Excuses already for the heat!!

[Prof. Clutch]

There aren’t nearly enough crutches in the world for all the lame excuses.

[gar]

Orlando will blow them out of the water. They are the second best team in the southeast Div. Injuries or no injuries.

[JHTruth]

I honestly don't know how this Heat team is going to find chemistry. Watching them sans Wade is like watching a lesser version of Cleveland with LBJ. LeBron is just a one man team out there. Sure one heck of a one man team but he's going to have to be happy as a like a 16-8 guy with Wade.

Wade and LBJ are going to have a tough time. Bosh looks useless as the sidekick right now. Imagine him as the 3rd wheel. He's basically a glorified Hickson out there. This guy has the talent to be a 20-10 all-star. I don't know, it's going to take some time..

[Atzar]

I honestly don't know how this Heat team is going to find chemistry. Watching them sans Wade is like watching a lesser version of Cleveland with LBJ. LeBron is just a one man team out there. Sure one heck of a one man team but he's going to have to be happy as a like a 16-8 guy with Wade.

Wade and LBJ are going to have a tough time. Bosh looks useless as the sidekick right now. Imagine him as the 3rd wheel. He's basically a glorified Hickson out there. This guy has the talent to be a 20-10 all-star. I don't know, it's going to take some time..

No way LeBron goes from averaging almost 30 to 16.  I think Wade and LeBron will both be in the 22-25 neighborhood, with Bosh anywhere from 18-22 when he gets going.  With the talent of their main three and their lack of reliable scoring options otherwise, it wouldn't surprise me much to see them each scoring well over 20 points per game.

I do agree with you that Bosh has been ineffective so far, though.  They have no idea how to use him, and he has no idea how to make himself useful.  That team will operate far below their potential until they figure out how to be a team - until then, it will just be one of LeBron, Wade, and rarely Bosh reprising their roles as the alpha dog every night while the rest of the team watches.

That's partially on the coach, as well, in my opinion.  I wonder if Spoelstra is in over his head down there now...

[Who]

I'd like to see Miami go to Chris Bosh less offensively. Let him play off of LeBron and Wade (get 17-18ppg in the process) and put the vast majority of his energy into his defense + rebounding.

Bosh is capable of doing a lot more defensively but they've got to make it more of priority for him. A main responsibility.

[JHTruth]

I honestly don't know how this Heat team is going to find chemistry. Watching them sans Wade is like watching a lesser version of Cleveland with LBJ. LeBron is just a one man team out there. Sure one heck of a one man team but he's going to have to be happy as a like a 16-8 guy with Wade.

Wade and LBJ are going to have a tough time. Bosh looks useless as the sidekick right now. Imagine him as the 3rd wheel. He's basically a glorified Hickson out there. This guy has the talent to be a 20-10 all-star. I don't know, it's going to take some time..

No way LeBron goes from averaging almost 30 to 16.  I think Wade and LeBron will both be in the 22-25 neighborhood, with Bosh anywhere from 18-22 when he gets going.  With the talent of their main three and their lack of reliable scoring options otherwise, it wouldn't surprise me much to see them each scoring well over 20 points per game.

I do agree with you that Bosh has been ineffective so far, though.  They have no idea how to use him, and he has no idea how to make himself useful.  That team will operate far below their potential until they figure out how to be a team - until then, it will just be one of LeBron, Wade, and rarely Bosh reprising their roles as the alpha dog every night while the rest of the team watches.

That's partially on the coach, as well, in my opinion.  I wonder if Spoelstra is in over his head down there now...

Yeah, well both LBJ and Wade are much more effective handling the ball. Neither has been off-the ball player in their past. I would be very concerned how effective they will be off the ball for a much larger portion of the time. LeBron and Wade literally managed like 90% of their team's possessions last year. It's going to be tough for them to both get off 25 every night within the flow of the offense..

[RAcker]

"This thread is so racist towards my team."

- LBJ

 

[KobeShesNotConsenting!]

Losing Wade early in pre-season has slowed them down. It has completely changed their game plan on both ends of the floor. The effect it's had on their team defense being the most important area.

As a result, the team isn't as far along as you'd expect them to be at this point in the year.

It won't effect their hopes for a title but they'll start off a little slower than they'd like.

