Miami Heat

Miami Heat history began in the 1988-1989 season. The team started, together with the Charlotte Hornets, as part of the NBA’s effort to include two expansion teams during that season. Current arena of the Heat is the American Airlines Arena, and the Miami Heat logo is a basketball on fire with a halo around it.

Like most of the new teams in the NBA, the Miami Heat had only won 15 games in their opening season. The following year, even with shooting rookie Glen Rice working for them, they only won 18 games. However, things changed for the Miami Heat when the team hired Pat Riley. In 1995, Riley traded Glen Rice and Geiger to the Hornets for Alonzo Mourning. Riley then set up a new Miami Heat team with Tim Hardaway, Dan Majarle and P.J. Brown. That year, the team won more than 50% of their games. The next season, they would go on to win a total of 61 games. However, their bids for the NBA crown were hampered by losses to the Bulls and the Knicks. The excellent Miami Heat basketball performance in the 90s ended with a first round playoff elimination by the Hornets.

For two seasons, from 2001 to 2003, Miami Heat did not make the playoffs. Before the season opening of 2003, instead of signing Gilbert Arenas, which was a free agent that time, they decided to draft Dwayne Wade. With Lamar Odom and Udonis Haslem, the trio would surprise the NBA as they led the team to a playoff appearance with Wade’s quickness and Odom’s new found role in basketball.

To take advantage of the great potential of the Miami Heat basketball team, the team traded Lamar Odom and three other players for Shaquille O’Neal. Miami Heat’s run semed unstoppable until they were defeated by the Pistons four games to three. The team regrouped and signed veteran stars Alonzo Mourning and Gary Payton as the new Miami Heat players.

Now with veterans of the NBA, Miami Heat surged forward during the regular season by winning more than 50 games and clinched the division title. In their playoffs run, the Miami Heat faced the defending champions, the Detroit Pistons. This time, Miami Heat tickets were not bought for nothing. The Heat won the series, and went on to defeat the Dallas Mavericks for their first NBA title. The Miami Heat are Champions after 18 seasons in the NBA.

The Miami Heat also enjoys strong support from the fans. At the team’s website, Miami Heat wallpaper is being downloaded continuously, and Miami Heat hats sold like hot cakes. Even the Miami Heat dancers and the Miami Heat cheerleaders have their very own fan base in the community. Currently, the team was eliminated in the first round due to injuries. All-Star guard Dwayne Wade was recovering from a shoulder injury, while O’Neal and other veteran players were not truly in championship form.