The 2014 NBA finals saw one of the worst beatings in any championship series on all four major US sports leagues.

There have been a couple of sweeps in the World Series and ugly blowouts in the Super Bowl, but none might compare to how unexpectedly one-sided the San Antonio Spurs-Miami Heat matchup was from the said year.

The Heat were two-time defending champions at that time with their roster still intact, but it was the Spurs who came out on top — with ease.

Led by the aging trio of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili, along with the then-rising Kawhi Leonard, the Spurs completely manhandled the Heat, 4-1.

Longtime Miami sports journalist Dan Le Batard still feels the sting of the loss. He recently shared his sentiments on ESPN, via Dan Feldman of NBC sports:

“Final season with the Heat, LeBron James, the Heat organization believed, knew he was leaving and checked out on the Finals. It looked like he was trying. The stat sheet looked like he was trying. But the Miami Heat believed that he checked out and was no longer trying.”

Article Continues Below
More Miami Heat News
Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) reacts with guard Will Richard (5) in the second half at Lenovo Center.
Heat rumors: Miami’s draft plans linked to star Florida guardZachary Weinberger ·
Justise Winslow (Duke) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number ten overall pick to the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center.
Heat’s 10 worst NBA Draft day mistakes in historySpencer See ·
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) protects the basketball from Miami Heat guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) during the second quarter at Kaseya Center.
Heat rumors: Miami’s final Kevin Durant offer prior to Rockets trade, revealedZachary Weinberger ·
Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) and guard Devin Booker (1) and guard Bradley Beal (3) and forward Royce O'Neale (00) and forward Kevin Durant (35) huddle up before the final seconds of the fourth quarter at Golden 1 Center.
Heat rumors: Miami linked to Suns role player amid Kevin Durant trade buzzJulian Ojeda ·
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) protects the basketball from Miami Heat forward Haywood Highsmith (24) and guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) during the third quarter at Kaseya Center.
Heat rumors: What Miami is missing in Kevin Durant trade proposalJulian Ojeda ·
Why Kenyon Martin rejected chance to join LeBron James Heat title team
Why Kenyon Martin rejected chance to join LeBron James Heat title teamJulian Ojeda ·

Looking at the numbers, LeBron James was, by all means, LeBron James in that series. His averages of 28.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game were all team-highs, and his 57.1 percent shooting clip was highest among Heat starters. It is arguable that had the series become a little closer than it was, we could be talking about James being the second player from the losing team to win Finals MVP honors.

Then again, Le Batard, who works closely with all of Miami's sports teams, still has a case. James did some things that can make one speculate. The cramps in Game 1 was one of them — although it can be easily slid out.

The really strange story was how seemingly far James and company were to the Spurs in terms of intensity and preparedness.

Let's leave it at this: The Spurs won by an average of 17.7 points and shot 52.8 percent from the floor (46.6 percent from three), while also having five players average double-digit points. On offense, the Heat averaged 10 fewer points from what they were netting in the regular season. Given the Heat's fifth-ranked defense and top-tier level of talent offensively, the team's overall performance was very, very uncharacteristic.

It's not enough to conclude anything, but it's understandable for someone to get suspicious.