Whether you love him or hate him, and let’s be honest it has to be either one, or the other, there is no doubting that LeBron James is one of the leading players in the game right now. He is a player that has polarized the opinions of many in the game. Even the fans of Miami Heat have divided opinions on their star player. Certainly for the majority of fans outside of South Beach the preference for MVP would be anybody but LeBron, but there is no arguing the fact that he is in the front running for the Most Valuable Player award 2012.

A glance at the statistics and it seems inevitable that the league’s top honor must one again be heading in Bron Bron’s direction. Having missed just four games in the season he has managed to rack up some pretty impressive numbers. Of the four matches he did miss three were in the last four of the season and those were due to the fact that Coach Erik Spoelstra chose to give him a well-earned rest.

James averaged 27.1 points, 7.9 boards, 6.2 dimes and 1.9 steals per game. Which place him ahead of all other players for the top award. It is also worth pointing to his simple rating. This is a measure of a player’s stats against his counterpart player from the other team while he is on court. Calculated out James has earned a simple rating of +18.7. This is 3.8 points above Chris Paul the second place finisher this season.

If stats are the driving force in the decision, which they are, then there is just no doubt that LeBron James will pick up the third MVP trophy of his illustrious career. The award has been so clear cut that even the experts have not gotten involved in the debate and the perceived wisdom is that the trophy is James’ to lose during the final weeks of the season.

It has not been entirely a one horse race however and his closest rival, Kevin Durant, has put up some pretty impressive statistics of his own including 28 points and 8 boards per game, which is better than LeBron’s tally on both counts. The key stat for Durant is his number on assists which is a lowly 3.5 almost three whole points lower than LeBron’s 6.2 in this respect. This stat points to the fact that, throughout the season, Russell Westbrook, and other Thunder players consistently needed to create his own offense.

Durant can take some solace from the fact that in the head to head between their two teams the Thunder ended the season with one more win than Miami Heat. Durant is philosophic about the award and has come out in support of LeBron himself. In a recent interview he stated, “He deserves all the love (for MVP). He’s playing phenomenal basketball. I’m just trying to get better every single game and trying to help my team as much as I can. I’m just blessed to be in that conversation.”

There is no arguing that over the course of his career LeBron has been consistently the top performer in the sport and as sure as any professional indemnity insurance company is willing to have their name emblazoned on his sweatbands he has racked up the figures game after game. So what is it about LeBron James that makes him such a phenomenal player? He boasts a serious 53% from the field out of 18.9 attempts per game with a shade under 50% out of 19.7 shots per game.

His defense statistics are equally impressive and any player who manages to shut out Carmelo Anthony during the first three matches in the opening series against the NY Knicks deserves his credit. Add this to the fact that he records two steals per game and racks up a minimal personal fouls of just ninety six and you can see why this is the man that deserves every accolade that comes his direction.

The New York Knicks have not won a Playoff game since 2001. Coming into Game 3 there was little expectation that they would get that win with All-Star forward Amar’e Stoudemire sidelined with an injured left hand. Without Amar’e the Knicks showed signs of maybe getting that elusive W, as both the Knicks and the Heat shot poorly throughout the game. Then the 4th quarter came and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra put LeBron James back in after he had sat nearly 9 minutes due to foul trouble.

The 4th quarter has not been fond to James, but he single handily kept the Knicks from getting the win, and gave his Miami Heat a commanding 3-0 lead. James scored 32 points, including 17 in the 4th quarter, the Knicks had 14 points in the 4th quarter.  On Sunday the Knicks will attempt to stop their 13 game playoff losing streak and hopefully send the series back to Miami. HEAT lead series 3-0. 

The Knicks tied the NBA record for the “shot-clock era” of 38 straight playoff games with fewer than 100 points.

Meanwhile in Dallas, the defending NBA champs were also faced with a 2-0 deficit placed upon them by the Oklahoma City Thunder. If there was any indication that Tyson Chandler made the wrong decision this offseason, it is made clear by his current situation with the Knicks and the fate of his former team.

The first two games in OKC were close games that came down to the last possession, but Game 3 was an exact opposite. Kevin Durant got off to a hot start finishing with 31 points on 11-of-15 shooting, and an easy OKC win 95-79.

