2016 NBA playoffs preview: Heat vs. Hornets
The Hornets might not have the same star-power as the Heat, but hardly any team has been hotter over the final two months of the regular season. Not to mention, Kemba Walker tends to shine on the brightest stages. Might the Heat by ripe for an upset?
(3) Miami Heat vs. (6) Charlotte Hornets
Heat wins series 4-3
Game 1 – Heat 123, Hornets 91
Game 2 – Heat 115, Hornets 103
Game 3 – Hornets 96, Heat 80
Game 4 – Hornets 89, Heat 85
Game 5 – Hornets 98, Heat 84
Game 6 – Heat 97, Hornets 90
Game 7 – Heat 106, Hornets 73
Season series: Tied 2-2
Heat starting lineup: G Goran Dragic (14.1 ppg, 5.9 apg); G Dwyane Wade (19.1 ppg, 4.6 apg); F Joe Johnson (12.2 ppg, 4.0 apg); F Luol Deng (12.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg); C Hassan Whiteside (14.2 ppg, 11.9 rpg) // Amar’e Stoudemire (5.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
Hornets starting lineup: G Kemba Walker (21.1 ppg, 5.2 apg); G Courtney Lee (9.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg); F Nicolas Batum (14.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg); F Marvin Williams (11.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg); C Cody Zeller (8.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg)
Heat win if: Their seasoned veterans can keep up the pace. At the All-Star break, the teams outlook was less-than-stellar. Add Chris Bosh’s injury to the mix, and it looked as if the Heat would be playing for a draft pick instead of the No. 3 seed in the East. Despite losing their best player, the Heat added veteran sharpshooter Joe Johnson and moved Luol Deng to Bosh’s vacant power forward position, returning to the small-ball lineup that brought them two championships in the LeBron James era. Johnson has averaged 15 points his last seven games. Wade has managed to stay healthy this season, playing 70-plus games for the first time since the 2010-11 season. Sprinkle in the low post dominance of the youngster Whiteside and sure-handed Dragic at the point and Miami has the recipe for long-term playoff success.
Hornets win if: Kemba Walker can continue to shine. Over his last 15 games Walker has averaged just south of 22 points and 3 three-pointers a game. His offensive spark will provide a real test for the Miami defense, but the 25-year old can’t do it alone. Walker averaged 19.5 points, 5.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds in four games against the Heat this year, but production from Nicolas Batum and Jeremy Lin off the bench will be key for the Hornets if they plan to knock off the Miami. The Hornets will also need to contain Whiteside down low and keep the big man from taking over the paint.
Need to know: The last time the Hornets, then known as the Bobcats, made the playoffs (2013-14), they were swept by the Heat in the first round.
Miami's Hassan Whiteside blocked an NBA-high 269 shots this season.
Sam Amick's pick: Heat in 7; Jeff Zillgitt's pick: Heat in 7