Well, King James, who “took his talents” to South Beach last July, had to eat those words last night, as the Dallas Mavericks whooped the Miami Heat, winning the 2011 NBA Championship 105-95.
It was a tough night for “The Heatles,” who became the world’s most hated basketball team with their arrogant swagger and early coronation. Somewhere along the line, they told themselves all they had to do was put 3 All-Stars on the same team at the same time and they would coast to victory. But somewhere along the line they forgot that nothing would be handed to them — that if they wanted an NBA championship they would have to earn it. Except they didn’t.
In the end, turnovers, missed free throws and that cocky monkey on their back gave the Miami Heat a rude awakening and a trip home empty handed. But a huge congratulations to the Dallas Mavericks for playing with a ton of heart, for the stellar play of MVP Dirk Nowitzki, for a bench that played humbly and stayed focused, and for being the team to dismantle the “great” Miami Heat.
During last summer’s over-the-top coronation celebration, Miami exclaimed their season would be judged on one concept: Championship or Failure. Well they didn’t win the championship. So as they eat a large portion of humble pie, we welcome the Miami Heat back down to earth. This team of underachieving pompous players and bragging blowhards have been schooled that they are not superior just because they say so, but must retool like every other NBA team to make a run at it next time. Or in the words of one Miami beat writer: “This season ended at the exact opposite place that it started: No. They. Didn’t!”
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CONGRATS to the Mavs for a job Well Done and a Championship Well Deserved!