Eastern Conference Finals: Game 7

Tonight, the Heat play the Pacers in a Game 7, that most casual fans didn't expect, and many NBA experts weren't expecting to reach 7 games (most were predicting the series to end by Game 6.)

Regardless of whether or not the Heat ultimately advance, it's very tough to repeat as champions.

As defending champions, it seems that you expend an additional amount of energy playing every team, even teams that have little to play for late in the season. In the playoffs, the intensity and competition ratchets up a lot, and it's easy to forget that it wasn't quite that easy for the Bulls the first time they repeated as champs.

It should be a fun game tonight. We'll see if the King takes a step towards further legitimizing his ascendance, or if those plans will need to be put on hold again.

-- wake.eat.sleep