Perhaps the new-look 2008 Boston Celtics, who won the title behind their Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen? They were hot all season. They started 8-0 and it grew to 29-3. They finished 66-16.
By comparison, this season’s Heat is 47-14 through 61 games. Those Celtics were 49-12 through 61 games.
But the Celtics were newly assembled, and the Lakers were sitting in their way. They might not have been as heavily favored in mid-March to win the title as this Heat squad.
Before that, you might have to go back to Shaquille O-Neal/Kobe Bryant “three-peat” Lakers teams.
There are probably few people outside of San Antonio who think the Spurs can beat the Heat in a best-of-seven. And even fans in the Alamo City are probably nervous.
“We’re in a good place right now,” said Allen, now with the Heat. “Offensively, we’re playing great.”
That’s bad news for the rest of the league.
Since the Big Three was assembled in the 2010-11 season, they have beaten Oklahoma City, Indiana, Chicago and New York in a playoff series. Those are some of the same teams that are supposed to challenge them again this season.
The only contenders the Heat haven’t faced in the playoffs in the previous two years are San Antonio and the Los Angeles Clippers.
But this season’s Heat/Big Three team is probably better than the previous two.
Barring an injury to LeBron, there’s almost no acceptable reason for the Heat to not win the championship. Injuries to Wade and Bosh didn’t matter last postseason. If the Heat wouldn’t have won the title, it would have been a disaster.
The same would be true this season. The Heat wouldn’t be labeled chokers or anything of that sort if they don’t win the title. They already have a title in hand. But it would be ugly.
The Heat said last season was a “No Excuses” season.
The same is true this year.
Chris Perkins is a veteran Miami-based sports journalist who covers the Heat for SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter.