Miami Heat lose, still lead 3-2. The goal? An NBA Finals vs. old friend LeBron James | Opinion
We all know what this is about now. The stakes are set. It’s all in play, if the Miami Heat can just go get. If they can do what they failed to do Friday night and finish this.
What is in play feels bigger than just the NBA Finals.
Bigger than Miami vs. Los Angeles.
It is the Heat vs. LeBron James.
This is personal. It is delicious. For Heat fans, the idea of not only playing for a championship this strangest of all seasons, against all odds, but playing for one against this opponent? It’s like hitting the lottery. Twice.
I know, I know. Miami isn’t there yet. The Heat fell hard to the Boston Celtics on Friday night in the Orlando bubble, 121-108, in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference finals, Miami’s lead in the best-of-7 series cut to an anxious 3-2 entering Game 6 on Sunday evening.
The Heat was in control early but saw Boston seize leverage with a 41-point third quarter. A 3-2 series lead suddenly feels wobbly. Can Miami win one of the next two?
LeBron’s L.A. Lakers aren’t quite there yet, either. They lead the Denver Nuggets 3-1 entering Game 5 Saturday night.
Ah, but this is the beauty of sports, right?
The anticipation.
Coaches and players are duty-bound to swear off “looking ahead” (or at least by rote insist they aren’t), as if what is simply human nature brings with it some sort of certain curse.
However fans and Your Friend the Media? We are free and clear to look ahead with reckless abandon and with impunity. So let’s do!
At this point, this close to the ideal NBA Finals, I’m not sure which outcome would disappoint Heat fans more:
An eventual series loss to Boston after once leading 2-0.
Or reaching the Finals only to somehow see Denver as the opponent.
It has to be Heat vs. LeBron. Please, if there is a sports god.
There is some magic in the air for Miami sports right now. The Marlins on Friday night made the baseball playoffs for the first time in 17 years. Hurricanes football is ranked No. 12 in the nation as it hosts Florida State on Saturday. Heck, the Dolphins just won a game!
But if South Florida could have one wish right now (well, according to me, at least) it would be that the Heat, with an NBA championship at stake, meets and beats the player who jilted Miami after four seasons here following the 2014 playoffs.
There was a lasting LeBron-led dynasty in place here, one that might be going on still, but King James not only put an abrupt end to that by leaving in free agency but did so in a way that caused a rift with Heat president Pat Riley and left many Heat fans, to this day, conflicted on how to feel about LeBron.
It would be optimum drama, a Heat championship run ending with LeBron the final hurdle.
And what a run this has been so far for the Heat — even beyond the improbability of it being done by a team that didn’t even make the playoffs last season.
In the opening round the Heat swept Indiana.
In the next round Miami eliminated overall No. 1 seed Milwaukee and back-to-back league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Now better-seeded Boston, nemesis of Miami’s Big 3 era, is one win away from seeing its season ended by the Heat.
And then the mighty Lakers led by old friend LeBron? Winner take all?
This is the enduring charm and pull of sports, the idea that reality sometimes is bigger and better than imagination would dare fathom.
A rebuilding Marlins team decimated by COVID-19 test-positives early in the season reaches the playoffs for the first time since 2003? After a 105-loss season?
A Heat team out of the postseason entirely last year, now one win from a shot at an NBA championship with none other than LeBron James in the way?
Too good. But true.
The year 2020 has been hell on earth in so many ways, but sports is trying its best to make us smile.
This story was originally published September 25, 2020 at 11:21 PM.
