Last week, I wrote that the path to the NBA championship for the Miami Heat had gotten much easier due to the season-ending knee injury suffered by Bulls point guard Derrick Rose. Rose suffered the injury in the opening game of his team's first round series against the Philadelphia 76ers. His ACL tear shook the city of Chicago, similar to how Mariano Rivera's ACL injury devastated the Big Apple. The Yankees closer's career is pretty much over, considering he is 42 years old and, unlike Rose, his road to recovery won't be as smooth as that of a 23-year-old.
Despite Rose's demoralizing injury, the Bulls have kept chugging along. Without the reigning MVP, Chicago has been able to somewhat keep up with the youthful Sixers, but, unfortunately, even if the Bulls win this series, it would assuredly be the only one they would win. Once thought to be the team with the best chance to take down the Heat, the Bulls are now just another squad that stands no chance against the best team in basketball Miami.
Every sports reporter, analyst and journalist has said this is the season the Miami Heat must win the championship. Nearly two years ago, LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined forces with Dwyane Wade, and after being raised onto a stage by a forklift during the infamous "Welcome Party," James promised multiple championships to the city of Miami. After last year's collapse to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals, everyone pointed to the fact that it was the first year the Big Three had played together and the real test was therefore the following season. Well, the time has come for the Miami Heat to raise a championship banner at American Airlines Arena.
This season, the Heat played exceptional basketball throughout the lockout-shortened campaign. James, Wade and Bosh showed the world that they could indeed play together and, along with a great supporting cast, led Miami to the second seed in the Eastern Conference. The Heat are absolutely crushing the New York Knicks in the first round, demonstrating an otherworldly ability to play suffocating defense. Knicks starting forward Carmelo Anthony has not been able to find his shot at all this series. His ineffectiveness, coupled with Amare Stoudamire's completely stupid decision to punch a glass fire extinguisher case out of frustration, leading to gruesome hand lacerations, almost guarantees New York will be swept by Miami in effortless fashion.
The series against the Knicks was supposed to feature great crowds and big stars, including Spike Lee, Jeremy Lin, Melo and Amare, but only the crowds and Spike Lee have shown up. The most reputable Lin has not been able to come back from a knee injury and would be smart to just rest up. After the Heat's dispatch of the Knicks, Miami will have no problem getting past their second-round opponent, but trouble will be toiling when an Eastern Conference matchup with the Boston Celtics arrives. Considering old-age injuries and Rajon Rondo's temper, the Celtics will definitely be watching the NBA Finals from their retirement homes.
An NBA Finals matchup featuring the Miami Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder would be beyond exciting. The Heat is obviously my favorite team, but the Thunder has always had a place in my heart. Its up-tempo offense is similar to Miami's, but in a seven-game series, I have no doubt the Heat would pull out four victories. Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James "The Beard" Harden make my toes tingle whenever I watch them play, but Miami makes my heart flip and dance, especially when D-Wade throws half-court alley-oops to LBJ.
If the Heat fails to capture the NBA championship, sh*t will hit the fan and the world will come crashing down in Miami. Bosh is likely to be traded, the Heat roster will see numerous changes. This scenario is unlikely, however, as LeBron is playing the best basketball of his life and Miami's defense is one to be feared. I don't know if I'll be in Miami for the championship parade, but it will definitely be one for the ages. ESPN analysts left and right have picked the Heat as the eventual champion, but they are really just cherry-picking. Everyone knows Miami is the best team in the NBA, and James, who will be crowned MVP in a couple of weeks, has even said no asterisk should be placed next to the Heat's championship if they were to win, even though it was a shortened season due to the lockout. I am going all in on the Heat raising a championship banner at the commencement of next season, and it will be a long-awaited crowning that should quiet the many critics of the Miami Heat.
