Miami Heat [HTML] - History

Heat History

Embracing Versatility, Winning a Title

Embracing versatile lineups and enduring a lengthy injury to Chris Bosh, the 2011-12 Miami HEAT came back from deficits in three-straight playoff series to win the franchise's second NBA Championship in one of the most fast-paced seasons the league has ever had.

NBA Finals: HEAT vs. Thunder

The Miami HEAT claimed the franchise's second NBA title with a 121-106 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder June 22 in Miami. Six players finished in double figures. LeBron James had a triple-double, Chris Bosh scored 24 and Mike Miller hit seven 3's to finish with 23

Eastern Conference Finals Series Recap: HEAT vs. Celtics

The Miami HEAT defeated the Boston Celtics in seven games, moving on to the Finals for their second consecutive year. LeBron James had an average of 33.5 points per game, 11 rebounds and 3.8 assists. His best game came in Game 6 at the TD Center in Boston when LeBron James became the second player in NBA playoff history (Wilt Chamberlain being the other) to put up a 45-15-5 stat line in a single game. Dwyane Wade averaged 26.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists.

Conference Semi-Finals Series Recap: HEAT vs Pacers

The Miami HEAT defeated the Indiana Pacers in six games, moving on to the Eastern Conference Finals. LeBron James had an average of 30 points per game, 10.8 rebounds and 6.1 assists. Dwyane Wade averaged 26.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists

Round 1 Series Recap: HEAT vs Knicks

In Round 1 of the 2012 NBA Playoffs, The Miami HEAT defeated the New York Knicks to move on to the Conference Semi-Finals. LeBron James led the series with an average 27.8 points per game, 6.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists. Dwyane Wade averaged 21 points, 3.4 rebounds and Chris Bosh had an average of 7.2 rebounds

What was True Then, is True Now. Have a Plan, Stick to It

There's a brief scene at the end of Matthew Vaughn's Layer Cake where Daniel Craig's character, X, is allowed a few moments to bask in the spoils of a conquering hero, surrounded by friends and caviar in the private back room of an exclusive country club. He'd been beaten � multiple times � and had well-laid plans go horribly awry � multiple times � but in the end, enough pieces come together to put him on top

Miami Heat Franchise History

The Miami Heat are a professional basketball team based in Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). They play their home games at the American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami. The team owner is Micky Arison, the President is Pat Riley and the head coach is Erik Spoelstra. The mascot of the team is Burnie, an anthropomorphic fireball.

The Heat were formed as part of the NBA's plan to expand the league with four expansion franchises in the late 1980's. Joining the Heat in 1988 were the Charlotte Hornets, and in 1989 the Orlando Magic and Minnesota Timberwolves came into existence. Among those four teams, Miami has far and away been the most successful and most stable having won over 1000 games to date, making 16 playoff appearances, winning nine division titles, three conference titles, and two NBA titles. The Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the 2006 NBA Finals 4-2, lost to the Mavericks 4-2 in the 2011 NBA Finals and beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 4-1 in the 2012 NBA Finals. According to Forbes, as of 2013 the Heat rank sixth in terms of valuable NBA franchises at $625 million.

An expansion team formed in 1988, the Miami Heat began its early years with much mediocrity, only making the playoffs twice in its first eight years and falling in the first round both times, despite individual success from its players. Upon the purchasing of the franchise by Micky Arison in 1995, Pat Riley was brought in as its team president, general manager and head coach. In that same year, Riley acquired center Alonzo Mourning and point guard Tim Hardaway to serve as the centerpiece for the team, transforming the Heat into a championship contender throughout the late 1990s, even making it to the Conference Finals in 1997. Their biggest rivals were the New York Knicks, Riley's former team, who would eliminate the Heat in the first round from 1998 through 2000.

A period of mediocrity followed shortly thereafter, until shooting guard Dwyane Wade was drafted fifth overall by the Heat in 2003. In 2004, Shaquille O'Neal was traded to Miami from the Los Angeles Lakers, leading the team back to the Conference Finals in 2005, before losing to the Detroit Pistons in seven games. Miami rebounded from their previous defeat to win their first championship in 2006, with Wade earning the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award award.

A four-year tenure of post-title struggles befell the Heat from 2007 through 2010, with Riley stepping down as coach, but remaining as team president and general manager. Erik Spoelstra replaced Riley as the head coach, leading Miami to the postseason in his first four years. In the summer blockbuster of 2010, free agents Chris Bosh and LeBron James signed with the Heat from the Toronto Raptors and the Cleveland Cavaliers, respectively. The Heat made the Finals in 2011 against the Dallas Mavericks, a rematch of 2006, but lost the series after holding a 2-1 lead. This was followed by a second consecutive Finals appearance the following year, garnering their second overall championship after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 4-1.