[caray12Participant]

 I feel like everybody under rating the Miami Heat. I’m not a Heat fan I’m a Wizards fan who is a realist. I see a lot of fans bash the Heat for no reason at all and if your team would’ve got LeBron James You wouldn’t complain about them because you would be ecstatic and those annoying Heat fans are Cavs fans now and start talking shit about them now. I have a saying called worry about your own team and not another team because I see everybody as a hater and loves to hate more than root for your own team. I’m about to explain to yall how the Heat going to contend in the East.

They have a good rotation in PG: Mario Chalmers, SG: Dwyane Wade, SF: Luol Deng, PF: Josh McRoberts, C: Chris Bosh, BENCH: Norris Cole, Shabazz Napier, Chris Andersen, Udonis Haslem, James Ennis, Danny Granger, and they will add players via free agency. Carlos Boozer is also expected to be a free agent today and he reportedly is interested in playing in Miami. So add him to the starting lineup and put Josh McRoberts to the bench.  That line up is filled with prove the critics wrong type of players and I believe they will prove the critics wrong with there strong play.

People act like Dwyane Wade is done because he didn’t show up in the finals and he missed about a third of the season but he wasn’t hurt but only 7 games last year. He’s not working on losing weight and getting into the best shape of his career. Dwyane Wade averaged 19 points 5 rebounds and 5 assist last year while shooting 54.5 percent from the field last year. Only LeBron James did that last year and people call that washed up. What I saw in the James/Wade/Bosh era is that Wade plays better when LeBron James is on the bench. I can see him average over 23 points per game next year while being the co leader next year with Chris Bosh. He’s far from washed up and just because he didn’t show up in the finals doesn’t mean he’s washed up while other fail to even reach the finals.

Chris Bosh is still a top flight PF in today’s league and he should have a year similar to the Toronto years because he will have the ball more and he will get a lot of shots up. People also underrate him because he had to take the 3rd seat to Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. He had a disappointing finals but fatigue probably held him back because basically they played 4 seasons in 3 years. He will have a new motivation to be the man and I can see him averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds like Toronto Bosh.

Luol Deng is still a top 5 small forward in the league and was averaging 20 points per game before he went to Cleveland last year. He’s still one of the best perimeter defenders in the league and will go after and take the challenge and guard the best player on the opposite team.

This team is deeper than last year’s team and have arguably the best bench that the Heat had in the big 3 era. Danny Granger was a 25 points per game scorer and will have a full year in recovering from his injury. They have Josh McRoberts that played a big role for Charlotte last year and was the starter for a playoffs team last year. He can pass well for his size and shoot the ball well for his size. They still getting pieces to work into their system.

I will bet on them than bet on players that didn’t do anything in this league. Only teams that I see better than them is Chicago and everything is blank because I didn’t see Cleveland play and I won’t just crown the because they have the King, Washington still needs to mature and I can see them make the leap, I have to see what Charlotte going to do next year because chemistry is everything and if Lance Stevenson fit in Charlotte, and Indiana just lost Lance Stevenson. I see Chicago as the favorite next year and as the top tier on the east. I see Miami, Cleveland, Washington, Indiana, and Charlotte at the same tier of teams and they are interchangeable. 

People act like the Heat is a lottery team but fail to realize they got a really good team and still not finish retooling.

[Ghost01Participant]

 They aren’t a lottery team, but they have no championship window and instead of bottoming out they have chosen to remain relevant with no chance to win anything meaningful. Bosh will be a corpse by the last year or 2 of his deal (he also was strictly a perimeter shooter last arson, this idea that he’s going to be an inside weapon and a premier rebounder next season is insane) and Wade is breaking down. This isn’t one fluky series. This is 4 years worth of decline. Also, how good did he look with LeBron on the bench at the end of Game 1 of the Finals? Or when Paul George was guarding him the ECF game LeBron was in foul trouble? BAD.

[Ghost01Participant]

 They aren’t a lottery team, but they have no championship window and instead of bottoming out they have chosen to remain relevant with no chance to win anything meaningful. Bosh will be a corpse by the last year or 2 of his deal (he also was strictly a perimeter shooter last arson, this idea that he’s going to be an inside weapon and a premier rebounder next season is insane) and Wade is breaking down. This isn’t one fluky series. This is 4 years worth of decline. Also, how good did he look with LeBron on the bench at the end of Game 1 of the Finals? Or when Paul George was guarding him the ECF game LeBron was in foul trouble? BAD.

