Championship this year would be more special than years to come

Over the past eight or nine years there have been a hand full of seasons for the Heat that just seem to stick out. Weather for good reasons or bad, certain years find a way to leave an imprint in your mind, free for you to conjure up whenever you feel like remembering Heat history. 

One season that brings back vivid, heartbreaking memories, is the 2004-2005 season when the Heat were eliminated on their home court by the Detroit Pistons in a gut wrenching game seven. I remember being so confident leading up to that game. I remember feeling that we were the better team; the more complete team. I then remember smashing my Metro PCS cell phone into a thousand pieces after watching my beloved team squander a 6-point lead with only 3 minutes remaining. 

Before this season, I felt that that 04-05 team was the best we ever assembled, with a Shaquille O'Neal giving a year long, MVP-type performance (he finished 2nd in MVP voting), a 23 year old Dwyane Wade blossoming into the superstar very few suspected he would, and a supporting cast made up of young, tenacious players like Udonis Haslem and hungry veterans like Eddie Jones and Christian Laettner.  

The past two seasons have been rather forgettable, with the Heat getting eliminated in the first round both years to the likes of the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics. 

But even with 05's heart break, and 2006's ultimate achievement, there's something about this newest rendition of the Heat that gives off a sort of mystic quality, something that I don't remember feeling in any previous year. Because even if you're not a Heat fan, (or an NBA fan for that matter) I defy you to give me another team that has garnered as much attention / interest as this one. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN INDEX ON ESPN.COM FOR GOD'S SAKE!

Because once all the attention and criticism of this team has subsided, we as Heat fans will look back on this "innagural" season and smile. We'll remember the nightly boos. We'll laugh at the infamous "bump". We'll think back to Lebron's masterful performance in his return game to Cleveland. 

But as fans, we're also greedy. Those memories aren't enough. We want a championship memory to go along with the other ones. And as three of the best players in the world, I would imagine that Wade, James and Chris Bosh aren't content with waiting until next year. Just recently, Wade attested to this when he told espn.com that his team is "still in the learning process. And we're trying to fast-track it very fast. We're trying to win a championship now. And a lot goes into that. And it's not always glitz and glamor and fun. Sometimes it's tough. It's been a lot different than anything I've gone through before in a basketball season."

Which is why a championship this first year would be extra special. The Heat may win the title for the next 5 years, and I'd love every one of them. But if the they could accomplish the fete in their first year, as a fresh, new team that's still not exactly sure who they want to be or how they want to play, amid all the controversy and criticism, it would be something that the Heat, along with all their fans could cherish forever. 

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With win over Pistons, Heat go to Boston sitting atop Eastern Conference

After the Heat made quick work of the Detroit Pistons Friday, in a 106-92 rout, the team's focus shifted toward the Boston Celtics, who they will face Sunday in a game that will decide the Eastern Conference's top team (by record) heading into All Star break.

For only the second time this season, the Heat stand atop the Eastern Conference with a half-game lead over the Celtics, who have proved to be the Heat's biggest challenge thus far. And while the Heat are far from the same team that Boston handled with such ease the first two times the teams met, Miami knows that nothing less than a great performance will be needed to defeat what looks like the best team in the NBA this season.

Last time Miami and Boston met the Heat lost 112-107

The Heat will come into TD Garden riding an eight game winning streak while the Celtics have lost two straight and are only 5-5 in their last ten. Much of their struggles as of late have been to due to nagging injures to center, Shaquille O'Neal and guards, Nate Robinson and Marquis Daniels, along with star forward Paul Pierce suffering from flu like symptoms. But all four of Boston's most important players will be in action Sunday, when Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Pierce will try to prove to the Heat fans that they're still the team to beat in the East.

While this game may not act as a totally accurate assessment of where the Heat stands as a serious championship contender due to the lack of full strength of the Celtics, one must remember that the Heat is not 100% either. With Lebron James, Wade, and Chris Bosh all suffering injuries over the past couple of weeks, and with vital role player and defensive leader Udonis Haslem just beginning rehab on his badly injured foot, the Heat will try to prove that they can beat a veteran championship team without being completely healthy.

