Congratulation goes out to the young and talented Oklahoma City Thunder on defeating the San Antonio Spurs to advance to their fourth NBA Finals appearance, first since the formerly known Seattle Supersonics relocated to Oklahoma City. The Thunder had a difficult path to the Finals. This season the Thunder had the second best record in the NBA (second best in the Western Conference) 47-19. Being the No. 2 seed in the West, they had to face the defending NBA Champions Dallas Mavericks in the First Round, Los Angeles Lakers in the Conference Semifinals, and San Antonio Spurs in the Conference Finals. The Thunder demolished the Mavericks in four games, defeated the Lakers in five, and are the fourth team in NBA history to come back from 0-2 down in a series to win four straight games.
Miami Heat outlasted the Boston Celtics in a decisive Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals to advance to their second straight NBA Finals. Last season, they squared off against the Dallas Mavericks and lost the series 4-2. This season the Heat had the second best record in the Eastern Conference as they went 46-20. Holding the No. 2 seed in the very competitive Eastern Conference, the Heat faced the New York Knicks in the first round of the NBA playoffs. After beating the Knicks in a commanding 4-1 series, they moved on to face the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. This series took the Heat six game to wrap up as they took the series in a 4-2 victory, and by doing this they were matched-up with the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. This series turned out to be a blood match as the Celtics were able to take a 3-2 series lead after winning Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. With "The King" Lebron James carried the Heat on his back, he was able to score an outstanding 45 points and 15 rebounds, demolishing the Celtics in Game 6, which forced Game 7 back down in South Beach, Miami. With the performance in Game 6 by Lebron, many questioned whether the "chosen one" or the "frozen one" would show up for Game 7. But in Game 7, it was not only Lebron that showed up but Miami's Big Three showed up to play. Between the three of them, they combined to score a total of 73 points and 26 rebounds. The surprising turn around by the Big Three of the Heat have now lead them back to the NBA Finals. They will face a young, talented, and explosive Oklahoma City team, who split the regular season series (1-1) with the Heat, each winning on their home court.
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After losing Game 7, the Celtics now look to face possibly many changes come the 2012 NBA off-season. According to sport analysis many wonder if this will be the last time anyone will see the "Big Three" play together, or if their may be a new Big Three. Come this offseason, the veterans Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen are both free agents, and if they do not decide to retire as a Celtic, they may look to go else where. The question is Will the Big Three stick together? Will it be the players who decide to leave? Or the management who decide to move on and look towards the future? This season though it was not just the Big Three as it became the Big Four, especially come the postseason. Rajon Rondo will still be a Celtic next year, but many ponder the question as to whether or not the Celtic's management want to try and base their organization just around this All-Star point guard. Celtics will also have long time Celtic "The Truth" Paul Pierce back for next season, but the Celtics management may look to trade him for youth.
As we look towards this 2012 NBA Finals, the match up between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat is exactly what the NBA hoped to see. Oklahoma City looks to capture their first championship since 1979, as they re-located and re-named the franchise from the Seattle Supersonics to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Miami Heat on the other hand, look to secure their second NBA championship. Will the MVP Lebron James be able to capture his first every NBA Championship? Could the Big Three of the Heat capture the NBA Championship rings that Bosh and James went to Miami for? Or may the young roster of the Thunder capture their first NBA Championship banner for their re-vamped franchise? Will the starting five and bench depth of the Thunder be too much for the Big Three to handle?
Prediction for this series: Oklahoma City Thunder in a 4-2 series victory and will capture their first championship banner for their refreshed franchise.
