迈阿密热火队的NBA总冠军之路

Although the Heat only needed five games to win the title the OKC Thunder were right there with Miami in every game, save the last. But in the end, it was LeBron who got the better of KD and the Heat who earned the right to lift the Larry O’ Brien trophy as NBA champs. Michael Wong now, has a look back at the 2011-2012 NBA Finals.

The NBA Finals tipped off in Oklahoma City and the Thunder would hold firm on home court, downing LeBron and the Heat to take a 1-0 series lead with a 105-94 victory. The Thunder were led by three-time NBA scoring champ Kevin Durant who delivered a fourth quarter to remember. KD, scoring 17 of his 36 points in the final Q, leading a Thunder storm that overwhelmed Miami and gave OKC the early advantage.

The Heat quickly regrouped though in Game 2. LeBron received plenty of help from Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, and made sure this time he finished it off. James went hard to the rack all game and was perfect from the foul line, going 12-for-12, part of his 32-point night as the Heat held on for a 100-96 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder that evened the series at one game apiece as Miami stole home court advantage from the Thunder ahead of Game 3 in South Beach.

From then on, James and the Heat took over on home court. LBJ had 29 points and 14 rebounds in Game 3 and the Heat took a 2-1 series lead with a 91-85 victory over the Thunder. LeBron, looking like a different player than the one who seemed tentative at times down the stretch in last year’s Finals. This version of LeBron, a scary thing.

Game 4 featured an emotional and inspiring performance from The King. LeBron could hardly stand and certainly couldn’t run. Good thing all he needed to do was shoot. A limping, grimacing James shook off the pain of left leg cramps to hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 2:51 remaining and the Miami Heat held off the Thunder for a 104-98 victory and a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals. A lead no team had ever blown. The Heat needed all James could give and more to hold off Russell Westbrook. He scored 43 points for the Thunder, who wasted an early 17-point lead but were never out of the game because of their sensational point guard.

And with it all on the line in Game 5, LeBron was finally crowned King James. LeBron, leading the Heat with a great all-around performance as they demolished the Thunder. The new champions, reeling off four straight victories to take the series 4-1. James joined in with the deafening celebrations in the AmericanAirlines Arena from the sidelines, jumping and waving as he roared along with the fans with a beaming smile.

With his MVP performance in the Finals, LeBron answered the critics who said he couldn’t win the big one and showed us the maturation of a superstar.

LeBron, truly living up to his seemingly limitless potential and embracing the moment, hallmarks of a champion. And now, his ascension complete, King James is an NBA champion.

Nearly two years after the infamous "Yes. We. Did." party for James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in 2010 it is now "Yes. They. Did." in 2012.