NBA Finals Preview

Oklahoma City vs. Miami Heat 

Matchups

Russell Westbrook vs Mario Chalmers=Russell Westrbook

Why:  Mario got embarrassed by Rajon Rondo all series, looking as if he didn't even belong to be on the same court with him. Now you have a faster, guard with better scoring ability, this will be a long series for Mario Chalmers.  If Russell can dominate Mario like I think he will, OKC could finish this series off quicker than some expect.

James Harden vs Dwyane Wade=Dwyane Wade slightly

Why:  James Harden is having a more consistent playoffs then Dwyane, but I can't go against a former finals MVP.  Dwyane loves these situations; put him in the brightest spotlight and he will flourish.  James Harden's talents as a underrated perimeter defender and top flight scorer/playmaker will have to be showcased at all times, he is the main ingredient, if he can cook all I can say is UH...OH.

Kevin Durant vs Lebron James= Even

Why:  The two best players in the NBA, expect a show from these two.  With both their legacies being written in this series, I think we will figure out who the sure fire best player in the NBA is in this years NBA finals.  Both will dominate the question comes down to this, who will lead their squad to victory?

Chris Bosh vs. Serge Ibaka=Chris Bosh

Why:  Serge Ibaka is no slouch and is a huge presence on the defensive end, if his shot is falling OKC is extremely tough to beat.  However, Chris Bosh stretches the floor keeping Serge Ibaka away from the rim in shot blocking opportunities and allowing Dwade and LBJ to flourish.  Healthy or not Chris Bosh will impact this series.

Kendrick Perkins vs Udonis Haslem=Kendrick Perkins

Why:  The defensive mentality and toughness that Kendrick brings in the paint will be a huge factor in this series, he must throw his body around and help protect the rim against two of the best slashers in the NBA.  You always know what you're going to get from Perk, he's been here before and he will make a unnoticeable but big impact in this series.  Udonis on the other hand brings the same toughness with a 15 foot jumper if he can consistently knock down his shot opportunities and play tough defense, Miami will win this series.


Bench:

Nick Collison, Derek Fisher, Thabo Sefolosha (even though he starts his minutes are bench minutes) and Daequan Cook  have come up huge in each round of the playoffs, these guys have given the Thunder valuable, productive minutes and that's all you want from your bench mob.  On the other hand Miami's band of flunkies and NBA shooters who can no longer shoot in-game have to step up, the Big 3 can't carry them in this series they must produce...It's Primetime.

Outlook:

This could be the most entertaining NBA finals in recent memory.  Both teams have incredible athletes who drop Espn top 10 worthy plays on a nightly basis, and have players with immense pressure to win their first titles.  Russell Westbrook must take advantage of his match ups and must play in control, he is the key to the series in my estimation, if he turns the ball over and refuses to keep KD from flourishing when he's hot there could be trouble in Oklahoma City.  The pressure on LBJ to win his first title is mounting, he's back in the NBA finals and has his chance at redemption, what more can you ask for, this is his chance to prove that he is without a doubt the best player in the NBA?  With this being said, Kevin Durant is the best player in the league in my opinion, his hunger,will, and fact that he has more of a complete team around him will propel OKC to its first ever NBA championship.

Verdict=Thunder in 6

PS: The playoff format of 2-3-2 with Oklahoma City having game 6 and 7 in Oklahoma is a huge advantage, remember how their crowd rocks.