Frank Vogel and David West summed it up the best after the Indiana Pacers failed for the third-straight year to get past the Miami Heat, who reached a fourth consecutive Finals in the process.
“We’re competing against the Michael Jordan of our era, the Bulls of our era,” said Vogel.
“We’re in the LeBron James-era,” added West.
Indeed, not just the Pacers, not just the Eastern Conference, but the entire NBA is under the thumb of LeBron James and, in turn, the Miami Heat.
We’re a long way from the disaster 2011 NBA Finals the Heat had against the Dallas Mavericks, which raised questions over whether James would ever win a title.
Now three years removed from that series, James is returning to the Finals again with two rings to his name.
It’s no longer a question of if he’ll win, but how many.
Like Jordan, James now has a unique ability that he acquired over his career that has led to his success – getting his team to come through when it matters most.
This isn’t about stats and how well James has played in the biggest moments.
This is about winning.
James has found ways to simply will his team to victories, even without delivering his familiar other-worldly performances.
It always seems like Miami are coasting and on the edge of fatally lowering their guard before a light switch ticks on and their urgency returns.
That’s James’ imprint, even if you can’t see it through his numbers.
It happened in the Eastern Conference finals against Indiana, although to a lesser degree than it has in the past.
The Pacers won Game 1 at home, which otherwise wouldn’t be much of a story, unless the losing team were the two-time defending champions.
But there’s a reason why James and the Heat have never been in a two-game hole in an active series.
Sure, they’ve suffered consecutive losses and trailed in many match-ups.
But they’ve never dug themselves a hole they haven’t been able to get out of.
When there’s something defining at stake, Miami turn it up a notch and that’s why they’re sustained consistency in crucial moments has landed them another Finals appearance.
A three-peat would be the icing on the cake.
While the Heat are already a dynasty, winning three-straight erases any doubt they’re not one of the best of all time.
Eras inevitably come to an end.
LeBron’s isn’t finishing anytime soon, but to momentarily halt his reign and top Miami in the Finals, it will require something we haven’t seen in three years – James and the Heat looking mortal in a decisive moment.
