By: Steven Rawnsley

If you listened to the telecast of the Celtics/Knicks game in Boston really closely, you could hear the TD Bank arena playing the swan song in the background. The Celtics, will try to become the first team in history to come back from a 3-0 deficit, but this series was probably over in late January when Rondo went down with a torn ACL.

Rondo has been the best player on that team for a few years now, and its not even close. You see it in the first round.

The Celtics are not just getting beat, but they are getting killed. The benches have been cleared at the end of the first three games. They are averaging 75 points per game in the first three games.

Pierce has done a magnificent job of fighting age, but that battle is unwinnable. He cannot create shots for himself anymore.

Kevin Garnett is not any different. He is 7^th all-time in regular season minutes. He is losing the same battle. KG cannot create for himself either. He gets most of his points now on pick and pops with Rondo. You can probably count on one hand the number of times he has gotten that shot in the series. He needs Rondo to set him up.

Now, torn ACL’s are not career ending injuries anymore, but they still alter a lot of careers. Who knows if Rondo will ever be the same. An optimistic prediction is being ready for the season opener with minute restrictions.

What is the best hope for the Celtics next year? Even with Rondo, could they beat New York right now? Let alone the Heat? Then you add another year of age to a very old core, next year, and what? They challenge in the first round, and maybe, just maybe get past the first round if the ball bounces their way, next year.

Their cap situation is very bleak next year either. This current roster makes 73.8 million next year, and the tax threshold is 70.3 million. (The tax threshold goes up about one million per year on average.) The tax penalties get much more severe starting next year. Even if they want to add somebody, for teams paying the taxes the CBA laid out, the most they can offer anybody is 3 million in his first year. You are not adding a great player for that much, unless a player takes a discount from a title contender, like Ray Allen did with the Heat. However, I don’t think players are going to be flocking to Boston after a possible first round exit.

Pierce has a non-guaranteed contract next year. They could wave him and get about 10 million of the 15 million he is owed back. So that can help but, if you waive/trade him, though you go into full rebuild mode.

KG has said he wants to retire as a Celtic. The Celtics could very easily decide to go into full blown rebuild mode. KG is so loyal possibly even to a fault. The Celtics could force him to make a decision. Does he stay with them while they rebuild or end his career somewhere else, or retire?

People are already talking about the 2014 draft, and saying it could be one of the best of all time. If this is true, wouldn’t it be the perfect time for them to have a terrible season to get a great pick? (Maybe, they get lucky in the lottery next year. They deserve it after the Spurs jumped ahead of them in the Tim Duncan lottery.)

The Celtics were hammered in the first three games, but there was some life in game four as they fought off elimination. But, can they win three more in row? The core is on the wrong side of their careers. The new CBA will make it very hard for them to add an impact player. The CBA also makes it much more expensive to pay taxes.

Let’s remember, when they traded to form their big three six years ago, they had a very small window of time, and they have tried to keep it cracked open past few seasons. However, age, and injuries have forced that window to slam shut, and getting destroyed by not even the best team in the east shows it.

The post The Fat Lady is Singing the Celtic’s Swan Song appeared first on The World Champion Crank Up The HEAT.

By: Matt Blue

Game 5 was all about validation and vindication for LeBron James and the Miami HEAT. The HEAT’s belief was always stronger than everyone’s doubt. The HEAT vowed not to replay the heartbreak and pain they experienced in the 2011 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. There was just absolutely no way Miami was losing this game as they played like the hungrier team who just wanted it more. “It’s about damn time said HEAT forward LeBron James after the conclusion of his team’s Finals clinching beat down on the Thunder.

LeBron dreamed of this moment for a long time. “You know my dream has become a reality now, and it’s the best feeling I ever had,” James said. LeBron James certainly did his part as he finished with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists.

But the man of the night for the HEAT was HEAT sharpshooter Mike Miller, who was basically a forgotten man before Game 5. Miller played like there was no tomorrow by knocking down a staggering seven three pointers and scoring 23 points. Miller played with tremendous heart, determination and confidence. There are rumors circulating that he is in the process of contemplating retirement. So this very well could have been his final game. Could you ask for a better way to finish your career?

