The 2014 NBA playoffs are underway and could be one of the more exciting postseasons in the NBA in recent memory. There are a lot of intriguing series and storylines for the 2014 NBA playoffs, but who will win the NBA finals is the real question. Originally, I picked the Thunder when the playoff matchups were first announced, but after being satisfied that Dwayne Wade is healthy, I am going to pick the Miami Heat to win the title again. And why not? The Miami Heat won the Eastern Conference three years in a row and won the NBA finals two years in a row. Last time I checked the Heat still have the best player in the NBA in Lebron James. Wade, despite playing limited minutes and missing games, still played very well in 2014 when he actually played. Bosh always seems to come up big for the Heat at certain moments for the team and has settled into that third option role very well. The Heat’s role players are ultimately the most important reason why I believe the Heat will win it all. Yes, typically in the NBA you need stars to win a championship. But it is typically the role players who will decide a series when you have two teams that are close in talent. Take last year for example. Guys like Ray Allen, Shane Battier and Mike Miller all delivered in different moments throughout the finals that helped Miami overcome the Spurs. In 2012, when the Heat beat the Thunder in the finals, role players bombarded the Thunder with three pointers that was ultimately the reason they overwhelmed Oklahoma City. 

I think if the Spurs somehow win the West they will win the championship. The Spurs should have beaten the Heat a year ago, and I think they will if given the opportunity again. The problem is they will not get the opportunity because I do not believe believe the Spurs will beat the Thunder. The Thunder beat the Spurs all four times in the regular season and are just a bad matchup for the Spurs. I believe the Heat have the Thunder’s number, and I also believe the Thunder’s path to the finals will be much more difficult than the Heat, which will also play a role as the Heat will beat them in the finals. To get to the finals the Thunder would have to beat a tough, physical Grizzlies team in the first round, most likely a very good and well-coached Clippers team in the second round and the Spurs, who have the leagues best record ,in the conference finals. It is very likely every series the Thunder play in will go at least six games, and I believe the series against the Clippers and Spurs could go seven games. 

Meanwhile, on the East side, the Heat get the Bobcats, the winner of the Raptors vs. Nets series and most likely the Pacers in the conference finals, and the Pacers have completely fallen off during the second half of the season. In a series against the Thunder, the Heat would likely be more rested. They have more experience, a much better coach, have the best player on the floor and the better role players. At the end of the day, as good as Durant has become, his team is still not better than Lebron James’s team, and that will be the difference. I believe the Heat will win the 2014 NBA Finals.