The Miami Heat prevailed last night and proved to be the dominant team in the NBA. After splitting one game apiece to start the series in Oklahoma City it looked like it would be anybody’s series, but the Heat went on to win the next three at home and looked to be in control in the process.
The NBA hadn’t been quite as easy as everyone expected it to be for LeBron James up to this point, but on a strike shortened season everything came together in the end
It all came together in the Finals for James and his teammates this year.
for him to hoist the championship trophy and erase some doubts about his career and finishing ability.
James still has a long way to go to reach Michael Jordan’s six rings, but it may be a milestone he doesn’t need to reach to be considered the best. I’m not saying that will happen, or that I even think he’s a better all-around player than Jordan, but if he can reach four or five championships it will at least be a discussion as to whom has had the better career.
One player that shouldn’t hang his head despite the outcome of this series is Kevin Durant. He didn’t play his best basketball throughout the series, but that wasn’t always his fault. He will get another chance, maybe as soon as next year and with the experience he and his teammates just gained it could be a different story the next time around.
Russell Westbrook either needs to be traded or moved out of the point guard position, because the Westbrook to Durant combo just isn’t going to cut it. Westbrook starts competing for the spotlight with his own teammates effectively taking them out of the game. When he does play within himself and let Durant score while he facilitates the Thunder succeed. Unfortunately, there was less of that and more of him trying to do too much. They might consider signing a quality point guard (Steve Nash maybe) and allow Westbrook to go back to his more natural shooting guard spot, because he doesn’t seem to possess the temperament necessary to run a team.
This season will always be remembered for two things: 1. Being the lockout which lead to a shortened season, and 2. Having this be the season that James finally won his first championship. It will be interesting to see if James rests on his laurels, or if this makes him even hungrier to win more championships, but one thing is for sure now no one can say he can’t get it done in the clutch because he played his best basketball in the playoffs this year.