NBA Playoffs 2011: LeBron James and Dwyane Wade Heat Up the East
It seems as though the Miami Heat have finally gotten their game straight. When the move to bring in the "Big Three" happened in July, they were automatically favored to be the NBA champions.
The Big Three have had their moments, both good and bad. However, playing the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals would prove to be the team's biggest challenge yet. Ending in a stellar series, the Heat won 4-1 and are on fire.
LeBron James has had his troubles in the playoffs in the past. This year seems to be a different story. If you watched that heated Game 5, you can just see how badly LeBron wants a ring. Scoring 10 points of the final 16-0 run to end the game, LeBron hit two huge three-pointers to make the entire city of Miami erupt.
LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have both stepped up their game tremendously and turned many heads when they closed out the Celtics in only five games.
Between the two players, James and Wade have scored over 60-plus points in their four wins.
Game 1: LeBron James 22 points, Dwyane Wade 38 points
Game 2: LeBron James 35 points, Dwyane Wade 28 points
Game 4: LeBron James 35 points, Dwyane Wade 28 points
Game 5: LeBron James 33 points, Dwyane Wade 34 points
As you can see, LeBron and Dwyane certainly have showed the world that they are championship material. In fact, 253 points of the 396 points accumulated during their four wins were scored by James and Wade. This is proving to be the deadliest duo in the league.
The Miami Heat will face either the Atlanta Hawks or the Chicago Bulls in the Conference Finals, and they have no intentions of slowing down. The way the playoffs are headed, this year's Finals will look to be a rematch of the 2006 NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat.
LeBron is set to do what he was brought in to do—and that is win. The Conference Finals will open up in Miami on May 18, so be ready to clear your schedules, because this will be a heck of a run.
