It is predicted that the Heat will win this current series.  But what about Vince Carter, the point scoring, board controlling player who the Heat has to corral in these playoffs? Vince Carter, the Nets star has averaged 38.5 points in all Heat games so far. He has been shooting 55.7 percent from the field. Carter scored 51 points in one game, 43 in another and also scored a triple double in the third.

We hope that trend does not continue.

The only fact that will give the Heat fans comfort is that they must remember this was the regular season and not the Playoffs where the intensity and the pressure is much higher.

Defensively, Shaq is New Jersey's main concern, but they also must find a way to slow down Dwyane Wade.  Carter and Jefferson could have trouble keeping up with the quicker Heat shooting guard. With their perimeter players forced to stay out on Wade and Miami's shooters, New Jersey's Collins and Robinson are going to have to play Shaq one-on-one at times. Collins has the size and strength to bang with Shaq, while Robinson has the length and guile. If they can mix it up and use their fouls to put Shaq on the line rather than grant him layups, the Nets will have a chance.

In Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson, New Jersey possesses three good penetrators who should be able to find cracks against Miami's slow-footed defense. Carter, in particular, has been unstoppable against the Heat.

How can the Heat win?

Keep Shaq on the floor and get back in transition. It's no secret or coincidence that Miami struggled against Chicago in the games when Shaq got in foul trouble. This 7-foot-1 giant can’t afford to get into foul trouble and sit on the bench against a better opponent allowing the Nets to zone in on Wade. Shaq needs to be smart and avoid the offensive and dumb fouls that plagued him in the Bulls series, perhaps by playing his "finesse" game, as he calls it, again. If Shaq can stay in the game, it will open things up for Wade and others on the perimeters. Jason Williams, Antoine Walker, James Posey, Udonis Haslem and Derek Anderson should have a lot more open looks against New Jersey than they saw against the Bulls.

The matchup between the shooting guards is one of the jost dynamic. Whoever dominates the Dwayne Wade versus Carter matchup will determine the series winner.