2012 NBA Champions! - Page 7 - Basketball Forum : Professional and College Basketball Forums

**Wade2Bosh** · 06-24-2012, 01:01 AM

Heat Live Game 5 Post game show

-33- · 06-24-2012, 08:36 AM

I haven't been around as much as I used to...but...glad to get ring #2

Was there for Game #3

YES.WE.DID!

**Wade2Bosh** · 06-24-2012, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Tim Reynolds ‏@ByTimReynolds
LeBron media tour updates: ESPN Sunday conversation tonight, the SI cover (no surprise) and look for Big 3 on The View this week.

Quote:

Oprah Winfrey ‏@Oprah
Happy Sunday to all off to Miami to interview the HEAT ! For next Sunday's #NextChapter

..

**Jace** · 06-24-2012, 11:45 AM

From Simmons:

Quote:

The other twist of fate: Derrick Rose wrecked his knee in Round 1, propelling the Celtics into the Conference Finals … you know, LeBron's nemesis, the bullies who beat him in 2008 and 2010, the grizzled veterans who were convinced that LeBron would always cave when it mattered most. Garnett and Pierce loved pushing his buttons more than anyone. During their final regular-season road trip to Miami, which turned out to be a surprisingly easy win for the Celtics, they spent the last two minutes busting Wade's balls about LeBron. You picked the wrong guy. You'll never win with that guy. LeBron could hear everything. They didn't care. In Game 5 of their playoff series, Garnett and Pierce pushed things a little further, believing that LeBron was ready to cave again. Down the stretch, Garnett muttered derisive obscenities under his breath anytime LeBron was in earshot, then stuffed him at the rim on a pivotal drive. A little bit later, Pierce nailed a back-breaking 3 right in LeBron's mug, then yelled, "I have the balls to take that!" as he trotted back down the floor.

So happy to have ended them. What a miserable group.

**Jace** · 06-24-2012, 01:14 PM

Awesome article about one of the "background" stories after the Finals: Dwyane joining the group of multiple title winners.

2012 NBA Finals Miami Heat: Dwyane Wade and the aura of two

Quote:

It’s not going to mean to him what it means to LeBron James.

It can’t. He didn’t go through the suffering year after year. He didn’t face the constant questions, the constant criticism. No matter what, Wade had cemented his legacy in his third season. He had a ring, and once you hit that level, you’re protected by shielding. That’s not to say Wade hasn’t taken criticism over the past two years. But the difference in what it means is significant. So no, this isn’t going to mean to Dwyane Wade what it means to LeBron James.

But in the aftermath of the Heat’s 121-106 win over the Thunder to win their first NBA Championship in the Triad era, we’re left with the revision to Wade’s legacy. Because two matters. And if you don’t think it does, talk to any member of the Boston Celtics, talk to anyone around the league. Multiple titles does put you on a different tier. One ring can be evaluated as a one-off, a sneak-in, it’s getting off the targeting of not having a title. But two? You’re legit. You’re someone you can build multiple titles around.

Wade’s path is different, and the Decision is always going to color that, but in a lot of ways, Wade’s second title was more difficult to accomplish than the first. Setting aside the level of difficulty the Heat faced in their opponents (and this should not take away from that ’06 Mavs team which was phenomenal), this was the first title where Wade had to figure out his role in a team, not the other way around. In 2006, everything was built around Wade. It was 15 Strong, but in reality, it was 14 complimenting one. And that’s a model for success. Putting a great player in a position to succeed has proven to be a path to the title.

But this was much more difficult. Wade had to figure out when to be the aggressor, the initiator, and when to move off-ball. He had to know when to operate as a decoy, and when to excel as a playmaker. He had to score, he had to play smart, and most of all, he had to defend.

These playoffs were far from the offensive brilliance of Dwyane Wade that we’re used to. He struggled with his shot, struggled with his touch, struggled with the toll on his body. But defensively, Wade was locked in. After a series of uncharacteristic whining episodes against the Pacers, he responded. It should not be understated that Wade had a fantastic series guarding James Harden. It’s spoken of as if Harden simply vanished, and like it was with LeBron James against the Mavericks in 2011, that wasn’t the case. It was a series of brilliant defensive adjustments and individual efforts that lead to Harden being limited, shut out, disappearing.

Wade may go down as the greatest shot-blocking guard ever, and this series was a showcase of that. His unique combination of elevation and timing for a superstar, especially given his overall output, makes him a gamechanger. If the Heat’s offense settled into a hierarchy of LeBron-Wade-Bosh-everyone else, the defense was a cloud of talent that played together. Wade was a huge part of that.

Let’s also not ignore the elephant in the room. We’ve seen superstars run coaches and other stars out of multiple teams. Wade could have balked at the role he was tasked with, he could have blown up Erik Spoelstra or had Bosh traded. He could have created a power struggle in defiance. He didn’t. He kept his head down, responded to bad games with good games, and made the little plays. He became the best complimentary player since Scottie Pippen.

