NBA finals MVP LeBRON JAMES gets the MONKEY OFF HIS BACK - Keith Allison- Baltimore USA photo

SPORTS NOTES EXTRA EXTRA - MIAMI BEAT THE HEAT - FINALLY WIN NBA TITLE

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

When the Heat's Big 3 came together prior to last season the bravado statement made by LeBron James that they would become the next NBA dynasty and would win over 6 titles was an over the top statement that drew resentment. That has yet to come and is a long way off… if at all. In winning their first NBA title as the Big 3 they could be on their way

Friday June 22, 2012

MVP LeBRON JAMES gets the MONKEY OFF HIS BACK

Last season the heat was on the Miami Heat to fulfill their boasts to become NBA title winners and they failed with their Big 3 of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. This season their declaration came together as they defeated a young Oklahoma City Thunder squad 121-106. The Thunder are the second youngest team to have played in an NBA final topped only by the Bill Walton led Portland Trailblazers in 1977.

When the Heat's Big 3 came together prior to last season the bravado statement made by LeBron James that they would become the next NBA dynasty and would win over 6 titles was an over the top statement that drew resentment. That has yet to come and is a long way off… if at all. The team and James failed miserably last season bowing to the Dallas Mavericks in the finals but that bold prediction began its fruition this season.

In a post game press conference after this season's success James said the losing the finals last season was the best thing that happened to him as he learned what it took to win and learned more about himself that led to some personal changes.

Many believe that Miami put too much pressure on themselves with their boasts and when it came down to the time to deliver the stress took its toll. With their heads bowed with failure they assured everyone that they would be back next year. Next year came and now they have finally fulfilled their promise in winning their FIRST NBA title as a unit in taking the young Thunder 4-1 in the series after dropping the first game in Oklahoma City.

James walked away with the MVP Award turning in strong playoff performances and became only the fifth player in NBA history to register a triple-double in a title-clinching game with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists. "You know, my dream has become a reality now, and it's the best feeling I ever had," James said.

James finds himself in good company with the others to achieve the triple double final game fete include: 2003 Tim Duncan 21-20-10, 1988 James Worthy 36-16-10, 1986 Larry Bird 29-11-12, 1985 Magic Johnson 14-10-14 and 1982 Magic Johnson 13-13-13.

James didn't do it alone as in the final game Mike Miller stepped up and knocked down 7 of 8 three point attempts on his way total 23 point performance in 23 minutes of play. Chris Bosh contributed 24 points and seven rebounds and Wade 20 points and eight rebounds. Six players were in double figures including veteran Shane Battier's 11 with his strong three point shooting throughout the series and Mario Chalmers 10 points and seven assists.

The Heat's final game result is the type of team performance that could lead to them being a dynasty. One man can't win titles as James has been saddled with that responsibility since he came into the league straight out of high school in 2003. The final game's team balance reflects the leagues most successful franchises the Boston Celtics of the 60's, the LA Lakers of the 80's and the Chicago Bulls of the 90's. The differences being those teams proved themselves year after year while the Heat are just beginning with a lot of work that needs to be done lying ahead of them.

All of the previous dynasty teams had three strong star players as well as strong support role players who could step up and dominate a game when called upon. The Celtics went deep to their bench and found strength within a strong eight man rotation. The Lakers went deep to their bench as well and were strong six deep with Michael Cooper as their stellar sixth man complimenting then coach Pat Riley's philosophy of using a strong eight man rotation. The Bulls had two top three generations with Horace Grant joining Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen as the big three for their first three titles. Dennis Rodman was the third cog in the wheel for their second three-peat titles of the 90's.

This season the Heat matured with their adjustments in roles. James and Bosh came to what was deemed Wades team. Last season was an adjustment period for them to jell together and define their roles as to who would be the go to guy. This season they filtered out the uncertainty and became a more fluid unit as the now 30-year-old Wade took a backseat to the 27-year-old James' youth and talent. The 28-year-old Bosh has resolved himself to being the third option. All can take over a game when needed. The end result is now that the team has solidified they are the NBA CHAMPIONS while James and Bosh are members of an NBA title winning team for the first time in their careers.

The young Thunder have a bright future with a nucleus of great talent. Like the Heat of last season they weren't mature enough as a unit to over come a team that has experienced their growing pains. The Thunder have the talent to win the title if they stay together and mature. Russell Westbrook had a below par game making only four of 20 shots finishing with 19 points and six assists that followed an outstanding 43 point performance in game 4. The Thunder could be the team of the future and the decade but today it is the Heat's time to shine and the title is theirs.

GO FIGURE:

When the Heat last won the title in 2006 they defeated the Mavericks. After losing the first two games the Heat stormed back and took the next four contests to take the title while winning three of those games by a total of 6 points. Only two players from that Heat team are with this season's title winning squad. Dwyane Wade led the Heat's first title winners and won the MVP Award averaging 34.7 ppg for the series. Udonis Haslem played a strong part of that team's success as a role player.

That squad had seasoned veterans Shaquille O'Neal who won his fourth title ring, Alonzo Morning, Antoine Walker and Gary Payton. One irony is the Heat faced the Mavericks again in last season's finals and lost in six games.