The Miami Heat defeated the Indiana Pacers in a rout in Game 7 on Monday night and after making their third straight finals appearance, LeBron James is ready to get some revenge on the San Antonio Spurs after they swept his Cavaliers in 2007.
The Heat looked impressive and not so impressive at times during their playoffs run and many have wondered what the Eastern conference would have looked like if Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose and Danny Granger were not dealing with serious injuries. No one denies that the Heat have the talent and the roster to win a championship, but after playing both the Bulls and the Pacers in the playoffs and seeing the Celtics push the Knicks to six games after going down 3-0, it makes many wonder what might have been had those players been healthy for part of, if not all of the season.
The Celtics were a different team without Rondo and although they played the Knicks tough in the first round, without Rondo running the floor it was tougher to compete. The Celtics would have played the Pacers in the second round and that could have changed how things went in the East finals had they been able to advance. Rondo tore his ACL in his right knee in January to knock him out for the rest of the season and many feel that after this last run, the team may not have much left with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, although rumors say the team will try for one last run.
The two more interesting injuries that could have come into play were with Rose and Granger, as the Heat played both teams in the playoffs. Rose was injured in very public fashion last season after tearing his ACL against the 76ers in the playoffs and after dealing with the serious left knee injury he did not suit up for the Bulls this season. Rose had been rumored to come back after being cleared, but he didn't play against the Heat and after winning Game 1, the Bulls eventually lost out in the series to James and company. Rose's presence may have made a difference, but only if he was fully ready to come back and based on how he looked before that series, chances are it wouldn't have made much of a difference.
Granger is another interesting piece for the Pacers, as they had strong depth while pushing the Heat to seven games, but most times in basketball talent wins out and Miami proved that with their series win. The Pacers were able to keep up with the Heat for six games, but in that seventh one they desperately needed a go-to scorer and Granger was on the bench after dealing with knee issues.
The injuries to the players do not take anything away from Miami Heat making it to the finals again to play the Spurs, but it does bring up some interesting questions about the Eastern conference and whether teams are ready to overtake the Heat after three straight finals berths. Next season all three players are expected to be back and if the Heat win another title, they will have to run the gauntlet in the East yet again.
