Forget the regular season and the struggles against quality opposition — when push comes to shove the Heat know how to turn it up a notch — which is why Miami is playing better than anyone right now and has the Celtics against the wall

SCOTT JACOBS

LeBron James stared down the white-tshirt clad crowd, his arms by his side, his head tilted downward, and let out a loud scream.  He looked over to the Celtics bench, an exasperated Celtics bench and gave them ‘the look.’  The Look of a man determined.  The look of a man on a mission.  The look of a man who was tired of the criticism and ready to prove the doubters wrong.  The look of a man ready to exorcise demons and up for the challenge of extinguishing the rival Celtics.

All season long, and ever since the well scrutinized and even more well hyped formation of the Tri-Nasty, the question was could Miami’s Big Three all share one ball, and create the type of chemistry necessary — with just veteran minimum players and young guys — to win an NBA title in their first year together.

All year long the debate has had it’s ebbs and flows.  Miami’s miserable 9-8 start had coach Erik Spoelstra’s head on the chopping block.  A red hot December including a dominant Christmas Day win over the gold standard Lakers had pundits and sports fans alike buzzing over just how good this team could be.  A 5 game losing streak in early March which included a total collapse against Orlando, a bad loss against the Knicks, and a 30 point pasting against San Antonio, had people jumping off the bandwagon and off a cliff.  And then they finished the year 16-3, beating the Spurs, Grizzlies, and maybe most importantly Celtics — to emphatically lock up the East’s number 2 seed, and more importantly home court in the second round.

It’s been a rollercoaster and a well documented one at that — but today the view from the top is magnificent, after the Heat deposited the Celtics for a commanding 2-0 series lead, their third straight win over the team that for much of the season they couldn’t beat.  Now the Celtics head back to Boston, reeling, the Heat to Beantown red-hot, and the Tri-Nasty is out-starring the Big Four in a big way.

LeBron James paced the Heat with 37 –  including a dazzling display of athleticism, three point shooting, and deft touch — as The King helped break open an 80-80 tie with an array of big time shots.  The result was a 14-0 Miami run, and the Celtics found themselves playing catchup the rest of the night.

The Miami Heat– the most scrutinized 58 win team in the history of the NBA — was grilled for not being able to beat the good teams all year.  Maybe they were just waiting for the big stage.  The Heat are now 3-0 against the Boston after losing their first 3 to the C’s dating back to the regular season — those 3 all huge wins.  That talk of Miami not having what it takes to beat the mighty Celtics all looks pretty foolish right now — as the Heat have Boston scrambling, and probably wishing they hadn’t dealt away their enforcer — Kendrick Perkins.

Without a down-low threat Miami has been able to drive to the basket some times at will, and LeBron and Wade each took turns in the sun tonight — Wade taking over in a flash to end the first half, and James with his epic third quarter — just how they probably drew it up when they all made this pact in the offseason.

And while Miami’s bench didn’t provide much in the way of points — Joel Anthony once again was a beast down low on D, Big Z gave everything he had no matter how awkward it looked, and Mike Bibby even chipped in some quality hustle moments and a few points too.  The Heat are not a deep team offensively — sans their star triumvirate, but they play defense as tough and wily as anyone in the league.  That suffocating defense has opened up a fastbreak that has been unstoppable against the slower C’s.

From Wade totally faking out a confused Kevin Garnett in the second quarter for a spectacular layup, to LeBron bulldozing through Ray Allen en route to a powerful dunk, the Heat let their fastbreak fly, and the Celtics couldn’t handle it.

Because of it, it’s safe to say that the Heat look like the big-time title threat that they envisioned for themselves, and I would argue the best basketball team in the NBA right now.  Memphis is tougher inside.  Dallas is deeper overall.  Los Angeles is definitely bigger.  The Hawks are more athletic.  And yet none of it matters.

Because with breakfast out of the way in the pesky Sixers, the Heat are thoroughly enjoying dinner at the big boys table, and looking every bit the part.  With the Lakers looking vulnerable, and the Bulls fragile, it’s not a stretch to say that right now Miami should be the favorite to win the NBA title.

Their confidence growing by the day, their chemistry at the best it’s ever been, the Miami Heat are no longer the team that hype sold and when they played folded.  They’re the rough and ready to rumble squad that plays great D for 48 minutes and has two elite scorers who can leave you blue in the face after trying to run their amazing race.

Miami has it’s flaws.  It’s point guard situation is still unsettled.  it’s center position — although clearly Anthony’s — is not much of a threat offensively, and it’s three point shooters are still wildly inconsistent.  But the Tri-nasty is so lethal that some games none of that matters.

The Heat have Wade and LeBron.  No one else does.  When they’re clicking, look out.  The Celtics Big Three is down 2-0 for the first time and Miami looks like they’re just getting started.

Photo: Reuters

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