View from the East
Updated: 2011-12-25 07:47
By Tym Glaser(China Daily)
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Forgive me if this column appears rushed, but as I put fingers to keyboard to proclaim that the Miami Heat will not only win the Eastern Conference, but also the NBA championship, bile is creeping up my esophagus
My stomach is churning like a washing machine on warp speed as, despite looking for any possible alternatives at all, I can only see all NBA roads leading to Florida this season and Dwyane Wade-LeBron James-Chris Bosh Show and a merry band of role-playing friends hoisting the championship trophy.
The Heat must have been as nauseous as I feel now when Dirk Nowitzki's Dallas Mavericks bounced them out of last season's Finals, 4-2.
It was a result the basketball world (outside of South Beach) cheered as the Heat's boastful Big Three came a cropper and had to suck in their egos.
There have been other Big Threes, most notably Boston's aging triumvirate of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen; but those Celtics came together with class; Miami did it with crass.
But, now, gulp, the Heat must be burning for revenge and there's really no team to stop them. Unless they seize up in the playoffs again, and James morphs back into Robin to Wade's Batman.
The signing of Shane Battier simply adds to a solid support cast that includes Udonis Haslem and a currently herniated Mike Miller.
The defensive-minded Chicago Bulls look the Heat's greatest threat, but still too much of the scoring comes down to last season's MVP, Derrick Rose, and one-trick ponies can be shut down at crunch time by good teams. What the Bulls should do is look to trade for Orlando's Dwight Howard. They have some quality pieces in Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng and Ronnie Brewer to put together an enticing package.
The New York Knicks are the anti-Bulls and believe defense is what keeps the animals in. But Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire should gel better this year after some teething pains last season; and the team picked up a very good big man from Dallas in Tyson Chandler. But, where are the guards? Mike Bibby looks rundown, and it seems the only championship Baron Davis could win nowadays is a hot-dog eating one on Coney Island.
The Celtics might, just might, be able to give the Heat a scare, but their core helped Noah build the ark and can't be trusted to stay healthy through a heavily condensed schedule. One motivation for the Men in Green is that it is their Big Three's last shot at another banner before Garnett and Allen come off the books and the team goes into the dreaded rebuilding mode.
Orlando will be about the place, but how long can the organization keep Howard happy, and will the players listen to the screeching of Stan Van Gundy? Milwaukee, with a fully fit Andrew Bogut, Indiana, which swiped David West from under Boston's nose, and under-achieving Atlanta or stagnant Philadelphia should fill out the bottom of the East's playoff roster.
But, they will just be spectators as Miami marches to the title.
Sorry, got to rush to the bathroom now.
Tym Glaser is a senior sports copy editor who would love to see the Celts make another run at the title. He would also like to see Father Christmas. He can be contacted at tymothyg@hotmail.com.
(China Daily 12/25/2011 page8)