Playoffs highlight strength of NBA trios on The Murfreesboro Post

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Playoffs highlight strength of NBA trios

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By: DAVID HUNTER, dhunter@murfreesboropost.com

Posted: Wednesday, June 13, 2012 3:43 pm

The 2012 NBA Playoffs have shown that the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Miami Heat have something in common.

Both teams come into the best-of-seven championship series with a trio of superstars who have helped lead their squads to this point.

Of course, the question is now: Whose threesome will be better?

The answer to that question will determine the 2012 NBA champion.

Both teams developed their threesomes in two totally different ways.

By now, you know the story on how the Heat’s trio, LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade became bonded together in 2008 as Olympic teammates. It has taken some time for these three to work together on the court, but once they got used to each other, the Heat began smoking. For Miami, this is its second consecutive finals appearance.

However, the Heat wants to put last season behind them after falling to Dallas in the 2011 championship series.

Now, the trio hopes to learn from that negative experience and shut up all of those critics who have talked about James inability to get the championship ring, despite being the best player in the league.

The criticism also comes on the heals of James’ controversial departure from his hometown team, Cleveland, a few seasons ago when he signed with the Heat to pair up with his buddies.

So far, the trio has answered the doubters with their playoff performance. The Heat ended Boston’s run Saturday with a Game 7 victory in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. It might have also ended the status of the Celtics legendary trio of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen. It’s no secret that Boston is looking to break up the threesome.

Now, the Heat faces a young and hungry trio, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Hardin from the Western Conference champion, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Unlike the Heat, Oklahoma’s threesome has never been to the finals. The last time the franchise went to the championship series was in 1996 in Seattle. They lost that series to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.

Fast-forward 16 years later, the Thunder’s trio of stars came together through the team’s draft in the past few seasons. Unlike James, the Thunder’s top player, Durant, stays out of the public eye and lets the play on the court define him. However, like James, he wants to finally earn that ring and improve his standing as one of the best NBA players.

In the Western Conference finals, Oklahoma City also ended the run of another tremendous and cagey threesome, the San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili.

Game 1 was Tuesday night, and results were not available when this issue went to press. The second game is tonight.

My pick is the Thunder because even through none of the top players have been to the finals, they have a secret weapon: veteran guard Derek Fisher, who has made big shots in big games during his days as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. He also won several titles with the Lakers, and he brings that experience to the court for the young, hungry group of stars.

Also, the Heat will probably find a way to falter at some points during the series. Hopefully, they can find a way to shut all of those people that have doubted them to this point and James can finally win that ring. We will see.

Which threesome will come out on top and become champions?

Tagged under Basketball, David Hunter, NBA, Sports

Member Opinions:

By: jgp2t_mtsu_s12 on 8/1/12
The Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder will both be dominant NBA teams for years to come. Sure LeBron James got the best of Kevin Durant and the Thunder this year, but Durant is only 23 years old. Both teams present a powerful trio of NBA superstars. The Heat have Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, and megastar LeBron James leading the way. These three may have more experience and the NBA title, but the Thunder have youth. The trio of Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Kevin Durant are all under the age of 24. While the young Thunder trio are all under the age of 24 the Heat are aging. LeBron is 27 and Dwayne Wade is already 30. This team only has a few years left to dominate before they all reach the back end of their hall of fame careers. While the Heat are getting older, the Thunder trio are entering the prime of their careers In my opinion this gifted team of young superstars will set the bar in the NBA as long as they can stay together. The Thunder front office is doing everything in their power to keep these three stars together and if they do, watch out. This team will be a force to be reckoned with, and LeBron and the Heat will have their seat from the throne removed.