2012 NBA Finals: Miami Heat vs Oklahoma City Thunder/Who Has The Edge?

Better Offense: I think the Thunder have a slight edge on offense only because they have James Harden on the bench. Assuming the Heat re-insert Bosh into the starting lineup the Heat really lack depth on their bench. Plus the Thunder have the scoring champion and Westbrook who gets 23 a game.

Better Defense: The Heat have a slight edge on defense. They've been one of the best defensive teams for the last couple years. OKC has improved in defense so I don't think the gap between them is that big, but the Thunder are prone to turnovers and the Heat are known for causing them.

Better Bench: Right now the Heat have Bosh on the bench, but I think he will be starting in the Finals. So assuming that, the Heat have Miller, Jones, Cole, and Howard on the bench, compared to James Harden, Nick Collison, Derek Fisher and Daequan Cook for the Thunder. Advantage Thunder.

Better Coaching: I think hands down Scott Brooks is a better coach than Erik Spoelstra. I don't think there's any question. He has one coach of the year, and Erik Spoelstra hasn't.

By all counts I think the Thunder should and will win this series.

Better Offense: Thunder

Better Defense: Draw

Better Bench: Thunder

Better Coaching: Thunder

Experience: Heat

Overall Edge: Thunder

Thunder played to utterly win through out the Playoffs.

Thunder will win 4-1 or 4-2

Honestly, all these factors are closely contested to the point where it comes down to special nights from the superstars that would tip the balance. This is about as even as a series as you can get in terms of talent, skill, and athleticism.

Offense: It's Durant, Westbrook, and Harden vs. James, Wade, and Bosh. Overall, I suppose I'd have to give the Heat a slight edge due to more talent and (more importantly) better talent distribution, as they support arguably two of the top five players in the league; plus they have a better spread of star talent (two wings and 1 big, vs. three wings for OKC).

Defense: Once again, it's a close contest, but at least there's a clear winner here. Miami. LeBron James was simply outstanding this year on defense, and Wade has always excelled on D as well. Not saying that Durant and Westbrook won't be able to play better offense, but they'll certainly have their work cut out for them. Considering that the bulk of OKC's scoring comes from the perimeter and that Miami's defensive strength lie on the perimeter...the Heat have an advantage in this department.

Bench: Same story as defense, only OKC is the winner here, if only because James Harden comes off the bench as a sixth man. The Heat have more bench production than you would think, with Battier likely going back to the bench and Haslem providing a great spark (assuming he moves back to the bench s well). However, edge goes to OKC.

Coaching: Too difficult to tell. Scott Brooks has done wonders with the Thunder, and they've improved drastically in every single one of his seasons at the helm. Spoelstra isn't a bad coach so much as the expectations are too high in Miami. He came up with some great adjustments in Game 7 against Boston...so we'll see what happens.

Conclusion: Miami in 6 or 7. Everybody wants to give the win to OKC because their public image is cleaner and they've got the rising talent in Durant, Westbrook, and Harden. There's no doubt in my mind that those three guys are going to be the established superstars of the near future; only we still still have a generation of superstars in their prime (notably James and Wade). I recognize that this is OKC on home court advantage...but LeBron is a man on a mission, and he possesses the ability to single-handedly take over a game. Durant does as well, but unfortunately for him, he's going to be going up against the stellar defense of James. The key matchup to watch...you guessed it: Durant vs. James.

Better Offense: Tie

Better Defense: Miami

Better Bench: Tie

Better Coaching: OKC

Better Offense:Thunder

Better Defense:Heat

Better Bench:Draw Thunder Bench is kinda overrated

Better Coaching:Heat Erik S. has experience in Finals

THe heat had better everything expect the bench. But Lebron is going to score 30-50 points to compensate for it every game. Wade has to play better though. Miami will win though beause okc is gay!

The Heat have the bigger edge since they have nba finals experience, which The Thunder do not.

ok first i'm a Kevin Durant fan yet i hate the Okc franchise itself.... 2nd i'm Miami warmth Fan... 0.33 i stay in Toronto(my raptors suck) fourth Use Portland all the time For 2k11 final element none those issues solutions your question... ok so when you consider that we've been given those issues out of ways. i visit actual answer you question as factor as i plausible could be. Kevin Durant = Lebron James Russel Westbrook >>> Mario Chalmers James Harden <<< Dwyane Wade Kendrick Perkins >>> Ronny Turiaf, Joel Anthony, Dexter Pittman Serge Ibaka(and all the different vast guy of thunder) >>> Injured Chris Bosh Derrick Fisher <<< Norris Cole Thunder bench >>> Miami Bench Thunder vast 3 >>> vast 3 devoid of Chris Bosh Thunder vast 3 <<< vast 3 with Chris Bosh Thunder protection <<< Miami protection Thunder Offense >>> Miami Offense Thunder Teamwork >>> Miami Teamwork Thunder basic >>> Miami basic ok i can save going with this symbols yet yeah you get the element... i think of with or devoid of Chris Bosh Miami will make it to the Finials... in the event that they face Okc then this is going to be not common for Miami to conquer Okc with or devoid of Chris Bosh... basic Okc is extra clever than Miami as a collection! Miami vast 3 is extra clever Than OKC vast 3 yet not with the aid of plenty... yet after all its a collection pastime so i provide this trophy to Okc... GOING to pastime 7 source(s): BTW something can ensue!!!!

The miami.

Thunder have a slight edge in all of them.