If the L.A. Lakers and Miami Heat Fail To Reach the NBA Finals, Who Will?

The Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat are favored to meet in the 2011 NBA Finals, but contrary to popular opinion, there is no guarantee that either team will make it.

NBA commissioner David Stern must be giddy with anticipation of a potential Finals' matchup featuring three of the game's top five players in Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James, but there are numerous factors to consider before June.

Both teams must be able to escape the injury bug that nearly derailed the Lakers' championship march last season, and in Miami's case, a loss of either Wade or James would probably be insurmountable.

Miami has other talent besides Wade and James, but those two players give t...

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