Did anyone see Miami vs. Dallas today?

[Beat LA]

I watched about 20 game minutes of it, and, unfortunately, the Heat look awfully good.  Their ball movement and spacing was excellent, and they pretty much wiped the floor with the Mavs.  Luol Deng, in particular, may have actually made their offense better than it was when they had Lebron because of his shooting and the fact that he can play off the ball, and he finished with 30 points, as he was Wade's primary target for much of the night.  They just looked like they were actually playing TOGETHER out there, instead of Lebron or Wade having the ball in their hands while everyone else just stands around.  Clearly, they're still very dangerous, and it wouldn't surprise me if they made it back to the Eastern Conference Finals, especially if they can get something from Danny Granger off the bench.  I didn't underestimate them or anything coming into this season, and I did have a hunch that they might play better offensively with Deng instead of Lebron, but it't still a bit surprising to see how well everyone has been playing, particularly Bosh.  I obviously knew that he could score from his days in Toronto, but what surprises me right now is his rebounding lol.  How far do you guys think they can go, albeit without health problems (a big factor, I know)?

[D.o.s.]

I did have a hunch that they might play better offensively with Deng instead of Lebron

Can you explain this please? I say this as a tried and true Deng fan.

Alas, no, I didn't watch the game.

[Roy H.]

Deng seems like a really good fit on that team, and I'm a big fan, but he's a downgrade offensively from Lebron.  The Heat may play prettier basketball now, but that doesn't mean they'll be better.

[Endless Paradise]

I did have a hunch that they might play better offensively with Deng instead of Lebron

Can you explain this please? I say this as a tried and true Deng fan.

Alas, no, I didn't watch the game.

I think he's getting at the idea of ball movement and everyone getting involved instead of everyone just watching LeBron and occasionally Wade go to work.

[Smartacus]

Deng seems like a really good fit on that team, and I'm a big fan, but he's a downgrade offensively from Lebron.  The Heat may play prettier basketball now, but that doesn't mean they'll be better.

Agreed, watched them a few times this season and they really do play some aesthetically pleasing basketball now with everyone fitting into nice roles. But at no point have they looked like a team that is capable of tearing it's way through any team in it's way to get to the finals like they did when they had Lebron.

[nostar]

Deng seems like a really good fit on that team, and I'm a big fan, but he's a downgrade offensively from Lebron.  The Heat may play prettier basketball now, but that doesn't mean they'll be better.

When I read this I thought, "Yeah he is...but who isn't!?" I guess KD or Melo could step in and put up similar numbers. KD has comparable usage and W/S last season. Neither of those guys defends like LBJ so it's just a downgrade in a different way. That is the inevitable result of losing the best player in the world.

Agreed, watched them a few times this season and they really do play some aesthetically pleasing basketball now with everyone fitting into nice roles. But at no point have they looked like a team that is capable of tearing it's way through any team in it's way to get to the finals like they did when they had Lebron.

Not sure they need to at this point. They have to hope that they stay healthy and that Bosh can shoulder a scoring load on a nightly basis. Right now their team is averaging 37% from 3. That isn't bad but with how they're constructed it needs to be better. They shot around 36% last year. For reference the Spurs shot 40% last year and 41% in the finals. If you're going to play the rounded roster card you have to have shooting and perimeter defense.

If Granger comes back as a viable shooter and Chalmers stops shooting under 32% that should shore up the difference. Chalmers is a career 37% and Granger is 38%. Those guys need to pull their weight.

If Wade and Bosh stay healthy the Heat are a threat in the East. It's a big if, but I'd give them even money or better against every team in the east, save for the Cavs and Bulls. I view the Heat now a lot like I viewed our C's the last 2 years of our window. We wanted to get in to the playoffs in the top-4 spots and then be a menace. One of those times we took the Champs to 7 games. The other time we got bounced in the first round. You'll probably see one of those two ends of the spectrum from the Heat this year too.

[Who]

I've seen them a couple of times and I've found their offense to be highly inconsistent.

One day is full of beautiful off the ball movement (particularly Deng), consistent dribble penetration (largely Wade with N.Cole, Napier, Chalmers providing support) good passing and excellent spacing (largely thanks to Bosh and Shawne / McRoberts).

