James, Heat favored to win another title

Published 12:10 am Saturday, April 20, 2013

“Not one, not two, not three …” LeBron James predicted in increasingly confident fashion shortly after the superstar signed on with the Miami Heat as a free agent in the summer of 2010.

James signed, sealed and delivered on title No. 1 for the Heat last year. As for No. 2, James’ claim for multiple titles never sounded better.

With James on his way to winning his fourth Most Valuable Player award after a stellar season, South Beach looks to be not only a nice summer destination, but the likely resting place for the NBA trophy come June.

Fifteen NBA teams face the same question: Who can beat the Miami Heat?

The defending league champion Heat appear to have an encore in store when the NBA playoffs get going today.

After winning the title last year, the Heat flexed their muscle with the second-longest win-streak in league history.

Along with the all-star trio of James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the Heat have an even better bench than last year, adding sharpshooter and former champion Ray Allen to the mix, along with Rashard Lewis and Chris “Birdman” Andersen.

In the East, the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers present arguably the toughest challenge.

New York beat the Heat multiple times, twice in convincing fashion.

New York, which could meet the Heat in the conference finals, have star power to match with league scoring champion Carmelo Anthony.

History suggests the Heat may have a bumpy road, with the 2008 Boston Celtics the only team in the last 12 years to finish with the best regular-season record and as NBA champions.

The Pacers posed a challenge to the Heat last year, leading their conference semifinals playoff series with the Heat after three games before faltering. Indiana is strong inside with David West and Roy Hibbert, the one area of concern for a Miami team without a true center.

Out West, the Oklahoma City proved best when it came to the regular season, although a number of teams hold legit championship hopes for different reasons.

Five teams won 56 games or more in the wild conference, including a proven team in San Antonio, the league’s scariest home team in the Denver Nuggets, perhaps the conference’s grittiest and top defensive team in the Memphis Grizzlies, and arguably the NBA’s deepest team in the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Los Angeles Lakers, even with five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant shelved for the season due to injury, enter the playoffs the hottest team (wins in seven of their last eight games) and still armed with star power led by rebounding champion Dwight Howard.

For the next two months, the heat is on, for a Miami team that’s the betting favorite and those hoping not to get caught in their fire.

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NBA Playoffs

First Round Predictions

East — Miami over Milwaukee; New York over Boston; Indiana over Boston; Chicago over Brooklyn.

West — Oklahoma City over Houston; San Antonio over L.A. Lakers; Denver over Golden State; Memphis over L.A. Clippers.