heat up by 24 now in early 3rd. Deng is playing like prime LBJ and more.

EDIT 3: Up 27 with about 2 min left in 3rd. Darn... even Miami rookies are contributing now.

I am turning off the TV now. Heat only up 23 with 12 min to go but I don't think the Hornets can do it.

Game 1 Summary:

Exhibition game for the Heat. No edits for me going further, but at the end of the 3rd quarter, Whiteside is the man of the match for me.

Heat's height and length definitely an advantage. Matchups favoring Miami right now. For some reason they'd still leave Deng wide open even after he caught fire.

man these first round match ups are junk this year. thank god for the celtics and hawks giving us at least 1 good half of basketball lol.

Hawks, Celtics, Heat, Hornets, all of these teams won equal 48 regular season games but seems like only one of them stands out.

Wade confirms to be one of the best closer still in today's game. 2 down 2 to go. I expect split 1-1 on the road then wrap the series up at home. 5 sounds about right.

NO. Batum injures ankle again. The Hornets are not coming back to take this series.

safe to say the heat are better without Bosh in the lineup? or is it charlotte's smallish wing players with inviting matchups for joe johnson and wade and forgetting to guard luol deng?

after a remarkable bounce back season, Marvin Williams has been absolutely terrible in this series

I think that's really a legit question to ponder even though a lot of Heat fans seemingly get upset at the mere suggestion.


Haven't put in much thought into it until you asked, but I am on fence with that one for now. When everyone was healthy in the beginning of season, the Heat were really good. And mid season turmoil was largely due to inconsistent rotation due to players injuries and experimentation (ex. McBob posting big # one night, enlarged expectation which fails, Wade/Whiteside deals with injuries).

That said, it's tough to deny his absence opened up doors for others. Deng has found a new life as speed power forward. Strangely point guard Dragic has stepped up his game. Whiteside has been healthy and has been playing well. Josh Richardon was found as Spo were running thin on roster.

Could be matchup based? Charlotte does like to go to small and that seems to be the heats forte

Perhaps boshs absence of ploddingly slow play has something to do with dragic pushing the ball more