The Miami Heat had their most successful spell as a franchise during the early 2010s. This was the Big 3 era of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, as they dominated the league for nearly half a decade. This resulted in four straight trips to the Finals, including back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013.
Those were definitely the glory days. On the other hand, the franchise had likewise been through some dark times. Today we will be taking a quick stroll down memory lane as we present the top three (or four) most heartbreaking pieces of Heat news fans had to endure.
Honorable Mention: LeBron's Departure
There's no denying that the Heat's most glorious years were thanks in large part to the great LeBron James. This is exactly why his departure from the team in the summer of 2014 was indeed a hard pill to swallow for the Miami faithful. The Heat were coming off a disappointing Finals loss to the San Antonio Spurs, and while the general belief was that LeBron and company would come out the following season to exact some revenge, it turned out that James had other ideas.
Two major aspects help soften the blow that was dealt here. First, is that James had already accomplished his mission in Miami, bringing two titles to the franchise. Secondly, he was on a personal quest for redemption, coming back home to his hometown team in the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was painful to see him go, but deep down, the fans understood.
3. Chris Bosh's Blood Clot Condition
Chris Bosh made an ultimate sacrifice of becoming the No. 3 option when he agreed to sign with the Heat as a free agent in 2010. He had established himself as a bonafide superstar during his time with the Toronto Raptors, and he had to take a significant step back when he joined Miami. His sacrifice and team-first mentality are two of the things that make Bosh such a loved figure.
Disaster stuck as early as 2015 when Bosh's season was cut short due to a blood clot in his lungs. He was able to return the following campaign, but once again dealt with the same blood clotting problem at the mid-point of the season. As it turns out, that was the last we saw of Bosh on the basketball court.
Despite a number of attempts to make a comeback, the condition proved to be life-threatening. Needless to say, Bosh was forced to retire in 2019 — three years after he last set foot on the floor.
2. Allan Houston
For Heat fans of the late '90s, there are few more despised names than New York Knicks star Allan Houston. On top of the heated rivalry between these two sides, Houston will forever be remembered (not in a good way, though) for what he did to Miami during the 1999 playoffs.
So here's how the story goes. The Heat were the first seed in the East that season after amassing a highly-impressive 33-17 regular-season record. They were pitted against their arch-rivals in the first round, the Knicks, who were considered as huge underdogs. At that time, the first round of the playoffs was only a best-of-five, and it was the dying moments of the series-deciding Game 5.
And then this happened:
There's not much more to say about that moment, except how deep a wound it cut on the collective flesh of Heat fans. Watching that clip again must have brought back some terrible feelings for any Miami faithful.
1. 2011 Finals Defeat
At the top spot on our list is none other than the 2011 NBA Finals upset courtesy of the Dallas Mavericks. This was the first season of the Big 3, and despite being pegged as the ultimate villains all season long, this side lived up to any and all expectations. That was, of course, until they met Dirk Nowitzki and company in the Finals.
The Mavs blew through the West in the playoffs, including a memorable sweep of a Kobe Bryant-led Los Angeles Lakers in the second round. Still, the Heat were the huge favorites to defeat Dallas in the Finals. This fact is perhaps what makes the upset even more painful. The Heat were supposed to win the title — and LeBron's first in his career — only for the fairy tale to be ruined by an ultimate underdog. To make matters worse, the Mavs made relatively easy work of Miami, ending the series convincingly in Game 6.
Then again, the bitterness of this unexpected loss is what made the championships of 2012 and 2013 all the sweeter.
Follow Us
Subscribe