Finals Rematch

The Miami Heat are once again playing basketball in June.  This is exactly what the big three envisioned when they took their talents to South Beach.  Miami is the first team since the 84-87 Boston Celtics to make four consecutive NBA Finals appearances.  The Heat are on the verge of yet another NBA dynasty.

Tim Duncan has been waiting for this moment all season.  The Spurs feel they let the NBA Championship slip away a year ago.  Tim missed a hook shot in the crucial moments of game seven that could have changed the series outcome.  Tim is already considered by many to be the greatest Power-forward in NBA history.  A fifth championship will make a good argument that Tim is the best big man of his era, Shaquille O'Neal included.

This series will determine NBA Hall Of Fame voting someday.  Miami has four players on their roster that may get Hall Of Fame consideration.  LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Ray Allen are all sure bets to get in eventually.  If Miami completes the three-peat you would think Chris Bosh would also begin to garner some consideration.  Even Eric Spoelstra is beginning to put together an impressive resume.  Not many coaches in NBA history have won three consecutive rings.

Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker are in pursuit of their fourth championship ring.  Another ring will make Tim's partners in crime hard to overlook getting into Springfield in the near future.

This is the first finals rematch since Chicago and Utah in 1998.  Home-court switched to Utah for that series.  That did not change the results of the series.  The Bulls took the series in six games, only this time they did it on the road.  Since joining forces the big three have shown the ability to win postseason games on the road.  The Heat will have to win at least one game in Texas to capture the NBA Finals.  This series will probably go to six or seven games.  

Last year these two teams gave NBA fans an epic seven game series.  Both are eager to reclaim the Larry O'Brien Trophy. A three-peat is in the works for Miami.  Three is considered the golden standard in terms of back-to-back championships. A fifth ring for San Antonio will make them the longest running dynasty in league history. This illustrious run began 15 years ago.

 This should be a great series.