San Antonio Spurs @ Miami Heat

American Airlines Arena
10/20/12, 2:30 p.m. Spurs Time
TV: NBATV - RADIO: 1200 AM WOAI

The Heat, there are some that hate them with the passion of a thousand suns. Not I, I don't hate the Heat, I pity them. How embarrassing is it that you have to manipulate the market in order to get a team of all-stars together so that they have a chance to win a title? I would say, it's very embarrassing. Pity worthy, even. It's close to Laker level, but the Lakers treat the NBA like their own personal fantasy league where they can talk the 4 or 5 chumps into trading them their best players for these shiny objects.

With all that said, the Heat are now, and look like they will be for sometime, the perennial favorite to bring home a title. They have re-loaded their bench and now look even better than last year. Of course, I think they might still be chasing their first title had the Heat been facing the Spurs in the Finals, rather than the young pups from OKC. I guess I should probably let that go at some point. The Heat still have a weakness inside and I think that's where you'll see the Spurs try to attack them....when the game matters.

All that said, this game is still about getting players in shape, rythme and getting our bench squared away. I doubt we'll see too much of our vets and if we do we should all be up in arms about it. I know I'll have two arms up to be up in. Honestly, I'm always up in these arms, but I digress. Pop and coaching staff have their work cut out for them as far as picking the last couple of guys to make this team. Tonight should be an interesting test for the guys trying to make the back end of this roster.

On to the lineups:

Lineups Starters PG: Tony Parker SG: Manu Ginobili SF: Kawhi Leonard PF: Tim Duncan C: Dejuan Blair Key Bench Players Gary Neal Tiago Splitter Stephen Jackson			Lineups Starters PG: A Dude SG: Dwayne Wade SF: LeBron James PF: Chris Bosh C: Some Guy Key Bench Players Ray Allen Cheap Vet Bench Guy That one other Guy

I don't like it, but I think the Heat will win tonight's game. The good news is that it doesn't matter.

Heat perspective can be found here: HotHotHoops

Game Prediction: Heat by 12

As always Tony must dominate Fisher, and NBA league pass is recommended for those who are willing to pony up the cash. Almost every Spurs game will be broadcast there, which is especially helpful for those of us who aren't in the San Antonio area. Please don't post links to illegal game feeds in the game thread. Links to illegal feeds are not permitted on SBNation, but you can probably find them out there on the internets if you're resourceful and desperate.