Perkins: It’s looking like Heat vs. Knicks in East finals

8 Comments

heat small logoknicks small logoMIAMI – There’s nothing more we need to see from the LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat.

We’ve seen everything we need to see until the playoffs. James and Wade have earned their rest; the Heat have answered the questions.

The New York Knicks (47-26), on the other hand, despite being the NBA’s hottest team with their nine-game winning streak, still have many unanswered questions. But solutions seem to be emerging, and they could be leading us to a Heat-Knicks matchup in the Eastern Conference finals.

Forward Carmelo Anthony is doing his part to make that happen.

Read more
Filed Under: Columns, Perkins Tagged With: , , , ,

Perkins: Heat’s Win Streak Shows Their Mental Toughness

Leave a comment

170px-LeBronJamesDunkingHeatMIAMI – LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat are riding high on their historic-but-not-yet history-making 27-game winning streak.

What every NBA follower wants to know now is which the game the Heat is most likely to lose  – Chicago tomorrow? San Antonio over the weekend? The Knicks in the game after that? Those are the toughest obstacles in the way of the Heat eclipsing the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers’ record 33-game winning streak.

I’m not sure whether the Heat will tie or surpass that mark.

But I know that if they do it, it’ll be because of their mental toughness more than their physical skill.

Read more

Pages: 1 2

Filed Under: Columns, Perkins Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Perkins: It’s still a “No Excuses” season for Heat

Leave a comment

Heat Ring angleMIAMI – Once again, the defending champion Miami Heat – the favorites to win the title again this season, winners of 18 consecutive games, owners of best record in the NBA, darlings of media and fans alike – find themselves walking a high wire without a safety net.

Almost everybody expects the Heat, led by superstars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, to repeat as champions. They look unbeatable in a best-of-seven series. Heck, they look unbeatable every night, something they’ve been trying to downplay to a certain degree.

“Our goal isn’t to win games consecutively,” James said. “It’s to win a championship.”

But what happens if they don’t win the title?

Read more

Pages: 1 2

Filed Under: Columns, Perkins Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Perkins: You’re probably watching the best Heat team ever

1 Comment

LeBron James and Dwyane WadeMIAMI – At this moment, this is probably the best Miami Heat team ever.

This Heat team, with superstar forward LeBron James playing as though he’s the best player in the world, and superstar guard Dwyane Wade playing as though he’s still a top-three player in the world, might be the best the franchise has ever seen.

Read more

Pages: 1 2

Filed Under: Columns, Perkins Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Perkins: LeBron is great, but not MJ or Kobe great

4 Comments

MIAMI – LeBron James is the Best Player on the Planet. And the Miami Heat forward should be this season’s NBA MVP.

But putting him in the discussion for the game’s all-time best – specifically closely behind Michael Jordan and ahead of Kobe Bryant – is still very much in flux.

James needs another NBA title and another superstar performance in the Finals – this year – to cement his name in the “all-time best” discussion.

In fact, LeBron might not even be on my all-time top 10 right now. I’m not sure.

Read more

Pages: 1 2

Filed Under: Columns, Perkins Tagged With: , , , ,