Mini Blog #25: Historic Parallels for 2011 Miami Heat?

Last year LeBackstab, Fishing Waders, and... uhhhh... Bosh averaged 29.7, 26.6, and 24.0 PPG respectively. How do you suppose this will be impacted? The commentators are right, of course. There is no perfect precedent of three perennial All-Star (2 of which are among the top 5 players in the league) playing on the same team while all in their prime. Nevertheless, I see five potential models from NBA history:

1. Big Three (More or less)
- '69 Lakers: West (25.9), Baylor (24.8), Chamberlain (20.5)
- Failed to win the title

2. Three Amigos (Lesser individually, greater together)
- '08 Celtics: Garnett (18.8), Pierce (18.4), Allen (17.4)
- Won the title

3. Alpha Males (w/ a All-Star Helper)
- '87 Celtics: Bird (28.1), McHale (26.1), Parish (17.5)
- Failed to win the title

4. Complementarian Alpha Males (w/ All-Star Helper)
- '71 Milwauke Bucks: Kareem (31.7), Robertson (19.4), Dandrige (18.4)
- Won the title

5. Descending Rank (Different tasks, but clear-cut rank)
- '00 Lakers: Shaq (29.7), Kobe (22.5), and the oft-forgotten Rice (15.9)
- Won the title

In my mind the Heat are the favorites going into the season, but it'll all depend upon how well they gel together.

Two final thoughts:

1. Nothing would make me happier than LeBackstab still losing this year, especially after all the "I'm remembering what everyone said about me" comments.
   
2. The following picture embodies why I'll be rooting against the Heat.