By Bryce Kelly, Staff Writer
After a thrilling playoff run, the Miami Heat are facing the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals Wednesday night. The Heat, the 5th seed representing the Eastern Conference, have had quite the run to the finals. The Heat beat the Pacers in the first round four games to none. The Heat then upset the two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and the top seeded Milwaukee Bucks four games to one. The Heat finally beat the Boston Celtics four games to two to make the NBA Finals. The Heat’s roster and playoff run shows how important culture and coaching can still be towards success.
Although the Heat have won three championships in the last 15 years, the Heat have little Finals experience on their roster. Andre Iguodala has been to the finals the last six years. Iguodala’s experience cannot be understated. But other than Iguodala, only Udonis Haslem has been to the NBA Finals. Haslem has been on all six finals teams in Heat franchise history, but Haslem is more a player coach who has not seen serious playoff minutes in years. Other than those two players, the Heat do not have a single player who has made an NBA Finals.
On the other hand, the Lakers have LeBron James, one of the greatest players ever who has been to nine of the past ten finals. Danny Green is a multi-time NBA champion with multiple teams. Rajon Rondo is an NBA Champion point guard. Dwight Howard led the Orlando Magic to the finals 11 years ago. JaVale McGee has been on Golden State Warriors championship teams. J.R. Smith made four straight finals with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Lakers have plenty of finals experience and the Heat do not. So how are the Heat facing off against the Lakers? The answer is the Heat’s culture and coaching. The coaching staff has done a wonderful job molding the Heat roster into playoff winners. The Heat have so many unproven players in key roles.
Duncan Robinson is a key example. Robinson was almost done playing basketball three years ago, sending out texts to see if there were jobs in sports media available. Robinson was undrafted and then signed by the Heat. The Heat coaches then turned Robinson into one of the best three-point shooters in the league and a starter on an NBA Finals roster.
Jimmy Butler is another key example of how the Heat culture has a good influence. Butler has been criticized for being a locker room cancer in his previous teams. Butler has been praised while being on the Heat for his work ethic and leadership. Now he has led the Heat to the finals when most thought he could not lead them out of the first round.
Tyler Herro is another example of a player who has flourished because of the Heat coaching and culture. Herro, the 20-year-old rookie and 13th pick in last year’s draft, has exploded in the playoffs. Herro averaged around 20 points per game in the Eastern Conference Finals and has been given the opportunities by the Heat to show his unwavering confidence on the court. Herro has also praised Jimmy Butler for his leadership of the team and Herro.
The Lakers are in the finals because they have two of the best players in the NBA. Frank Vogel has never coached in an NBA Finals. The Lakers are loaded with proven veteran role players like Danny Green, Rajon Rondo and Dwight Howard. The Lakers were abysmal over the last five years until Davis arrived. In comparison, the Heat have been to the playoffs multiple times since LeBron James left under the coaching of Erik Spoelstra and the front office management of Pat Riley.
The contrast is clear. The Heat are in the finals because of coaching and culture. The Lakers are in the finals because of their free agent super star acquisitions. What style of team will win? We will find out in less than two weeks.
kellybw19@bonaventure.edu
