This is it. 14 teams down, now only two remain, and both are hungry for a title. Welcome to the 2012 NBA Finals.
On one side, a team which has constantly matured and blossomed through a patient four-year plan now has a chance to complete the mission of winning a championship. On the other, a team scrutinized and criticized all season has a chance to brush all critics in winning the gold. The mission is the NBA championship, and both the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder can't wait to complete it.
(2) Miami Heat vs. (2) Oklahoma City Thunder
Regular Season: Series Tied 1-1
The Miami Heat return for a second chance, and for LeBron James, it is an opportunity for redemption. This is his third chance to win the title, and another loss may find himself on the wrong end of legacies tainted without championships. Kevin Durant, although only his fifth NBA season, has a chance to secure an immediate validation among NBA legends with the Big One. However, he is leading the Thunder that lacks any championship experience.
Who needs title experience anyway? Even the 1990-91 Chicago Bulls can attest to that. The Thunder were a young, hungry crew ready to strike stronger bolts in the NBA, and with the leadership of Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and five-time NBA champion Derek Fisher, the Thunder look poised to make their initial finals experience a memorable one. For the Heat, they are carrying LeBron's burden, and even if they have additional championship experience, they may have an even tougher task than last year. If James takes over in the clutch, Miami's chances will go higher. But Durant has proven to be clutch too, and only a great defense on him and his teammates will help Miami's cause. For Oklahoma City, neutralizing the suddenly hot Chris Bosh and exploiting Dwyane Wade's lack of prior explosiveness will be the key, as are the defense on Miami's support crew. And for Miami, stopping Durant, Westbrook and Harden will be the key to their success, along with creating more scoring opportunities to their Big Three. This will be a long series, and only the team with the right adjustments wins.
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