The Miami Heat are no longer the team to watch in the NBA. This time four years ago the world waited in anticipation of what the monster Pat Riley had created would look like. No team throughout the course of league history had come together in this manner. Sure those Celtics teams in the 1980's were stacked. But they were constructed through the NBA Draft. The Shaq and Kobe Lakers was a combination of good drafting and key free agency acquisitions. The Miami Heat changed the way general managers approach building organizations with their blockbuster Summer of 2010. Three players with this talent level signing on to play together had never been seen before.
The Heatles were as good as advertised. Following a slow 9-9 start, Miami finished the 2010-11 season with a 58-24 record. Not bad for an experimental trial. They ultimately fell short of their goal to win a championship. However, looking back in retrospect, for a team to win 58 games and make the NBA Finals during their first season together is a remarkable accomplishment.
During the next two years the Miami Heat would become the most dominant franchise in the NBA. The team went 112-46 during their back-to-back championship seasons. LeBron James won consecutive MVP awards. After knocking off the San Antonio Spurs in game seven of the 2013 NBA Finals, the Heat franchise was on top of the world. LeBron was months away from his 29th birthday. Miami could presumably be apart of the championship conversation for the next 8 years.
Dwayne Wade played the entire 2013-14 season on a minutes restriction. Wade was in and out of Miami's lineup for the duration of the season. LeBron burdened the load of the Heat scoring attack for much of the year. During the 2014 season LeBron was forced to go one on five, much like his youthful days in Cleveland. An embarrassing five game defeat to the Spurs in the NBA Finals was enough to send LeBron packing. Not even Pat Riley, the man that was the difference in LeBron signing with the Heat challenging his fortitude was enough to keep King James in South Beach. And just like that the Miami Heat become irrelevant. Not if the man upstairs has something to say about it. Riley famously coined the term " there's winning, and there's misery ".
Riley has never been one to back into a corner. He won championships as the visiting coach at the Boston Garden when no one else had heard of such a thing. He rallied his Lakers past the Detroit Pistons despite Isaiah Thomas pouring in 25 points in one quarter during the 1988 NBA Finals. His Knicks are one of the few teams to take Michael Jordan's Bulls to a seventh game during their magical run. He is also one of the few coaches in league history to recover from a 3-1 playoff deficit. Riley has moxie to say the least.
Chris Bosh was believed to be on his way out of town this past Summer. The Houston Rockets appeared to be his next destination. That was until Riley swooped in and re-signed Bosh to a five-year $118 Million dollar deal. Bosh is expected to assume much of the scoring load LeBron has left behind. Wade ' s health is Miami's biggest question mark headed into the season. Can Wade come close to playing 82 games this season? If so how good will he be if the Heat qualify for the postseason? All questions that will be answered as the season progresses.
Miami signed Luol Deng during the off season. Deng is one of the best two-way players in the NBA. His length on defense and ability to handle the ball make him a solid pick up. Deng is no Lebron, but should be a respectable option down the stretch of games. During his career Deng has been known for his durability. That could come into play if Wade misses significant time.
Miami picked up Shabazz Napier in the draft. Napier won two NCAA Championships during his time at Connecticut. He is more experienced than most guards that come into the NBA these days. Mario Chalmers job could be in trouble. His inconsistency at the point guard position will not be tolerated with the departure of LeBron. Miami can no longer depend on one guy. Guys have to hold themselves accountable.
Danny Granger is attempting to resurrect his career. The former all-star ' s blue collar style should fit in well with Miami's veteran roster. Injuries have robbed Granger of his athleticism. However, his intelligence and hard nosed defense make him valuable to NBA teams. He could play a key role on Miami's second team.
I predict Miami will finish the season 47-35. That could be good enough for the number four seed in a softened Eastern Conference. With the veteran leadership on the roster the Heat could sneak their way in the conference finals.
LeBron may have taken his talents to Lake Eerie, but basketball is still relevant in South Beach.
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