Sports

Heat-Spurs matchups

POINT GUARD

Mario Chalmers doesn’t get enough credit for turning himself into a solid starting quality point for the Heat. Tony Parker (right) has taken the reins from Tim Duncan as the go-to guy for the Spurs in recent years.

SHOOTING GUARD

Dwyane Wade hasn’t looked anything like himself throughout these playoffs, thanks to a bone bruise on his right knee. Long Island’s own Danny Green has turned himself into the successor to Bruce Bowen as a 3-point shooter and defender for San Antonio.

SMALL FORWARD

LeBron James is the best player in the world, smack in the middle of his prime and determined to beat the team that denied him a title in his first visit to the Finals in 2007. Despite being in just his second year, Kawhi Leonard has already become a foundational piece for the Spurs thanks to his terrific play.

POWER FORWARD

Udonis Haslem has turned being a tough guy who can play defense, rebound and hit a 10-to-15 foot jumper into a long career and multiple rings. Tim Duncan, already the greatest power forward in NBA history, has a chance to move into even more rarefied air with a fifth title.

CENTER

Chris Bosh, after hobbling through the Eastern Conference Finals on a sore ankle, will be relieved not to have to deal with 7-foot-2 Roy Hibbert anymore. In his third year in the league, Tiago Splitter has developed into a nice complement to Duncan inside.

BENCH

The Heat have surrounded their Big Three of James, Wade and Bosh with experienced role players like Shane Battier, Ray Allen and Chris Andersen, while Norris Cole has continued to develop in his second year in the league. Manu Ginobili is headed to the Hall of Fame thanks in large part to his brilliance as a sixth man in San Antonio, while Boris Diaw gives the Spurs added flexibility in the front court and Matt Bonner and Gary Neal provide 3-point shooting.

COACHING

Ever since taking over for longtime mentor Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra has proven himself as an excellent coach, especially in his ability to maximize the near limitless talent of LeBron James. Gregg Popovich, on the other hand, is universally considered to be the NBA’s best coach — and with good reason, considering the incredible success he’s enjoyed with the Spurs.