To Hot to Handel

           To this point, the average yearly temperature in Oklahoma City was 72 degrees. Tonight, Oklahoma City learned that heat can cause a natural disaster.

            It took LeBron James and Dwyane Wade five games to quell the Thunder and win a title. The Heat scored 93 points by the third quarter, and had crushed the Thunder’s spirit by halftime.

            The Heat’s monsoon of three pointers dampened the Thunder’s sprit. Every one of Miami’s 14 three pointers appeared to be unguarded; and the result of excellent ball movement.

            During one sequence in the second quarter, James drove straight to the basket. When the Thunder collapsed in on him, LeBron kicked it out to a wide open Mike Miller. A quick flick of the wrist later, Miller had knocked down one of his seven threes.   

In addition to Miller, the home team’s bench made sure to show up for the closeout game. Miller’s back problems didn’t stop him from scoring 23 points on eight shots. Shane Battier constantly threw his body between the Thunder and the basket. Even 23 year old Norris Cole was sure to hit his open three pointers.

            Still, the Heat’s championship run began and ended with James. When his team was pronounced dead against the Indiana Pacers, James scored 40 points to respond. Facing elimination in game six against the Boston Celtics, he put up 45 points. In the game that gave King James his first crown, LeBron put up a triple double.

            It is now safe to say Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert did not fulfill his guarantee.

            Though the media will focus on James’ win, other Heat players won their first title too. Juwan Howard, Battier, Miller, Bosh, Cole, Mario Chalmers, are the others who are no longer title virgins.

            Perhaps it was the inexperience of the Thunder that came back to haunt them. The Thunder played their worst when the circumstances demanded their best.

Other than Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the Thunder failed from top to bottom.

In tonight’s game, Thunder starters not named Durant and Westbrook combined for 11 points. The presumed X-factor of the series, James Harden, averaged a measly 11.4 points per game in the Finals. Head coach Scott Brooks continued to leave the struggling Harden on LeBron James defensively throughout the series; even when it was clear the sixth man of the year was overmatched by the league MVP.

James Wade and Bosh got what they came for in a dominant fashion. Bosh and James out-rebounded the Thunder’s front line 18-8 in the last game this year. James and Wade combined for more assists (16) than Durant, Westbrook, and Harden combined. Also, Miami’s core three matched the 70 points the Thunder’s core put up.

            The Heat made a lot of enemies last year when they threw a championship parade without playing a game This time, James Wade and Bosh get a real one.