Feb 17, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Western Conference guard Kobe Bryant (24) of the Los Angeles Lakers talks with Eastern Conference all-stars Dwyane Wade (3) and LeBron James (6) of the Miami Heat in the second quarter of the 2013 NBA all star game at the Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Lakers. The Miami Heat. Two franchises with very similar results since we survived Y2K. Both have been very successful in winning championships (Lakers – 5 since 2000, Heat – 3). Both have had big name stars (Kobe, Wade, LeBron, Shaq, etc.), and both are big markets on the NBA spectrum. Both have also had elite coaches (Phil Jackson in L.A., Pat Riley in Miami).
But I stumbled upon some great work by Reddit’s dmc15 this past week that shows that these two franchise may have had an ever more eerily identical story-lines in these past 13 years. Whether or not you have an inkling that the NBA is slightly rigged, this is definitely something to take a look at.
May 19, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) grimaces after after getting scratched in game four of the Western Conference semi finals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Staples Center. Thunder won 103-100. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
The “Coincidences” Between the Lakers and Heat since 2000.
-Lakers – 2002
The Los Angeles Lakers win an NBA championship with Shaquille O’Neal at the helm and a high-scoring sidekick in Kobe Bryant.
-Heat – 2006
The Miami Heat win an NBA championship with Shaquille O’Neal at the helm and a high-scoring sidekick in Dwayne Wade.
2 Years Later
-Lakers – 2004
Shaquille O’Neal leaves the team, and the Lakers become a lottery team.
-Heat – 2008
Shaquille O’Neal leaves the team, and the Heat become a lottery team.
After That
-Lakers – 2006, 2007
After missing out on the post-season, the Lakers have two straight first-round playoff exits. They lose in 7 games in 2006 and then in 5 games in 2007. During this period, the Lakers are basically a top-5 scorer, Kobe Bryant, and garbage.
-Heat – 2009, 2010
After missing out on the post-season, the Heat have two straight first-round playoff exits. They lose in 7 games in 2009 and then 5 games in 2010. During this period, the Heat are basically a top-5 scorer, Dwayne Wade, and garbage.
Transition
-Lakers – 2008
The Lakers’ solid offseason/trade deadline allows them to become one of the best teams in the league.
-Heat – 2011
The Heat’s solid offseason/trade deadline allows them to become one of the best teams in the league.
First Year Failure
-Lakers – 2008
The Lakers go all the way to the NBA Finals, without much competition, but lose in 6 games to a defensive minded team full of hungry veterans with a star big man (K.G.) looking for his first title. Their star player receives a ton of hate for his finals performance.
-Heat – 2011
The Heat go all the way to the NBA Finals, without much competition, but lose in 6 games to a defensive minded team full of hungry veterans with a star big man (Dirk) looking for his first title. Their star players receives a ton of hate for his finals performance.
Success
-Lakers – 2009
The Lakers return to the NBA Finals the following year and are matched up against an inexperienced team (Orlando Magic) with one of the rising stars (Dwight Howard) of the NBA. The Lakers win in 5 games, proving doubters wrong.
-Heat – 2012
The Heat return to the NBA Finals the following year and are matchup up against an inexperienced team (Oklahoma City Thunder) with one of the rising stars (Kevin Durant) of the NBA. The Heat win in 5 games, proving doubters wrong.
Repeat
-Lakers – 2010
The Lakers make it back to the NBA Finals for a third straight time and play a former championship team with its core still intact. The Lakers go down 3-2, but win Game 6 to force a Game 7 at home.
-Heat – 2013
The Heat make it back to the NBA Finals for a third straight time and play a former championship team with its core still intact. The Heat go down 3-2, but win Game 6 to force a Game 7 at home.
Back-To-Back
-Lakers – 2010
The Lakers win Game 7, thus winning an NBA championship in two consecutive seasons.
-Heat – 2013
The Heat win Game 7, thus winning an NBA championship in two consecutive seasons.
Scary, huh? Is it just a coincidence, or isn’t it? The Lakers were swept early in the playoffs come 2011, so hopefully the trend is broken for Miami as they go on their quest for a three-peat in 2014.