NBA: Can the Heat Three-Peat?

by Rodney Fisher

Can the Miami Heat win three in a row?
Photo credit Miami Heat 

The Miami Heat will start the new NBA season with the chance to place themselves among the best-of-the-best squads every assembled to play the game of basketball. Not since the Los Angeles Lakers of 2009-10 has a team been in position to three-peat as champions. With all the roster movement in the Eastern Conference, and the return of MVP caliber players, can the Miami Heat win three in a row?


In the early days of the NBA, the three-peat was a common and expected occurrence. The Boston Celtics won eight championships in a row from 1959-1966, along with 17 total. The Los Angeles Lakers have done it twice, 1952-1954 and 2000-2002. They have 16 championships total as a franchise. Just as the Lakers were getting ready to embark on another three-peat after winning in 2010, "the decision" happened. LeBron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers to join forces with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh to form their own super team to get past the juggernaut Boston Celtics and compete with Pau Gasol, Kobe Bryant, and Andrew Bynum. Although they made it to The Finals, they lost in six games to the Dallas Mavericks.

Now in 2013, the Heat's promise of multiple championships gets one step closer to becoming truth. Their domination of the OKC Thunder in 2012, and the comeback victory in Game 6 this year versus the San Antonio Spurs would make any Heat fan feel like another championship is destined to happen.

But as the world changes, so does the NBA. The Heat will now have to face the return of Derrick Rose in Chicago, who from early views during the preseason looks just as explosive as he did pre-ACL surgery. Rose sat on the bench and watch his team fight and struggle against the Heat in the playoffs last season. He admits it was not easy to just sit there and it fueled his offseason workouts to return in better form to beat the Heat.

Two-thirds of the trio that existed in Boston that caused the Heat to come together originally, has become apart of the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets on paper have the best roster in the NBA. The truth is they only have one shot to win a championship; it has to be this year. Veterans like Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jason Terry, and even new head coach Jason Kidd feel that pressure too.

In the West, things are just as Wild as they have always been. The Los Angeles Clippers have a new head coach, the Thunder await the return of Russell Westbrook, and the last team to beat the Miami Heat in The Finals, the Dallas Mavericks, start the new season with nine new players again. The San Antonio Spurs, like the Indiana Pacers, were able to push their series with the Heat to seven games. They were never able to shake-off the loss in Game 6.

The Heat have made their own roster moves to assist them in winning the franchises fourth NBA title. With the Big 3 commanding most of the salary, they have been creative in adding some high risk - high return options like Michael Beasley and Greg Oden. Oden has not played a minute of NBA ball in years, but is hoping to make his return alongside fellow Ohio native LeBron James. Beasley has had more headlines revolving around his off-court activities than his play on the court. If either player works out, the Heat can come back a better team than last season.

 Ray Allen hit the biggest shot in franchise history in Game 6 against the Spurs. Had he missed that three-pointer, this article would not have been written. Dwayne Wade is really the key to their chances to legitimately win again. If he can stay healthy and return to his playing days of 2006 and 2012 the odds are in their favor.

LeBron James. Photo credit NBA 

For LeBron, winning a third title in a row is the most important thing on his mind starting this season. He is a student of the game and understands how every championship adds to his legacy. He is now unanimously crowned the King of the NBA, but the question remains if he can command his team to join the elites.