Talked about earlier this year as a possible interesting matchup for the championship of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the face-off between the young and hungry Oklahoma City Thunder and the experienced, prideful Miami Heat is now a reality.

As of press time Tues. night (June 12), the start of the best-of-seven series for all the marbles in the Association was underway in Oklahoma City.

In the 2-3-1-1 format, Game 2 was scheduled for Thurs. night (6/14) on the home floor of the Thunder.

For Games 3 and 4, and 5, if necessary, the duels were slated to go on in Miami; starting with Game 3, on Sun. (6/17) at South Beach.

After this, Games 6 and 7 are penciled in to be played on the homecourt of the Thunder; beginning with Game 6 on Sun. (June 24); followed by the deciding Game 7, on Tues. (June 26).

In the Finals for the second straight season, the Heat, standard bearer for the Eastern Conference, advanced to the winner-take-all-series after defeating the Boston Celtics 4-3.

Oklahoma City, a team that not long ago ended a campaign with a 23-59 mark, got to its first championship series by thumping the San Antonio Spurs 4-2, to claim its first Western Conference crown.

Touted as a team with superb starting talent and one with a bench that is more than adequate, the Heat is seemingly poised at making this title run a success

And just minutes after clinching the second consecutive Eastern championship trophy for Miami, team leader LeBron James voiced his opinion about the series versus Oklahoma City.

"This is going to be a very competitive series; and we have to be at our best if we’re going to stand a chance against a very good Oklahoma City team," said the Heat big man. "They are very talented with players like Kevin (guard Kevin Durant) and Westbrook (guard Russell Westbrook); and their bench is solid.

"Because of how we play as a team, I like our chances going in; and our chances to win it all; but we have to show up and play (for the full 48 minutes). There’s not an option."

Describing the opportunity as a "dream-come-true", Kevin Durant, like counterpart LeBron James, highly respects the opposition.

"It’s good to have gotten as far as we have. But until we get it done in the Finals, we haven’t done very much," the Thunder and NBA leading scorer said. "Miami is a team that is very talented; with a lot of experience. We’re going to have to take advantage of most of our chances if we’re going to win a championship.

"Looking back, it’s not long ago that we were trying to figure out how to get to the Finals. Not just getting there; but how to win it all. Now that we have that chance; it’s up to us to take full advantage of it."