The Big 3's plan from the very beginning, expressed so memorably at the 2010 free-agency parade, was simple: "Not one."
One title wouldn't cut it. LeBron James went a little overboard and set himself up for years of criticism by predicting a near decade of dominance, but it was clear that the Miami Heat had big plans from the outset. Winning the 2012 NBA title has only reinforced that.
The Associated Press reports that All-Star forward Chris Bosh foresees James, Dwyane Wade and the rest of the Heat being capable of creating an NBA "dynasty" in South Florida.
The motivation going forward, Bosh said, is easy. He wants the Heat to, as he put it, "get greedy."
"Winning a championship is only the beginning for this group, and we have to look at it that way," Bosh said. "We have to look at it as we're trying to have a dynasty. I think that's the next thing. The only way you can do that is to have more than one championship. I look at it as a five- to six-year increment, where we're trying to win as many as possible."
Given the success Miami has had already and the competitive landscape in the Eastern Conference, Bosh's statements aren't outlandish: two Finals appearances in two years together; the Chicago Bulls' chances relying entirely on Derrick Rose's health; the Boston Celtics seeing their marvelous core inch closer to retirement; and no other strong challengers on the horizon. Barring an injury to James, the Heat should skate into the Eastern Conference finals without an issue next season and perhaps a season or two after that. They will be in position to stack plenty of jewelry.
The biggest X-factor at play in Miami's long-term planning remains the health and effectiveness of Wade, who is now 30. Given that Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is still among the game's best at 34, with way more miles on his tires than Wade, Bosh's 5-to-6 timeframe makes sense. The Heat's stars are all under contract for up to the next four seasons, eliminating any question as to whether they could keep their core together for cap reasons.
Miami got better this summer, adding two key pieces in Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, perhaps foreshadowing its abilities to dominate the "veterans looking for a guaranteed title shot and willing to play for a discount" market. Let that approach play out for a few years and the Heat could be even more terrifying.
Thanks to the Oklahoma City Thunder and the new-look Los Angeles Lakers, the NBA could be set for a short golden age as opposed to just a Heat dynasty, though. All three teams are neck-and-neck on paper and should have the ability to be very strong teams for the next three years at minimum. It's up to Miami to determine whether this becomes a "Bulls in the 1990s" dynasty or a "Celtics vs. Lakers in the 1980s" two- or three-headed monster.