NBA Playoffs 2014: Key Storylines Heading into Repeat Finals Matchup
After the San Antonio Spurs' thrilling 112-107 overtime win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night, the NBA Finals rematch is set.
The Spurs will again tangle with LeBron James and the Miami Heat for the championship.
We can only hope this year's meeting is as exciting as last year's. Miami captured back-to-back titles after falling behind three games to two in the series.
A miracle comeback in Game 6 helped propel the Heat to a second title. This year, the slate is wiped clean, and the battle is on again.
There will be developing storylines once the series begins. But heading in, here are the topics of interest.
Rest and Health
With four days off, both teams should be fresh and potentially rusty coming into Game 1 on Thursday.
Both teams will take the rust in exchange for the rest. That's especially the case for the Spurs, who will need time to allow Tony Parker to heal. He missed the entire second half of the series-clinching win over the Thunder.
Per Ben Golliver of Sports Illustrated, the injury has been bothering Parker for the past few games:
Four days off are probably the best thing that could happen for his rehabilitation.
The Heat have been employing the Dwyane Wade preservation plan all season. With the Heat having clinched their place in the NBA Finals on Friday night, a five-day rest will be great for his knees.
A rested and explosive "Flash" is something the Spurs didn't see much of during last year's NBA Finals.
Chess Game
NBA Coach of the Year Gregg Popovich is one of the master game-planners. Erik Spoelstra is just starting to get credit for his work on the sidelines of the two-time defending champions.
Having won the first meeting with Pop and the Spurs, Spoelstra will be looking to etch his name next to legends like Phil Jackson, Pat Riley and Red Auerbach as the only coaches to lead a team to three straight NBA titles.
It'll be a series of adjustments and then adjustments to those adjustments.
The winning coach will have another feather in his already decorated cap.
Uncertain Futures
This could be the swan song for Popovich, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili. Point guard Tony Parker is set to be a free agent after next season.
The Spurs core has been together for the better part of the last 17 years.
With Popovich, Duncan and Ginobili set for free agency, no one really knows if the trio will link up for another run next season.
While it's more doubtful that the Heat's Big Three will part ways, there is a possibility at least one piece of the Heat threesome could leave this season or the next.
James, Wade and Chris Bosh can all opt out this summer, but Bosh already said he wants to stay in Miami.
Even if they all stay in South Beach, Wade is 32, and the maintenance plan will only work for so long.
At some point, he won't be good enough to be the second part of Miami's dynamic duo.
Because there is a level of uncertainty with both teams' futures, it's important to seize the moment. Who will emerge as the top dog this year?
We'll find out soon enough.
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