The Heat have a date with History

As the clock winded down to the triple zero, and the confetti started to fall from the rafters of the AAA, everyone knew what all of this was about. Every single person in the arena knew Miami would be compiting in their fourth straight NBA Finals in four years together, trying to get the third consecutive title, and achieve the three-peat. "We´re competing against the MJ of our era" said Indiana coach Frank Vogel. 

The team from South Beach made quick work of the Pacers. They dismantled them in the first half with relative ease, and the faces of Hibbert and George showed nothing but frustration. The Heat beat Indiana 117-92 in a match that was never close. Everyone contributed to the beating and, as Spoelstra said in the press, when this team is healthy, it is virtually unbeatable. 

Wade and Bosh both suprassed the 20-point mark, Andersen was fearless behind the rim once again, and shooters like Ray Allen, Shane Battier and Rashard Lewis looked as sharp as ever. And that´s saying something. Not even Lance Stephenson´s antics got into LeBron´s head. The King provided an efficient 25 points and five rebounds, and look ready to the grandest stage of them all. His fifth appearance on it

Whether his style is similar to MJ or not, there is no reason to believe he is not on his way to make history. In fact, the whole team are on the way to become one of the best teams ever. Four years, four finals...two or three titles? We´ll see, but as of now, the Heat are resting and waiting for one of their last two victims, the Thunder or the Spurs. And whoever comes out is in for a good one.

The Best Cribs in the NBA

It´s not a secret anymore. Well, it´s never been. NBA players are paid well, really well. They are among the best paid atheltes in the globe but, what do they do with their money? Most of the time, even if they buy nice cars and flashy clothes, they spend it in real estate. So, in this article, i´m about to show you all the nicest cribs possesed by NBA players. Take a look:

5-Jason Kidd

The former point-guard, who played in Phoenix, Dallas, Nets and Knicks, and won the 2011 NBA title, has a nice mansion in the Hamptons. It has six bedrooms, six bathrooms and a tennis court in front of the sea.

4-Dwight Howard

The center of the Houston Rockets has recently put his 7.8 million Orlando mansion on the market. With seven bathrooms, six bedrooms, a wine cellar, a game room and a movie theater, the house has about everything you could ask for and more.

3-Dwyane Wade

As the Heat completed their big three, the Flash purchased a new home in Biscayne Bay and left his old one, which was not too shabby either. This house has plenty of space as well, and a Spiderman-themed bathroom for his two children. It also has a pool with his number and his nickname on it.

                     

 2-LeBron James

The King is living just like that after buying a mansion back in 2010 when he landed in South Beach as a free agent from the Cavs. The big boy mansion is placed in Coconut Groove and has a waterfront pool, a gym and a movie theater. It is worthy nine million dollars, not too much taking into account that he makes around 50 a year (18 million in salary and 32 million as the image of brands like Gatorade, 2K, Nike, McDonalds, Samsung or Taco Bell).

1-Michael Jordan

The best basketball player of all time has a house in Chicago worth over 30 million dollars. It has 50000 square feet, a basketball court, a tennis court, an indoor pool, as well as many other facilities that every house-buyer could dream of.

Can the Heat Three-Peat?

After joining forces in 2010, the Miami Heat led by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh has become one of the most hated, yet prolific teams ever assembled. During the first three years they reached three NBA Finals, losing in 2011 to the Mavericks and beating the Thunder in 2012 and the Spurs in 2013. Now, in their fourth year together, they seek to do what very few teams have done in NBA history: winning three in a row. But, what are the real chances of achieving their goal? Let´s see:

The East is Weak

Long ago, the East has been home to some of the most unstoppable team ever, like the Bulls led by Jordan, Bird´s Celtics or the Bad Boy Pistons. However, the east has seen a decrease in the talent of the teams, to the point that only the Pacers can keep up with the Heat, as proved by the last two meetings in the Playoffs when the Heat suffer a lot to defeat the team coached by Frank Voguel. 

The West is a War

While the East keeps getting worse, the other side of the country is fulled of good teams. The Spurs and the Thunder are stacked, the Warriors and Clippers are very good offensive teams, the Blazers are one of the youngest and most exciting teams and the Mavericks are a team that you can´t count out.

The Biggest IFs

Will Wade remain healthy? If so, will he play at a high level? Will Bosh expand the floor and shoot the ball well? Will the bench contribute like the past two years? How long can Allen keep this level? Will LeBron be the same complete player he´s been for the past five or six years? All those are question that need to be answered, and will be answered as the postseason advances and the Heat face different types of rivals that pose a new challenge.

Conclusion

This is a very difficult and complex question to answer. As i´ve pointed out during the article, there are a lot of factors taking part in the equation. As a Heat fan, i´d like to see the Heat raise that fourth banner, the third straight. But, with the Spurs playing at the level they are, i firmly believe they are poised to be the 2014 NBA champions.

The Legend vs The King: Comparing Bird and James after 10 Seasons

After 10 NBA seasons, the debate about who is the best small forward in history is as logical as ever. James just won his second NBA title and is on pace to become one of the five best players ever, as well as the best in his position. However, threre is still a lot of people who think that Bird is far and beyond superior to LeBron, and that this argument doesn´t even make sense. Personally, i think is one of the most interesting topics to debate, and that´s way i´m about to compare both stars, their skills, their hardware and their numbers, and try to reach a fair conclusion.

Scoring

Fisrtly, i will compare both players in terms of putting the ball in the hole. On one side, when it comes to shooting, i truly believe that Bird is superior to James. Larry is one of the best shooters to ever live, whether it is from mid or long range. Nonetheless, James is not a bad shooter by any means, he´s actually pretty good at it and when he gets hot, you better watch out. He´s also a better penetrator and post scorer, as well as a better scorer in transition. James averages 27 points on 48% shooting, while Bird did 25 on 50%.

Advantage: None.

Passing

Secondly, i think passing is another important weapon to take into account. And, while Bird is a great passer and has good court vision, it´s a no-brainer that the Heat´s forward is a better facilitator and floor general. Passing is, probably, James´best skill. Unlike players like Kobe, Jordan or Wilt, he is a pass-first guy, and this is blatantly proved by his seven assists a game, one more than "Larry Legend".

Advantage: James.

                                         

Rebounding and Defense

Then, you also must compare both players on the defensive end of the court. Bird is a better rebounder, averaging three more assists (10-7), as he is slightly taller. On the other side, James is a better defender, as he can guard four positions. He has slowed down the likes of Carmelo, Rose and Pau Gasol, all three very different players. So, while Bird is great rebounder, James is a tough defender to score against.

Advantage: None.

                                          

Leading 

This part is not measured by numbers, so that makes it a little more subjective. LeBron has often been criticized for not showing up in big games...until now. With his last two titles and three NBA Finals appearances, this myth is quickly being dismantled. When it comes to Bird, he is known as a clutch shooter, and his three titles are good proof of this. Even one day James may win four or five, right now Bird has prove to be more decisive.

Advantage: Bird

Stats and Accolades

As top ten players ever, this two have won about any personal or team award that can be collected. "The Chosen One" is a two time NBA champion, four time MVP, two-time olympic gold medalist and averages 27 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists on 48%. "The Hick from French Lick" is a three-time champ, three-time MVP, one-time gold medalist and averages 25 points, 10 rebounds and six assists on 50% from the floor.

                       

                         

Verdict

All in all, as good as the boy from Akron is, i feel is too early to put him ahead of Bird in the all-time list. One or two years could very well change this, and they probably will, as LeBron may end up being better, more accomplished and a top three player ever. But, as of now, Bird is the best SF to ever lived.

The Twelve Best Individual Seasons Ever

During the course of its 70-year history, there have been lots of incredible players to play in the NBA. Some of them have had seasons that have been talked about for decades, whether it happened ten, twenty or fifty years ago. Since i could not narrow it to ten, i chose my favourite twelve. Here are my top twelve seasons ever by a single player:

12-LeBron James (12-13): in his third year as a member of the Heat, the Hammer from Akron lead them to 27 straight wins and a third title in seven years, the second for him. He won all the duels against KD and Kobe and took home his fourth MVP in five years.

11-Kobe Bryant (05-06): Kobe did what he does best during the 2006 season: scoring. He averaged 35 points but, above all, he scored 81 in a game and had a stretch of four straight game with 50+ points. Too bad for him, he did not have the right supporting cast, and was eliminated in the first round.

10-Michael Jordan (87-88): during his fourth season in the league, MJ proved that he was the next big star by destroying the competition and winning his first MVP, which he would go on to win four more times. He lead the league in both scoring and steals, living no doubt that he was the most dominan two-way player in the game. His stats: 35 points, five rebounds, six assists and three steals on 53% shooting.