The Mavericks are one loss away from becoming the fifth defending champion in NBA history to fail to win a playoff game the following season. The 2006-07 Heat are the only defending champs to be swept in the first round under the current best-of-seven format. THUNDER lead series 3-0.

NO NBA TEAM HAS EVER COME BACK FROM A 3-0 DEFICIT.

With a weekend full of emotions the Playoffs rolled into Monday with three games on the bill. Up first was the overly-hyped Heat-Knicks which followed most of the script from the first game. LeBron containing Melo, while the rest of the Knicks struggle to score, especially Amar’e Stoudemire. Amar’e has had a tumultuous season; the lost of his brother led to a tattoo tear and cornrows from 20 years ago. Following the 104-94 Heat win, Amar’e decided to take his rage out on a fire extinguisher, and the extinguisher won, lacerating Stoudemire’s hand leading to stiches and locker room floors covered in blood. This Knicks season has been a New York Times best seller in the making. Knicks know head back to NY without Amar’e and still no wins in the Playoffs since 01′, but Game 3 has the potential to be the game where Melo goes for 50. HEAT lead series 2-0.

In Game 2, the Indiana Pacers made up for 2-20 shooting from deep, with plan, and simple hustle. The Pacers outscored the Magic 30-13 in the third leading to a 93-78 victory. Series is tied 1-1. 

Oklahoma City, and Dallas should be forced to play a best out of 20 games. After Kevin Durant stole Game 1 with a buzzer beater, Game 2 came down to two Jason Terry deep shot’s, but ending with a narrow Thunder win 102-99. For the 28th time this season, Russell Westbrook took more shots than Kevin Durant and, perhaps surprisingly, the Thunder are 23-5 when that happens. Westbrook ended with 29 points, Durant added 26 on 5 of 17 shooting. Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle decided to vent during the postgame interview about the physicality of the series; He was talking to you Kendrick Perkins.

“It’s playoff basketball. It’s physical. We don’t like the cheap shots when they give them, and they don’t like them if we give them. That’s the nature of competition,” Carlisle said. “I love hard-played, clean, competitive playoff series. You throw the ball up and may the best team win.

“The dirty (expletive) has got to stop. We don’t want anybody getting hurt out there, either way.” THUNDER lead series 2-0.

The season that began on Christmas day and crammed 66 games down our throats (pause) in the process has finally came to an end. Even in a shortened season there were many exceptional moments, and in this years NBA playoffs there isn’t one series that you want to miss. Okay maybe you can skip the Pacers sweeping the Howard-less Magic. Here is what to watch for in each of the first round match-ups.

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (8) Philadelphia 76ers

Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau consistent nagging of defense, defense, defense, and the unusual amount of BIGS the Bulls have, has made the loss of Derrick Rose throughout the season barely noticeable. Of course this is the year where Derrick Rose figures it all out, and carries his team to the Finals and Scottie Pippen gets to photobomb everyone in the locker room when they celebrate. At least thats how Bulls fans would love for it to go, but the Basketball Gods never make it easy. Unfortunately for the 76ers, Muppet-Evan Turner decided to throw a quick jab Chicago’s way stating that the Sizers lost to the Knicks (which helped the Sixers avoid the Heat in the 1st Round) earlier this week was “Dodging the better team.” Not like the Bulls needed any more motivation but if anything can give Rip Hamilton reason to sharpen his fingernails then watch out.

Philadelphia has been one of my favorite teams to watch this season, and I will enjoy watching them put up a fun-filled effort, but the upset is going to take a miracle, or an absentee Derrick Rose. BULLS in 5

(2) Miami Heat vs. (7) New York Knicks

REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES)

Gonna leave  @knicks247 to this one. Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James meeting in the NBA Playoffs for the first time and 10 years since their high school battles…swoon.