"Now we're sitting on top of the East, going into a hostile place where we did not play well the first game of the year," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra recently said when asked about the matchup. "We respect who the Boston Celtics are and what they've proven the last 3 1/2 years. So this is what everybody, the fans, the media and everybody out there, this is what they want."

Heat should find minutes for Dexter Pittman

It often feels like the Heat doesn't need to be what most would consider a "complete" team; one that has a facilitating point guard, an attacking shooting guard/forward, a rebounding big man, an effective bench, and a solid defensive approach.

At times, it seems as if any glaring flaws simply get cancelled out due to a stellar trio and a group of role players who have been playing exceptional as of late. 

But many critics of the Heat point to the lack of a true big man and true point guard as a weakness that will get exploited once the playoffs start, thus sealing the Heat's fate when it comes to a championship. 

Still, detractors must keep in mind that this kind of team has no precedent.

Never before has a "big three" with so much talent been assembled and with each entering the prime of their careers at the same time. 

Still, neither Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, nor Chris Bosh stands as a defensive option when it comes to guarding the likes of the Celtics' Kendrick Perkins and Shaquille O'Neal or the Lakers' Andrew Bynum. 

Which brings me to the Heat's second round draft pick, Dexter Pittman.

Pittman, a center, has consistently put up impressive numbers this season for the Sioux Falls Skyforce, an NBA developmental team stationed in South Dakota. Since Pittman started his stint for the Skyforce back in early January, the 6-11 Texas Longhorn has averaged 15 points per game, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks and was recently named to the D-League All Star  Game.

While Pittman may not be ready to be the Heat's everyday starting center, the Heat should consider letting him get some minutes just for the sake of precaution. If starting center Zydrunas Ilgauskas or backup Joel Anthony were to go down, there would be some serious concern as to how the Heat's rebounding and interior defense would be effected. And to expect Pittman to hop right into the mix of a championship run without any pro experience would be asking a lot of the rookie. 

With the Heat winning so many games this season by such a large margin, there should be plenty of time for Pittman to get some minutes under his belt. Better start using him now, rather than seeing what you've got once it's already too late.

Next four Lakers games could mean a lot for Heat

In this weeks latest edition of "Where will Carmelo Anthony get Traded?", the Los Angeles Lakers have become the trendy pick.

With so many rumors out there about where the Denver Nuggets forward will ultimately end up, it seems like aside from the New York Knicks, the Lakers are the only other legitimate contender for Anthony's services. 

In a report by ESPN'S, Chris Brossard, Brossard says that the Lakers would consider trading their highly skilled but often injured center, Andrew Bynum in a deal for Anthony.

If that trade were to occur, that could spell even more trouble for the Heat. 

Could Carmleo really end up in L.A.?

The Lakers are currently 0-5 in games against teams that are considered serious title contenders, such as the Heat, the San Antonio Spurs, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Boston Celtics (lost twice). 

However unlikely it may be for the trade to occur, it will be interesting to see how the Lakers staff responds after their upcoming four game road stretch against the Celtics, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic,  and Charlotte Bobcats. 

Should the Lakers lose three of those four games, I think there is a great chance this trade happens, with the Lakers in search of their third consecutive title, and the desire of head coach, Phil Jackson to win one more title before hanging it up for good. 

Just the idea of Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Pau Gasol, and Lamar Odom should be enough to make Heat fans quiver. The Heat may be able to boast the best "big three" in the league, but it might not be enough going up against the Lakers potential "big four". 

So if you're a Heat fan, or a fan of any contending team other than the Lakers, what would you like to see happen on the Lakers upcoming road test? Maybe you'd actually LIKE to see the Lakers lose all four games because you think the Anthony trade would make the team weaker, due to the loss of a true center, in Bynum. 

We have to remember that the past two seasons the Lakers have won the championship, it was with Bynum in the lineup throughout the finals. In 2008, when they lost to the Celtics, Bynum was injured and could not play. 

