If there wasn’t enough of a reason to celebrate in South Beach, now comes the first ever NBA Championship from the Miami Heat, as Shaq and D Wade clinched the title in game 6 Tuesday night on the road, in Dallas. The up and down two years the team has had since the arrival of Shaq paid off when master motivator Pat Riley took over the reins of the team from Stan Van Gundy, and implemented his 15 Strong program, making sure the team was a lot more than just the two stars. After losing in Game 7 last year to the Pistons with a banged up D Wade, Riles disregarded the naysayers, and broke the team up, moving Eddie and Damon Jones.

His additions were questioned throughout the year as the team did not gel until Game 4 of the first round against the Chicago Bulls. But in the end, the additions of James Posey, ‘Toine, GP, and White Chocolate put the Heat over the top, and delivered the belt down to the beach for the first bling in the 18 year history of the franchise.

While Riles made all the right moves, and the veterans like ‘Zo and Shaq controlled the paint for the playoff fun and finals, it was the rise of Dwyane Wade to stardom, and I mean like MJ stardom, that put Miami over the top. After struggling in Games 1 and 2 of the Finals, Flash went off, scoring over 35 in three straight games, including the game winner in OT in Game 5, which by the way was only the biggest game of his life. D Wade was unstoppable, and his quickness to the basket combined with his tremendous athletic ability and brilliant J leaves anyone sticking him that night to get their Lionel Richie on, cause Flash will bring it “All Night Long.”

And now, as we look forward to the NBA Draft Wednesday in NY, the question arises, can Miami repeat? Yeah, we all saw the Diesel with Stephen A after the game saying the Heat will repeat, and when you think about Wade having an entire summer to improve even more, lots of questions with surround Miami as they enter next season. Does Payton and Mourning have enough in their bodies, playing 29 combined years in the L, to play another season at a championship caliber? Does Riley have the motivation to chase another ring after chasing down his first in his last 16 seasons? Does Shaq care anymore, and will he be in shape by the All Star break? Will the new additions settle in and play the regular season the way they did in the playoffs? Will the 22 bottles of Cristal that the team drank on the plane be a factor?

And while Miami has many questions to answer, the league will be improved, especially the East. The Heat will also now get every team’s best game every night as they will wear the bulls-eye on their backs. Teams like Cleveland, New Jersey, Philly, Toronto, and Milwaukee will be contenders in the East, not to mention all the top teams out west, Spurs, Mavs, Suns, Clips will all be better.

One title won, many questions still unanswered. Just the way Coach Riley likes it.

A PimpWiz Exclusive By, Ryan Berger

Labels: RyanBerger, Sports