Wade became a villain publicly more than ever these playoffs, which is a shame because of his contributions off the floor to charity and his overall maturity. But maybe that was necessary for the Heat to establish the identity they needed. He supported James at every moment, supported his coach, even after yelling at him in a game, supported the franchise.

Wade joins the fraternity of players with multiple titles, and when he retires, that will be the first thing we discuss about him. He gave us flashes, the one-handed runner, the finish after contact, the explosive transition plays. Wade has already made noise about how “father time” and how he can see it in the distance. We may have already seen the best years of Dwyane Wade’s career. But there’s every indicationto believe we haven’t seen the best of Dwyane Wade’s teams.

The star and the teammate. Dwyane Wade, 2-time NBA champion.

**Wade2Bosh** · 06-24-2012, 03:37 PM

They really havent stopped partying

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Miami Beach, FL – June 23, 2012 - Continuing the celebration from the Miami Heat’s huge win Thursday night, NBA Champions, Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade kept the party going last night at Bamboo Nightclub. Arriving at around 1:45 a.m., the Big 3 took to the stage at Bamboo and were presented with a customized cake representing the Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy.

**Floods** · 06-24-2012, 03:41 PM

Have they slept?

UD40 · 06-24-2012, 03:46 PM

Sleep?

**Wade County** · 06-24-2012, 03:46 PM

Damn, that's like 4 days straight

Why not - we're Champs

**Wade2Bosh** · 06-24-2012, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Arriving at around 1:45 a.m

Around the country, 2AM is closing time. Not in Miami though

**Wade County** · 06-24-2012, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wade2Bosh

1st player tweet

Just realised how miserable Ron Rothstein looks

C'mon man, you just won a 'chip!

**Wade2Bosh** · 06-24-2012, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Shane Battier ‏@ShaneBattier
Very cool picture that my friend sent to me. Told LeBron to remember scenes like this. The old days.........

More partying as today was a private party thrown by Riley. Here's Micky with the players significant others..

Quote:

Micky Arison ‏@MickyArison
Me & the @MiamiHEAT ladies what a blast.

**Wade2Bosh** · 06-24-2012, 10:05 PM

"Earned not Given" shirts soon to be sold in stores

**Jace** · 06-25-2012, 05:13 AM

We're now tied with the Knicks in championships!

Nike is so happy right now. They can finally market him as champion, with a possible second gold medal around the corner.

**Wade2Bosh** · 06-25-2012, 08:23 AM

Watching the parade. That former Heat dancer that Spo was linked to, is right behind Spo on his bus. Good for Spo

06-24-2012, 01:01 AM	#91 (permalink)
Wade2Bosh Moderator Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: MIAMI Posts: 38,827 Rep Power: 5463745	Re: 2012 NBA Champions! Heat Live Game 5 Post game show __________________

06-24-2012, 08:36 AM	#92 (permalink)
-33- 15 STRONG Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Dirty South Age: 29 Posts: 27,456 Rep Power: 4077245	Re: 2012 NBA Champions! I haven't been around as much as I used to...but...glad to get ring #2 Was there for Game #3 YES.WE.DID! __________________ Formerly DQ for 3, Shaq_Diesel, and Caron_Butler. Road to Back-to-Back Championships 16-15-14-13-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1

06-24-2012, 03:41 PM	#97 (permalink)
Floods -LIFETIME MEMBER- Tetris Champion! Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 14,374 Rep Power: 15771513	Re: 2012 NBA Champions! Have they slept?

06-24-2012, 03:46 PM	#98 (permalink)
UD40 Hot Tub Time Machine Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 19,609 Rep Power: 8119767	Re: 2012 NBA Champions! Sleep? __________________ All Heat First Team Tim Hardaway Dwyane Wade LeBron James Chris Bosh Alonzo Mourning All Heat Second Team Mario Chalmers Eddie Jones Glen Rice Udonis Haslem Shaquille O'Neal

06-24-2012, 03:46 PM	#99 (permalink)
Wade County 2012 NBA Champions! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 25 Posts: 24,717 Rep Power: 3020267	Re: 2012 NBA Champions! Damn, that's like 4 days straight Why not - we're Champs __________________ Formerly BG44 & MB30

06-24-2012, 10:05 PM	#103 (permalink)
Wade2Bosh Moderator Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: MIAMI Posts: 38,827 Rep Power: 5463745	Re: 2012 NBA Champions! "Earned not Given" shirts soon to be sold in stores __________________

06-25-2012, 05:13 AM	#104 (permalink)
Jace X V I Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Miami/Raleigh Age: 27 Posts: 17,419 Rep Power: 2677069	Re: 2012 NBA Champions! We're now tied with the Knicks in championships! Nike is so happy right now. They can finally market him as champion, with a possible second gold medal around the corner. __________________ Jace's soundcloud Last edited by Jace; 06-25-2012 at 05:21 AM.

06-25-2012, 08:23 AM	#105 (permalink)
Wade2Bosh Moderator Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: MIAMI Posts: 38,827 Rep Power: 5463745	Re: 2012 NBA Champions! Watching the parade. That former Heat dancer that Spo was linked to, is right behind Spo on his bus. Good for Spo __________________

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