Miami Heat president Pat Riley has orchestrated many a blockbuster deal in his day, including the largest trade in league history in 2005 involving 5 teams and 13 players that sent Jason Williams, Antoine Walker, and James Posey to Miami, providing the final components necessary to secure the Heat’s first title in franchise history in 2006. This is not to mention the magic wand he waved over the city last summer by securing the services of the superstar trio I like to call the Miami Treat: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.
Miami, as expected, did not pull the trigger on any trade deadline possibilities. While the Heat will explore options to improve the PG and C position in the future, any movement of Mike Miller or Udonis Haslem or any other player who was considered a key piece to championship success when the season began would be an admission. An admission that the Heat is not as dominant as the realistic goal of five championships in five or six years would suggest. Riley is not in the business of admissions.
What was he thinking yesterday while he watched many of his protégés hard at work?
He was probably thinking the same thing we all should be thinking--the real season starts tonight. The major overhaul that has swept the NBA landscape leaves many teams hoping to build the required amount of chemistry necessary for deep playoff runs.
There is something fresh in the NBA today. And it’s refreshing.
Western Conference
Round 1
1 San Antonio vs. 8 Memphis:
San Antonio is on a mission this year. Memphis will be dangerous next year. SA 4-1
2 Dallas vs. 7 Portland:
See above. By acquiring Gerald Wallace, Portland can be a title favorite next season. DAL 4-2
3 Oklahoma City vs. 6 Denver:
Denver gives the Thunder all they can handle in this skill vs. will match-up. Oklahoma is too deep. Denver can be a dark-horse next year if they remain intact and go through a full training camp. OKC 4-2
4 Los Angeles Lakers vs. 5 New Orleans:
Unfortunately for New Orleans, they are paired with the only team they cannot beat in the first round. Even with the unheralded, yet significant addition of Carl Landry, the size down low is too much for the Hornets to overcome. LA 4-1
Conference Semifinals
1 San Antonio vs. 4 Los Angeles:
Winners of nine of the last twelve NBA titles, this old rival delight the world with a classic seven-game slugfest marathon. The Spurs run out of steam. LAL 4-3
2 Dallas vs. 3 Oklahoma City:
The most exciting series in terms of highlight plays, OKC stamps their seal on the West for years to come. OKC 4-2
Conference Finals
3 Oklahoma City vs. 4 Los Angeles:
The changing of the guard can be swift and severe. The Thunder have improved in the front-court significantly with the addition of Kendrick Perkins and Nazr Mohammed, while the Lakers are a year older. OKC 4-1
Eastern Conference
Round 1
1 Miami vs. 8 Indiana:
The Pacers have played the Heat tough all season. MIA 4-0
2 Boston vs. 7 Philadelphia:
Boston is one injury away from being an older Philly. The 76ers future is bright, but the Celtics have waited all year for this time. BOS 4-2
3 Chicago vs. 6 Atlanta:
Atlanta is one center away from being a title contender. Chicago is already there. CHI 4-2
4 Orlando vs. 5 New York:
Remember those blockbuster trades Orlando made early in the season? Me neither. NY 4-2
Conference Semifinals
1 Miami vs. 5 New York:
An appetizer for things to come. New York will be a true force next season. In the meantime, the Heat are absolutely peaking at the right time. MIA 4-1
2 Boston vs. 3 Chicago:
A series that could rival the intensity of their first-round tilt in ’09. Noah called Chicago native Garnett “ugly..” and ..”mean..”, I recall? Had the Bulls enjoyed a healthy first year with Joakim and Boozer, things may have been different. They will be next year. BOS 4-3
Conference Finals
1 Miami vs. 2 Boston:
Boston has had Miami’s number thus far. However, the Heat are rolling at this point. The league is starting to accept the fact that the LeBron, Wade, and Bosh has only just begun. Luckily the rest of the teams are doing the best they can to avoid a seven-year run of Heat supremacy. That will have to wait until next year. MIA 4-1
NBA Finals
1 Miami vs. 3 Oklahoma City:
Lakers-Celtics will be back again. It may be another five or ten years, but the two staple franchises will battle for history some time in the future. For now, it is all about the Heat and Thunder. If they both keep their core intact, these two may find themselves in this same position two, three, or four more times in the coming years. As for Round 1? Heat 4-2
Finals MVP: Dwyane Wade
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