Either way, you can never count the Lakers out. But if they happen to pickup Anthony, Lebron might be chewing his finger nails down to the bone. 

NBA and Marvel apparel collaboration

If you flip on any NBA game, you're bound to see a couple of highlights that'll probably just make you shake your head.

Some will make your jaw drop and leave you in awe. 

Some will make you ask yourself, "How is that even possible?".

The NBA has come a long way from the days of short shorts and set shots. There isn't a night that goes by in the league where the likes of Lebron James, or Dwight Howard, or emerging superstar, Blake Griffin doesn't give off the illusion of walking on air.

With the players being more exciting and athletically gifted than ever before, and with comic book superheroes still holding a soft spot in the hearts of millions, the NBA and Marvel Comics have teamed up for a merchandise deal putting some of the company's most recognizable superheroes in the colors and emblems of various teams.

The new line of clothing including caps, t-shirts, and sweat shirts will first be available at this years upcoming all star game later this month and then eventually sold  nationwide. 

Being a huge comic book geek myself, I can't help but think this is pretty cool. Although I'm a much bigger fan of the DC Universe which hold the rights to superheroes such as Batman, Green Lantern, and the Flash, seeing the Incredible Hulk sporting Celtic green seems pretty fitting, and as much as I hate the Knicks, Spiderman rocking the blue and orange seems pretty appropriate due to his long time association with New York City. 

It'll be interesting to see which hero decides to put on the black and red. The Human Torch seems pretty fitting, no? 

Heres a link to an earlier issue of ESPN The Magazine where the NBA and Marvel previously teamed up to repurpose every NBA team with their superhero counterpart. http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/10/25/espn-magazine-nba-marvel-covers-gallery/

With no clear cut favorite, Lebron might receive third straight MVP

Lebron James recently said that he felt his and Dwyane Wade's chances of winning any future MVP awards were thrown out the window the second they decided to team up.

While James might have just been trying to sound humble, many Heat fans, and NBA fans in general, shared the same kind of sentiment.

Many felt that while the duo had the chance to be great, the mere pairing of the two would cancel each other out when it came time to vote for the leagues most valuable player.

But as the season reaches its halfway point, and still no clear cut MVP emerging (Dwight Howard, Kevin Durant, and Derrick Rose all having great seasons, but more impressive than Lebron?), you'd have to say that James has as good a shot as anybody to win what would be his third consecutive MVP award.

Is a third straight MVP in Lebron's future? 

And while one could contend that his stats are down, this is an argument that simply couldn't hold up in court.

Sure, his scoring is down a bit from last year when he averaged 29.7 points per game compared to 26.1 this year, but that should have been expected by everyone. He's still the second leading scorer in the league.

But if you take a look at some of the other major statistical categories, not much has changed.  His rebounding and steals are almost identical to last year and his three point percentage is up.

It all comes down to what the voters are looking for.

Will the voters cancel James out due to the MVP like calibre play of Wade? Or will they recognize the significance of a truly special player who's former team just set the NBA record for consecutive losses at 24.

If James wins his third consecutive MVP he will be only the third player to do so and the first to do it since Larry Bird when he accomplished the fete in the 1985-1986 season.

It'll be interesting to see if the voters do whats right at the end of the season and award the worthy candidate or if they settle for what I call a "default MVP", similar to when the great Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson won the award for the 1994 and 1995 seasons respectively, due to the first retirement of a guy named Michael Jordan.

Real NBA tough guys

After Oklahoma City's rising superstar, Kevin Durant referred to Chris Bosh as a "fake tough guy" following the Heat's 108-103 road victory Sunday, it got me thinking... 

Who are some of the leagues real tough guys? 

And what exactly is it that separates a tough guy from a fake tough guy? 

I've created a list of five current NBA players and I want you guys to tell me if the player qualifies as a real or fake. I'll give my opinion too. 

Paul Pierce = Fake 

Ron Artest = Real 

Kevin Garnett = Fake 

Udonis Haslem = Real 

Glen "Baby" David = Fake