There is no denying the fact that the HEAT’s supporting cast stepped like it needed to. In Game 2, Shane Battier helped lift Miami to a huge win on the road at OKC by finishing with a miraculous scoring effort which consisted of 17 points. This was miraculous when it comes to Shane Battier offensive scoring standards. Also, in Game 4; Mario Chalmers played completely out of his mind by posting a Finals career high of 25 points. These efforts from the HEAT’s supporting cast really provided a spark throughout the series.

The Miami HEAT overcame so much to reach this point. They overcame unprecedented scrutiny, doubt and negativity. There is not a single team or a single player in LeBron James that has ever been criticized quite this much. In the age of social media, sports talk radio and 24-7 opinion television; this team was being viewed under a constant microscope from day 1. For a myriad of reasons, this has been the most polarizing team in the history of the NBA. It was literally the Miami HEAT and South Florida vs. the entire world in this NBA Finals. All of the hatred and vigor only ultimately motivated and inspired the HEAT just that much more.

History has been made.

MVP of the Game: LeBron James- LeBron became only the tenth player in NBA history to win the regular season MVP and the Finals MVP in the same season. The last player to accomplish this feat was Tim Duncan in 2000. LeBron just took his game to another level in the finals.

Lights Out: Mike Miller- Miller came out of nowhere with this shooting exhibition. It looked like he was participating in the NBA All Star Weekend’s Three Point Shootout. Even though he now reminds you of a  60 year old guy who desperately needs to take a visit to the chiropractor’s office, there is no way you can say that he didn’t leave his very best on the court. This was a legendary performance by Mike Miller. HEAT fans will never forget what he did for his team during the biggest game in Miami HEAT history.

Tough Night: Oklahoma City Thunder- Congrats to the OKC thunder on a great season. However, this stage appeared to be way too big for them. For most of the game, they were just way to indecisive.

Stat of the Game: HEAT shot 14-26 (.519) from three point territory

The post How Sweet it is: HEAT win 2nd title in franchise history appeared first on The World Champion Crank Up The HEAT.

By: Pedro Heizer

Mario Chalmers is no stranger in big games, and he proved it yet again in one of the biggest games of his career.

Behind Chalmers’ huge fourth quarter, the Miami Heat find themselves one win away from their second NBA Championship, and the first since the Big Three joined forces nearly two years ago.

LeBron James led Miami with 26 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds, but it was the play of Mario Chalmers that may have been most key for Miami. Chalmers finished with a postseason-high 25 points on 9 of 15 shooting and with James on the bench late in the game, Chalmers hit a driving layup that put the Heat ahead by five with under a minute remaining.

“I told D-Wade, ‘Find Me’, he did, and we put the dagger in the game,” said Chalmers after the game.

For the Thunder, Westbrook scored 43 points, who wasted an early 17-point lead but were never out of the game. Kevin Durant had 28 points and James Harden continues his disappointing series, finishing with eight points on 2-of-10 shooting.

Give a lot of credit to this Thunder team, they came out of the gates blazing going up by as many as 17, but the solid play of rookie Norris Cole, Mario Chalmers, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade helped the experienced Miami Heat team beat the younger and less experienced Oklahoma City team in the long run.

Miami got a big scare in the fourth quarter as LeBron James hit the ground on a drive and just laid there in pain. Miami regained possession in the next play on a blocked shot, and James made a short jumper that made it 92-90. After that, the Heat called timeout and James was carried to the sideline by a pair of teammates.

He came back to a huge roar from the Miami faithful and was able to hit a dagger three pointer, which was his last play of the game as he sat down the last 55 seconds of the game dude to leg cramps.

The Miami Heat now find themselves one win away from the NBA Title, “We’re excited about the opportunity to have a chance to play for (the title). We know at the same time that we have to stay the course and there’ll be an incredible amount of noise on the outside and we have to focus on staying in the moment,” said coach Spoelstra after the game.

Mario Chalmers added, “From now on it’s all business, we need to take care of business on Thursday and then I’ll be all smiles”.

