As long as the NBA has been around, teams that were “up and coming” always had that one team they needed to get past to call themselves champions.
In the 80’s the Celtics or Lakers were almost guaranteed to meet in the Finals. With the historic franchises combining for eight Titles in the decade.
In the late 80’s early 90’s Michael Jordan needed to get past the “Bad Boy” Pistons to finally win his first ring. Ironically against Magic Johnson and Los Angeles.
Now it’s time for LeBron James to put a close to the original “Big Three,” en route to winning his first championship.
“Seems like I face them every postseason,” James said after practice of the Celtics.
James has faced Boston four times in the playoffs going (2-2) with the most recent victory coming last season.
“This is like our NBA Finals,” Wade said.
Something that Heat fans should be weary of – there are two teams in the Western Conference Finals that may take that as quite disrespectful.
With Allen and Pierce banged up and no Avery Bradley the stage is set for James and Wade to send the “old guys” home.
The problem is with all that going against the Celtics even with the lack of rest Boston seems to have a physiological hold when it comes to Miami.
Boston was (3-1) against the Heat this season with the Celtics not having an answer for All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo.
“We believe we can beat the Heat,” Rondo said.
Miami has a clear advantage with Wade and James, but Allen and Pierce can cancel out some of what they produce on the offensive end.
Garnett with the clear advantage in the post, needs to not settle for jump shots and get to the basket slowing down Miami’s transition game.
If the Celtics can MAXIMIZE their advantages (Garnett and Rondo) and turn the series into a slow half court game they can win.
A stat that both teams need to be aware of, Boston is 21-1 when Rondo has a triple double.
Either way this series will be the end of a “Big Three,” which one will be determined by the team who wants it more.
The question then becomes this, if the Heat win the series, and the Boston “Big Three” is split up and reassigned to other teams. Then who stops the Heat?! I think Lebron not one, not two, not three, not four, title prediction becomes more of a reality than boastful bold claim. Who in East could truly stop the Heat? The Bulls maybe, we first have to see how Rose comes back from a ACL injury, which is more a physiological injury than anything else. So Rose may not be the same Rose that we know ( that’s my hypothesis). Okay, if not the Chicago, Indiana, Orlando, New York, Atlanta, Philly, come on even as I type these names, I laugh because they all inferior to the Heat. Unless, the off-season surprises us and takes a wild crazy turn, I do not see anybody stopping the Heat. This is Boston last chance and last stance.