The Quest for a Second Consecutive Title

It began all the way back in the summer of 2010. Then free agents, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade had just finished up their contracts and were now in the process of finding new employers. Whether any form of predetermined agreement was ever made will probably be never known, but for the rest of basketball history, the summer of 2010 will always be remembered as the time in which three of the NBA’s top players all agreed to play for the same team.

The team has come a long way since that summer. The team that was once most known for throwing a “victory” party before any game had actually been played now has a title to its name, and at the very least they will have the next few months prior to the playoffs to savor the fruits of their labor. The Heat earned their title last season, but as any champion is quick to say, the toughest part is not winning the title, it is defending it.

If the 2011-2012 season was Miami’s revenge tour, then this season is their redemption tour. The team that had grown into the league’s villains was now becoming appreciated for what it truly is, and that is a team that just plays basketball very well. As always, the man leading the charge this season has been LeBron James. Fresh off a year in which he claimed the MVP trophy, the Finals MVP trophy, a championship ring, and even an Olympic gold medal, it was now finally recognized as universal fact that James is indeed the best basketball player alive today. James has been the model for consistency and efficiency ever since he first stepped onto the court and he has upped that productivity even more this season. He is shooting at an absurd rate from all areas of the floor, posting a shooting percentage of over 40 percent from three-point range and a field goal percentage of over 50. These are historic numbers even for James, and they are solidifying his campaign to claim another MVP trophy. LeBron has his sights set higher however, and nothing short of a second consecutive title will keep him satisfied come June.

It is the same goal also being shared by LeBron’s teammates, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. Just like James, they went through the scrutiny brought about by the decisions they made back in 2010. It is what made their victory last year so sweet, and it is what drives them even more this season. Bosh and Wade are terrific players in their own right, maybe even potential hall of famers, but they have accepted that James is the man in Miami and now they are doing their best to support him. A second title hinges on just how well they manage to do that.

One title can be a fluke, it is a belief often echoed by the NBA’s retired players. If a team is truly going to go down in history as one of the greats, they need to win more than one. For Miami’s players, it is the main reason they are playing this season.

Catch the Miami Heat in action when they play against the Atlanta Hawks on the 20th. You can make sure that you see them live by getting your Miami Heat tickets at Ticket Broker.