(Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE)
Steve Kerr
A year ago, the Miami Heat had something to prove after coming off a disappointing loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. The Heat’s star players desperately needed to win a championship.
What a difference a year makes.
They won and now what seemed like unfair pressure and stress is somewhat gone.
It’s a completely different mindset from a year ago: Repeat.
With LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh returning, Miami also added an outside shooting threat in Ray Allen, so the Heat is once again the prohibitive favorite in the East.
Steve Kerr, who won five NBA championships and is now an analyst for TNT, thinks the Heat might have an easier road than most teams that have attempted to get back-to-back championships.
“I think in Miami’s case it will be easier than it usually is for teams to repeat just based on the burden that has been lifted off their shoulders,” he told the 110 Sports Podcast.
Kerr was a part of the Michael Jordan-led Bulls teams that won three straight titles and believes this Heat team could be in a special place.
“I think there’s so much pressure that’s gone now from LeBron and Bosh, and constant scrutiny that just hung over that team the last couple of years,” he said.
“So, I think they should be able to relax. There’s a newfound trust and confidence and belief in what they’re doing having won the title.”
The road through the East looks to be manageable, but one possible team that could give them some trouble is the new-look Los Angeles Lakers. Now with two big presences in the low post with Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol, the Lakers could present some potential matchup issues to the reigning champions.
Regardless, Kerr sees this as the Heat’s season to lose.
“I think they’re the favorites to do it again and I think they’ll find it emotionally a lot easier,” Kerr said.
“Physically, we’ll see. If they run into the Lakers in the Finals, that’s a pretty tough matchup and it would be interesting to watch, but all in all I think Miami is the favorite going in.”
Arizona native Matt Minkus is the host of the 110 Sports Podcast, a show that pays homage to one of the most repeated cliches in sports: “Giving 110 percent.” Excerpts of new shows will be available at LindysSports.com every Wednesday.