Game MVP: Mario Chalmers

No other word can describe what Chalmers did for the Heat tonight but clutch.

“Mario Chalmers is a winner, he was due for a big game and he came through for us,” said Wade about Chalmers’ huge game.

12 of Chalmers’ 25 points were in the fourth quarter and Chalmers scored 5 points in the last 44.6 seconds of the game to seal the deal.

Lights Out: LeBron James

LeBron messed around and nearly got a triple-double. James finished the game with 26 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds.

No debate that the biggest of LeBron’s 26 points was that three pointer from the top of the key right before he came out in the fourth to give the Heat the lead for good.

Tough Night: James Harden

The current Sixth Man of the Year continues his disappointing NBA Finals debut with eight points on 2-of-10 shooting, but he did have 10 rebounds, so I guess that’s the silver-lining.

Stat of the Night: 30

No team has ever come back from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals. Teams with a 3-1 lead are 30-0.

Up Next:

Miami is up 3-1 and will go for the NBA Championship on Thursday night here in Miami.

The post Mario Chalmers propels HEAT to Commanding 3-1 Series Lead appeared first on The World Champion Crank Up The HEAT.

By: Malcolm Shields

It was not pretty, but the Miami Heat will take it. The Heat was able to overcome a tough shooting night, a turnover filled fourth quarter and a late push by the Oklahoma City Thunder to take game three of the 2012 NBA Finals with a 91-85 win on June 17.

LeBron James led the Heat with 29 points and 14 rebounds. Dwyane Wade followed with 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 25 points. Russell Westbrook followed with 19 points. “It’s all about chemistry,” James said after the game. “It’s good to see us execute down the stretch.”

With the Heat leading 88-85 with under a minute remaining in the game, Russell Westbrook missed on an open three-pointer on the left wing to tie the game. The Heat were able to collect the rebound, convert on free-throws and make stops on defense to seal the game to take a 2-1 series lead. “We were able to get stops,” James said. “Both teams are very active defensively.”

Chris Bosh played a vital role collecting rebounds and being a deterrent on defense. He finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Durant’s foul trouble and Westbrook’s up-and-down play continued in game three as the Thunder struggled to execute in the final 90 seconds. “I thought we gave ourselves a chance to win,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. “We missed some free-throws and turned the ball over way too many times.”

In a back-and-forth fourth quarter, the Heat held onto to a 78-77 lead with 5:59 remaining. James and Wade took control as the Heat took a six point lead. The Heat became careless with the ball as the Thunder went on a run to cut the deficit to 86-85 with 1:30 in the fourth quarter.

“We showed some resolve,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We had enough stops and timely possessions to get the win. It wasn’t pretty all the way through, but we like these kind of wins. It showed the character of our team.” The Heat finished shooting 38 percent from the field, but went 31-for-35 from the free-throw line.

In the final 90 seconds, the Heat was able to contain Durant and Westbrook. “[We] just try to make it tough,” James said. “That is what are defense is all about, to make it tough.”

The Thunder took a 56-51 lead via a 10-4 run in the first four minutes of the third quarter.

The Heat caught a break when with 5:41 remaining and trailing 60-54, Durant collected his fourth foul of the game, which sent him to the bench. With Durant on the bench, the Heat, led by Wade and James, outscored the Thunder 15-7, to end the quarter leading 69-67.

Oklahoma City took advantage of James resting on the bench and the Heat’s cold shooting to outscore the Heat 16-9 with four minutes remaining in the half to take a 36-35 lead. Unlike the first two games of the series, the Thunder kept the game close late in the half as Durant and Westbrook combined to score 14 of the Thunder’s 26 points in the quarter to end the half trailing 47-46.

Just like the first two games of the Finals, the Heat jumped out to an early 10-4 lead. The Heat continued its aggressive play as Wade, James and Bosh were able to consistently get inside the paint for easy buckets in the quarter.

The Heat will attempt to take a 3-1 series lead on June 19 in game four of the NBA Finals.

The post Heat Overcome Second Half Shooting to Defeat Thunder appeared first on The World Champion Crank Up The HEAT.