4/18 POST

     With the playoffs right around the corner, every NBA fan is exited to watch the championship games and hope the best for their favorite team. There have been countless arguments on which teams will go to the finals, and more than 50% of NBA fans seem to think the Miami Heat will come up on top (according to the ESPN survey). I decided to write an essay about the Miami Heat, and if they will be able to get another championship under their name.

     The Miami Heat are the defending playoff champions. They won the 2011/12 playoffs against OKC. Miami has the best current record in the League with 65 wins and only 16 losses. Miami have the 3 time MVP freak of nature- LeBron James. James is 29 years old and is considered to be one of the best all-around player to ever play the game. But LeBron is just one feature of the great Miami Heat. Alongside him is D.Wade, one of the best shooting guards in the league, and Chris Bosh, one of the best centers in the NBA. Together James, Wade and Bosh form the big 3 and are considered to be in the top 10 "big 3s" of ALL TIME. But its not just the "Big 3" that get this team to win- its every player on that team. The team as a whole averages almost 50% FG! That's better than any other team! Everyone in Miami including centers can shoot well all around the court and that makes the Heat extremely hard to defend. And that is one of the reasons why NBA fans think that the heat will automatically go on a trip to the playoff finals- think again.

     The New York Knicks out of their 4 match ups against the Heat, have won 3 times and only lost once. The Knicks are currently seeded 2nd in the playoffs and have a high chance of meeting the Heat in the eastern conference finals. The Knicks have Carmelo Anthony, the 2012/13 scoring champion who has really played a major role in all the wins. If the Heat and Knicks meet in the conference finals, will Miami have what it takes to beat "Melo"  and the New York Knicks?
Another team the Heat have to be aware of is the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers have won 2 out of the 3 games played against Miami. The Pacer's defensive effort and 3 point shooting played a major role in the win. The Heat were unable to attack and get good looks. If the Pacers beat the Knicks in the semi finals, they will go against the Heat and Miami will have to be extremely careful.

     In conclusion, LeBron and the Heat can easily beat any team in the east apart from New York and Indiana. If Miami wants to have a shot at gaining another title, they have to beat those to team and only then will they have a shot.