As the NBA playoffs march along, the Miami Heat and LeBron James are still connected.
Two summers ago, LeBron James crushed the soul of Heat Nation, when he announced he would be leaving the Miami Heat to go back to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Some members of the media and fans alike responded in anger, others were too devastated to even comment on the matter, most wished him the best…but everyone agreed on one thing: he would be missed.
And missed he was. Not just by supporters, or those who covered him. Not merely by the team. The organization itself changed.
The Heat’s 2014-15 season was turbulent, riddled with self-doubt, distrust and of course, injury. It was as if being dumped by a soulmate, left behind to work through a broken heart, weary of the next batch of suitors.
Naturally, that brought about concern. Could Miami still succeed without the King? Would they ever be the same again?
But then last offseason took place.
More from All U Can Heat
- Grade the Trade: Heat grab Trae Young in shocking proposal
- NBA 2K24 Ratings: Takeaways and reactions to Miami Heat player ratings
- 4 Teams that should trade for Tyler Herro
- Miami Heat’s Nikola Jovic gives entire world reason to love him
- 1 Advantage the Heat have over every Southeast Division team
Two fantastic rookies were drafted. Dwyane Wade found a fountain of youth. Goran Dragic went all in. Hassan Whiteside blossomed. Life was good. And despite once again losing Chris Bosh at the All-Star break, it stayed that way. In fact, after the addition of Joe Johnson, it got better.
As of Monday, the Heat are tied with the Charlotte Hornets 2-2, in the first round of the 2016 Playoffs. They finished the regular season third in the Eastern Conference, with a 48-34 record. Their roster is several levels of deep. Right now, there seems to be a possibility that they can make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. Even Jalen Rose says so.
Meanwhile, James is still without a championship ring via the Cavaliers.
Although Cleveland did make it to the Finals last year, they fell short 4-2 to the Golden State Warriors. So far this year, they have swept the Detroit Pistons in the first round, after earning the top seed in the East with a 57-25 record. And yes, they too are headed for the ECF.
More from Heat News
- NBA 2K24 Ratings: Takeaways and reactions to Miami Heat player ratings
- Miami Heat’s Nikola Jovic gives entire world reason to love him
- 1 Advantage the Heat have over every Southeast Division team
- Three former first-round picks the Miami Heat should take a chance on
- Former NBA exec says Trail Blazers should take Heat’s Tyler Herro in Damian Lillard trade
Obviously, the James in Miami narrative will never be forgotten. Beyond him orchestrating and consequently forming the Big Three, he brought the city two back-to-back championships. Plus, with these two teams potentially having to battle it out, it makes sense that there is still some buzz. But as time goes by, it would be only normal to stop focusing on the past so much.
However, it does not appear like Heat Nation is there quite yet.
Recently, James’ success in relation to the team came up in discussion on Heat Twitter, in response to a comment singing the tune of Wade missing his partner in crime. While some continue to think Miami does not have a chance at any real championship run, supporters clapped back with the fact that James was only able to win a title with Wade (and Bosh) by his side. Preach.
Two years later, and it seems as though James is still a hot topic in South Beach.
More heat: Miami Heat: Tyler Johnson inching closer to return, per report
Miami may have rebranded themselves, and James may still be on his journey to win one for “The Land,” but these two entities will forever be connected. And just wait till James heads back to the Heat…