The Heat got their rings, and then continued where they left off

Image from the Miamiherald.com

Lebron James finally got his ring, while Dwyane Wade got his second and the rest of the Heat raised their championship banner. Opening night was a spectacle down in Miami, from Ray Allen in a Heat jersey to Rondo Clotheslining Wade to Lebron getting cramps. Yet one thing was certain, this Miami Heat team is clearly the best team in basketball and they looked in mid season form in the first of 82 games.
The first defensive play of the game for the Heat was indicative of it. With crisp rotations, the possession started with a Bosh block of a Bass jumpshot, followed 10 seconds later by a Wade block, and which culminated with a Shane Battier 3 at the other end. The Celtics will definitely be the team challenging them for the eastern conference but it will be tough to stop Miami from going to a third straight finals. Their two superstars destroyed the Celtics, Lebron James looked like the best player in basketball, picking his spots and attacking when he had to, he had a double double by halftime and it seems like Spoelstra will continue to use this "no position lineup". Then there's Dwyane Wade, there were concerns amid his offseason surgery on his knee ( He played during last year's title run with the knee injury) and how he would look. Well he looked like his usual self, attacking the basket, posting up smaller defenders and wrecking havoc on the defensive end, he finished with 29 points and don't be surprised if he leads the team in scoring this year.

The other big story is the Heat's bench, Ray Allen had 19 points and was giving Boston nightmares. He will clearly be a six man of the year contender and looks much more healthy than last year. Rashard Lewis had 10 points on 4 out of 5 shooting as well, looking in great shape. You can argue that the Heat's bench could have several members in a starting lineup for some of the other teams.
The Celtics on the other hand have some things to work out. While Rondo looks great, and Pierce looks like he's going to have a big season, the Celtics defense allowed the Heat 120 points and simply allowed the Heat to do whatever they wanted. Jason Terry was profoundly outplayed by Allen, and Jeff Green was held to 6 points. The bright side for the Celtics was Leandro Barbosa, who scored 16 points on 6-8 shooting. The Celtics will get better of course, they are still waiting for the return of Avery Bradley and the new pieces to get used to the system, but even then beating the Heat seems like a long shot.
-Kyrie Irving had 29 points in his first game of his sophomore year, and Varejao had 23 Rebounds 9 points and 9 assists as the Cavs defeated the Wizards
-Dwyane Wade passed the 15,000 points milestone early in yesterday's game

The Heat capture second championship, as The king is Crowned

Picture from foundationcrossfit.com

When all was said and done, one Lebron James had his first NBA championship, Dwyane Wade had his second and the Miami Heat delivered on that promise made almost two years ago. The Oklahoma City Thunder have nothing to be ashamed of, they played 4 competitive games. But on the 5th game, they looked like a team who simply wanted to get it over with and begin the coronation of the king. After last night, there should be no doubt that Lebron James is the best player on the planet, he closed the Thunder out with a triple double (26 11 13) and remained poised throughout a game that was a blowout.
On this night the Heat showed that they were more than their big 3, Mike Miller who hadn't hit a 3 all series hit SEVEN threes (yes not a typo) on what seemed to be spare parts collected from a garbage disposal.  The Heat had 4 players scoring at least 20 points and shot a whooping 53.8% from the three point line.
Ultimately though, this night will be remembered for the crowning of a king and perhaps a beginning of a dynasty. James is the most polarizing figure in sports and has been since "The Decision". He did not cry, and it seemed it didn't hit him until well after he was out the game. Lebron has been the best player now for a number of years, opinions may vary. But he has 3 out of the last 4 MVP's, monster numbers every year, All NBA first team and all All NBA defensive team, he can play all 5 positions and defend them all with success as well. His one blemish was the lack of a championship he so desperately wanted.
Whether you like him, or hate him, you cannot deny the fact that you are looking at an all time great, yes he handled his "decision" incorrectly, but we are all humans, and in the end he got what he left for, a championship ring. For one night, we all must all stop and acknowledge the greatness that is James, no more "ringless" jokes. For one night no more about his lack of what Skyp Bayless calls the "clutch gene". He is now an NBA champion and a finals MVP, adding more hardware to an already filled trophy case.
How can we not talk though about The Heat's greatest player of all time Dwyane Wade. Yes Lebron is the best player on the team, but do not undervalue Wade who now has 2 championships under his belt. And who without him Lebron would never be in Miami. Wade has willingly given the reigns of the team to James when he told him halfway through the season: "Dont worry about me", a superstar player who understands that for his team to win championships sacrifices must be made. Wade played this whole postseason with a knee injury that will most likely keep him out of the olympics and with renewed family problems with his ex wife.
Wade, who is without a doubt an All time great and a first ballot hall of famer when he retires, now passes into even greater status with multiple championships, perhaps already securing what many  already believe as the third best shooting guard in the history of the game behind Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant. He has given up the ball to Lebron when he is without a doubt still capable of carrying a team, but on this night he secures his second ring, something he says he will appreciate and enjoy much more than his first.
Finally and definitely not least, Oklahoma should not feel ashamed. In my opinion they will be back, it seemed like the lost will just give them more motivation to return hungrier than ever. It hurts to be so close and fail, but now the experience that the Heat had from last year's lost to the Mavericks, the Thunder will have coming into next season. They simply ran into a team that wanted it more, or perhaps in the case of Lebron.... NEEDED it more