[caray12Participant]

 I never said they were a championship team I said they well be better than expected because I been hearing they will be a horrible team and will be stuck in the lottery. I can see them be a top 5 seed in the weak eastern conference.  I said i believe Chicago is the odds on favorite to come out of the east and I have to see how other teams play out. I don’t see the Heat winning a champion with the core that they have and they overpaid to keep Bosh. All I’m saying is that they will not be as bad as fans think they are and they are a pretty good team.

And Dwyane Wade average more than about 20 points against the Pacers in the playoffs and looked pretty good up to the finals. He had a 26 player efficiency raring when LeBron James was on the bench and that would’ve been 6th in the NBA and that’s ahead of Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul. Dwyane Wade had to sacrifice so much to the fact that he didn’t get his shots and he didn’t have the ball in his hands as much. He only took 14 shots per game last year and next year he should be taking about 16-20 shots per game. I don’t know what your getting by saying Paul George shut him down when Dwyane Wade had a great series. 

Chris Bosh was the third option so he will get more shots up and he won’t have to reduce his role because he’s the third guy. So why can’t he average 20 points and 10 rebounds? He had to stretch the floor because of the way the Heat ran there offense and I’m sure Miami head coach will adjust to there new roster. 

[caray12Participant]

 I never said they were a championship team I said they well be better than expected because I been hearing they will be a horrible team and will be stuck in the lottery. I can see them be a top 5 seed in the weak eastern conference.  I said i believe Chicago is the odds on favorite to come out of the east and I have to see how other teams play out. I don’t see the Heat winning a champion with the core that they have and they overpaid to keep Bosh. All I’m saying is that they will not be as bad as fans think they are and they are a pretty good team.

And Dwyane Wade average more than about 20 points against the Pacers in the playoffs and looked pretty good up to the finals. He had a 26 player efficiency raring when LeBron James was on the bench and that would’ve been 6th in the NBA and that’s ahead of Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul. Dwyane Wade had to sacrifice so much to the fact that he didn’t get his shots and he didn’t have the ball in his hands as much. He only took 14 shots per game last year and next year he should be taking about 16-20 shots per game. I don’t know what your getting by saying Paul George shut him down when Dwyane Wade had a great series. 

Chris Bosh was the third option so he will get more shots up and he won’t have to reduce his role because he’s the third guy. So why can’t he average 20 points and 10 rebounds? He had to stretch the floor because of the way the Heat ran there offense and I’m sure Miami head coach will adjust to there new roster. 

[Ghost01Participant]

I wasn’t referencing Wade’s stats against the Pacers. I was referencing the game LeBron couldn’t play and PG was guarding Wade. He looked awful.

You may have looked at Wade’s recent play on the Heat as sacrifice, to me it looks like a guy who’s knees are about done. He can’t shoot, he isn’t a premier rim attacker, he’s an okay at best defender, and he’s a mediocre athlete at this point. 

His efficiency, as Bosh’s were such a function of LeBron in so many ways. Also, if LeBron or Durant sat out 30 games and played no back to backs, their statistics would be unbelievable. Good luck to Wade if he actually is expected to play on a night to night basis. 

I just want everyone to remember the end of the Finals. Everyone left that Finals with the feeling "Wow, LeBron had no help". They’ve replaced LeBron with a system player who can’t create his own shot, brought in an average big and a dead man, and other than that have brought back the same team that looked that bad in the Finals WITH LeBron. 

[Ghost01Participant]

I wasn’t referencing Wade’s stats against the Pacers. I was referencing the game LeBron couldn’t play and PG was guarding Wade. He looked awful.

You may have looked at Wade’s recent play on the Heat as sacrifice, to me it looks like a guy who’s knees are about done. He can’t shoot, he isn’t a premier rim attacker, he’s an okay at best defender, and he’s a mediocre athlete at this point. 

His efficiency, as Bosh’s were such a function of LeBron in so many ways. Also, if LeBron or Durant sat out 30 games and played no back to backs, their statistics would be unbelievable. Good luck to Wade if he actually is expected to play on a night to night basis. 

I just want everyone to remember the end of the Finals. Everyone left that Finals with the feeling "Wow, LeBron had no help". They’ve replaced LeBron with a system player who can’t create his own shot, brought in an average big and a dead man, and other than that have brought back the same team that looked that bad in the Finals WITH LeBron. 

[XYRYXParticipant]

I see the point and am glad someone put this up here after a new era begins in Miami.

You might be right that Wade can still put up numbers next year but I rally want to see what they want to do if Wade needs rest and is sitting out 15 games next year aside from possible injuries.