(3) Indiana Pacers vs. (6) Orlando Magic

Regardless of Dwight Howard’s back condition, the Magic wanted no part of the NBA Playoffs after the trade deadline had passed and “chocolate shoulders” was still around. This is the coming out party for the Indiana Pacers, and ultimately a first-round bye. PACERS in 4

(4) Boston Celtics vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks

We have been overtly bias of the Celtics, mainly due to the old adage of “respecting your elders”, and this by all accounts could be the last hurrah of Garnett, Pierce, and Allen. Everyone thought last year’s Playoff defeat by the Heat was the last time we would seee the Big 3 but due to the purchase of a hot tub time machine the Celtics(Spurs) are poised for yet another Finals run.  The Big 3, are now of course the Big 4 with Rajon Rondo reaching Superstar-Status. There is also Avery Bradley who should make Joe Johnson’s bones uneasy. Rondo has a knack for exceptional play when games are televised, and with every Playoff game being televised, look for Rondo to win at least 2 games by just diving for the ball a bunch of times.

Once again the Atlanta Hawks are back in the Playoffs!! The Atlanta Hawks are the NBA version of Temazepam. CELTICS in 6

 WESTERN CONFERENCE

The Western Conference, where teams over .500 miss the Playoffs (Rockets, Suns).

MAY METTA WORLD PEACE ELBOW HAVE MERCY ON US ALL! 

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (8) Utah Jazz

This is ridiculous. How can the Spurs be the best team in the Western Conference again. Tim, Tony, Manu, and the bunch(Blair, Neal, Splitter, Leonard, Bonner, Jackson) will make easy work of the Utah Jazz. The mighty Spurs will have a tough time in the next round regardless of the team (Clippers, Grizzlies). SPURS in 4

(2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks

The rematch of last year’s Western Conference Finals, Dirk and Durant attempt to set indoor shooting records as Dallas prays that Oklahoma City doesn’t realize Tyson Chandler is gone. Oklahoma City will have to possibly play the Mavs, Lakers, and Spurs to get to the Finals. Can you imagine the Lakers-Thunder matchup? THUNDER in 6

(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Denver Nuggets

I’m sick of seeing these two teams play. Same result every time…Javale McGee vs. Andrew Bynum will be entertaining. Same result every time. LAKERS in 6

(4) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers are the 5th seed in the Western Conference. Well done NBA, amazing how transformed that team is thanks to your decision making. By amazing I’m referring to the POINT GOD himself Chris Paul, who deserves to be the MVP this year but won’t get it.  Chris Paul and the Yellow Hulk, Blake Griffin will be going up against a Memphis team that knew it would be back. Didn’t think Zach Randolph would be back though. GRIZZLIES in 7

ATLANTA HAWKS

We resolve to get to the bottom of why we gave Joe Johnson so much damn money. He does lead us in points, but will we make it deep in the playoffs….of course not. ( same as last years resolution)

BOSTON CELTICS

We the Boston Celtics resolve to let Rondo shoot nothing but threes for an entire game, just to see what happens….

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

I, Paul Silas resolve to survive the entire season.

CHICAGO BULLS

I, Derrick Rose resolve to continue dominating basketball, postgame interviews  and my acne.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

We resolve to continue to be a horrible team until Dan Gilbert can finally complete the cloning of LeBron James, let the clone grow to 18 years of age, then draft him with the #1 pick in the 2030 Draft.

DALLAS MAVERICKS

I, Lamar Odom will drive to Galveston Beach each off day so I can look at the ocean and remember what once was.

DETROIT PISTONS

We the Pistons resolve to find some food for Austin Daye, and to have Ben Gordons arms chopped off!

DENVER NUGGETS

We the Nuggets resolve to be extremely grateful that Coach Karl is back and healthy!

GOLDEN ST. WARRIORS

I, Coach Mark Jackson resolve to stop yelling “Hands down, man down” to everyone on the team, every possession.

HOUSTON ROCKETS

We the Houston Rockets resolve to continue pitting Chase Budinger, and Chandler Parsons against each other until they are forced to fight to the death.

INDIANA PACERS

We resolve to let Physcho T run into the stands at least once this season.

L.A. CLIPPERS

We resolve to keep our racist ass owner away from Chris Paul, and keep Chris thinking that Frankie Muniz is indeed the owner of the team.

L.A. LAKERS

We resolve to plant testosterone tablets in Pau Gasol’s drinks throughout the season.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

We resolve to get Tony Allen as far away from our team as possible.

