2011-12 NBA: Lebron Finally Wins One

I don't try to hide the fact that I don't like Lebron James and consequently I don't like the Miami Heat.  I am definitely disappointed that they finally managed to win a title this year.  I have to admit, however, that this sentiment is only because I don't like them, because admittedly, they did show they were the best team in the league this year.  Congratulations to the Heat and to Lebron.

Miami:  First of all, let me clarify that I don't like Lebron because of "The Decision" and other stupid personal/off the court moves that he has done.  There is a difference between me not wanting him to win a title, and not thinking that he is capable of winning.  I plain and simply do not want him to win, and now that he has won, do not want him to win anymore.  I will always be rooting against him, but at the same time I do recognize his greatness both as an individual player and his contribution to a team.  That said, Miami won their championship this year because Lebron finally did what he was expected to do...man-up, take charge, and bully his way to a championship.  Job well done.

Oklahoma:  It was a good year for the Thunder and shows that they are in a great position to be a contender for years to come.  Last year it was Russell Westbrook who screwed up during the playoffs and then bounced back and grew up this season.  In the finals it was James Harden's turn to screw up.  Hopefully he bounces back from this also the way Westbrook did.  If they can keep the team together, they will be in a position to challenge for the title for years to come.  The key is whether they will be able to keep all the pieces together as the players mature and contracts and money get in the way.

San Antonio:  As the playoffs showed, the Spurs are indeed too old.  They have enough talent to do well during the season but need a dominant, athletic young star to be a legitimate challenger.  They have built up a good supporting cast, and with the addition of that one young athletic star would bring them back in the hunt for a title.

Boston:  The Celtics showed in the playoffs that they weren't dead yet and were perhaps one or two pieces away from being a real title contender (even if they had beaten the Heat, I don't see them beating OKC).  However, by shooing away Ray Allen, they have forced the start of at least a partial rebuilding process.  Unless they can get a defensive minded big man to share the burden with Kevin Garnett, however, they will not have much of a chance.