9-Magic Johnson (86-87): in a season in which he would win his fourth crown alongside Jabbar and Worthy, Magic put up a season for the ages. He lead the Lakers to 65 wins while averaging 24 points, 12 assists, six rebounds on 52% shooting.

8-Tim Duncan (02-03): the best power forward ever showed glimpses of that during the 2001-2002 season, but he came back even better the next year to capture his second consecutive MVP of the regular seasons, all of this surrounded by a not-so-good supporting cast. His stats? 24 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and three steals.

7-Wilt Chamberlain (61-62): Wilt is probably the best ever when it comes to filling the stat sheet, and he did just that 52 years ago,when he led the Philadelphia Warriors to just 49 wins, but averaging 50 points and 25 rebounds a game.

6-Hakeem Olajuwon (93-94): in a season in which he would end up claiming the title with a subpar Rockets team, the center from Nigeria also made it clear during the year that he was the best and that no one was stopping him. His stats were 27 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and almost four blocks.

5-Larry Bird (85-86): "The Hick from French Lick" is among the smartest ballers ever, and the 86 season is his masterpiece. He brought yet another title for the Celtics (the third one for him), as well as his third MVP in a row, becoming only the second player to do it, joining Bill Russell in that exclusive club.

4-Kareem-Abdul Jabbar (70-71): the most skilled and endurable big man ever won six MVPs, but this one was the one that stands out the most. In a year in which he guided the Bucks to 66 wins and their only championship, he netted 31 points per game and 16 rebounds with 57% shooting.

3-Michael Jordan (90-91): averaging 32 points, five assists and five rebounds on 54% shooting, MJ won his first title against an old Magic Johnson in the 1991 season, which saw the passing of the torch between arguably the two best basketball players to ever live.

2-LeBron James (08-09): during his sixth season, The King showed that he was a different beast. For me, this is the closest thing to perfection that we can see on a basketball court. LeBron did it all: leading, rebounding, passing, defending, scoring, getting to the rim...His series against the Orlando Magic were epic, in which he had 38.8 points, eight rebounds and eight assists a game, even if he ended up in the losing side.  

1-Shaquille O´Neal (99-00): The Big Diesel has the most dominant season of them all. Alongside Kobe Bryant, O´neal capped off an MVP season with his first ring against Reggie Miller´s Pacers in the Finals. His stats show complete dominance: 30 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks on 57% shooting.

Top 5 Centers Ever

Alongside the PG role, the center is the most important part of a team, or at least it was during the first decades of the NBA. The centers are the players who protect the rim, get rebounds, get physical, expand the floor and score easy buckets. These are the best:

5-Hakeem Olajuwon: "The Dream" was the most elegant big man ever. At times, he even looked as a point-guard. He destroyed defenses with his impeccable post moves and his outstanding footwork. He got Houston their only two banners, and on the way won the MVP and the Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. He ended up his playing days as a member of the Toronto Raptors with a young Vince Carter.

4-Wilt Chamberlain: "The Big Dipper" is probably the best player ever when it comes to filling a stat sheet. He "only" won two rings and four MVPs during his time in Philly and Los Angeles, but he still holds more than 70 NBA records such as scoring 100 points in a game, averaging 40 a game for an entire season or getting 55 rebounds in a single game. Nonetheless, he averaged 30 points, 22 rebounds and 4 assists a game.

3-Bill Russell: if Wilt is, by stats, the best ever, Bill is the same when it comes to winning. I could spend a lot of time explaining his style of play, his defensive skills and whatsoever, but saying that he won 11 rings, including one as a rookie sums it up. Yes, there were only eight teams back then, and the Celtics were head and shoulders above the other seven, but 11 is pretty impressive no matter how you look at it.

2-Shaquille O´Neal: "The Diesel" must be, if not the most, one of the most dominant players ever. His power, his force and his aggresive manners got him into some trouble..., but they also got him four rings, two MVPs and a large list of accolades. His partnership with Kobe Bryant ended up in a three-peat for the Lakers, before parting ways and winning yet another one in Miami in 06´.

1-Kareem-Abdul Jabbar: truly named Lew Alcindor, this man has probably had the richest career in basketball history. From his three college titles to his six championships in the NBA, as well as his record-setting six MVPs and being the number one scorer ever earned him a larger-than-life reputation. He played 19 seasons and averaged 25 points, 11 rebounds and to blocks, becoming the best well-rounded post player that has played the game. Also, his famous "Sky-Hook" is the most famous offensive move ever.

