Miami Heat End of Season Wrap Up

Predicted Outcome: 55-27, first place Southeast Division

Finished: 58-24, first place Southeast Division, Eastern Conference Champions

They did it. After all the criticism, cynicism and just sheer hatred, the Miami Heat lived up to their high expectations reaching the NBA Finals at the chagrin of their haters. Many wished the Heat nothing but ill will after it pulled off one of the biggest coups in professional sports history last Summer. In one swift move the Heat moved from fringe playoff team to championship contender signing three of the biggest names in free agency—namely Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. Many saw this as a travesty of sports buying the three biggest names in basketball and wished the Heat nothing but ill will throughout the regular season. None were hit harder than basketball fans in the city of Cleveland as they lost the player who had been the heart and soul of not only their basketball team, but also of the city itself.

When Lebron James made that ill-advised press conference declaring his intent to sign with the Heat, it left many people with a bad taste in their mouths making James and his team both the most hated figures in sport history. Many saw James and his fellow signee Chris Bosh as carpet baggers who wanted to take the easy road to an NBA championship. Their disdain mounted even higher for the Heat’s part owner and boss of basketball operations, Pat Riley as they all accused him of buying his way to the NBA Finals. Save for their fans in Miami, no one wanted the Heat to win a game, let alone win an NBA title.

Coming into the start of the season, fans and the media gave the Heat little or no respect as Miami reflected their cynicism and disgust for the unsavory side of not only professional sports, but of life in general—that to get ahead, you don’t need the will to win and determination. All you needs is to have the money and the connections you can easily buy your way to the top. And that made the Heat in the eyes of basketball fans, except for those in South Florida, Public Enemy number one. Many made it their goal in life to see the Riley and his Miami Heat fail and fail miserably.  (Click here to finish reading this post and more on JT's Hoopsblog)