 Welcome back to the future. It was just six years ago, the dynasty fell apart. What was supposed to be a 10 year reign in South Beach took its talents back home to the promised land and now to Hollywood. The Miami Heat were left for dead, one might say in a flash. As LeBron James traveled West to resurrect Showtime in Los Angeles, little did he know that his task could not be completed until the sequel triumphs the original. Pat Riley has proved he can turn purple into gold no matter where he's worked throughout his prestigious career. But now he's become a made man with the Miami Heat, starting off as a captain, a consigliere and now the godfather. It feels like destiny that these two generals were to cross paths again before it was all said and done. Not when you leave things like this. You've described yourself publicly as devastated and you've said that you will never forget that phone call where you just felt like, hey, weren't we building something together? You know, when LeBron made that call, I saw a dynasty fly out the window. When narrative pushing confidants continue to tell us that their differences are water under the bridge, it doesn't change the fact that the two will have to confront the ghosts of their past. However, generals don't win wars without valor from their soldiers. And in the finals, two soldiers in particular will have to prove the sacrifices made to acquire their services were worth it. Jimmy Butler and Anthony Davis. To get Davis to LA, it cost the Lakers three first round draft picks, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart and this year's most improved player, Brandon Ingram. Some thought this was way too much. Some actually had the conversation about rejecting the deal over keeping Josh Hart. Arguably the most talented basketball player on earth today has lived up to the hype. And that hype was high. This, and if we're not playing through Anthony Davis while he's on the floor, then it makes no sense to have him on the floor because he's that great. LeBron said it himself. It's now on AD to not only finish the job but to do it as the guy. No pressure. For the heat, the same could be said to an extent about Jimmy Butler. Miami didn't give away the next five years of their franchise like the Lakers did, but they did trade Josh Richardson and Hassan Whiteside to players that the franchise had raised from their professional births. In addition to that, Jimmy Butler got paid. Not only in financial compensation but in heat culture equity. Butler was given the keys to the locker room to set his tone. That same tough love tone which was deemed by some as toxic, a liability or too much was exactly what Pat Riley's vision had been missing since the big three dismantled. Morning, hardaway, mashburn and now at a bio, drag itch, Butler. Despite this resurrection, it's still the king's court. Nine out of the last 10 NBA finals have included LeBron James, one appearance shy of matching the seemingly impossible streak of 10 from the great Bill Russell. Just when you thought father time had finally arrived to knock on LeBron's door, all he did was go out there and make history again. This isn't the Denver Nuggets though nor is it any opponent that James has faced in the past. This is personal. And you gotta stay together if you got the guts and you don't find the first door and run out of it if you have an opportunity. This is the 2020 NBA Finals.