Let's face it, unless OKC gets a coaching change it doesn't matter if they keep making it to the Finals, they'll get stomped by the Heat. Let's not forget there is an upcoming challenge of keeping two good players on their team (Ibaka, Harden). And if they end up losing either, they'll need to find a diamond in the rough again in the draft. All the other competitive teams in the NBA are too old and can't keep up with the Heat or too young and can't match the star power of Miami. The only thing that will stop the Heat these next few seasons will be themselves. Or more specifically, Wade's health. Because all things aside, these guys won the championship with two all-stars (I want to stop hearing about how LeBron played with crap to win this one, Wade and Bosh stepped up when it counted), all the other role players like Battier and Miller are easily replaceable. Analyzing all the other teams in the NBA, you have the Lakers who will be similar to the LeBron-led Cavs for the next couple of seasons, at least as long as Mike Brown is still coach there. You have the Spurs who are actually quite good, but can get exposed if faced with a team with immense talent (if they go through the playoffs without running into the Thunder or Heat, they're a good bet to win it all but that chances of that happening is not likely). The Celtics run is over, KG is considering retirement. Chicago is planning on trading Deng, they won't be competitive next season. Basically the only hope for the other teams in the NBA is to pray for a miraculous player to come from the draft and become the next Duncan or Kobe for them. Or one of the young guns take it to another level. There's no hope, fellas. 2012 and beyond is the era of the Miami Heat.
wow, your hopping on the bandwagon eh? lmao. a healthy bulls team would give them a fight, and if howard goes to nets, a howard/dwill combo would be really good, especially because of the fact that nobody on the heat could guard howard. of course, they would need to add more pieces though. anyways, okc's problem isn't their coach, its the fact that their role players didn't help them much. durant/westbrook did their jobs, but harden didn't.
I think you're overreacting. Miller had one hell of a game. He's easily replaceable, but his performance last night is not. Battier meant more to the Heat than outside shooting. He can be replaced, but i don't think it's as easy as you believe, mainly because of their cap situation and availability of the same kind of player, or lack thereof. This series was close except for this final game. It could have easily been a 6 or 7 game series. Also, remember that putting so much on so few players means one injury can cost them a series. Bosh almost came back too late. Then, there's also experience. Miami had it and from it developed a stronger hunger to win. OKC will develop that next year. Finally, Wade has peaked. He's not likely to step up his game and should start regressing, starting in a year or two.
OKC just missed shots. They were making insane shot after insane shot against the Spurs. Against the Heat they were missing wide open shots.
they were simply outcoached! Thunder need to go hard and pick Phil Jackson a triangle offense OKC will tame westbrook shot selection...
How would Chicago not be competitive? If they trade Deng it's gonna be for a high pick resulting in MKG, Barnes or a similar talent.
If Rose comes back healthy and adds another good piece. Depends on where Howard goes, and who's around him. If the Knicks, Pacers, 76'ers all draft well in the next couple of years, who knows? Plus, that's just the East.
Healthy Chicago, more experienced OKC, Brooklyn could if DHo goes there, I really want Cleveland to beat LBJ's Heat but I don't see that happening any time soon.
OKC, if they keep this core will steal a couple away from the Heat. Lebron will probably have 3 championships and 5 or 6 MVP's. I think Durant can win 2 in his career, probably later rather than sooner. That team is REALLY young and will only get better.
Dwight Howard and DWill won't compete for a title alone people. They will be first round exits for awhile until they can put a team around them. If the Knicks can't get out of the first round, neither will the Nets.
You're overrating Luol Deng drastically. The guy plays nearly 40 minutes a game and only has a PER of 14. He is a solid player, but not worth a top 5 pick.
Too many turnovers and some bad ref calls/non-calls doomed OKC. To me, Westbrook is more like DWade, more like a 2 than a 1. OKC could really use Nash and a healthy Maynor-- or Lowry-- to run their offense in next year's finals rematch with the Heat.
Howard and Deron are definitely better on paper than those in NY City. They won't compete for a ship for some time until they have a supporting cast.
If Chicago trades Deng for a player like MKG, they will still be years away from contention if they have to depend on a rookie to contribute a lot in the playoffs. If DHoward gets traded to Brooklyn, they will still suck. Wasn't the draft pick trade for Gerald Wallace proof enough that their management is incompetent? It should be known by now that if the management is bad, the team will also be bad too. Not to mention their coach stinks. If OKC gets more experienced, it still won't matter because of their boneheaded coach. I have faith in Cleveland. Hope they draft someone good.