MIAMI HEAT

We resolve to win the Finals, not for LeBron but for original man: Juwan Howard.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

We resolve to get to the bottom of signing of Mike Dunleavy Jr.!

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

I, Kevin Love resolve to rebound every ball, on every shot, from every basketball game in the world.

NEW JERSEY NETS

We resolve to play in Brooklyn until Brooklyn realizes that the Nets play in Brooklyn, then we haul ass to Russia! #NYETS

NEW ORLEANS HORNETS

We the NBA speak for the Hornets, and the Hornets have nothing to say!

NEW YORK KNICKS

I, Carmelo Anthony resolve to remember that I, Carmelo am the only option, and I need to shoot every single time!

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

We resolve to do whatever we can to keep Russell Westbrook from becoming Stephon Marbury and eventually eating Vaseline on Twitter!

ORLANDO MAGIC

I, Dwight Howard resolve to ask, demand, then say pretty please for a trade.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

We resolve to hire Michael Vick as soon as the NFL season is over. He will suit up and be in the starting lineup, just for the player introductions, but he wont play any minutes.

PHOENIX SUNS

I, Steve Nash resolve to never leave the Suns, and continue playing until they can find a point guard better then I.

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS

We resolve to burn some Sage in the Rose Garden, because our team is definitely cursed!

SACRAMENTO KINGS

We resolve to remind all those fans that fought to keep the team in Sacramento that the team is still in Sacramento

SAN ANTONIO SPURS

We resolve to casually ignore the age of our Big 3, but encourage fans to purchase DeJuan Blair Bears from the gift shop

TORONTO RAPTORS

We resolve to call the NBA everyday, and send flowers so that they remember there is a team in Toronto.

UTAH JAZZ

We resolve to remind the Jazz players that the sign that said “Team of Misfit Players” was not funny.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS

We resolve to let John Wall do whatever he wants to and to continue letting Glbert Arenas in the locker room so he can shit in Rashard Lewis’s shoes.

The Heat are 4-0 for the second time in franchise history, and first since 2004-05.  The Heat  have shown glimpses of both sides, the unstoppable force that flashed in last years playoffs, and a team that struggles when a 2-3 Zone is thrown in their face.  The two biggest improvements for the Heat was the drafting of Norris Cole, and the signing of free agent Shane Battier.  Norris Cole may not be the distance shooter that Mario Chalmers is, but he makes up for it speed, and confidence.

 ”Mentally you just have to be prepared for the worst,” Cole told reporters after his first practice with the team. “There’s going to be a lot of things thrown at me, but with me being in college for four years, I think I have a quick learning curve. I’m mature enough to be able to handle criticism. As long as we work hard and earn the respect of the veterans, I think everything will be fine. This team was already good without me being here. With me having a quick learning curve, [the] only thing I can do is make us better”

Shane Battier hasn’t done much on the floor this season, but will be LeBron’s Bundini Brown when it counts.

So far this season Wade and Lebron have attempted only one three-pointer and LeBron James notched his 38th career 30-point, 10-assist game on Friday. It’s the most among active players, one more than teammate Dwyane Wade.

Before I resign up for the Heat bandwagon I need to see CONSISTENCY, and more of this ridiculousness:

IMPORTANT: Lebron has now lost twice in the Finals. The logo of the NBA Jerry West lost SEVEN times.

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MAN!?

Damn Lebron, I really dont believe what the fuck just happened last night. Are you fucking serious b?? Giving up multiple double digit leads?? Turnovers galore?? An 8.9 drop in the finals from your regular season average,which is the all time high?? A 3 point 4th quarter average?? 6 turnovers and missed free throws in the losing effort?? Sorry to state the obvious, but you’ve managed to come up shorter than Midget Mac on a tricycle yet again. Now I can understand the Cleveland years. Back then you got about as much help as Bokeem Wooodbine would get at a Klan rally. But this?? This shit right here is unacceptable fam. I expect something like this from a trade deadline casualty, not the two time MVP and face of the league.

After the game 1 win, you had a 90% chance to win the series. After your last win of the series, which was game 3, you had a 74% chance (which is still pretty damn high). But that wasn’t enough breathing room for you huh?? You still managed to fold quicker than Skull Gang *crickets*.