Bosh for sure will have a bounce back with his numbers and Deng is absolutely worth beeing called a top 5 SF. Anderson looked really bad in the playoffs and I’m not sure if he just was banged up and had some minor injuries to play with or if he is declining fast. 

I have no doubt the Heat will have a solid regular season but honestly their bench is weak and Chalmers is a huge question mark. I don’t see them getting past the 2nd round of the playoffs at best. 

[XYRYXParticipant]

I see the point and am glad someone put this up here after a new era begins in Miami.

You might be right that Wade can still put up numbers next year but I rally want to see what they want to do if Wade needs rest and is sitting out 15 games next year aside from possible injuries.

Bosh for sure will have a bounce back with his numbers and Deng is absolutely worth beeing called a top 5 SF. Anderson looked really bad in the playoffs and I’m not sure if he just was banged up and had some minor injuries to play with or if he is declining fast. 

I have no doubt the Heat will have a solid regular season but honestly their bench is weak and Chalmers is a huge question mark. I don’t see them getting past the 2nd round of the playoffs at best. 

[xJumpManxParticipant]

 The Heat went from teh best in the East to Middle tier. Wade knees are nto goign to get better and Deng looked awfully slow in Cleveland last year. How muich better did Lebron make all their players with him gone we will see. Spolstra will have to coach this year remember Lebron even made Mike Brown look competent . I think the Heat will be a low playoff seed team this year 6 – 8 seed. They are older and not getting better is that where you want your team to be.  

[xJumpManxParticipant]

 The Heat went from teh best in the East to Middle tier. Wade knees are nto goign to get better and Deng looked awfully slow in Cleveland last year. How muich better did Lebron make all their players with him gone we will see. Spolstra will have to coach this year remember Lebron even made Mike Brown look competent . I think the Heat will be a low playoff seed team this year 6 – 8 seed. They are older and not getting better is that where you want your team to be.  

[caray12Participant]

 

It was in Cleveland what do you expect they had a horrible locker room, bad teammates, horrible head coach, and there two best players had beef. I didn’t see slow when he was in Chicago last year when he averaged 20 points per game. People fail to mention Dwyane Wade messed only 7 games because of injury.  They just had Wade sit out for precautionary reasons not because he was injured. To say they will be a 6-8 seed is an insult because you saying teams that never even played before is going to be all that. I remember last year when everybody was hyping Cleveland and Detroit up just  because they had so called stellar off seasons meaning they will make the playoffs. The last time I checked basketball is played on the court and not on paper. And to say LeBron made Coach Spo is an insult because Coach Spo led a horrible Miami Heat team to the playoffs 3 straight years in a row. And it’s a insult to say LeBron made Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh better because they proven stars in this league. You can say he made Mike Miller, Shane Battier, Udonis Haslem, and Mario Chalmers better because they are role players but it’s an insult to think he made Dwyane Wade and a Chris Bosh better. I’m a realist and knows basketball I can see them having the 5th through 3rd seed. I don’t make assumptions to what the pieces on a paper say and project how good a player will be because Andrew Wiggins can turn out to be a bust and Kyrie Irving can miss about 30 games like he do annually. Yeah people fail to realize Kyrie Irving is always injured and he only played 60 games last year. Derrick Rose didn’t play for 2 seasons. We don’t know what we are going to see from Washington, Toronto, and Charlotte next year. We all assume things going to workout as experts plan but most of the time it doesn’t pan out. Because what if Andrew Wiggins becomes a bust, Anthony Bennett don’t improve, Dion Waiters stay selfish, Andy Varojo stay injured, and Kyrie Irving stays hurt. What’s that with Cleveland nothing because they don’t have a good roster. They only have Kyrie and LeBron that would start on multiple teams in this league and if things don’t pan out they can really suck.

[caray12Participant]

 

