The Heat will dominate for years no matter what Danny does

[wdleehi]

I don't see how anyone can think one team will dominate after the parity we saw this year. Every team in the playoffs was good. Let's just stick with the East.

Indiana and Philly are young, talented, tough, and hungry. New York has loads of talent. Chicago was the best team in the league before Rose went down. Atlanta and Orlando are probably done, but some new teams will emerge when they get broken up. And no one should forget about us.

If the Heat are able to dominate, more power to them...but I'll believe it when I see it.

The Pacers proved this year that they do not have the go to star to get past the injured Heat.


The 76ers couldn't get past an injured filled Celtics.


Unless they make a big move, they are pretenders.

[tyrone biggums]

The Celtics will reload, I don't think Danny wants to break up the Big 3 after this last run. But its time to make a big move this I agree with. The Heat are a very flawed team, that bench is probably the worst out of any finals team in recent memory.

[cman88]

I hate the "if" sorts of speculations(considering if Rose didnt get injured who says if we make it to the ECF)

but, if we have Avery Bradley, Jeff Green, Wilcox...we likely take this Heat series in 6-7.

the problem is, with no depth and practically no bench production we had to rely on our 3 old guys to carry the whole scoring load...if you have a Bradley/Green who can handle wade 1 on 1, and ease some of that scoring load who knows what happens

[Lord of Mikawa]

I hate the "if" sorts of speculations(considering if Rose didnt get injured who says if we make it to the ECF)

but, if we have Avery Bradley, Jeff Green, Wilcox...we likely take this Heat series in 6-7.

the problem is, with no depth and practically no bench production we had to rely on our 3 old guys to carry the whole scoring load...if you have a Bradley/Green who can handle wade 1 on 1, and ease some of that scoring load who knows what happens

People forget that Danny, outside banner 17, hasn't put together a solid bench for the Big 4. So this means those guys have to play more minutes which wears a player out. Danny needs consistent bench players year to year or we are nothing more than a second round team for the next few years.

[action781]

I think a team with size can beat them.  There are plenty of teams out west the could have given the Heat problems.  Not sure how the C's get size, but until the Miami gets a 7 foot defender/shot blocker they have a legit weakness.  Once they get that guy though, forget it.

I think if Rose comes back healthy, that Bulls team with a low post scorer would give the Heat a very tough time.  Imagine that team with Pau instead of Boozer and I think that team would romp the Heat.  Pau probably won't be that answer 2 years from now, but who knows who will be.

[CelticsFanNC]

  I don't buy it.  They wouldn't have beaten Boston this season if the C's were even remotely healthy.

  I know the names on that roster seem impressive but one thing remains the same about them that has been an issue from day one.  They don't fit well together.  They are a flawed team that is going to have a tougher time reloading as time passes due to their salary cap status.   They have trouble scoring in the half court when LBJ isn't hitting from the outside which is about every other game.  They lack size and depth.  

  The Heat better win the title this season because if they don't they may not win one IMHO.

[cman88]

I hate the "if" sorts of speculations(considering if Rose didnt get injured who says if we make it to the ECF)

but, if we have Avery Bradley, Jeff Green, Wilcox...we likely take this Heat series in 6-7.

the problem is, with no depth and practically no bench production we had to rely on our 3 old guys to carry the whole scoring load...if you have a Bradley/Green who can handle wade 1 on 1, and ease some of that scoring load who knows what happens

People forget that Danny, outside banner 17, hasn't put together a solid bench for the Big 4. So this means those guys have to play more minutes which wears a player out. Danny needs consistent bench players year to year or we are nothing more than a second round team for the next few years.

true, but this year our bench couldve included...Jeff Green, Ray allen, wilcox..

green/allen would be good for 12-15ppg each off the bench

the only reason our bench was non-existant here was because of injures to Bradley(forcing allen back to start) Jeff Green and wilcox.

[ScoobyDoo]

I think Bradley would've made a huge difference in this series.

1. His defense on Wade would have allowed us to load up on James more. Wade's game is largely predicated on getting "by" his man off the dribble. If you watched the games when Bradley played him, Wade can't get by him without a lot of help. That is a huge factor because Wade isn't a great outside shooter.

2. Also, Bradley and Rondo would've have put tremendous pressure on Chalmers and Wade on the break.

Bosh also would've made a big difference for Miami - but if we had Green, Wilcox and Bradley I say we beat Miami pretty convincingly this year.

[ScoobyDoo]

WE need to bring in a half legit center behind KG and another real bruising rebounding PF and this team will be veru intimidating next year.

KG / Hawes / Aaron Gray
Bass / Bruiser PF / JJJ
Pierce / Green / Jeff Taylor (21st)
Bradley / Ray / Pietrus
Rondo / Dragic / 22nd pick

Hawes - about $5-6 mil
Bruiser PF - about $3-4 mil
Dragic - about $3-5 mil

If KG and Ray want another run and a a legit shot at a title, they need to give some home town discounts.

KG's made about $100 mil so far in Boston, Ray's made about $60 to $70 mil...

How about KG at $10, Ray at $5 to $6.

You take that $15 mil in salary from KG and Ray and put it into Hawes, Gray, Bruiser PF and Dragic.

