Florida news: Miami Heat history profile, part two – 2007 to 2014
Part one of this article series looked back through the early years of the Miami Heat, from the inauguration of the franchise to their first-ever NBA Championship in 2006.
In this article, Florida News Blitz writer Oliver Carter takes a look at the modern era of the team, a period that features four NBA Finals appearances, two NBA Championships, and the presence of arguably the biggest name in basketball history, LeBron James.
Post-Championship struggles
Following Miami’s incredible Championship run in 2006, the franchise had high expectations, with Pat Riley staying on as coach and the core of the title-winning team remaining in place.
But the Heat struggled with injuries throughout the 2006-07 season as Shaquille O’Neal, now aged 34, required knee surgery and Dwyane Wade dislocated his shoulder.
Despite the injury struggles, Miami still managed to finish first in a weak Southeast Division and met a familiar face in the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the play-offs, whom they were subsequently swept aside by 4-0.
Having crashed out of the play-offs in such a fashion, O’Neal requested a trade out of Miami, a wish that was finally granted 40 games into the 2007-08 season.
That season also saw the start of Wade’s long-term knee problems, with the shooting guard once again missing 30 games of the campaign through injury.
Thanks to the departure of O’Neal and the injury woes of Wade, the Heat finished with a league-worst 15-67 record.
Following the season, Riley transitioned back to team president and promoted assistant Erik Spoelstra to the head coach position.
The first two campaigns under Spoelstra were relatively successful, with an incredible return to form on the part of Wade – averaging 30.2 and 26.6 points per game in those seasons – seeing him come third and fifth in the MVP voting.
However, both seasons saw first-round play-off exits as Miami lost 4-3 to the Atlanta Hawks in 2009 before losing 4-1 to the Boston Celtics in 2010.
MORE FROM OLIVER CARTER: Florida news: Miami Heat history profile part one - 1988 - 2006
Dawn of the Miami Heatles
The 2010 off season was one of the most significant in Miami’s history, with Wade, LeBron, and Chris Bosh all reaching the ends of their contracts at their respective franchises.
LeBron, the 2003 first-overall pick, had come into the league with the highest expectations of any player ever and somehow lived up to them, dominating the league with a poor Cleveland Cavaliers outfit.
Bosh was the fourth pick in 2003, being selected by the Toronto Raptors, although the Canadian franchise never quite managed to surround him with the right players.
Wade, for his part, decided that he wanted to end his career at the Heat.
Eventually, LeBron sat down for an interview and was asked: “The answer to the question everybody wants to know, LeBron, what's your decision?”
“Man this is very tough … this fall I'm going to take my talents to South Beach,” James replied, and that was that.
LeBron and Bosh arrived, Wade stayed, and the superstar trio became known as the ‘Miami Heatles’.
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LeBron magic leads Miami to glory
Across the next four seasons, spanning from 2010-11 to 2013-14, the Miami Heat made the NBA Finals four times in a row, winning the Championship twice.
The 2011 Finals saw the Heat once again clash with Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks, with the Texan franchise shocking the league in winning the series 4-2.
LeBron’s performances in the series loss brought a lot of criticism as fans wondered if he had what it takes to lead a Championship team.
However, LeBron would dispel any doubt the following season, averaging 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.9 steals while winning the MVP award and being named to the All-NBA and All-Defensive first teams.
The play-offs saw LeBron rise to the occasion even more, with the Heat brushing aside the New York Knicks 4-1 and the Indiana Pacers 4-2 on the way to meeting the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Miami won games one and two, which was followed by a three-game winning streak for the Celtics, putting Boston 3-2 up ahead of a defining clash in Boston.
In that game, James scored 30 points in the first half alone, making 12 of 14 shots, and 45 overall in a performance that is still talked about today.
Thanks to those exploits, Miami tied the series at 3-3 and headed back to home turf for the decider.
All eyes were on LeBron and he duly delivered, finishing with 31 points and 12 rebounds in a dominant 101-88 victory for the Heat.
A young Oklahoma City Thunder team boasting the talents of three future MVPs in Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden awaited in the Finals.
After losing game one, the Heat reeled off the next four to take home the Championship 4-1 and moreover land LeBron and Bosh their first NBA title.
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Back-to-back Championships for the Heat
The next year was another incredible period for LeBron, with averages of 26.8 points, 8 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 0.9 blocks per game winning him yet another MVP award.
Miami breezed through the opening rounds of the play-offs, sweeping aside the Milwaukee Bucks 4-0 and beating the Bulls 4-1.
The conference finals were again a struggle, though, as a young Paul George and his Pacers side took things to game seven, where LeBron scored 32 points to send Miami through.
In the NBA Finals, Miami faced the San Antonio Spurs and two-time MVP Tim Duncan in what would turn out to be a hard-fought seven-game series.
Game six was particularly memorable as the Heat battled back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
With seven seconds remaining on the game clock and the score at 95-92 in San Antonio’s favour, LeBron attempted a three-pointer that missed.
What happened next was arguably the most iconic shot in the history of the NBA.
Bosh was able to fight through to get the offensive rebound and the ball was passed to 37-year-old sharpshooter Ray Allen.
Allen backpedalled to the three-point line, where he shot a contested corner three to tie the game and send proceedings into overtime.
The gravity of the shot – tying an NBA Finals match while on the brink of elimination – paired with the iconic commentary of Mike Breen quickly cemented this moment in NBA folklore.
Miami came out on top in overtime, fighting their way to a 103-100 victory and forcing a game seven, having been just five seconds from defeat at one point.
A scrappy game seven then saw LeBron score 37 points and grab 12 rebounds to lead the Heat to back-to-back NBA Championships.
Another NBA Finals appearance ends in defeat
The 2013-14 season was another great season for LeBron, who placed second in the MVP voting and was named in the All-NBA first team.
Miami comfortably made the NBA Finals yet again, dispatching the Charlotte Bobcats 4-0 and the Brooklyn Nets 4-1 before winning a rematch with the Pacers and George 4-2.
Unfortunately, a rematch with the Spurs in the showpiece did not go their way as Kawhi Leonard inspired San Antonio to a 4-1 Championship victory.
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