It was in Cleveland what do you expect they had a horrible locker room, bad teammates, horrible head coach, and there two best players had beef. I didn’t see slow when he was in Chicago last year when he averaged 20 points per game. People fail to mention Dwyane Wade messed only 7 games because of injury.  They just had Wade sit out for precautionary reasons not because he was injured. To say they will be a 6-8 seed is an insult because you saying teams that never even played before is going to be all that. I remember last year when everybody was hyping Cleveland and Detroit up just  because they had so called stellar off seasons meaning they will make the playoffs. The last time I checked basketball is played on the court and not on paper. And to say LeBron made Coach Spo is an insult because Coach Spo led a horrible Miami Heat team to the playoffs 3 straight years in a row. And it’s a insult to say LeBron made Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh better because they proven stars in this league. You can say he made Mike Miller, Shane Battier, Udonis Haslem, and Mario Chalmers better because they are role players but it’s an insult to think he made Dwyane Wade and a Chris Bosh better. I’m a realist and knows basketball I can see them having the 5th through 3rd seed. I don’t make assumptions to what the pieces on a paper say and project how good a player will be because Andrew Wiggins can turn out to be a bust and Kyrie Irving can miss about 30 games like he do annually. Yeah people fail to realize Kyrie Irving is always injured and he only played 60 games last year. Derrick Rose didn’t play for 2 seasons. We don’t know what we are going to see from Washington, Toronto, and Charlotte next year. We all assume things going to workout as experts plan but most of the time it doesn’t pan out. Because what if Andrew Wiggins becomes a bust, Anthony Bennett don’t improve, Dion Waiters stay selfish, Andy Varojo stay injured, and Kyrie Irving stays hurt. What’s that with Cleveland nothing because they don’t have a good roster. They only have Kyrie and LeBron that would start on multiple teams in this league and if things don’t pan out they can really suck.

[xJumpManxParticipant]

 

Its not hard to reaize Wades knee will not get better they cant, he had his meniscus taken out in 2002 and that leads to bone on bone issues. Wade himself blames that surgery and choice to have it removed instead of longterm rehab to his chronic knee issues. As for Deng the miles have caught up to him  he has been injury prone the last few years and last year it was his achileas tendon that caused issues for him all season. He looked flat out slow could not beat anyone off the dribble anymore. I expect Lebron to make the game easier for everyone on the Cavs he did in Cleveland before and he did it in Miami as well. I expect the Heat to finish in the 6 to 8 range if things go well. 

[xJumpManxParticipant]

 

Its not hard to reaize Wades knee will not get better they cant, he had his meniscus taken out in 2002 and that leads to bone on bone issues. Wade himself blames that surgery and choice to have it removed instead of longterm rehab to his chronic knee issues. As for Deng the miles have caught up to him  he has been injury prone the last few years and last year it was his achileas tendon that caused issues for him all season. He looked flat out slow could not beat anyone off the dribble anymore. I expect Lebron to make the game easier for everyone on the Cavs he did in Cleveland before and he did it in Miami as well. I expect the Heat to finish in the 6 to 8 range if things go well. 

[SpartanGloryParticipant]

 So you don’t think that Lebron drawing entire defenses in on his drives benefited Chris Bosh’s perimeter shooting or Wade? Gonna have to disagree big time on that one. It doesn’t matter how good a player is, Lebron draws so much attention that he makes EVERYONE better.

[SpartanGloryParticipant]

 So you don’t think that Lebron drawing entire defenses in on his drives benefited Chris Bosh’s perimeter shooting or Wade? Gonna have to disagree big time on that one. It doesn’t matter how good a player is, Lebron draws so much attention that he makes EVERYONE better.

[SpartanGloryParticipant]

Also, what difference does it make what reason the player misses a game? Wade missed quite a few last year and probably will again this year. Miami is just okay in the east and is probably 5th-8th seed.

[SpartanGloryParticipant]

Also, what difference does it make what reason the player misses a game? Wade missed quite a few last year and probably will again this year. Miami is just okay in the east and is probably 5th-8th seed.

[StarbucksSucksParticipant]

 LeBron is truly an all time great.  Arguably one of the greatest of all time.  As such, his impact is so profound that we often get stuck in if/then or either/or arguments.   Like IF LeBron leaves THEN Miami will fail, and since LeBron left EITHER Cleveland OR Miami will be contenders, but not both.  Really the way I see it is that both teams will be capable of championship contention in a now wide open Eastern Conference.  Miami is aging but really kind of talented.  The departure of LeBron (my favorite player) freed up a lot of money allowing for Granger and Deng (bounce back seasons?), McElbowsToTheThroat (emerging big) and the championship cast to get deals.  Wade will be much improved, his issue is mental.  He flat out quit on his team.  As a fan I have never Wade quit on his team, until this year.  I know his knees were tender, but Manu smashed on Bosh and drained 3 ‘ with a broken leg.  Wade must dig deeper this year, he knows it, and he will.  Watch.  Bosh will get better usage numbers, maybe 20 pts, 8-10 rebs.  But he will always be soft protecting the rim, and his legs appear to be losing explosion.  But really Deng and Granger will be key, if they excel Miami is top 4 Eastern Conference contender, IF they are not THEN they appear to be lottery bound.  Too much pride and accomplishment on that team to count them out.