Make no mistake, it ABSOLUTELY can affect their hopes of winnin a title this year. OF COURSE it can. Don't you think not havin home court advantage over us would be a serious blow to the heat? A slow start for them and a fast start for us could be the difference between bein away or home in the playoffs. Every game counts

[billysan]

I honestly don't know how this Heat team is going to find chemistry. Watching them sans Wade is like watching a lesser version of Cleveland with LBJ. LeBron is just a one man team out there. Sure one heck of a one man team but he's going to have to be happy as a like a 16-8 guy with Wade.

Wade and LBJ are going to have a tough time. Bosh looks useless as the sidekick right now. Imagine him as the 3rd wheel. He's basically a glorified Hickson out there. This guy has the talent to be a 20-10 all-star. I don't know, it's going to take some time..

The Hickson comparison is hilarious but pretty close to accurate in terms of what Bosh will be this season. Kind of sad for Chris actually. No way James and Wade let him be an alpha dog on this team. He was duped into being signed as a role player. He will get to set picks with big Z and Joel Anthony. He will not get a bunch of shot attempts IMO.


As to the all star business, if he could play center for short stretches effectively (see Garnett, Kevin) alongside Haslem, then I would agree. He is a light contact finesse type PF. He will avg a bunch of rebounds because he is the only big on the team that will see major minutes.


I agree with Shaq, Bosh is the RuPaul of NBA bigmen.

[Who]

Losing Wade early in pre-season has slowed them down. It has completely changed their game plan on both ends of the floor. The effect it's had on their team defense being the most important area.

As a result, the team isn't as far along as you'd expect them to be at this point in the year.

It won't effect their hopes for a title but they'll start off a little slower than they'd like.

Make no mistake, it ABSOLUTELY can affect their hopes of winnin a title this year. OF COURSE it can. Don't you think not havin home court advantage over us would be a serious blow to the heat? A slow start for them and a fast start for us could be the difference between bein away or home in the playoffs. Every game counts

It is not going to cost Miami that many games. They've had a week's experience playing together in training camp before the preseason games started + Bosh, Wade and LeBron have experience playing together for Team USA + six of their top nine players are returning players from last season's Miami side.

It will slow them down some but not to the degree that it'll cost them anything come end of season. Miami will still have home court advantage. This preseason injury to Wade will not change that.

[ACF]

I'm just waiting for the ExcuSePN Disclaimer piece 

But, really, who cares; no one outside of Boston talked about it when Perk was missing in Game 7. LA scored 83, we scored 79. End of story, no matter how much it hurts to think about it. Victories are remembered, injuries forgotten.

Let's just Beat the Heat.

[screwedupmaniac]

Wow. I expected this but not until after we mauled them up on Tuesday - but before the game has even happened? LOL

This is very similar to last year when we went up against the Cavs in the season opener...I seem to remember LeTool making excuses before the game in case they lost. "We're working towards a long-term goal...it'll take time to forge chemistry...if we lose the season opener, it's not the end of the world...it's a long season..."

What it boils down to is this: LeTool talks too much.

[LilRip]

the depth of the Heat is going to get exposed. they're like us back in '08 except with no Rondo and no Perkins to speak of. they have PJ Brown in the form of Z. they have an inverse James Posey equivalent in Mike Miller who's not very good defensively but is pretty good offensively. And they have an inverse Eddie House in Mario Chalmers who can get "hot" on defense but is merely passable on offense.

[kozlodoev]

the depth of the Heat is going to get exposed. they're like us back in '08 except with no Rondo and no Perkins to speak of. they have PJ Brown in the form of Z. they have an inverse James Posey equivalent in Mike Miller who's not very good defensively but is pretty good offensively. And they have an inverse Eddie House in Mario Chalmers who can get "hot" on defense but is merely passable on offense.

Mario Chalmers and Udonis Haslem are pretty good.

[Who]

Mario Chalmers could be a very good piece for them.

He is capable of being a young Derek Fisher type and that skill-set would be a great fit alongside Wade and LeBron. A tough defender who can create turnovers, solid rebounder, good complementary scorer and shooter who can play off the ball.

Miami need to move him back into the starting lineup and give him 28-32 minutes a night. His self belief is clearly hurting. Nothing close to the player he was at Kansas or when he first arrived in the NBA. The coaching staff in Miami needs to get him back on track, give him a show of confidence.

If they don't and they continue to play an inferior player in Arroyo, they'll be worse off for it come end of season.