What's the best early season scenario for a Heat downfall?

[scurvmeister]

Is it for them to come blasting out of the gate and sweep warning signs and fatal flaws under the rug, only to be exposed come playoff time?

OR

Is it for them to struggle early and never quite get it together, causing ego problems and discontent among their new three?


EDIT: changed the title

[Chris]

Win as many games as possible and deal with the playoffs when they come. 

I don't believe in the whole "get it out of the way early thing".  If there are going to be ego or chemistry problems, they are not going to be something they need to simply "heal" like an injury. 

So, from their point of view, they should try to win as much as they can, get home court, and hope that the momentum and positiveness from it help them glide through the playoffs. 

[scurvmeister]

Absolutely that's what they want to do. I guess I should clarify or change the title to "downfall".

[Fafnir]

The only early season issues that would worry me if I was a Heat fan would be injuries.

[Chris]

The only early season issues that would worry me if I was a Heat fan would be injuries.

Yeah, injuries would be the biggest issue.  Although, if there ends up being an alpha-dog battle early, I think that will be tough to work through during the season. 

[misha]

A big season ending injury. I'm not wishing it on anyone but it's an option.

[fairweatherfan]

Beginning of the season is pretty much irrelevant unless they do absolutely awful - like under .500 40 games in.  That's very very unlikely.

The most likely thing to tear the team apart is a playoff collapse where LeBron and Wade start fighting for the ball and going into "hero mode" unsuccessfully.  There's a good chance that leads to LeBron and Wade taking shots at each other during the offseason with Bosh stuck in the middle and the rest of the team taking sides.  That'll bring out a media frenzy that'll make the last few months look understated and reserved. 

Doubt it'll happen though, and would prefer it didn't.  Sink or swim I want to see what this team can really do.

[Fafnir]

A big season ending injury. I'm not wishing it on anyone but it's an option.

It need not even be one of Bosh/LeBron/Wade.

If they were to lose Haslem/Anthony or Chalmers/Arroyo in addition to Miller that'd cause them some issues.

If Wade were to hurt his ailing hamstring and miss a month I think it'd cause them more chemistry issues too. They'd end up playing like the Cavs for a month, which isn't how they should play if they want to win. But they'd still win enough games to keep them in the hunt for HCA so it wouldn't be too bad.

[scurvmeister]

A big season ending injury. I'm not wishing it on anyone but it's an option.

It need not even be one of Bosh/LeBron/Wade.

If they were to lose Haslem/Anthony or Chalmers/Arroyo in addition to Miller that'd cause them some issues.

If Wade were to hurt his ailing hamstring and miss a month I think it'd cause them more chemistry issues too. They'd end up playing like the Cavs for a month, which isn't how they should play if they want to win. But they'd still win enough games to keep them in the hunt for HCA so it wouldn't be too bad.

That's true, I think a Wade injury would be the worst scenario out of their big 3. Next worst would be Bosh. In both, Lebron reverts to his Cavs role, and may not be willing to readjust as long as they are still winning games.

[Fafnir]

A big season ending injury. I'm not wishing it on anyone but it's an option.

It need not even be one of Bosh/LeBron/Wade.

If they were to lose Haslem/Anthony or Chalmers/Arroyo in addition to Miller that'd cause them some issues.

If Wade were to hurt his ailing hamstring and miss a month I think it'd cause them more chemistry issues too. They'd end up playing like the Cavs for a month, which isn't how they should play if they want to win. But they'd still win enough games to keep them in the hunt for HCA so it wouldn't be too bad.

That's true, I think a Wade injury would be the worst scenario out of their big 3. Next worst would be Bosh. In both, Lebron reverts to his Cavs role, and may not be willing to readjust as long as they are still winning games.

I agree with you if we're assuming the perspective of a short term injury.

If we're talking a year long injury the order the Heat can least afford is LeBron, Wade, and then Bosh.

[scurvmeister]

A big season ending injury. I'm not wishing it on anyone but it's an option.

It need not even be one of Bosh/LeBron/Wade.

If they were to lose Haslem/Anthony or Chalmers/Arroyo in addition to Miller that'd cause them some issues.

If Wade were to hurt his ailing hamstring and miss a month I think it'd cause them more chemistry issues too. They'd end up playing like the Cavs for a month, which isn't how they should play if they want to win. But they'd still win enough games to keep them in the hunt for HCA so it wouldn't be too bad.

That's true, I think a Wade injury would be the worst scenario out of their big 3. Next worst would be Bosh. In both, Lebron reverts to his Cavs role, and may not be willing to readjust as long as they are still winning games.

I agree with you if we're assuming the perspective of a short term injury.

If we're talking a year long injury the order the Heat can least afford is LeBron, Wade, and then Bosh.

Yeah, a short-term injury for sure, not a season ending.

You also make a good point about injuries to the Heat's non-big 3. Depth is a crucial thing for a team that plans to make it through the regular season and go deep in the playoffs. I guess I'll be on injury watch for them too during the season!

[Fafnir]

A big season ending injury. I'm not wishing it on anyone but it's an option.

It need not even be one of Bosh/LeBron/Wade.

If they were to lose Haslem/Anthony or Chalmers/Arroyo in addition to Miller that'd cause them some issues.

If Wade were to hurt his ailing hamstring and miss a month I think it'd cause them more chemistry issues too. They'd end up playing like the Cavs for a month, which isn't how they should play if they want to win. But they'd still win enough games to keep them in the hunt for HCA so it wouldn't be too bad.

That's true, I think a Wade injury would be the worst scenario out of their big 3. Next worst would be Bosh. In both, Lebron reverts to his Cavs role, and may not be willing to readjust as long as they are still winning games.

I agree with you if we're assuming the perspective of a short term injury.

If we're talking a year long injury the order the Heat can least afford is LeBron, Wade, and then Bosh.

Yeah, a short-term injury for sure, not a season ending.

You also make a good point about injuries to the Heat's non-big 3. Depth is a crucial thing for a team that plans to make it through the regular season and go deep in the playoffs. I guess I'll be on injury watch for them too during the season!

Injuries are always key, the last three years have proven that.

KP, KG, Manu, Bynum, etc....

Each had they been healthy could have easily lead to a different outcome in each of the last three years.

[Evantime34]

The best would undoubtedly be Lebron taking a bunch of bad shots, causing a confrontation between Bosh, Wade and Lebron. At that point none of them would pass to each other and they would not be able to beat the elite teams.

Second best scenario. Their big 3 throws the other players on their team under the bus in an interview and those players begin to pass up open shots and/or play terrible under the pressure.

3rd: Injuries.

4th: They just are not able to guard any big men with Bosh, Haslem, Big Z, and Anthony. Wade, Bosh and Lebron get in constant foul trouble trying to help there big men.

[scurvmeister]

The best would undoubtedly be Lebron taking a bunch of bad shots, causing a confrontation between Bosh, Wade and Lebron. At that point none of them would pass to each other and they would not be able to beat the elite teams.

I'd say it's more likely than not that at some point in the season, we're going to see dueling pull-up 3s from Lebron and Wade. Could be very dangerous for the opposing team, or very good!

[fairweatherfan]

They could all start dating Toni Braxton...worked for the mid-90s Mavs.