NBA’s unfulfilled dreams

LeBron James not winning his first championship ring ever, Coach Phil Jackson ending his career with a humiliating Conference semifinals elimination, and the NY Knicks not improving despite Carmelo Anthony’s arrival were the biggest deceptions that the 2010-11 NBA season left.

Submerged in a wave of controversy was how the 2010-11 NBA season began, as there was a big debate around the Miami Heat’s policy of gathering three franchise players in one squad, debate that probably wouldn’t have reached the dimensions that it did if LeBron James wouldn’t have been involved. His move to Miami was seen as an act of betrayal by angry Cleveland Cavaliers fans that decided to use the media to create a war against him.

In Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh the Heat had its “Big Three”, which made of them serious candidates to clinch title. Right after the three signed the contract, the fans expectations were instantly up high. Consequently many began to dream with James’ first championship ring ever, but there was still a long road to walk, road that led them to the Finals were they received a wake-up call from the Dallas Mavericks, to finish off their dream.

But the alarm clock didn’t just sound in Miami, for the 2010 defending champions were also awakened. In Phil Jackson’s last coaching season the Los Angeles Lakers dreamed with their third championship in a row to say goodbye to their coach, but the Mavericks frustrated their wishes by sweeping them from the Conference semifinals.

Going back to the Easter Conference the New York Knicks also saw their dreams of clinching title crushed on the floor. The expectations around Carmelo Anthony’s arrival to the Big Apple as a great compliment for Amar’e Stoudemire to lead them to the ring were quickly dissipated in the first round against the Boston Celtics that won the series by a resounding 4-0.

Speaking about the Celtics and their veteran team, the chance of saying goodbye to a wonderful generation of players with another championship saw its end in the next round against the Heat, team that felt short to win the title, but not to eliminate Boston.

And what about the San Antonio Spurs, team with the best regular season record in the league (62-20) that was eliminated by the 8th seed in the conference: the Memphis Grizzlies. This was one of the biggest surprises throughout the postseason as only three teams prior to Grizzlies had defeated a top seeded squad in their condition as an eight seed.

Dreams of clinching title were also experienced by Chicago Bulls fans that placed all their hopes in Derrick Rose, the young star who leaded them to the first place in the East. When the team made it into the Conference Finals a scent of Michael Jordan’s glory days was felt in the city, but the team didn’t run with the same luck as it did back then and lost the series 4-1 against Miami.

The only ones that truly fulfilled their dreams were the Mavericks- squad that brought the first championship ring to Dallas- and LeBron James’ detractors, as they must have felt the bliss of still seeing a king without a crown thanks to Dirk Nowitzki and company.