The Miami Heat will NOT have a better record than Cleveland's last two years

[LakersFan_33]

I very strongly believe this. While I will not underrate Lebron James (playoffs are a different story, though), I believe that the rest of his team and it's chemistry was strongly underrated. I also believe that the conference itself wasn't that strong. Also, whoever makes the argument that if the Cavaliers won 61/65 games with ONLY Lebron, then they should win that many or more with he, Wade, Bosh, etc. is an idiot with no understanding of team chemistry, defense, etc.

I've seen my share of hype in my years of watching basketball...this one seems to take the cake.

[jackson_34]

Someone said it in another thread; The fact that James and Wade (and to an extent Bosh) have each other to spur themselves on (something that they did not have in previous teams) is going to work to their advantage. They already have strong chemistry from Team USA, and Miller, Haslem, House are sound complimentary players. 

Heat have to be a better team than the Cavs, otherwise what was the point of bringing them all together? I would be utterly suprised if they don't achieve a better record than last year's cavs.

[xmuscularghandix]

I agree, If Miami wins over 66 games i’m going to be pretty shocked. Esspecially since they have no real big man to control Dwight Howard (who is in their division BTW) and their absence of of size also will allow Atlanta to compete with them. That’s 8 games that will be pretty hard.

Boston will play them twice within the first month of the season, i doubt they’ll be firing on all cylinders by Nov. 26th.

I predict that Miami will be weakest against teams with talent/size at the 4 and 5 positions... Dirk, Duncan, KG, Shaq, Gasol, Howard, Stoudemire, Yao, Big Al, Boozer... I think these guys will have their way with Bosh/Haslem/BigZ/Anthony.

Hell the Hawks should sign Rasheed... he owned Bosh last year.

[Roy H.]

Don't make arguments like these:

Also, whoever makes the argument. . . is an idiot with no understanding of team chemistry, defense, etc.

Attacks, whether aimed at specific posters or groups of them, are inappropriate.

[Assassin70]

Looking @ their schedule I would say they win 63-65 games.  That is taking in to account a few things.

1. The rosters around the NBA as they stand today.
2. The fact that they do have a HUGE target on their backs.
3. Like us after mid March there are only a few games where they could actually lose.

[Roy H.]

How many games Miami wins is going to be primarily dependent upon how well they play defense.  I think they'll definitely hit 60+ wins, but whether they can cross 65 will come down to their defensive mindset.

[indeedproceed]

Miami is going to win 60+games. Only a major injury to LeBron or Wade could hold them back.

[Prof. Clutch]

Miami is going to win 60+games. Only a major injury to LeBron or Wade could hold them back.

Wade dragged a bunch of corpses to a 47 win record last season with the Heat.  Even if Lebron were to go down (let's say) I think solely with the addition of Bosh, and the solid bench they've added, he could take that team to a mid-50's win season or even better.

[wdleehi]

These three guys want to prove something. 



Two of them have been part of strong team defenses.



I expect them shooting for the 65-70 game range.



I don't see this team having issues till it is in the playoffs against teams of Boston/Orlando/LA quality. 

[Mike-Dub]

They're going to get 60 plus wins.  Like wdleehi said, where their troubles will come are in the playoffs.

[LakersFan_33]

I called it.

I was surprised a couple people actually agreed with me when I made my prediction before the start of the season.

[CelticSooner]

.