How could you do this to me?? Scratch that, how could you do this to US?? The diehard fans that supported you through the thick and thin, even when you made that quasi bitch-ass move to the Heat. We all know New York was the perfect destination for you (the smart guys like me at least), but they probably wouldn’t wanna take you now anyway.

Personally, I’ve been on #TeamLebron since 2001, back when you was in the issue of Slam Magazine with the fucked up fro as a soph in high school. Even when you made the horrible mistake of rocking the cornrows, I still took you as my own. Circa the Melo hype after the 03 Final Four, I defended you to a tee and telling cats to not be prisoners of the moment. “Yeah,Carmelo’s pretty dope, but that prep kid from Akron is that uncut Boy George “Obsession” ill.

To layman’s terms, Im a day one fan and supporter of dude (I even bought his book for pete’s sake), so I feel I have the right to rip you, because you genuinely hurt me b. The original Aunt Viv leaving the Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air hurt fam. I took last year as an aberration, just a slight case of frustration/jitters/growing pains. Most of us figured Cleveland was all but a Non-Motherfucking Factor as soon as the season ended anyway.

Then thats when ish got a lil smelly. When Amare signed to the Knicks, I immediately thought “Knicks Dynasty” because I was sure the managment could find a respectable point guard to pair with you and Amare to complement the high flying show that was about to commence in Manhattan. The Bulls option was also very enticing on paper,but I knew you’d enlist Delonte West as your future best man before you’d step in MJ’s shadow at the United Center.

Then all of a sudden, I started hearing through the ESPN grapevine about Miami trying to get in the picture. I took note of the rumors, but figured NY was the most likely destination for the baller formerly known as King James. The thin chance the Cavs had left of getting you erased as soon as the ink dried on Chris Bosh’s freshly minted Heat contract. So in my eyes that left New York and Chicago as the serious players, and Miami and Cleveland as the long shots.

Next we all hear the news about this “Decision” special that Lebron is planning to televise. I thought it was great promo, though cruel due to the fact all the little hearts of Cleveland would be crushed yet again (because it was obvious he was definietly skipping town). For the next day or two, we debated and deliberated where the King would land.

Would he lend credence to all the subtle signs of his exodus to New York?? Would he take on the size 50 footprints of one Michael Jeffery Jordan?? Or would he actually make the potential dumbest mistake of his career and appease his hometown fans by staying in Cleveland?? The world waited for the answers in suspense.

We all knew that he couldn’t possibly go to Miami tho right?? Have his legacy attatched to an expansion franchise?? Do the unthinkable and join up with his buddies Wade and Bosh to form an unstoppable,not to mention unfair,force? Title parade-like celebration before a practice was even held?? Nah,no way that could possibly happen.

That would mean unprecedented expectations. Opening your “Brand” and legacy to intense scrutiny and question. You’d get the ring for sure,but your ego and competitive spirit wouldn’t allow you to split TOP billing?? Nope, that would mean championship or media crucifixion right?? Well, at least were now all WITNESSES to the theory that pressure does indeed bust pipes, and a dream can get deferred real quick.

P.S. Your still my fave player, I just want you to do better and live up to your potential. My advice is to LISTEN to the naysayers and hate and let that ignite your competitive fire while you and your comrades shoot jumpers, workout, and strive to improve your games over the summer. Also if there is in fact something mentally stopping you from being truly great when it really matters (which i really hope is untrue), take some time to find out what it and key in on resolving that, because talent is good,but we all know heart beats all in the end. I know it feels like your world is crashing down, but please remember. There’s always next year.

Since Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semis against Boston the Heat have turned up the heat, treating the Celtics like white kids playing basketball with swim trunks on.

Dallas also had Caron Butler on the floor in those two wins early in the season. Butler has been out since tearing a tendon in his right knee on Jan. 1. He was averaging 14 points and 4.1 rebounds in almost 30 minutes per game. He averaged 18 points in Dallas’ two regular-season wins over Miami. Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said Friday that Butler’s availability for this series is “unlikely, but I’m not sure.”

This series, like all basketball will be based on matchups.

With or without Butler the Mavericks are in for their toughest matchup this postseason.