Top Players by Position (PFs)

Here we go once again. In this part of this mini-series about the greatest ballers in history, i´m about to show the best power forwards in the rich history of the Association, whether it is because of their unique style, their power, their winning mentality or their longevity. The only difference is that i will include five instead of three, because i feel like three didn´t really cut it this time around. These are the chosen ones:

5.- Charles Barkley: "Sir Charles" is probably the most talented power forward ever. He was a beast during his prime and well into his 30s, when he joined the Rockets to chase that elusive title he coveted so desperately in both Philly and Phoenix. Some say he was undersized, but he was as strong as a bull, and his shot was much better than most of the other big guys. His defense wasn´t bad either. His best year was 1993, when he won the MVP over Jordan, only to lose to him in the Finals as the leader of the Suns. His character and will to win made him a legend, and a very likable guy on and off the court. He averaged 22 points and almost 12 rebounds a game.

4- Karl Malone: "The Mailman" is the second player with more points in history, and that tells us his best skill: endurance. Malone was able to play at a high level until his mid-thirties, sending the Jazz to two NBA Finals, and winning two MVPs.

He joined forces with the Lakers in 2003, reaching the Finals for the third time, and getting his third lost in three tries. His stats are mind-blowing: 24 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.

3- Dirk Nowitzki: coming from Germany, Dirk is the best foreigner in the history of this league, as well as one of the most devastating offensive weapons to play the game. His 2007 MVP is among one of the one-sided elections ever, and his 2011 playoff run was magnificent, beating the Lakers, the young Thunder and the star-studded Miami Heat to raise the first banner in franchise history.

2- Kevin Garnett: "The Big Ticket" is one of the most intense and entertaining ballers of the decade, and his career has been divided in three teams: Minnesota, Boston and Brooklyn. In the first team, he won the MVP and became an international star. In the second, he learnt his role as a team player and won a ring. Now, he´s trying to get another one in Brooklyn, even if he has nothing else to prove. 

1-Tim Duncan: "The Big Fundamental" is just that, an open book on how to play basketball, and how to win in basketball. Timmy is one of the two best two-way player of the 21st century (James may be the other), which he has proven by capturing four titles, two MVPs and making the Spurs one of the most successful franchises in basketball. With averages of 20 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks per game, he is the best PF ever, and the winningest.

Top Players by Position (SFs)

When talking about small-forwards, we all usually think about players who can do a little bit of everything: scoringin different ways, passing, defending and rebounding. But, what do the top three SFs do that separates them from the rest? The answer is easy: leading. Here are my picks:

3- Scottie Pippen: sorry for Kevin Durant, but Pippen is, in my eyes, the third best and most complete small forward that ever played. His complete domination of every facet of the game, his team work alongisde MJ and, most importantly, his six NBA titles put him in the top three. He was the perfect Robin for the best Batman ever. He knew how to sacrifice personal stats for the ultimate glory, which is winning, and he did just that. It worked pretty well for him,.

2-Julius Erving: the Doctor was one of the most finesse players to ever step onto the court. He played both in the ABA and the NBA, He was NBA MVP in 1981 and NBA champion in 1983 with the Sixers, losing only one game in the whole playoffs. His career averages are not too shabby either: 22 points, four assists and six rebounds. A true icon and an inspiration for the guards that came to the league after him, due to his flashy style and athleticism.

1-Larry Bird vs LeBron James: here´s the most difficult part to decide. Who is better? Larry "Legend" played for 12 seasons, won three titles and three MVPs. He was not very athletic, but he was as smart as anyone. Lebron, on the other side, is the most phisically gifted player in history, right there with WIlt. In 10 seasons, "The Chosen One" has gotten two championships, four trips to the Finals and four MVPs. When you compare the stats, you find that Bird is a better shooter and rebounder (50%>48%; 10.2>7.0), while the Heat forward is a better passer and scorer ( 6.8>5.6; 27>24), as well as a most efficient defender. All in all, i believe that Bird, as of now, still edges LeBron. But that could change in the next couple of years, specially if James adds another ring to his already impressive resume.

Top Players by Position (Shooting Guards)

To continue with this series in which i talk about the best players ever by position, i´m about to classify the three best shooting guards ever to touch a basketball.

