All Hail The King ……… Long Live The King ….
By tophatal ……….
Well, with an emphatic victory in game five , of the 2012 NBA Finals , the Miami Heat were able to secure their second NBA title in six years . The team’s defeat of the Oklahoma City Thunder was as clinical, a display by the players , as they have exhibited over the course of this season. For Pat Riley and team owner Micky Arison this has to be seen as vindication for the maneuver engineered prior to the 2010-11 season , that brought LeBron James and Chris Bosh to Miami , to further their respective careers .
======================================================================================================================================================
=======================================================================================================================================================
Slide show for your perusal .
After a series of exhilarating displays in each of the five games of the Finals , there was no doubt that LeBron James would be deemed the winner of the NBA Finals’ MVP award . In doing so , the player joined a select band of players to have won both the regular season MVP as well as the Finals’ MVP award in the same season . Add to that crowning achievement was the very fact that the All Star guard may well have now solidified his position as the best player in the NBA by an increasingly wide margin . The Finals in some circles , were anointed as a “budding rivalry “ between LeBron James and Kevin Durant as being on par with that of those epic battles in the NBA between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson , at the height of the duo’s of Hall of Fame careers with the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers . From my own standpoint , I feel it , far too early to categorize this new rivalry as being on par with that of their renowned predecessors !
Granted , James is now nine years into a career, which has seen him reach unprecedented levels within the game . Durant for his part , at the tender age of 22, has already been a three-time league-scoring champion and will undoubtedly win a great deal more scoring titles over the course of his own indomitable career. It seems fitting that the NBA now has these two great players as well as a litany of other stars to grace the game . There might be no one dominant team that harkens back to the Chicago Bulls and the Jordan years , or for that matter the years when the Lakers and Celtics reigned as they sought supremacy within the league . Are we now back at a point where as such we can relive those moments but now in the guise of the Heat and Thunder ? Well , it remains to be seen , and it will be intriguing to see how both of these teams acquit themselves in the immediate and long-term future.
In the world of sports it tends to be about the immediacy of “here and now “ : rather than what can be achieved over a period of time . Is it really that the fans desire their teams to win now , and not think about the future , and a body of work , upon which the teams and players ought to be judged ? Care to add your thoughts to that premise ?
Now for the Miami Heat’s young coach Erik Spoelstra , this has to be the most gratifying moment of his young coaching career . There were many who felt in the aftermath of last season’s Finals and the franchise’s failure in defeating the Dallas Mavericks . A great deal of speculation had arisen , as to whether or not he should be replaced with a more experienced and high-profiled head coach . GM & team President Pat Riley had implicit faith in his young protégé and that faith has reaped dividends with LeBron James , Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh buying into Spoelstra’s game plan over the course of the season . In addition, with Erik Spoelstra now having recorded his first NBA title as a head coach , there can be no doubt that he would like to add to that tally . The team’s trio of All Stars , Bosh , James and Wade , in terms of their own legacies would also like to add to this initial feat as a unit . The first title of any sort is said to be the hardest to obtain but thereafter , things are mean t to be a great deal easier . Well the Miami Heat have just got underway as they seek to add multiple titles to their agenda and that of the franchise’s history . Most certainly , the Heat’s trios of players have a long way to go before they can be mentioned in the same breath as Bird , McHale and Parish . Or for that matter , where they can be even thought of as being as great as the “Showtime Lakers “ where Magic , Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy held sway over the entire league . That is obviously the dominance that is now sought by the Heat’s current crop of bona-fide stars . Whether or not they can achieve that status will be questioned when one bears in mind the stages at where LeBron James , Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade’s careers is said to be at . At best , the trio collectively may well have only another five or six years together to meet their goals of winning multiple titles . And by multiple titles based upon James’ preemptive statements that would be to reel off at least four in that timeframe . .
