How pathetic is Miami?

[ScoobyDoo]

I know they've won two straight titles, but have they really had any competition?

1. I think if Pierce and KG were just in the same age range as Bosh, LeBron and Wade all these years, Miami doesn't sniff a finals appearance.

2. Same can be said for the San Antonio Trio once Miami got to the finals.

3. Indiana? Not close.

4. OKC - Durant and Westbrook are "getting there" but were pups when they first met Miami in the finals - looked like deer in the headlights.

I think Lebron and Wade have both been phenomenal players - I don't take that away from them.

But during their championship runs I don't see any Paul Pierce in his prime as a foe to LeBron, I don't see a magic Johnson to a Larry Bird or Pistons Bad Boys team to Jordan's Bulls.

Every team Miami has beaten for their rings have either been well over the hill or not yet arrived.

I say even Pierce and KG alone, with a similar supporting cast as Miami has for James and Wade - and with KG and Pierce at the same ages as those two - it's not close.

Nice to see I 'still" can't stand Miami huh?...       

[ScoobyDoo]

Note: inspiration to this thread was having to suffer watching James walk off the court last night with a smug look on his face after barely beating  a Nets team lead by two of the oldest players in the league in KG and Pierce.   

[D.o.s.]

I think Lebron and Wade have both been phenomenal players - I don't take that away from them.

But during their championship runs I don't see any Paul Pierce in his prime as a foe to LeBron, I don't see a magic Johnson to a Larry Bird or Pistons Bad Boys team to Jordan's Bulls.

Every team Miami has beaten for their rings have either been well over the hill or not yet arrived.

Sure -- only the Celtics collectively ended so many hopes and dreams in the Eastern Conference that every to-be-superstar not named Derrick Rose ended up consolidating onto a superteam by 2011. That's got to count for something in the 'Bad Boys to Jordan' bracket.

edit -- Dwight didn't leave until 2012, my mistake.

[jambr380]

I just can't watch Miami games anymore...under any circumstance. I used to get into the Cs-Heat, but now that the Cs aren't competitive, it just doesn't hold the same excitement.

I used to stand up for Lebron as a super-competitive, poised, exceptionally talented basketball player, but ever since he won his first championship, he is even more of a narcissistic jerk. The commercials with his Dr. Dre Beats headphones and his insincere family life just put me over the edge. I just hate looking at the guy.

[Donoghus]

They've had some good battles with Indiana and I'm expecting another one shortly.

If they get by Indiana, I wouldn't be shocked to see a San Antonio rematch.   You could make a pretty easy case that San Antonio should've beaten them in last year's finals. 

Digging deep, it really hasn't been a cakewalk for Miami over these past few years. Back to back 7 game conference finals and a 7 game series in last year's NBA finals.

[chenaren]

KG and Pierce hadn't declined much from their peaks in 2008. They had lost some explosiveness but were more experienced. Nevertheless, the way they went through 1st and 2nd round wasn't pretty at all.

[Clench123]

What is often overlooked is how much Miami has benefit from a very weak east.  Because of that fact, it's been a walk in the park for them.  They don't have to exert much effort to beat teams which end up being a big plus as far as avoiding injuries, getting good playoff seed, home court advantage, etc.  And when you add the fact that they have the best player in the world, it's definitely been a piece of cake.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

They've had some good battles with Indiana and I'm expecting another one shortly.

If they get by Indiana, I wouldn't be shocked to see a San Antonio rematch.   You could make a pretty easy case that San Antonio should've beaten them in last year's finals. 

Digging deep, it really hasn't been a cakewalk for Miami over these past few years. Back to back 7 game conference finals and a 7 game series in last year's NBA finals.

If Indiana gets by DC--which it should--I can't see the Pacers giving the Heat as much trouble this year; they're just too discombobulated and can't seem to snap out of it.

San Antonio certainly should've beat the Heat last year, and it still goads me that the Spurs choked in the last few minutes of Game 6.

Yeah, Miami's had a few tough series (the ones you mentioned), but mostly it's been fairly easy for them, including versus the Thunder in the Finals two years ago.

[ManUp]

Wade is a part time player and Bosh gave up being an all-star when he came to MIA. The current heat team is only a little better then Lebron's Cavs teams. I thought they were just waiting it out until the play-offs, but this Heat team just isn't what it used to be. Lebron has been carrying the team on his back.

[ScoobyDoo]

Well, this is my point. I'm not arguing they haven't had some battles to win their rings, my point is more:

1. If Duncan, Parker and Ginobli were in their prime years, I think SA sweeps them 4-0, maybe 4-1. Duncan in his prime (28-32) would just dominate them. That would be a legit challenger in my book. SA is at the tail, tail end of a long run - they won rings 6-7 years ago...

2. I see Indiana as a good team, not a great team. They may or may not "get there". Now if you had the Indiana team with Kevin Durant on it - now we're talking about a legit challenger to Miami.

