Monday, June 11, 2012
Why Lebron James and the Miami Heat will be 2012 NBA Champions.
The Decision. The Big Three. 2011 Playoffs then the 2011 Finals. The 4th Quarter choke. They failed to bag the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy falling against a hungrier Dallas Mavericks team.
So another season went on. As expected, they faced adversity but lesser criticism as the season before. Wins (and losses) piled up as the lockout-shortened 2012 NBA Season progressed then the 2012 NBA Playoffs came. First the Knicks, then the hungry Pacers who gave them a really good scare, then the Boston Celtics who was the toughest test needing them 7 games to dispose of the proud champions.
Now the stage is set. Miami Heat is back in the NBA Finals. Miami Heat vs Oklahoma City Thunder. Who will will it all? Here is why the MIAMI HEAT will win the 2012 NBA Championship :
1. The BIG Three. Yes the Big THREE and not two. James, Wade and Bosh have been franchise players in their past teams and they know how to carry a team in their back if they want to. This year, they have looked really good on the court together unlike the first year they teamed up.
2. Defense. If you think Oklahoma is a better defensive team because they have Sefolosha, Perkins and Ibaka then you thought wrong. The Miami Heat is 4th in Defensive Efficiency allowing just 97.1 points per 100 possesions behind Chicago (1), Boston (2) and Philadelphia (3). The Heat also has Lebron James who is part of the NBA All-Defensive Team who can guard any position from 1-5. Ibaka is part of that team too but for now, he is just a very good shot-blocker but not a great on-ball defender like James and Shane Battier.
3. They've had enough failures. The reason why the Big Three teamed up is because despite all their individual greatness, they have always failed in the postseason, Wade being the only player to have won an NBA Championship in 2006. Lebron has been there twice, getting swept by the Spurs in 2007 and "choking" against the Dallas Mavericks last year. Bosh, has never had the chance to even reach the Finals before joining the Heat. We're pretty sure they had enough of these failures and want "NBA Champion" added to their resume.
4. Chris Bosh. I did mention about the Big Three but these three players are each so good individually that they can impact the game on their own. How did the Miami Heat look while Bosh was out with an abdominal strain? Well, they lost 2 in a row against the Indiana Pacers (one at home) and almost looked like they were going to be eliminated with the Celtics up 3-2 (Bosh returned during Game 5 but played limited minutes but was effective enough). He also hit 3/4 3-point shots during the deciding Game 7.
5. Dwayne Wade. 2006 NBA Champion. 2006 NBA Finals MVP. Wade has been the franchise' face since '03 and he has proven time and again his heart to win it all. His talent coupled with his will to win has been Wade's main weapon. Though averaging 22.9 points per game this offseason, Wade has struggled in some games specially against the Pacers in Game 3 going 2 for 13 in the field and a bad shooting first half against the Celtics. Luckily, the only good guard defender in the Thunder lineup is Sefolosha (maybe Westbrook) and that should be a sign for Wade to shoot or take it hard to the rim and avoid bad shots.
6. LEBRON JAMES! I had to write it in all capital letters with an exclamation point for the emphasis. The reigning NBA MVP (and you can argue that Kevin Durant deserved it but James deserved it more) has faced criticism much of his career specially after joining the Miami Heat. Even with all these distractions, James has continued his stellar play in the regular season then even showing he deserved the MVP Crown by performing this well in the Playoffs. Honestly, who the hell in the OKC Thunder lineup can guard and shutdown Lebron James, all 6'9" 260lbs of Lebron James? Durant is too lanky and will get out-muscled by James. Ibaka? No, he will get outplayed and outsmarted and if ever he will guard James, other players will have a hard time containing Bosh. Collison and Perkins? They are too slow. James is by far the best advantage the Miami Heat has against the OKC Thunder linuep. He is a defensive and offensive machine. He can guard anybody from Westbrook to Durant to Perkins (not as if he needs to guard Perkins).
7. The Time is NOW! Bosh, Wade and James are all in their prime and you only last for so long. This year is the year they need to win. If they won't, it will be another disappointing year added to a long list. They will play in a sense of urgency. Westbrook and Durant, though good players, need another 2-3 years of maturing before they can kiss the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. The Time is NOW HEAT! NOW!
