As the NBA season is about to get underway, there are several interesting story-lines to follow that will shape the playoffs. What will Derrick Rose look like as he returns to action? When will Russell Westbrook come back, and how will he look? What can the Houston Rockets do with arguably the two best players at their respective positions? However, the primary story-line that everyone will likely turn to, particularly in late April, is the Miami Heat's quest for a third consecutive title. Can Lebron create a three-peat, when only three NBA franchises have accomplished this in the history of the league?
While there are countless variables that will factor into the answer come June, there is one under-reported facet to this story. In order to win three straight titles, the Miami Heat will have to make their fourth consecutive NBA Finals, and win it. Why does this matter? Well, since the legendary Russell Celtics, there have been nine teams to go to three straight NBA Finals in 46 years. How did those teams do in their respective quests for an NBA championship?
NOT APPLICABLE (1994 Chicago Bulls, 1999 Chicago Bulls)
Questioning the credentials of Michael Jordan as the undisputed greatest player of all time is a fun way to waste hours of your life, and likely get in a fistfight, but in this case, it's not warranted. Despite the three championships prior to both seasons, there's no rational way to say these teams mounted legitimate title contenders while losing his Airness... twice.
LOST IN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS (1990 Lakers, 2003 Lakers, 2011 Lakers)
For the 1990 Lakers, replacing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar may have proved too tall an order, although they did return to the Finals in 1991. In the case of the '03 and '11 Lakers, in both cases the core rotations were intact, but both fell to eventual champions in the Spurs and Mavericks, respectively.
LOST IN CONFERENCE FINALS (1971 Lakers, 1991 Pistons)
Someone significantly older than me can sit down and tell all of us what happened to the '71 Lakers. However, the story of MJ overcoming the Jordan rules, and finally defeating his nemesis Pistons on the way to becoming basketball royalty, is the stuff of legend to a somewhat younger generation. (If I'm a Pistons fan, 1991 doesn't bother me as much as the 1988 NBA Finals, particularly the end of this (go to the 1:40 mark): what Finals game gets decided with fans on the court in the last three seconds?)
LOST IN NBA FINALS (1987 Celtics)
It's hard to believe, but in the 80's, the Celtics and Lakers only played against each other in the NBA Finals three times. The Lakers would make it back to the Finals three more times after 1987 (winning once), but the Celtics never did. This also gave Los Angeles the head-to-head title for the decade (2-1).
WHAT IT MEANS
Take a look at the list above, and two things should jump out. One, out of the six teams that tried to make the Finals four consecutive times, it only happened once. Second, of the six teams that tried to win a championship, it has never happened. These teams were led by all-time greats in the sport, and didn't face the randomness of a one-and-done postseason tournament. Yet, none of the six teams could do it.
I'm not brave enough to predict that the Heat won't win it all this year. They have the best player on the planet, and an experienced roster. But they've also played three seven game series in the last two playoffs, and came early fan-exodus close to losing. Plus, last year proved that every team is one starter's injury away from being mediocre. If I were a betting man, and I could have Miami or the field, I think I'd grudgingly take the field.
Regardless, it should be fun to watch.
