Heat Are Now Favorites to Win NBA Championship, And They Better Not Blow Opportunity

LeBron James wasn’t shy about sharing exactly what went through his mind on Wednesday night as the Miami Heat finally defeated the Celtics and overcame their postseason demons.

“Everything,” he said. “Everything went through my mind. Finally getting over the hump against this team. Everything I went through this summer with the Decision and deciding to come here. All the backlash I got from it. All the talks I had with [Dwyane] Wade.

“Everything.”

It was an emotional moment for LeBron, obviously. He said as much. The Celtics were the inspiration behind everything that he, Wade and Chris Bosh have achieved over the last year, and to knock the defending Eastern Conference champs out of the playoffs once and for all was satisfying. It was the culmination of a lot of hard work, and the Heat earned the right to celebrate.

But their work is far from done.

The Heat won convincingly in five games against a Celtic team that many thought could win it all. After this stunning performance, the Heat can now be considered favorites to reach the promised land next month (or co-favorites, if you’re feeling generous to Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks).

The Heat have been tremendously impressive this postseason. LeBron and Wade have demonstrated extraordinary talent, the supporting cast has been a touch better than advertised, and Erik Spoelstra has left no doubt that he’s ready to be a championship-level coach. The Heat may very well win it all this year.

But also, put another way: They had better win it all this year.

These guys came together last summer with the intent to win championships, plural. They hyped themselves up, they threw that ridiculous pep rally on Biscayne Bay to celebrate themselves, and at least temporarily, they embraced the “villain” role that America offered them. They told the basketball world they would be champions. That’s a lot to live up to.

The road ahead will not be easy. The Bulls are a daunting likely opponent in the Eastern Conference finals, and Dallas isn’t the only team out West that can derail their championship hopes. The Heat could lose this thing at some point along the way.

But to validate all the arrogance that carried them to this point, they must win. There’s no other option.

There was a world of pressure on this Heat team before they finally toppled the Celtics. But if they think the pressure is gone now, they’ve got another thing coming.

Don’t mess this up, LeBron. Your legacy depends on it.

What do you think about the Heat, now that they’ve beaten the Celtics? Share your thoughts below.