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Chasing Some Ghosts — NBA Finals 2020: Lakers v. Heat
First, there are those connections in this series and there are many. Pat Riley, former Lakers players and Lakers coach who helped them win five championships as a head coach and assistant coach. Riley who also has built the Heat franchise and coached the team to its first title and then lured James to Miami to win two more rings and establish the Heat as an enduring franchise.
LeBron James, former Miami Heat player, who won two championships in Miami and went to three Finals. And now, James in Los Angeles, playing this season out as if he is on a mission, chasing the immortal ghost of the late Kobe Bryant, who died earlier this year in a tragic helicopter crash and also Laker glory.
And Jimmy Butler has been chasing respect as well ever since his days in Texas when he found himself homeless. Eric Spolestra, coach of the Miami Heat, who won two rings with LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade, but never has gotten much credit because of that star power, is chasing respect too.
But forget all that. How about some numbers. The last time, the Los Angeles Lakers played the Miami Heat, LeBron James described it afterwards as a…
