What do the Lakers have to do to win and what does it mean for LeBron’s legacy?

The Lakers need to match the Heat’s intensity and hustle.  They don’t want to come in thinking this will be easy and they just have to show up.  The one thing they can control is how hard they work; how much effort they give.  Talent only wins on paper.  Not giving it your best is probably the number one reason why more talented teams get got.  Luckily for the Lakers, they might have the best chemistry of any team in the NBA and they have experienced leadership in LeBron and Rondo.  For all of Pat Riley’s genius in forming such a close-knit team and a culture of winning, and it is considerable, the Lakers can match them in how much their guys love playing with each other and how much they care about winning.  That and as always, the Lakers will need a few randos to have decent games more often than not this series.  

A win for LeBron and he’ll have accomplished one more thing that’s never been done in NBA History.  He’ll be the first player to lead 3 different franchises to the NBA Title.  And make no mistake, this year’s MVP Runner-up is the leader and best player on the Lakers. For some this will be the feat they point to to certify James as the G.O.A.T. And as he winds down his 17th NBA season, that it is not shocking that he’s still widely considered the best basketball player in the world, is simply a testament, a bearing WITNESS to the greatest athlete we may have ever seen.  

What do the Heat have to do to win and what would a loss mean for LeBron’s legacy? 

The Heat need to play out of their minds and hope the Lakers’ role players generally struggle to produce.  The cream of the Lakers (or is it Kareem?) rises higher than the cream of the Heat (or is it Wheat? sorry I’ll stop now).  Barring injury, Anthony Davis and LeBron James should get theirs.  The Heat’s best players, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo will need to play even better, moreso on the offensive end by making the right plays and getting the most out of their possessions.  The Lakers play really good D and like to get defensive stops and run out in transition. The Heat have shooters and pesky playmakers in Bam and Goran Dragic that will need to move the ball around to get good shots which can take away from the Lakers league best transition game.

For those in the minority camp of claiming LeBron James as the greatest of all time, a loss really hampers their case.  Jordan will probably light a cigar if LBJ falls to another Finals loss.  There will be little LeBron can do to improve his case if he falls to 3-7 even if this was only the 3rd time his team was favored in the Finals.  But it won’t really hurt his current legacy too much.  He’s already at least the 2nd best all time to most and to some, Jordan is unsurpassable anyway.  But legacy cannot be discussed without mentioning one Pat Riley.  This is Riley’s 17th Finals appearance as a player, coach, and executive.  Riley has been in the finals in 6 separate decades!  Every one since the 70’s where he was a role player on the Lakers 1972 championship team.  A win for the Heat and Riley might surpass Red Auerbach as the most successful coach/executive in NBA history.  

Prediction

The Lakers top two will be too much for Miami.  Miami peaked in the bubble and had lesser experienced players really come through for them.  But the Lakers have plenty of guys with Finals appearances that have been there before and I’m not sure Miami will be ready for that.  Their making the Finals was already the top of the mountain for them.  The Lakers come into it knowing this is where their path to the top starts.  I believe this series will only be in danger for them if Anthony Davis gets injured.  I don’t see them stopping LeBron or AD, much less slowing them down while role players will hit big shots and make big plays.  If the Heat can keep close and get some breaks near the end of the game, maybe they steal a couple.  Maybe if they do this early on in the series, momentum gives them a bump.  But that’s hoping too many things go their way.  The Lakers can easily win this in 5 but out of respect to the Godfather I’ll predict:  Lakers in 6.

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