People forget how good Miami was those first two years with Shaq. If Dwayne Wade doesn't get hurt in the first year they could have been to back to back Finals.
Maybe - but then the season after their title, the Heat lost by 43 to the bulls the night they raised the banner in 2006 ... I know, just one game, but good teams don't lose at home by 40 to ANYBODY
I think people forget or don't appreciate what a stunning upset their title was. Dallas was so much better on paper and the first two games - but just completely fell apart down the stretch. Fell into whining about the refs - who obviously were awful, but still.
Different year, different team.
Shaq broke down and so did Wade. Several key players of that team were also very gold. (Gary Payton, Antoine Walker, Jason Williams)
http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIA/2005.htmlThey won 59 games, and had a lead in game 7 of the ECF. That's with a hobbled Wade for those last two games. They had the 6th best defense, and the 5th best offense in the league.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIA/2006.htmlOnly won 52 games, they had the 9th best defense and 7th best offense. Their team the previous year was much better, but Wade was healthy and
hot in the playoffs. Dallas was the better team this year, but it wasn't that far apart.
Look at the roster though, very old. No surprise they broke down after they won it all.