NBA Playoffs 2012 Predictions: Rajon Rondo and Players Who Give Heat Headaches
All eyes will be on LeBron James and the Miami Heat when the NBA playoffs begin in a little over a week. James will be looking to gain that elusive first ring.
However, there are a few players in the NBA who might have a thing or two to say about that. Several individual players have given the Heat fits this season and if Miami doesn't find a way to slow them down, LeBron may have to wait another season.
Here's a look at just a handful of guys that could give Miami a headache in the postseason.
Just going by Boston's two wins against Miami this year, Rondo is the No. 1 thorn in their side.
The Heat have had no answer for Rondo at all as he's averaged 18.7 PPG, 13.7 APG and 7.7 RPG against them this season. More importantly, he's made things look very easy against Miami and if they don't find a way to slow him down, they could be in major trouble.
Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
Pierce missed the early-season meeting with the Heat, but he was a thorn in their side in Boston's two wins. He averaged 25.0 PPG and 7.0 RPG and could be a scary matchup for Miami.
He's playing his best basketball of the season and if both he and Rondo has simultaneous success against the Heat, that ring ceremony will be on hold.
Anthony missed the Knicks' first game against Miami due to injury and the Heat held him to only 19 points in a February win. But that Anthony doesn't even come close to the Anthony that's been tearing things up as of late. If his 42-point performance last Sunday is any indication, he will be more than a handful for Miami in the first round.
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
The Heat have had a hard time with opposing point guards, but they have the luxury of being able to put LeBron on a guy like Derrick Rose when Miami needs a stop. But that's risky with Westbrook, given the amount of offensive talent around him.
He's the type of athletic point guard that can possibly give Miami fits if he's going well.
They've done well in the two meetings with Oklahoma City to hold Westbrook to 31 percent shooting from the floor (13-of-42), but if there's a time when Westbrook isn't forcing up a ton of shots, he will be tough to deal with.
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
Miami had their share of success in the playoffs last season, especially when they were able to use LeBron as a shutdown defender on Rose.
Rose has only played in two of the Bulls' three meetings against the Heat and in the last matchup he only scored two points on a 1-of-13 effort from the floor.
Yet in a game early in the season, Rose lit the Heat up for 34 points in a losing effort.
It's true that Rose hasn't had the greatest success against Miami, but if he's healthy, knocking down his shots as well and creating opportunities for others, the reigning MVP is extremely dangerous.
Add that to the Bulls having home-court advantage and I could think of many other players Miami would rather have to deal with than Rose.