We raise #18 while our vets are mentoring the young guys.     

[clover]

WE need to bring in a half legit center behind KG and another real bruising rebounding PF and this team will be veru intimidating next year.

KG / Hawes / Aaron Gray
Bass / Bruiser PF / JJJ
Pierce / Green / Jeff Taylor (21st)
Bradley / Ray / Pietrus
Rondo / Dragic / 22nd pick

Hawes - about $5-6 mil
Bruiser PF - about $3-4 mil
Dragic - about $3-5 mil

If KG and Ray want another run and a a legit shot at a title, they need to give some home town discounts.

KG's made about $100 mil so far in Boston, Ray's made about $60 to $70 mil...

How about KG at $10, Ray at $5 to $6.

You take that $15 mil in salary from KG and Ray and put it into Hawes, Gray, Bruiser PF and Dragic.

We raise #18 while our vets are mentoring the young guys.     

You're about the only one I've seen who hasn't predicted and wanted Stiemer back.

[Chris16]

I don't see how anyone can think one team will dominate after the parity we saw this year. Every team in the playoffs was good. Let's just stick with the East.

Indiana and Philly are young, talented, tough, and hungry. New York has loads of talent. Chicago was the best team in the league before Rose went down. Atlanta and Orlando are probably done, but some new teams will emerge when they get broken up. And no one should forget about us.

If the Heat are able to dominate, more power to them...but I'll believe it when I see it.

Pacers-2nd round team at best
76ers-2nd round team at best
Hawks-2nd round team at best
Knicks-The top 2 players/Woodson have failed miserably too much in the playoffs in the past for anyone to consider them contenders
Magic-Haven't been the same since the trades
Bulls-Have some players on the team that have a history of disappearing in the playoffs
Celtics-This was probably their last chance to get back to the Finals for a while. Pierce and Garnett simply can't carry them to a championship anymore, and I don't think Rondo is really "superstar caliber" enough to do it by himself

[Neurotic Guy]

I don't see it.  Yes, Heat will be in the mix for years. But a dynasty?  Possible, but not a certainty.  Leave out the injury factor, the Heat were not the best team in the East during the regular season and they were 12 minutes from not getting out of the East against an old, injury-plagued Celtics team.  Think what the C's could have done simply with a healthy roster (AB, JG, CW, JO), and then consider that they came a whisker away from signing David West.   

Heat were not head and shoulders above the pack in the East this year.  Obviously, they can pick up FAs and strengthen their roster, but that is speculative.  When they sign talented players to fill needs, then we can talk domination, but why would that be more likely to happen in Miami than in Chicago, Boston, Orlando, NY...  Sorry, I don't buy the automatic attraction of LBJ/Wade -- I think the expectations, spotlights, and potential volatility of that group may make some of the better FAs prefer SA, OKC, LA, Boston, NY, Dallas, Chicago... No guarantee that the Heat will have their pick of FAs.

[Neurotic Guy]

I don't see how anyone can think one team will dominate after the parity we saw this year. Every team in the playoffs was good. Let's just stick with the East.

Indiana and Philly are young, talented, tough, and hungry. New York has loads of talent. Chicago was the best team in the league before Rose went down. Atlanta and Orlando are probably done, but some new teams will emerge when they get broken up. And no one should forget about us.

If the Heat are able to dominate, more power to them...but I'll believe it when I see it.

Pacers-2nd round team at best
76ers-2nd round team at best
Hawks-2nd round team at best
Knicks-The top 2 players/Woodson have failed miserably too much in the playoffs in the past for anyone to consider them contenders
Magic-Haven't been the same since the trades
Bulls-Have some players on the team that have a history of disappearing in the playoffs
Celtics-This was probably their last chance to get back to the Finals for a while. Pierce and Garnett simply can't carry them to a championship anymore, and I don't think Rondo is really "superstar caliber" enough to do it by himself

In February I would have agreed.  But the last 3 months have completely changed my view of the C's near future.  Earlier this season I thought we'd be in rebuild mode next season and begin an era of wallowing in mediocrity.  But I look at KG and PP as having another year (maybe 2) as high quality players. Rondo as a top 15 NBA player.  AB, JG and possibly Bass keeping us young and athletic.  JJJ and EM developing. DA  pulling off both FA moves and trades (perhaps trading up in draft or trading picks for players) to strenghten the roster.  C's absolutely can be in the mix next year.   

[j804]

I think Bradley would've made a huge difference in this series.

1. His defense on Wade would have allowed us to load up on James more. Wade's game is largely predicated on getting "by" his man off the dribble. If you watched the games when Bradley played him, Wade can't get by him without a lot of help. That is a huge factor because Wade isn't a great outside shooter.

2. Also, Bradley and Rondo would've have put tremendous pressure on Chalmers and Wade on the break.

Bosh also would've made a big difference for Miami - but if we had Green, Wilcox and Bradley I say we beat Miami pretty convincingly this year.

This bring it on I want revenge next year

[pearljammer10]

We need a legit big to give our front court more of a presence. I love garnett but we need someone alongside him that can rebound and do the dirty work downlow.