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“Besides Miami, who do you think is the other favorite to win the title?”—Malcolm DeLaney

Ah, yes, it always comes back to the Heat. After blowing their 2-1 lead against Dallas in the 2011 NBA Finals, Miami’s “Big Three” faced an off-season of ridicule at the merciless hands of the media who, along with the Heat themselves, set the expectations that anything less than a championship season was a disappointment. Now that everyone has the Heat picked to go all the way this year, it’s only natural that there at least be someone designated to spoil their party once again and, seeing as how the Heat’s collapse came in the finals, why not go with the team in the West that everyone is picking to meet them there this year? The Oklahoma City Thunder. I know, I know, you may call me a homer because I am about the most unabashed Kevin Durant fan on the 40 Acres, but there really aren’t a whole lot of reasons to not like this team. They’re young, incredibly athletic, have depth, a bona fide superstar as well as a worthy sidekick (if only Russell Westbrook would just willingly accept that role), and as this shortened season continues, it would be easy to see that play directly into the Thunder’s hands.

On the other side of that coin, however, those same advantages can be said for the Heat as well, except for maybe the depth part. Then again, the overall quality of their“Big Three” probably outweighs the one-two punch of Kevin Durant and Russell Wilson. But hey, that’s why if it does happen, it would figure to be a fantastic series and, if I was picking with my heart, I would tell you that the Oklahoma City Thunder are this year’s NBA champions. But if I’m picking who I truly think is going to win it all this year, it would be hard for me not to pick the Heat if not just for the fact that you have to figure that LeBron James is going to win a championship at some point, and if there was ever a season for him to steal one, why not let it be the freak season with the compacted schedule?

As for the Thunder, their time will come very soon if it hasn’t come already. The turnaround they’ve experienced in the last two seasons is the start of something special, and it speaks volumes for the character of that team that they’re able to get it done in such a small market. But if the Heat do indeed win it all this year, the Thunder will still be there in future years to try and stop them from taking it again. Then again, maybe the Heat will just win seven straight championships starting this year. You just never know.

Brian Bogart

Have a sports-related question you want answered in UWeekly? Tweet it to me @BrianEBogart or email brian@bogart.us and you just may be lucky enough to make it into next week’s issue.