The Mavs were built to get past the Lakers and they succeeded at that, unfortunately no team in the NBA is designed to handle the Heat. Dallas will utilize the zone defense to make up for their matchup problems.

In the two-game regular-season series against Dallas, Wade and LeBron James were a combined 3 of 17 versus the zone, according to Synergy, which provides a statistical analysis of each playoff game.

Miami has plenty of matchup issues as well. The most compelling is of course, Who holds Dirk?

Chris Bosh should get the majority of the assignments, along with Udonis Haslem. During the Eastern Conference Semis, LeBron James turned Derrick Rose, the league’s MVP into an average point guard. The world will await the  moment when LeBron and Dirk square off against each other, and in many situations the game will depend on how well LeBron can defend without fouling Dirk.

Dirk has shot 130-140(93%) from the free throw line this postseason.

According to StatsCube, there is one thing that the Heat and Mavs have had in common in these playoffs: incredible success in late-game situations.

In “clutch” situations in the postseason, the Mavs have outscored their opponents 97-42, while the Heat have outscored their opponents 98-55. Neither of those totals encompasses the complete comebacks by Dallas in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals (when the Mavs rallied from 15 down with five minutes to go) and Miami’s effort in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals (when the Heat came back from 12 down with less than four minutes left).

Clutch situation = Last five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime, with a score differential of five points or less

Dallas has been the best offensive team in clutch situations, scoring an estimated 148 points per 100 possessions. Miami has been the best defensive team in clutch situations, allowing just 69 points per 100 possessions.

As well as Dirk has played this postseason, you can’t help but notice the Miami Heat ‘Big 3′ becoming comfortable with each other. The Heat weren’t assembled to win regular season awards, or have the best record. They took their talents to South Beach to win championships, and Dallas is all that stands in the way of accomplishing that goal.

Should the Heat win the series, then they’d join the group of multiple winners and it would mean every champion since 1984 will have won at least 2 titles and that the seven franchises would have combined to make 39 NBA Finals appearances.

TRUTHSPORTS PREDICTION: HEAT IN 5

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

With 3:53 to play in the 4th quarter of Game 5 of the Eastern Confernce Finals the Bulls lead 76-64.

Everyone in the room was convinced that the series would return to Miami and the Dallas Mavericks would get to rest a little longer. Dwyane Wade had an awful night up to this point and Lebron James wasn’t going to be able to pull out this victory, as he had done numerous times this postseason.

Boy were we wrong!

Just as the game appeared to be a done deal the Bulls found it impossible to score, meanwhile the Heat went on a 18-3 run, lead by Wade, and James who each had eight down the stretch. In the final 3:03, they made all six attempts from the field, half of which were from 3-point range. Dwyane Wade and LeBron James each scored eight points during the run and Chris Bosh added two free throws. The Bulls, in turn, had four field goal attempts with two turnovers during that span.

James finished with 28 points, 11 boards, 6 dimes, Wade added 21, and they led a furious rally in the final minutes as Miami eliminated Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls 83-80 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday.

Derrick “Mr. All By Himself” Rose led Chicago with 25 points but hit just 9 of 29 shots. He fouled Wade on a key four-point play and missed a tying free throw with 26.7 seconds left. After going 0-for-5 from the floor with a turnover when guarded by LeBron James in Game 4, Derrick Rose struggled against him once again Thursday, going 1-for-10 with two turnovers in Game 5. Rose shot 6.3 percent from the floor in the series when defended by James, lowest among any player that defended him on five or more plays.

“At the end, it’s all me,” Rose said. “Turnovers, missed shots, fouls. The series is over.”

Not since the Houston Rockets dropped Game 1 to Phoenix in the 1995 Western Conference semifinals had a team won a best-of-seven after dropping the opener by more than 20.

Headed back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2006, and in a fitting twist, they’ll be facing the Mavericks. Back then, with Wade leading the way, Miami beat Dallas to capture the championship. This time, it’ll be James and Dirk Nowitzki going at it for their first rings. Also we get to enjoy a Peja, Mike Bibby reunion, and DeShawn Stevenson gets to see his old friend LeBron again. Can’t Wait! *Bart Scott voice

The Heat will host Game 1 on Tuesday night.

(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)