With regard to Cleveland they have the best Player on Planet Earth RIGHT NOW!  Coupled with a ton of young talent, led by arguably one of the best young PG in the NBA.  LeBron has a huge beneficial impact on teammates and often those players post near career highs in efficiency while playing with him regardless of health (DWade/Larry Hughes/Anthony Parker/MO Williams/Booba Gibson), whether the Cavs swing a K Love deal or not, they still have young athletic bigs, a good blend of hand picked (LJ faves) veteran shooting, and draft capital in future picks to swing one or more deals to address deficiencies.  Again it is erroneous to say EITHER the Cavs OR the Heat will contend.  Or IF the Cavs are good THEN the Heat will fail.  Both teams will go through their growing pains as new pieces mesh together.  But in the end will be highly competitive.   In fact I can envision several scenarios that would lead to their meeting in the playoffs.  Now that would be can’t miss TV in Silver ‘ first year as full time Commish!

[StarbucksSucksParticipant]

 LeBron is truly an all time great.  Arguably one of the greatest of all time.  As such, his impact is so profound that we often get stuck in if/then or either/or arguments.   Like IF LeBron leaves THEN Miami will fail, and since LeBron left EITHER Cleveland OR Miami will be contenders, but not both.  Really the way I see it is that both teams will be capable of championship contention in a now wide open Eastern Conference.  Miami is aging but really kind of talented.  The departure of LeBron (my favorite player) freed up a lot of money allowing for Granger and Deng (bounce back seasons?), McElbowsToTheThroat (emerging big) and the championship cast to get deals.  Wade will be much improved, his issue is mental.  He flat out quit on his team.  As a fan I have never Wade quit on his team, until this year.  I know his knees were tender, but Manu smashed on Bosh and drained 3 ‘ with a broken leg.  Wade must dig deeper this year, he knows it, and he will.  Watch.  Bosh will get better usage numbers, maybe 20 pts, 8-10 rebs.  But he will always be soft protecting the rim, and his legs appear to be losing explosion.  But really Deng and Granger will be key, if they excel Miami is top 4 Eastern Conference contender, IF they are not THEN they appear to be lottery bound.  Too much pride and accomplishment on that team to count them out.

With regard to Cleveland they have the best Player on Planet Earth RIGHT NOW!  Coupled with a ton of young talent, led by arguably one of the best young PG in the NBA.  LeBron has a huge beneficial impact on teammates and often those players post near career highs in efficiency while playing with him regardless of health (DWade/Larry Hughes/Anthony Parker/MO Williams/Booba Gibson), whether the Cavs swing a K Love deal or not, they still have young athletic bigs, a good blend of hand picked (LJ faves) veteran shooting, and draft capital in future picks to swing one or more deals to address deficiencies.  Again it is erroneous to say EITHER the Cavs OR the Heat will contend.  Or IF the Cavs are good THEN the Heat will fail.  Both teams will go through their growing pains as new pieces mesh together.  But in the end will be highly competitive.   In fact I can envision several scenarios that would lead to their meeting in the playoffs.  Now that would be can’t miss TV in Silver ‘ first year as full time Commish!

[mixtape2003Participant]

What everybody is not realizing in the deals they signed are 2 year deals except for Bosh which leaves them with cap room for summer 2016 to improve so long term they are not in bad shape. Short-term will depend on is Bosh can return to his Toronto form and Wade’s knees, if those things can happened then the Heat would be competing for top 4 in the east.

[mixtape2003Participant]

What everybody is not realizing in the deals they signed are 2 year deals except for Bosh which leaves them with cap room for summer 2016 to improve so long term they are not in bad shape. Short-term will depend on is Bosh can return to his Toronto form and Wade’s knees, if those things can happened then the Heat would be competing for top 4 in the east.

[treytalkssports.comParticipant]

 Great points, OP. As a Celtics fan, you can guess how I feel about the Heat. That being said, it’s not hard to imagine a perfect series of events happen which propel the Heat into contention in the East. I still don’t think they can win a championship, but if the Cavs struggle to learn each other’s game, the Bulls struggle with injuries, the Knicks struggle with talent, the Wizards take a step back after big contracts are handed out, the Pacers struggle with scoring and floor spacing, and the Hornets struggle with team chemistry, its reasonable to see the Heat being a top three seed. Like I said, a perfect series of events. 