3. In 2008, Pierce and KG were nowhere near their prime. Pierce was maybe in the last year or two of his prime, but KG was definitely sniffing his last gas. It was only because both players were so good and also so clutch in different ways, that they still remained so competitive. If Pierce and KG were 26/27 to 32/33 from 2008 until now, they woudl absolutely dominate Miami as well.

Miami could barely get past completely banged up Celtics' squads in the years following the 2010 finals run. Not only were KG and Pierce clearly declining, the rest of our team was often very banged up or we were missing key players - usually young guys - not nagging injuries like everyone has - but guys "out".

I just don't see any true, in their prime players / teams to seriously contend with Miami. Which leads me to my general sentiment James and Wade - they're front runners and history has shown that when they're facing legit prime players with grit, they have never once come out on top.

[Moranis]

They've had some good battles with Indiana and I'm expecting another one shortly.

If they get by Indiana, I wouldn't be shocked to see a San Antonio rematch.   You could make a pretty easy case that San Antonio should've beaten them in last year's finals. 

Digging deep, it really hasn't been a cakewalk for Miami over these past few years. Back to back 7 game conference finals and a 7 game series in last year's NBA finals.

If Indiana gets by DC--which it should--I can't see the Pacers giving the Heat as much trouble this year; they're just too discombobulated and can't seem to snap out of it.

San Antonio certainly should've beat the Heat last year, and it still goads me that the Spurs choked in the last few minutes of Game 6.

Yeah, Miami's had a few tough series (the ones you mentioned), but mostly it's been fairly easy for them, including versus the Thunder in the Finals two years ago.

It's been fairly easy for them because Lebron James is by far the best player in basketball and it isn't close.

And let's not act like this doesn't happen all the time.  I mean look at the 85-86 Celtics.  First round swept Chicago, who obviously had MJ, though it was his second year and he only played in 18 regular season games.  The rest of the team was oversized role players.  Round 2, a 4-1 victory over the Hawks who was a very young team led by Nique.  Round 3, a 4-0 sweep of the Bucks, who while a good team certainly were far from an elite team.  Best players were Moncrief and Cummings.  That year Boston faced Houston in the finals and won 4-2.  Hakeem was in his 2nd year and Sampson was still basically pre-injury, but the starting guards were Robert Reid and Lewis Lloyd and Rodney McCray was the only other notable player on the roster.  Not exactly what you think of when you think NBA champion back-court.  Yet people don't downgrade that Boston title team, despite basically playing no real competition.

[CelticG1]

Yeah Miami has had crazy easy roads. Not their fault but the closest fair compatison has probably been pacers or OKC which i dont think are teams we will ever really remember in any way, at least not yet.

Yeah they beat the Celtics when KG and Pierce and Ray were way over their prime.

Lets see how Miami does in 3-4 years.

Wade looks like hes on his last legs just riding those coattails.

I just dont think Miami is that good. Its 100% Lebron. Hes gotten a lot better. Theres no doubt in my mind that Lebrom would be winning champiomships with wjatever hodgepodge team he would have had if he stayed in Clevelamd

[Celtics18]

They've had some good battles with Indiana and I'm expecting another one shortly.

If they get by Indiana, I wouldn't be shocked to see a San Antonio rematch.   You could make a pretty easy case that San Antonio should've beaten them in last year's finals. 

Digging deep, it really hasn't been a cakewalk for Miami over these past few years. Back to back 7 game conference finals and a 7 game series in last year's NBA finals.

If Indiana gets by DC--which it should--I can't see the Pacers giving the Heat as much trouble this year; they're just too discombobulated and can't seem to snap out of it.

San Antonio certainly should've beat the Heat last year, and it still goads me that the Spurs choked in the last few minutes of Game 6.

Yeah, Miami's had a few tough series (the ones you mentioned), but mostly it's been fairly easy for them, including versus the Thunder in the Finals two years ago.

It's been fairly easy for them because Lebron James is by far the best player in basketball and it isn't close.

And let's not act like this doesn't happen all the time.  I mean look at the 85-86 Celtics.  First round swept Chicago, who obviously had MJ, though it was his second year and he only played in 18 regular season games.  The rest of the team was oversized role players.  Round 2, a 4-1 victory over the Hawks who was a very young team led by Nique.  Round 3, a 4-0 sweep of the Bucks, who while a good team certainly were far from an elite team.  Best players were Moncrief and Cummings.  That year Boston faced Houston in the finals and won 4-2.  Hakeem was in his 2nd year and Sampson was still basically pre-injury, but the starting guards were Robert Reid and Lewis Lloyd and Rodney McCray was the only other notable player on the roster.  Not exactly what you think of when you think NBA champion back-court.  Yet people don't downgrade that Boston title team, despite basically playing no real competition.

Whoa, there.  The '86 Bucks and Hawks were considerably better than any team the Heat have faced so far in these playoffs.  Man, you just disrespected a whole bunch of good teams in one paragraph. 

[D.o.s.]

In these playoffs or in Miami's three straight roads to the Finals?

[vinnie]

Last night's game made me sick and it will probably be the last Heat game I watch this season. In about a month or so, the Heat will be wrapping up a 3rd straight championship. It's enough to make me throw up in my mouth.