It's only one game, but a look up and down the Miami Heat roster combined with a review of Tuesday night's game film (a 120-107 win over the Boston Celtics, the so-called other "contender" in the East) should make the 29 other NBA teams nervous.
The Heat have five former All Stars, three future first-ballad Hall of Famers and the best player on the planet playing with a determination to be the best — eerily reminiscent of Michael Jordan.
Miami may be the best team ever assembled from top to bottom. I don't know that any of Jordan's Bulls teams were so complete, and even more impressive, so balanced.
Every guy on the roster brings a specific and necessary skill to the table. The one area the Heat lacked in last season was three-point shooting, so they want out and signed the best long-range shooter in NBA history in Ray Allen.
Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are healthy and Mario Chalmers is quietly becoming a top-tier point guard with playoff experience, and a history of playing his best basketball when the pressure is at its highest.
James got the monkey of his back last season when he captured his first NBA Championship, and since then has looked like a different player. Hard to believe considering how dominant he was last June.
In case you forgot, last summer was James' defining moment and he answered his critics with one of the most memorable and awe-inspiring individual runs in the history of sports. Game 4 against Indiana in the second round when he dropped 40 to tie the series; Game 6 against Boston when he scored 45 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, single-handedly beating the Celtics to force Game 7; and finally an NBA Finals when he played bigger than ever, becoming only the sixth player in NBA history to have multiple triple-doubles in the NBA Finals.
The race is now on for James as he chases more titles in his bid to become the greatest player to ever play. It's funny how much can change in only a few months. In January I don't know how many people would have typed that sentence — but it's getting harder to ignore just how amazing LeBron is.
It's time we all started taking advantage of this time in history and appreciating James for the talent he is.
The Heat may be the best team ever assembled and if they can stay healthy, a run at the Bulls' record of 72 wins may be a possibility.
They have the talent and they have "The King."
Find Tonawanda News Sports Editor Matt Parrino on Twitter @MattParrino.
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