Running the Table: How the Miami Heat Could Rewrite NBA History

Did you ever see that movie, The Perfect Storm, with George Clooney and Marky Mark? (Yeah, I still refuse to call him Mark Wahlberg for some reason.)

It was a film about these fisher guys sailing along in their ship and somehow they get caught up in the perfect storm (hence the title). I won't spoil the ending for you, but the ship sinks in a hurricane/monsoon/hail storm—something ridiculous.

Anyway, it was sad, emotional and probably could never happen again. Okay, so I spoiled the ending, sorry. You probably need Netflix anyway.

My point is, the same thing could happen during the 2011-2012 NBA season.

No, I don't mean that fishermen will be drowned in some freak storm thingy. I mean, this time it could be a fire of epic proportions sparked by the heat. The Miami Heat. Think about it, a disrespected trio of All-Stars, a shortened NBA season, a chance for an unbelievable Hollywood-scripted ending.

A perfect storm, and by storm I mean season. Now, what could make Stern happier?

In a season where the commish won't get a Lakers/Celtics finals, or Michael Jordan coming out of retirement (don't laugh, he hasn't ruled it out), or a redo on the CP3 trade fiasco, what could be more, well, perfect?

The Miami Heat wins 82 consecutive games to win its second Larry O'Brien trophy. It sweeps the league. It runs the table.  It redeems The Decision.

What if?

Now, you and I both know this is a pipe dream, but let's suppose for a second that it can happen. Nothing is impossible (Just ask Tim Tebow).

Here's How the Season Goes Down

Miami destroys its December opponents (They already blew Dallas out, and are manhandling Boston as I write this). That's a 4-0 start, bringing momentum into the 2012 part of the season.

January is where everything would have to break just right, as the Heat have an insane amount of travel time between January 5-13. They have stops in Atlanta, New Jersey, San Fransisco, L.A. and Denver in less than 10 days. Whew.

That road trip, however, could be just what they need to prove their sticking power. If they come out of those battles unscathed, there might be a lot to love about February.

Playing a back-to-back and a back-to-back-to-back in a week's span, they would have to overcome another tough month. The way they make it through that, though, is to blow out teams early and rest the starters.

The only elite team they face during that span is Orlando. Who is to say Dwight is still playing in the Magic Kingdom by then? See how this shapes up in the Heat's favor?

March places the Heat on the road 10 out of 16 games, but at least most of those games are against Eastern Conference teams, closer to home. It also includes games against Toronto, Indy, and Detroit. Not out of reach yet. 

The true test comes in April. The team will start to look ahead to the playoffs, and could overlook teams like Charlotte, New Jersey, Houston and Washington. If they can maintain their focus though, they would slide to a top seed post-season spot.

In the playoffs, a conceivable line up like Boston, Atlanta and Chicago could see the Heat going 12-0 on the way to the Finals. Now here's the twist; the Los Angeles Clippers.

If the high flying kids of Lob City could manage to leap over three Western foes and make their first ever Finals, chances are they will be caught like a deer in the headlights—Perfect. 

The Heat finish out the season 82-0, forever cemented as the greatest team in NBA history. LeBron can put the detractors to bed. Bosh has significance as a legit member of the Big Three. Wade is justified in his recruitment of the two sidekicks. David Stern can retire on top—with an ugly lockout far in his rear view mirror—as the commish who oversaw the greatest season in NBA history.

(By the way, if Stern is reading this article he is already putting in phone calls to every referee in the league to have a "talk" with them. Way to be proactive, Mr. Commissioner.)

Now, I know, this is all ridiculous. If it does happen though, just remember where you read it.