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| Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images |
The Miami Heat are looking to join two teams to make the NBA Finals four consecutive year's, the 1982-85 Los Angeles Lakers and the 1984-87 Boston Celtics. However, neither of those teams won three straight championships.
Their has been only three times in NBA history that a team was able to pull of a three-peat; The 1991-93 Chicago Bulls, the 1996-98 Chicago Bulls, and the most recent the 2000-02 Los Angeles Lakers.
Their is a reason that only a few teams have been able to pull off either of these feats and its simple, it's an extremely difficult task to pull off. Each one of the above mentioned teams were full of the NBA's greatest players; Depending on whom you ask these teams were full of top 5-10 NBA players of all time.
The Heat look like they will enter the playoffs as the #2 seed out of the Eastern Conference. They are a game behind the leading Indiana Pacers and have two games left in the regular season, against the Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers; the leading Pacers have one game left against the Orlando Magic.
The Heat were able to make it all the way to the NBA Finals the last two times they entered the playoffs as the #2 seed; 2011 NBA Finals loss to Dallas, 2012 NBA Finals win over Oklahoma City.
This year's Miami Heat squad looks a little different than their last three playoff runs with LeBron James averaging the most turnovers and his lowest rebound and free throw % since his first season in Miami. When you watch James through the end of the season you can see how much this season has drained him.
The second in command, Dwayne Wade, is also having an off year. Wade has only played in 52 games this season, which is his lowest since the 07-08 season; Wade played in 49 games in 2011-12 but that was a lockout year.
Wade is averaging the near lowest of his career this season in minutes, rebounds, steals, and maybe most obviously his points. In order for Miami to have a chance at a three-peat they will need more production from their number two guy. If his injuries persist then the Heat will be in a world of trouble come playoff time.
Next on the totem pole is Chris Bosh who has had to step up during Wade's injury plagued season. Unfortunately for the Heat, Bosh has also had his woes this season. Bosh is averaging his lowest PPG since his rookie season and his lowest RPG of his entire career. That's not a good look for a team that already had their troubles down low.
In the 48 games the Heat have played since January 1st, they have had their Big Three in only 26 of them. The most troubling part of this stat is their record in those 26 games, 14-12.
This will be the hardest test for the Miami Heat since the LeBron era began. Just to get back to the NBA Finals will be a test, not to mention the chemistry problems they have showed this season.
As for now the Eastern Conference will be going through Indianapolis, a place that Miami has not won in the regular season since February 2012. The Heat have been able to pull out some wins at Bankers Life Fieldhouse during the playoffs. Over the last two years the Heat have won twice in the 2012 playoffs and one in last year's playoffs in Indy.
The real question for the Heat will be whether Wade plays or not.
If Wade has to miss significant time during the playoffs the Heat could be in for a humbling experience this year, and miss their shot at the legendary Three-Peat.
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