Numerous questions have arisen as to the reasons why the Oklahoma City Thunder came up so distantly short in this series . Kevin Durant , Russell Westbrook and James Harden , it was felt , as a trio they would be able to compete against their opponents in the Finals . Young at their core , Scott Brooks’ players tried their utmost to make the NBA Finals a truly competitive matchup , and in part they were able to achieve that . It his however , in stark contrast to what we witnessed from the Thunder as they completely corralled and clinically dispatched the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals . However , the real issue with Durant and his teammates was the very fact that they simply could not retain a lead long enough , in order to distant themselves from the Miami Heat , in any of the game five games played , with the exception of the team’s game one victory . If there was said to be a flaw to the Thunder then that would certainly have to be it and the repeated chances that they let slip from within their grasp. This may well be all too painful a lesson to learn but it will undoubtedly serve this franchise well in the future . Through adversity comes determination and strength , and those are the traits that will make the team a formidable presence not just within the Western Conference but throughout the entire NBA .
The future for the Thunder appear s to be plentiful for the organization and the very fact that they have to be seen as by far the best team within their conference . Kobe Bryant is now in the declining years of a wonderful career with the Los Angeles Lakers and there seems to be no willing successor on the current roster wanting to take over the leadership responsibilities for that team. At the same time , I for one , believe that with head coach Mike Brown has the unenviable task of having to succeed his predecessor and the franchise’s most successful head coach , Phil Jackson , That is a truly daunting task in of-itself , to say the very least .
==================================================================================================================================================
================================================================================================================================================
Picture gallery for your perusal .
With the NBA postseason having reached a successful and thrilling culmination it will be interesting to see how the off-season now plays itself out . All that now awaits the most ardent NBA fans is that of the upcoming NBA Draft and the decisions that will be made by the head coaches , front office executives and team owners . What thoughts if any do you have with regard to the NBA postseason and where would you rank the performances of the LeBron James during the NBA Finals ? Do take time to leave a comment as you see fit .
😉
Picture and slide show details below .
=============================================================================================================================================================
(1) Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra celebrates after Game 5 of the NBA finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Thursday, June 21, 2012, in Miami. The Heat won 121-106 to become the 2012 NBA Champions. AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee …
(2) The Miami Heat’s Chris Bosh celebrates in the locker room after Game 5 of the NBA finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Friday, June 22, 2012, in Miami. The Heat won 121-106 to become the 2012 NBA Champions. AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee ….
(3) The Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade holds the Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy and LeBron James holds his most valuable player trophy after Game 5 of the NBA finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Friday, June 22, 2012, in Miami. The Heat won 121-106 to become the 2012 NBA Champions. AP Photo/Lynne Sladky …
(4) Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) and Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) pause between plays during the first half at Game 5 of the NBA finals basketball series, Thursday, June 21, 2012, in Miami. AP Photo/Lynne Sladky …..
(5) Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) and shooting guard Dwyane Wade react in the final moments during the second half at Game 5 of the NBA finals basketball series, Thursday, June 21, 2012, in Miami. The Heat won 121-106 to become the 2012 NBA Champions. AP Photo/Lynne Sladky ….
(6) Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Derek Fisher (37) talks to small forward Kevin Durant (35) between plays against the Miami Heat during the second half at Game 5 of the NBA finals basketball series, Thursday, June 21, 2012, in Miami. AP Photo/Lynne Sladky ….
(7) Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) and shooting guard Dwyane Wade react in the final moments during the second half at Game 5 of the NBA finals basketball series, Thursday, June 21, 2012, in Miami. The Heat won 121-106 to become the 2012 NBA Champions. AP Photo/Lynne Sladky …..
(8) Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder shooting guard Thabo Sefolosha (2) of Switzerland during the first half at Game 5 of the NBA finals basketball series, Thursday, June 21, 2012, in Miami. AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee ….
=============================================================================================================================================================
😛
================================================================================================================================================
NBA Finals records & statistics
=============================================================================================================================================
Wyclef Jean ….. feat’g Claudette Ortiz …………. “Two Wrongs ” …Big ups to my Haitian massive ! Ca qua fait ?