3- Dwyane Wade: ever since arriving in the NBA in 2003 (alongside Carmelo, Bosh and James), Wade became the franchise player of the Miami Heat. A decade later, he has three championships, one finals MVP and an All-Star MVP. His best season was in 2008-09, when he averaged more than 30 points per game. However, his best performance came in the 2006 NBA Finals, where he led the Heat to the title against the Dallas Mavericks in six games. As of now, he´s going for his fourth ring this year, only that now he´s playing second fiddle to LeBron.

2-Kobe Bryant: he came into the league as a cocky and extremely talented player in 1996, one of the best drafts ever (Iverson, Allen, Nash...). After 18 seasons and almost 36 years old, Kobe has win 5 NBA titles, one MVP and is known as one of the best scorers ever, including his 81 point game against the Raptors in 2006. The best thing about Kobe is his competitive drive, his sheer talent and his insane work ethic. His style is as simila to MJ as it gets, and he is considered one of the best players ever.

1- Michael Jordan: MJ is considered by most the GOAT. He did it all during his 15 year career. Six NBA titles, five MVPs, two gold medals and the most efficient basketball player ever. He won his six championships in a span of eight years. His best teammate, Scottie Pippen, often outlined MJ´s competitive drive and hate towards losing. He never lost an NBA Finals and he is the reason why many greats retired ringless (Reggie Miller, Malone, Stockton, Ewing, Barkley...). His stats are nothing short of spectacular as well: 30.1 points per game, six rebounds and five assists.

Top Players by Position (Guards) 

The debate about who are the top ten players ever has been existing for a long time. It has filled lots of newspapers pages and has been talked about during hours on live TV. However, what about ranking the best players by position? Who is the best, guard? And the best center? In this article, i will give my view on who are the three best players ever at each position and why, taking into account three main characteristics: rings, MVPs and stats. So, without further ado, here we go:

Point guards.

3-Isiah Thomas: during the course of his 13-year career, "Zeke" left his mark in the league by being the smartest player on the Bad Boy Pistons from the late 80s. He led them to two straight championships and three consecutive final appearances, alongside the likes of Dennis Rodman and Bill Laimbeer. He averaged 19 points and almost 10 assists during his time in the NBA.

2-John Stockton: playing his whole career for the Utah Jazz, Stockton became the all-time leader in both assists and steals, a record he still holds until this very day. He became the master of the pick and roll alongside his partner Karl Malone, with whom he got the Jazz to two NBA Finals, losing both of them against the Jordan-led Bulls.  He averaged 13 points, 10 assists and 2 steals.

1- Magic Johnson: Earvin Johnson really has no peers here. He´s clearly the most gifted point guard to ever lace up a pair of sneakers, and his resume does nothing but confirm that. Five titles, three MVPs and nine trip to the Finals in 12 years really sums it up. His partnership with Kareem-Abdul Jabbar created the "Showtime Lakers", probably the most exciting team ever assembled. The Magic man averaged 20 points and 11 assists. Magic is, right there with Kobe, the best "Laker" of all time.

                                        

Conference Finals Predictions

This week the NBA Conference Finals start for the four teams remaining in the competition. The four teams that have come this far have been in this position before and have enough experience to advance and compete for an NBA championship, which is the ultimate goal of any team. Those teams are the two-time defending champions Miami Heat, the Indiana Pacers, the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

On one side, we have the Heat facing the underdog Pacers in a rematch of last year´s Eastern Conference Finals. This is a ver intriguing series because Indiana, even though hasn´t been playing well as of late, match up really well with the champions of the last two years, the Heat. In 2013 they even forcce a game 7 in Miami, which they ended up losing in a blowout. However, this year they hope to get over the hump and beat the Heat once and for all, a team that has gone to the last three NBA Finals. The key duel here is Roy Hibbert vs Udonis Haslem. Even if four-time MVP James and George are the stars, Hibbert poses the biggest threat in the paint, an area in which Miami doesn´t excel. If Miami can stop the big guy, they have another ticket for the finals. If not, we may see a changing of the guard in the East.

Prediction: Heat in six.

On the other side of the country, we have the ever lasting Spurs going up against the young and athletic Thunder. This is a clash of styles, as one team has the experience and the knowledge, while the other has the force and youth to resist in a long series. Kevin Durant vs Kawhi Leonard is the match-up that will decide this series. Kawhi has the potential to slow down the reigning MVP and best scorer in the game, but we will see if he fullfills it or not. Westbrook vs Parker is another beautiful duel, as the explosive Russell will try to find a way to overcome Parker´s experience in big games.

Prediction: Spurs in seven.