Other days, they don't get enough from Norris Cole (who is out of his depth as a starting PG) and their offense turns into a bunch of isolations and post up plays for Bosh and Wade while Deng gets ignored and just stands in the corner out of the way. Little to no ball movement and a lot of highly contested shots as Wade/Bosh try to bail them out in bad offensive possessions.

Wade, too, doesn't seem to have his signature explosiveness so he looks like he can be bothered by strong defensive players / schemes. And without Wade, their offense has little to no creativity. Easy to defend. That will make them particularly vulnerable come playoff time.

They look like a team that is struggling to come together to my eyes. I think they need better guard play to keep everyone on the same play and I do not believe Norris Cole / Shabazz Napier are good enough to provide it.

I'd like to see them continue to increase McRoberts' role and move him into the starting lineup sooner rather than later. His extra ball-handling and passing is nice addition to their offense. I'd also like to Spoelstra use Bosh as a passer more often. Miami will need to lean on their bigs to provide high post passing to help hide poor PG play.

[pearljammer10]

I don't really understand why so many people are counting the Heat out when talking about the Easts top teams. Sure a trio of James, Bosh and Wade is better than what they have but Wade, Deng, Bosh is still pretty darn good. With their championship experience there is no reason that the Heat won't be fighting for home court advantage in the playoffs this year.

[mgent]

Deng seems like a really good fit on that team, and I'm a big fan, but he's a downgrade offensively from Lebron.  The Heat may play prettier basketball now, but that doesn't mean they'll be better.

They don't have to play better than last year, just so long as they stay ahead of this year's Cleveland.

[D.o.s.]

I don't really understand why so many people are counting the Heat out when talking about the Easts top teams. Sure a trio of James, Bosh and Wade is better than what they have but Wade, Deng, Bosh is still pretty darn good. With their championship experience there is no reason that the Heat won't be fighting for home court advantage in the playoffs this year.

I think it has to do with the fact that most people's most recent memories of Wade was a guy who was struggling to be effective even after he spent half the season on the bench in an effort to keep him fresh for the playoffs. Add in Chris Bosh's relative invisibility, and it's easy to see why people would be down on them.

[SHAQATTACK]

Who is hated more New LeBron Cavs or the Heat ?


Not liking either .....still dislike the Miami Thug

[Snakehead]

I don't really understand why so many people are counting the Heat out when talking about the Easts top teams. Sure a trio of James, Bosh and Wade is better than what they have but Wade, Deng, Bosh is still pretty darn good. With their championship experience there is no reason that the Heat won't be fighting for home court advantage in the playoffs this year.

I think it has to do with the fact that most people's most recent memories of Wade was a guy who was struggling to be effective even after he spent half the season on the bench in an effort to keep him fresh for the playoffs. Add in Chris Bosh's relative invisibility, and it's easy to see why people would be down on them.

Yeah it'd be pretty hard to believe Wade stays healthy long enough to make a big playoff impact at the level of consistency they need.  And I'd be surprised if Bosh's production held up in the playoffs vs stiff competition.

Not that he can't have big games and be a strong player.  I just don't see him carrying a team on a deep playoff run at all.  He stepped up at times in Miami, and in a very big way, but I don't see him playing physical basketball against double teams in the Playoffs and succeeding.

I do think defensively they can be a good team though and that can make you a tough out.  In the East they are not an easy out.

For me, I need to see more from Bosh over a period of time.  His last year on the Raptors he was an MVP player early in the season and then dwindled as he went on.

[Fafnir]

Yeah other than Wade they don't have much guard play to help their front court.

[D.o.s.]

On the other hand, Norris Cole has won a Championship two out of the three years he's been in the NBA, so they have to be considered the favorites.

[Vermont Green]

Wade is the key for Miami.  He already won a championship with less support than Deng and Bosh but he has to be able to stay healthy.  Bosh is no slouch either.  He is good enough to carry a team at times even in the playoffs.  And Deng is certainly no LeBron but a pretty good player in his own right.

I think Wade-Bosh-Deng can be considered as good as the spring 2014 vintages of Parker-Duncan-Ginobili, if health is assumed to be equal.