Spo is a good coach. He knows how to use his players. They will be a tough matchup with McRoberts and Bosh on the floor. What if Chalmers improves with an increased role? What if Napier is a solid, NBA-ready point guard? What if Granger turns back the clock? What if Wade has an "F-U" season in his last All-star level year? I mean, this team could go the other direction, too, but they could also be really good. 

 

[treytalkssports.comParticipant]

 Great points, OP. As a Celtics fan, you can guess how I feel about the Heat. That being said, it’s not hard to imagine a perfect series of events happen which propel the Heat into contention in the East. I still don’t think they can win a championship, but if the Cavs struggle to learn each other’s game, the Bulls struggle with injuries, the Knicks struggle with talent, the Wizards take a step back after big contracts are handed out, the Pacers struggle with scoring and floor spacing, and the Hornets struggle with team chemistry, its reasonable to see the Heat being a top three seed. Like I said, a perfect series of events. 

Spo is a good coach. He knows how to use his players. They will be a tough matchup with McRoberts and Bosh on the floor. What if Chalmers improves with an increased role? What if Napier is a solid, NBA-ready point guard? What if Granger turns back the clock? What if Wade has an "F-U" season in his last All-star level year? I mean, this team could go the other direction, too, but they could also be really good. 

 

[treytalkssports.comParticipant]

 Great points, OP. As a Celtics fan, you can guess how I feel about the Heat. That being said, it’s not hard to imagine a perfect series of events happen which propel the Heat into contention in the East. I still don’t think they can win a championship, but if the Cavs struggle to learn each other’s game, the Bulls struggle with injuries, the Knicks struggle with talent, the Wizards take a step back after big contracts are handed out, the Pacers struggle with scoring and floor spacing, and the Hornets struggle with team chemistry, its reasonable to see the Heat being a top three seed. Like I said, a perfect series of events. 

Spo is a good coach. He knows how to use his players. They will be a tough matchup with McRoberts and Bosh on the floor. What if Chalmers improves with an increased role? What if Napier is a solid, NBA-ready point guard? What if Granger turns back the clock? What if Wade has an "F-U" season in his last All-star level year? I mean, this team could go the other direction, too, but they could also be really good. 

 

[Ghost01Participant]

What if Wade has an "F-U" season in his last All-star level year?

What basketball have you watched over the past 2 years that would suggest this is remotely possible?
 

Everyone is looking at stats – and pointing out that A. Wade and Bosh were efficient, and B. There stats will improve without LeBron. For the 2nd to be true, the 1st is going to get worse. Wade and Bosh clearly, again, CLEARLY have been disgressing the past couple of seasons. This idea that no LeBron will make both of them better is the furthest thing from the truth. Wade and Bosh aren’t the players they were in 2010, that’s the bottom line. Sure they can make the playoffs in this bad East, but there is no world where a team with LeBron James on it would lose a best of 7 series to this team. I will stop watching basketball forever if that happens. 

[Ghost01Participant]

What if Wade has an "F-U" season in his last All-star level year?

What basketball have you watched over the past 2 years that would suggest this is remotely possible?
 

Everyone is looking at stats – and pointing out that A. Wade and Bosh were efficient, and B. There stats will improve without LeBron. For the 2nd to be true, the 1st is going to get worse. Wade and Bosh clearly, again, CLEARLY have been disgressing the past couple of seasons. This idea that no LeBron will make both of them better is the furthest thing from the truth. Wade and Bosh aren’t the players they were in 2010, that’s the bottom line. Sure they can make the playoffs in this bad East, but there is no world where a team with LeBron James on it would lose a best of 7 series to this team. I will stop watching basketball forever if that happens. 

[treytalkssports.comParticipant]

 Great points, OP. As a Celtics fan, you can guess how I feel about the Heat. That being said, it’s not hard to imagine a perfect series of events happen which propel the Heat into contention in the East. I still don’t think they can win a championship, but if the Cavs struggle to learn each other’s game, the Bulls struggle with injuries, the Knicks struggle with talent, the Wizards take a step back after big contracts are handed out, the Pacers struggle with scoring and floor spacing, and the Hornets struggle with team chemistry, its reasonable to see the Heat being a top three seed. Like I said, a perfect series of events. 

Spo is a good coach. He knows how to use his players. They will be a tough matchup with McRoberts and Bosh on the floor. What if Chalmers improves with an increased role? What if Napier is a solid, NBA-ready point guard? What if Granger turns back the clock? What if Wade has an "F-U" season in his last All-star level year? I mean, this team could go the other direction, too, but they could also be really good. 

 

[Author]

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