So there it is. I have presented you with the reasons why Lebron James and the Miami Heat will be 2012 NBA Champions.
What are your thoughs?
So another season went on. As expected, they faced adversity but lesser criticism as the season before. Wins (and losses) piled up as the lockout-shortened 2012 NBA Season progressed then the 2012 NBA Playoffs came. First the Knicks, then the hungry Pacers who gave them a really good scare, then the Boston Celtics who was the toughest test needing them 7 games to dispose of the proud champions.
 |
| The Miami Heat are back in the Finals |
Now the stage is set. Miami Heat is back in the NBA Finals. Miami Heat vs Oklahoma City Thunder. Who will will it all? Here is why the MIAMI HEAT will win the 2012 NBA Championship :
1. The BIG Three. Yes the Big THREE and not two. James, Wade and Bosh have been franchise players in their past teams and they know how to carry a team in their back if they want to. This year, they have looked really good on the court together unlike the first year they teamed up.
2. Defense. If you think Oklahoma is a better defensive team because they have Sefolosha, Perkins and Ibaka then you thought wrong. The Miami Heat is 4th in Defensive Efficiency allowing just 97.1 points per 100 possesions behind Chicago (1), Boston (2) and Philadelphia (3). The Heat also has Lebron James who is part of the NBA All-Defensive Team who can guard any position from 1-5. Ibaka is part of that team too but for now, he is just a very good shot-blocker but not a great on-ball defender like James and Shane Battier.
3. They've had enough failures. The reason why the Big Three teamed up is because despite all their individual greatness, they have always failed in the postseason, Wade being the only player to have won an NBA Championship in 2006. Lebron has been there twice, getting swept by the Spurs in 2007 and "choking" against the Dallas Mavericks last year. Bosh, has never had the chance to even reach the Finals before joining the Heat. We're pretty sure they had enough of these failures and want "NBA Champion" added to their resume.
4. Chris Bosh. I did mention about the Big Three but these three players are each so good individually that they can impact the game on their own. How did the Miami Heat look while Bosh was out with an abdominal strain? Well, they lost 2 in a row against the Indiana Pacers (one at home) and almost looked like they were going to be eliminated with the Celtics up 3-2 (Bosh returned during Game 5 but played limited minutes but was effective enough). He also hit 3/4 3-point shots during the deciding Game 7.
5. Dwayne Wade. 2006 NBA Champion. 2006 NBA Finals MVP. Wade has been the franchise' face since '03 and he has proven time and again his heart to win it all. His talent coupled with his will to win has been Wade's main weapon. Though averaging 22.9 points per game this offseason, Wade has struggled in some games specially against the Pacers in Game 3 going 2 for 13 in the field and a bad shooting first half against the Celtics. Luckily, the only good guard defender in the Thunder lineup is Sefolosha (maybe Westbrook) and that should be a sign for Wade to shoot or take it hard to the rim and avoid bad shots.
6. LEBRON JAMES! I had to write it in all capital letters with an exclamation point for the emphasis. The reigning NBA MVP (and you can argue that Kevin Durant deserved it but James deserved it more) has faced criticism much of his career specially after joining the Miami Heat. Even with all these distractions, James has continued his stellar play in the regular season then even showing he deserved the MVP Crown by performing this well in the Playoffs. Honestly, who the hell in the OKC Thunder lineup can guard and shutdown Lebron James, all 6'9" 260lbs of Lebron James? Durant is too lanky and will get out-muscled by James. Ibaka? No, he will get outplayed and outsmarted and if ever he will guard James, other players will have a hard time containing Bosh. Collison and Perkins? They are too slow. James is by far the best advantage the Miami Heat has against the OKC Thunder linuep. He is a defensive and offensive machine. He can guard anybody from Westbrook to Durant to Perkins (not as if he needs to guard Perkins).
7. The Time is NOW! Bosh, Wade and James are all in their prime and you only last for so long. This year is the year they need to win. If they won't, it will be another disappointing year added to a long list. They will play in a sense of urgency. Westbrook and Durant, though good players, need another 2-3 years of maturing before they can kiss the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. The Time is NOW HEAT! NOW!
So there it is. I have presented you with the reasons why Lebron James and the Miami Heat will be 2012 NBA Champions.
What are your thoughs?
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