Miami Heat: Ringless Big 3 Would Be One of the All-Time NBA Disappointments

No core assembled in their unique fashion has revolutionized the NBA like the Big Three of the Miami Heat.

The Los Angeles Lakers tried building their one-year star studded dynasty adding Karl Malone and Gary Payton in 2003-04. The aging Lakers failed to coexist in the Finals, and suffered from the infamous "five-game sweep" at the expense of the Detroit Pistons.

The Boston Celtics teamed Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett together with Paul Pierce after trading for both men in 2007-08. All were reaching the end of their prime, but shared the same hunger of adding a championship to their well-accomplished resumes.

In their first season together, Boston beat the Lakers in six games winning the NBA championship. But now after losing to Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals this year and reaching the end of their peaks, the Boston Big Three could come to an end this offseason.

Up next trying to rewrite history are the Miami Heat.

Their Big Three was put together in a more unorthodox fashion. After a budding chemistry playing together on Team USA and then leaving their respected franchises via free agency, LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined forces with Dwyane Wade all in the prime of their careers expecting to dominantly win multiple championships.

And as the new-look Heat were expecting the best, the thoughts of the world expected the same thing.

However, after a stunning upset in last year's Finals loss to Dallas and the possibility of falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder in this year's championship series, the Miami Heat's Big Three are on threatening to become one of the biggest disappointments in NBA history.

After coming together as a team in 2010, the new Heat core talked tough and made bold premature promises, especially LeBron James. LeBron went as far to call Miami's path to the top as "easy" and claimed his new team was able to win as many as seven championships together.

Maybe LeBron's head was caught in the moment while making those guarantees, but looking at the star-studded trio and their role players, multiple championships have become an expectation that Miami is yet to accomplish.

Never has the foundation of a franchise been put together the way the Heat's was in 2010. Chris Bosh leaving Toronto, and LeBron's infamous "Decision" to leave Cleveland left the world in a whirlwind of shock. With Bosh, James, and Wade all barely hitting the prime of their careers, the sky seemed to be the limit for this team.

After back-to-back dominant regular seasons, Miami then ran through the playoffs on their way to the NBA Finals. The Dallas Mavericks shocked the world by defeating Miami in six games last season, and now the Heat find themselves in a one-game-hole to the Thunder.

Of course, it's way too soon to write off Miami after one game, but one can't help but wonder what has happened to this team? And what will the future be for the Big Three?

Fans enjoy poking fun or blaming LeBron for the Heat's shortcomings. Another popular target for blame is head coach Erik Spoelstra for his questioned role with his team. In the end, it doesn't matter where the blame goes, the Miami Heat simply are not living up to the expectations placed on themselves.

This three-headed monster caused a major power shift in the Eastern Conference, as well as the NBA. Since joining forces, Miami's stars have coasted through the regular seasons and spark SportsCenter-worthy plays. But are the Heat satisfied with regular season domination and no championship hardware?

If Miami fails to beat the Thunder in this series, it's hard to imagine the Big Three sticking together next season. Wade hasn't been the player he once was, Bosh too often finds himself lost as the third-wheel, and James continues to disappear in the big moments of games. What was once said to be "easy" by LeBron has only been a tough mountain Miami has failed to climb.

All respect due to the Dallas Mavericks, but Miami should have been crowned champions last season. The Mavericks were able to defy all odds, and prove a team always stands stronger than three stars.

So often in the NBA now players are looking to form All-Star tandems of their own. Carmelo Anthony and Amaré Stoudemire teamed up in New York, plus Chris Paul joining Blake Griffin in Los Angeles. Now with Dwight Howard and Deron Williams' names swirling on the rumor mill, they could find themselves creating another powerhouse in the NBA.

LeBron admit after the Eastern Conference Finals last season that the Big Three in Miami was motivated by the Big Three in Boston. With the Celtics playing their last stretch for a championship and Miami just entering their prime, however, there are few similarities with these teams.

If Miami continues to crumble under their own expectations, this alliance could go down in NBA infamy. Time is running short on this team, and the time for action must begin right now.