MORE THAN A THREE-MAN GAME

For the 2010-11 NBA season, the Miami Heat had long decided to live and die with their celebrated trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. They gambled and paid dearly for it. They had their moments of glory but in the finals series against the Dallas Mavericks, it was a totally different story. If there is one thing the Mavericks have taught the Heat in this memorable championship series is that basketball remains more than a three-man game. The lean bench of the Heat was totally exposed as the long bench of Dallas gallantly supported their starting cast. In game six alone, the Dallas bench outscored their Miami counterparts so badly, 43-20. But lessons learned, the Heat will have to re-tool for next season. For sure, Heat President Pat Riley and head coach Erik Spoelstra  will be in for a long and hard summer as they evaluate the over-all performance of James and company and plan their course of action for next season. It will be a painful process but they are left with no other choice but to move on.