Share this:
Tophatal's Blog 
And so a new chapter begins for the Miami Heat and their now famed trio . Specifically , LeBron James now looks to add his name further into the annals of NBA … history that will undoubtedly place him alongside the ranks of Chamberlain , Russell , Havlicek , Kareem , Jordan , Olajuwon , Bird and Magic Johnson .
The questions however , that has arisen concerning the series , has been the issue of the Thunder not being able to maintain a lead throughout the NBA Finals , with the exception of game one .
Well hello there !
Have a great weekend guys , stay safe !
tophatal …………
LikeLike
The heat did great in winning the title. Now the James detracters can bugger off.
LikeLike
Bobby /thegeeman
Well for now we can exalt LBJ until the next time he and his teammates start to show their immaturity all over again . Kudos to the Heat on a terrific … performance but I believe that a successful defense for them will be extremely tough next season ! The first NBA title tends to be the easiest . But thereon after it does get really tough and it tends to be the great teams that tend to make a successful defense and then go on to win multiple titles .
I believe that the Thunder will be a great team in the future and I certainly believe that they will be a future NBA title winner . They’re far too good a team to go down in the way that they did to the Miami Heat and not rise once again to be competitive . Within the Western Conference they are in a far better shape than the Spurs , Lakers and Clippers in terms of competitiveness and as a team outright .
LikeLike
Yes, I agree. The Thunder dam good team. The Lakers, Clippers, Spurs are good. Philly, in the east is a rising team as well under former sixer great Doug Collins. what bugs me is the morons at ESPN are singing James praises yet they will tear his ass down. Wilt said it best No one roots for goliath.
LikeLike
thegeeman
What the Sixers have going for them are Iguodala , Lou Williams and Jru Holliday . Three good players who have shown themselves to be very good and a overall they’re a team … on the rise . Throw in the fact that Doug Collins apart from being a veteran coach , just happens to be one the better coaches within the NBA .
ESPN and the likes of Stephen A Smith , Skip Bayless and their other NBA analysts would willingly drink out of the pot that LeBron James defecates and urinates in , if it makes them look good on tv in-front of the public .
LikeLike
Aint that the truth. This is why ESPN is a joke. All one has too is watch their coverage and analysis of Euro 2012.
LikeLike
It’s not only the coverage ( the outlet’s coverage of Euro 2012 ) that’s bad but the in-studio analysis has been asinine and mundane ! I expected more from former German international player Michael Ballack . As for Alexi Lalas , his ass is still on the weed !
“Michael how do you feel about sex with men and do you like blond North American guys ” ?
ESPN’s Michael Ballack (left) and Alexi Lalas .
LikeLike
Ian Darkand Steve McManamin are good so but that’s it.
LikeLike
thegeeman
That duo might just be the exception to the rule concerning ESPN’s coverage of the Euro 2012 tournament and that is it !
tophatal ……
LikeLike
What impresses me most about LeBron, Al, aside from his immeasurable talent, is the fact that the kid never gets hurt. Sure he had those cramps at the end of Game Four, but how many games has this guy missed over his career?
His body is in such sick shape that he’s never missed any time due to injury.
LikeLike
Chris Humpherys
I can assure you LeBron does get hurt but he plays through the pain ! He’s well conditioned and as some have described him , a god-damn freak of nature ! .
Just look at his career , game by game and season splits in terms of his play . He is in many ways , simply a much bigger and far more athletic version of Allen Iverson .
That’s as succinct an answer as I can give to you on the matter . Your thoughts ?
tophatal ………
LikeLike
There’s more than enough reason to believe that the Thunder will, make great strides next season . Especially if you base that premise upon last season’s … record of the team by way of their overall play .
Westbrook , Durant and Harden were solid , they need a fourth option in terms of offense if they’re to waylay the likes of the Bulls and Heat . With Ray Allen of the Celtics due to become a free agent there are rumors that the Heat are keenly interested in signing the player .
tophatal ………..
LikeLike