Miami Heat: 5 Worst Moments in The Big 3 Era
By David Ramil
Texas Twister Ends Season
These questions seemed to be resolved, at least temporarily, as Miami went on to win 21 of their next 22 games.
The regular season ended with great success and the Heat would advance past Eastern Conference foes like the Bulls and Celtics on their way to an NBA Finals matchup against the Mavericks.
Miami were favored, more top-heavy in talent and with Wade’s championship experience considered a major factor in the Heat’s favor.
Instead, James seemed to wilt under the pressure, with several sub-par games leading to a 4-2 knockout by the Mavericks.
The rest of the nation cheered as Dallas (seen as a superior team rather than a collection of talented individuals) triumphed. Fans in Cleveland, New York, and Chicago – cities spurned by James during the previous summer’s free agency period – reveled in Miami’s failure.
Again, it seemed like the media swooped in like journalistic vultures, awaiting the Heat’s impending death. The hope that had filled South Florida only months ago was replaced by doubt and changes to the team and coaching staff seemed inevitable.
Instead of getting a chance to make those changes, things just got worse as NBA owners would soon lock out their players and delaying the start of the 2011 season. The carcass of Miami’s failed Finals run would be left to rot until December of that year.