Revenge will be at the center of the 2020 NBA Finals when the Miami Heat face off against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Heat Team President Pat Riley led the Lakers to four championships in the 1980s, and the relationship between Riley and James was deemed to be one of the reasons that James left the Heat for a second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
James takes on the team that he helped guide to two championships and four consecutive finals appearances, from 2011-2014. James is also going against an organization that knows him better than anyone else in the NBA.
The question that arises with the NBA Finals nearly 48 hours from getting underway is: Will James be able to exact revenge on his former team to win his fourth title, or will the Heat cause one of the all-time greats to leave Orlando empty-handed?
Miami has the decided advantage at coaching while the Lakers have a better collection of talent. With the improbable run to the finals for the Heat, Miami is the first five seed to advance all the way to the NBA Finals, Head Coach Eric Spoelstra is getting the credit he deserves. During the “Big 3” era in Miami, which resulted in two titles, Spoelstra was looked at as just being along for the ride. Spoelstra would get all of the blame, and none of the credit, during a whirlwind four years in “South Beach.”
The NBA world now knows that Spoelstra is a top-flight NBA coach, and will certainly be in the Hall of Fame once he decides to hang up his whistle.
The Heat personify the old adage that “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” Miami plays team basketball that looks far less potent when on paper. Instead, Miami has many young players coming into their own in the “NBA Bubble” with some more experienced players on the roster as well, but the young players of Miami will determine if the Heat win the title.
Bam Adebayo, a forward for the Heat, helped propel Miami to the NBA Finals after scoring a career-high 32 points in game 6 and Tyler Herro scored a Heat rookie-record 37 points in game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Herro and Adebayo are 20 and 23 respectively.
While Miami is led by youth, like Adebayo and Herro, the Lakers are led by veteran players that are staples on the game’s biggest stage. James is appearing in his 10th finals, guard Danny Green is playing in his fourth, and point guard Rajon Rondo is appearing in his third.
This series will certainly be youth pitted against experience.
Even though Lakers forward Anthony Davis has not appeared in the finals in his career, he will be the second-best player on the floor at all times during the finals. The Heat have experienced a Cinderella run of sorts in Orlando, but it will all come crashing down with a championship in their sights. The Lakers have too much experience on the roster, and James has been on a mission since the NBA season restarted.
Miami will be a staple in the finals for years to come, but the Lakers will be too tough a hill to climb.
Prediction: Lakers in 5
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