Why the Heat Won't Win

But that aside, and putbacks/dumpoffs aside, Miami’s front court focus will be rebounding and interior D. When they can key on and train that exclusively, they will probably surprise you.

Also, don’t write Haslem off, and Pittman, while having a low ceiling, was one of the centers coming out of the draft most ready to contribute right away.

That said, Miami’s front line is thin, and hacking Wade at this stage in his career is a good way to shorten it, and probably keep him out of the lane in the halfcourt…but the problem is as the defense collapses there will be open looks, high percentage shots, easy assists. What you’ve listed is the preferred strategy…but if the Thunder are one missed boxout from taking the Lakers to Game 7, suggesting the Heat won’t (read: can’t) win without a ferocious interior defensive presence seems a bit short-sighted unless you’re suggesting Andrew Bynum’s presence is the lynchpin of their last two championship runs…

But I generally agree that this is how teams will beat them in the playoffs. I think they’re too quick on the perimeter for Boston (the C’s got killed by quick perimeter teams last year), but Orlando and Dwight will give them problems, as will LA.

…conjure up the spirit of Wes Unseld! We will institute a league wide conspiracy rivaling LeTravel’s departure to South Beach! Through out the season every team will have to commit to pummeling Miami Thrice into submission! Pick a weak link, Wade or Bosh, and put “Unseld” worthy fouls on them! They must be punished for creating such an unbalance in the NBA!

No question about it. But I dont know how much that actually means in todays NBA. Back in the day, a lot of players would have taken offense to the three of these guys teaming up to dominate the NBA. And Wade and company would have heard, seen, and felt it on a nightly basis. Guys would never give up an easy bucket and be giving everybody on Miami a shot every opportunity they got. And thats not cheating, and its no dirtier than Bron and Wade teaming up in the first place, its just sports. But in the NBA today pretty much everbody is buddies, and what young up and coming baller doesnt want to be Lebron’s and D-wades friend. So yeah I think that the target on their back could be their downfall in the end, if people were willing to give Miami everything they had, every single night, and it would be tough for them to stay healthy and have a full tank left come playoff time. But I doubt that will be the case.

The key to the Heat’s success this season will be perimeter shooting. With 3 stars who can draw double-teams (ok, maybe 2 who can consistently draw double teams), that means other players should see open looks from outside. Chalmers, Arroyo, and House all shoot a 3-point percentage in the 30-percentile range. Mike Miller shot an incredible 48% from 3-point territory last season – though a statistician might look at the lower number of shots he took (“the shooter who didn’t shoot”) and say that that figure doesn’t mean much.

Anyway, the Heat have role players who can shoot. Opponents are going to have to either stick with single coverage for every Heat player (which has proven surprisingly effective against teams like Boston), or opt for an effective zone, assuming there is such a thing.

Here are my reasons why they won’t win:

1. Chris Bosh is NOT, i repeat, NOT a superstar! How can he command max money when he obviously did nothing to get the Raptors anywhere past a 5th seed in the playoffs!
2. D. Wade is past or about to past his prime! His game from here on out will take a steady decline as injuries will start to take a toll on his overall physical ability.
3. LeBron James is starting to refer to himself in 3rd person! That can’t be good for anyone!
4. Their Bench – Are you kidding me?? People will say that Boston did it with 2 average at best starters at the time in Rondo and Perkins. However, lets not get to hasty in comparisons to Boston’s Big Three. They were all seasoned vets who came from teams that didn’t win for a long time.They were all superstars (not just all-stars) and were able to come togther for a common cause! They were not bosom buddies, They wanted to win and they did! Miami may have a Big 1 and a half (Bron and Wade/ Bosh is not a superstar remember!)
5. KARMA!!! – With a situation like this, where the Heat can somehow circumvent the law of averages and sign all 3 of the top free agents. This can’t possibly work for them! I beileve in Karma and I feel that the way that this was done was cowardly! If you can’t beat’em join’em? Whatever happened to wanted to crush the other team’s superstar??? If this starts a trend towards the so-called “superteam” the NBA won’t even be watchable in those franchises most affected by loss in free agency. Its so bad, not even J and Bron are cool anymore!

Stay tuned!!!!