The Cold War

It has started to settle deep into the background of the NBA. Lurking behind the scenes in a dark shadow, but such is the price of greatness.

There is a cold war being waged. And two of the teams that are involved are among the elite franchises in the NBA.

On one side stands the San Antonio Spurs. The defending world champs that have leaped from team on the rise to potential dynasty. They have excellent scouting. Excellent coaching. They have a nice mixture of young players in Ginobili and Parker and veterans in Duncan, Horry, and Bowen. They get the maximum out of their players and they are as smart as they are skilled. The Spurs are the class of the NBA - they cast their nets far and wide to bring home the best talent available that fits their system and plays their brand of basketball.

On the other side stands the noveau riche Miami Heat. Built with a strong foundation on the shoulders of Alonzo Mourning, this franchise rose and fell within the last 5 years of the 1990's. But like a phoenix, the Heat rose again from their ashes through the shrewd drafting of players like Caron Butler and Dwyane Wade. Pat Riley, always with a jewler's eye for talent, transferred coaching duties to his super assistant, Stan Van Gundy. This move paid off by freeing Riley from one of his toughest customers - Pat Riley the coach. No longer relegated to a certain style of play, the Heat were able to land talent to fit a system that Van Gundy could tailor to the needs of his players. The young gun team of '03-'04 gave way to the juggernaut team of '04-'05 because of the arrival of one Diesel. And the fortunes for the Heat have changed since.

It seemed like both these teams were on a collison course for destiny last season. The Heat had the best record in the East, the Spurs the best in the West. Both were strong at home and strong on the road. And this may have been where the cold war started - with two super powers eyeing each other from afar, anticipating the final showdown.

The Heat felt they weren't strong enough at small forward and took a chance on Qyntel Woods, the super athletic but troubled talent let go by the Trailblazers. Woods, at the time, was selecting between the Heat and the Spurs.

Then there was Glenn Robinson. Rumors were flying that early in the season the Heat were thinking of dealing Eddie Jones away for Robinson from the Sixers. The deal made some sense as the 'Big Dawg' could fill in for the Heat at small forward and provide some more offense at the position. Big contracts could have been moved, too. But it never came to pass, and Robinson was released. Still a target for the Heat, although a mild one, the Spurs ended up scooping Robinson. In response to missing out on Woods? Or only to keep the Heat from landing Robinson and having one less weapon to face in a showdown?

Then there is the courtship of Michael Finley. Finley, as reports recently have stated, has decided to sign with the Spurs. It is widely known that the Heat and Phoenix were also favorites to sign the 32 year old veteran. The Heat could offer up their entire mid-level exception as well as a possible starting job and a chance to win a championship in the coming future. More money, a starting position and a chance at a ring. The Spurs could only realistically offer one of those things. Still, Finley signed with the Spurs.

The details are not yet revealed as to why. But there is one thing that does seem to be lingering here: is there indeed a cold war between the NBA superpowers the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs? Are they stockpiling talent while keeping their collective gazes fixed on the other side?

If there wasn't a cold war before, there certainly is one now.