All right, hoops fans: it’s go-time!
The 2014 NBA Finals kick off tonight from San Antonio, Texas, featuring a rematch of last year’s Finals match-up between the Spurs and the Miami Heat. There is no doubt about it: these are the two best teams in the NBA, and it’s fitting that they are gearing up for another showdown.
Question is, which team will walk away with the Larry O’Brien Trophy once the dust has settled?
Here at FanSided NBA, we editors engaged in a roundtable discussion in which we made our picks, and the results are interesting, to say the least! Of the 20 editors who chimed in with their two cents, 11 have the San Antonio Spurs avenging last year’s loss to the Heat. Nick Whalen over at Behind the Buck Pass had this to say about his pick:
"Spurs in 7. I’m tempted to go Miami in 6, but this Spurs team isn’t going to let another one slip away. I don’t have enough faith in the Miami frontcourt to consistently rebound and contain Diaw/Duncan/Splitter. And if Parker is Parker, there’s no way this Spurs team falters with home court advantage."
And Jacob Rude at Lake Show Life has faith that the Spurs will remember to play defense in game six:
"Spurs in 6. Fueled by last season’s amazing collapse, the Spurs refuse to let it happen again this year and click on all cylinders, finishing the deal in 6 games this time without letting Ray Allen open in the corner this time."
Meanwhile, Adam Best, co-founder of FanSided, sees the Heat three-peating:
"Heat in 6. LeBron just carved up All-Defensive First Team member Paul George, along with Lance Stephenson (who was one of the top runners-up for the All-D teams). He’ll feast on the Spurs’ wings. Also, Tony Parker isn’t likely to hold up again, which cost them last year. Also, vintage D-Wade has been showing up lately. That guy makes the Heat almost unbeatable."
And Valerie Morales, Jacob’s co-editor at Lake Show Life, believes the Heat will win in six because of . . . LeBron James.
Here’s a breakdown of how FanSided NBA voted.
| Editor | Respective Website | Who Wins? |
| Josh Haslam | Purple and Blues | Spurs in 5 |
| Matt Cianfrone | Pelican Debrief | Heat in 7 |
| Rami Michail | The Smoking Cuban | Spurs in 6 |
| Michael Saenz | Sir Charles in Charge | Heat in 6 |
| Chris Manning | Right Down Euclid | Heat in 6 |
| Nicholas Whalen | Behind the Buck Pass | Spurs in 7 |
| Brian Boake | Raptors Rapture | Spurs in 7 |
| Aaron Somers | FanSided | Spurs in 3 |
| Michael Dunlap | Hoops Habit | Heat in 6 |
| Drew Corrigan | The Sixer Sense | Heat in 6 |
| Valerie Morales | Lake Show Life | Heat in 6 |
| Brad Rowland | ATL All Day | Spurs in 7 |
| Cody Powers | Purple and Blues | Spurs in 7 |
| Bill Simpson | Air Alamo | Spurs in 7 |
| Mike Catalino | Nugg Love | Spurs in 6 |
| Adam Best | CEO of FanSided | Heat in 6 |
| Scott Davis | Buckets o. Broadway | Heat in 6 |
| Jacob Rude | FanSided | Spurs in 6 |
| David MacKay | Rip City Project | Spurs in 7 |
| Ronald Agers | Pippen Ain’t Easy | Heat in 6 |
As for myself, I have already written that I will go insane if the Miami Heat threepeat, so I have to believe in my soul that the Spurs will win and save me from that fate. Spurs in 7, or it’s the looney bin for me!