Congrats to the Miami Heat! Us Heat fans in Miami have been waiting for a long time for this. Props to Zo who was extremely important to the Heat this year! Cant wait for the parade!

I cried.

What a team.

Posey, Haslem and Zo all stepped up big time. Great win

Also, D. Wade for President!!

Here was my night last night...

1 quarter - This isn't looking good.....
2 quarter - Up by one going into the half, this is looking good
3 quarter - D. Wade is playing on all cylinders Zo made some sick blocks
4 quarter - WE DID IT!!

I spilled beer on my white O'neal jersey... I don't know if I'm going to wash it or not.

Anyone know when the celebration is at the arena?

I heard Thursday Downtown Miami.

The parade ends at the steps of the arena...it will be a fun time....you got bayside and every bar known to man around there. Gonna get a little toasty.

So upset I dont move to Miami until August! Want to fly down right now. Screw the doubters, the whiners, and even bill Simmons (gasp!)

Heat are number 1!!!!

News Flash!
Parade Downtown Friday Afternoon!

Go Heat

Pat Riley is my Hero.

I said the Heat would sweep, which they did, sort of. Mourning was a beast in game 6, I shed a tear or 2. Just would not be denied- I love that kind of intensity. I have to conclude the Mavs just don't quite have it in them yet.

Perhaps the luckiest team to win the World Championship, but I've been a Shaq fan since I was little and he was with the Magic, so I'm glad that they won.

To be perfectly honest, I think the Mavs are the team to beat next year





Huh?

the Mavs simply dont have the talent, or inside presence to win it all. The Heat will be the team to beat. Sorry Mavs fans but I think Dallas is only like the 3rd or 4th best team in the league. When the Suns get Stoudamire back they will be the favorite in the West no doubt

sorry heat wont compete next year wade will get better but pretty much everyone else on that team will be slower and older. you are right though; suns are team to beat in west

Wow! I cant believe someone actually just said this. You do realize that the Mavs were an inch away from the title. If Dirk hits a free throw in game 3 or Howard hits a free throw in game 5 or literally one or two calls go the other way, the Mavs win the title. To say they dont have the talent is absurd.

Their problem next year is just the talented teams in the West. The Suns will be better with Amare and Thomas back. Even if Amare's knee's arent 100%, he will still help the team. The Spurs were just barely beat by the Mavs this year, and with a healthy Duncan, they will be up there next year. And a lot of the other teams in the West should improve as well. Its tough to pick between the Spurs, Mavs, or Suns.




I disagree. I think you forgot they play in the East. The Pistons look like they're on the down slide after the playoffs, but they are really the only team I see beating the Heat next year. The Cavs and James dont have the supporting cast right now, but that could change. I still think the Cavs are 2 years away from becoming a real title contender. The Nets, Wizards, Pacers and Bulls are all pretenders and are years away from challenging. It really comes down to the Pistons and Heat in the East next year.

I agree with you about the Mavs, but as far as the Heat, they might have to reload. Lets be honest, Shaq was not the dominating figure he once was, Payton will probably retire and I wouldnt be suprised if Alonzo did also. They are going to have to improve their bench to repeat.

Thanks. I meant Magic.

dont forget the Heat have a 20 year old kid named Dorell Wright who they are super high on. Have no idea if he is ready to contribute but they talk about this kid like he and Wade could be a special backcourt tandem for years and years.

I'm not really happy that Miami won at all. They're probably the most boring team to watch in the NBA and are probably unwatchable without Dwyane Wade on that team. I don't know how you Miami fans sat through games where Wade was hurt.

Also Payton and Mourning getting rings just sucks. They weren't able to do it on their own and have to latch on as role players to get one, pretty pathetic if you ask me. I don't mind Payton as much, but I absolutely can't stand Mourning. He's basically what's bad about professional sports today and spare me the whole kidney ordeal, which was linked to steroid use.

What he did to Toronto was just plain unprofessional. He doesn't report to the team after being traded to them from the Nets claiming he is too hurt to play. The team does him a favor by releasing him, but he demands the full buyout. Of course he manages to get that money he doesn't deserve along with a contract from Miami and all of a sudden he heals like Superman and is ready to play again. That was just absolutely disgusting to see a professional athlete do something like that. He was selfish and greedy and unfortunately he gets away with it and now has an NBA championship ring too.

The Raptors basically do him a big favor by releasing him and he still demands to get all his money without even earning a penny of it. Heck it wouldn't have even been as bad if he had given the money to charity or something, but he tries to get every penny when he has made over 100 million in his career. The Raptors should have just let him stay at home without reporting and never released him and basically allowing him the opportunity to get a ring.

You're right a lot will depend on if a couple of those guys decide to retire, and even if they do return for one more season, they still need to add a piece or two because of an aging team.

But what the other poster was saying was that the Heat wont compete next year. This I dont think is true because of the conference they play in. I dont think Wade is anywhere near his peak (which is scary). So with Wade improving, a 50% Shaq, and most of the team returning, that should be enough in the East. I will still consider the Pistons to be the favorite next year in the East but the gap between them and the Heat is only close because of how the Pistons fell apart at the end. I think the Pistons will add an extra guy for depth and finish best in the East next year with the Heat coming in second.

The Problem in the East is that the other teams (like the Cavs, Nets, Wizards, and Pacers) have a lot of work to do to catch up. There's a big drop off between the Pistons/Heat and these teams. The Pistons and Heat are just better organizations from top to bottom so I expect both of those teams to be winners next year. The other teams are still learning how to win and thats a big difference.

A lot can change during the offseason, but here's how I rank the teams for next season right now:

1. Spurs
2. Mavs
3. Suns
4. Pistons
5. Heat

Honarable mention: Kings - This is absolute wildcard. They have Artest for a full season should end up being good for them as long as he doesnt freak out like he did 2 years ago (I give this 50/50). They're also changing coaches which adds another unknown to the equation. They finished well last year, and if they build on that, they should be no worse than the 6th best team in basketball (4th in the West).

I dunno about your list. I think the top teams in the East are just as talented as the West, the gap has narrowed as evidenced by the showing in the last 3 finals.

I also think the Cavs, Wizards and Bulls can all take a leap to the upper tier of the league with the right moves in the offseason. Don't forget the Bulls have the #2 pick (stupid, stupid Knicks) and some cap room to work with. The Nets are also really solid if they can add another piece or two to round out their team.

I think you have to like the Suns and Mavs in the west next year. Amare coming back with a young agressive team is scary. The Mavs will have a year of experience and even the Clippers can make a run if things fall into place. I think the Spurs are starting to show thier age a little, but they can still beat anyone when TD is healthy. The Kings.. meh, to many wildcards to make a prediction like you said.