Miami Heat end New York Knicks' playoff hopes as they await run at another NBA championship

The Miami Heat are in cruise control waiting for the playoffs to start. The better teams, like the Miami Heat, tend to hold something back and unleash it once the playoffs start. Even though they've known their fate for a long while, they still brushed the Knicks aside with ease in their Sunday encounter, winning 102-91, and virtually ending the Knicks' thin playoff chances.

The Knicks have had a poor season, but they still held on to the small hope of taking the place of the Atlanta Hawks, however, their loss to Miami has all but ended their chances. LeBron James was in no mood to make it easy for the Knicks, as he scored 38 points, had six assists and five rebounds. If the Knicks made it to the playoffs it's likely they'd face the Heat once again, and on this evidence they'd simply be swept aside.

Carmelo Anthony was not at his best, possibly showing that he isn't on LeBron's level and does not deserve a playoff place, or that he realizes his team will not make the playoffs and he's simply looking ahead to this summer, where it's expected he will leave the Knicks in pursuit of his first NBA championship. It's rumoured the Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets are hoping to sign him.

With the playoffs coming at long last, it seems the Miami Heat are more than ready for anybody that steps in path. Will LeBron make it three championships in a row, and regardless of the outcome, will he leave Miami this summer?