The Heat Index Is Rising

Added on Oct 05, 2010 by Scott in

NBA

The moment we’ve all been waiting for occurs tonight. For the first time since they turned the basketball world upside down by signing LeBron James and Chris Bosh, the preordained championship winning Miami Heat will take the court. Get ready for a 82-0 season. Brace yourselves for a three-way tie for MVP between Bron, D-Wade and C-Bosh. Prepare to witness history as the Heat become the first roundball team to crush every hapless opponent by at least 50 points. Watch in awe as the likes of Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant kneel and kiss the rings of the greatest three-man team ever assembled in the world/galaxy/universe.

Was that enough of a hyperbole-filled buildup? Did I do the preseason debut of the Miami Heat justice? Can you tell I’m already sick of the hype surrounding this team? In truth, I’m not. I really didn’t take umbrage with LeBron’s controversial exit from Cleveland, or his “decision” which was broadcast on ESPN for all to point and cringe at. From where I’m sitting, I see a guy who wants to win a championship or two in order to cement his legacy. That wasn’t going to happen with the Cavs, at least not in the next few years.

The chance to play alongside Wade and Bosh was just too good to pass up. The opportunity to be a part of a potential dynasty was too enticing. The endorsement deals available in South Florida were too lucrative to ignore. Hate Bron if you must, but I bet most of us would’ve done the exact same thing. Now, disliking the guy for being an arrogant, selfish media whore who quit on his team in the playoffs last year and ran away to Miami is a whole other matter.

Whatever your feelings about LeBron or the Heat in general, I still think they make for an intriguing story. I don’t watch much pro basketball anymore, but I’ll definitely turn on the Heat this winter if for no other reason than see how the ball gets distributed. Will Bron become the first option every night, or will there be a trade-off depending on the matchup? Will the combined egos clash if things aren’t going so well? Who the hell is Erik Spoelstra and how will he handle the larger than life personalities on and off the court?

Whether the Heat win it all or fall flat on their collective faces, it should make for one of the more noteworthy NBA campaigns in recent memory. My prediction: 67-15 regular season record. Heat beat the Lakers in six. You heard it hear first.