Losing LeBron was bound to have a big effect on the Heat but the fact that they also had to deal with a potentially life-threatening condition that ended Chris Bosh’s season was a final blow that ensured they would not be a playoff team.
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That all being said, the Heat – who finished 37-45 last season, dogged throughout by injury and illness – know they need Wade to get to where they want to reach.
Deng did attempt 221 shots from three-point range last season, his third-highest total in 12 National Basketball Association seasons. Before year’s end, everyone will be together in Miami, presumably in a new home and with Dragic running the point for a team that’s expected to return to contention in the Eastern Conference.
There are certainly questions surrounding the Heat, though.
“Me and Pat never had any conversation unless he was talking to me through text at times”, Wade said of his negotiations. “Last year was a year for me that reassured to myself that I’m still an elite player”.
You were saying last week how you didn’t feel the same passion during last season before getting hurt. Key backup power forward Josh McRoberts is another player who has had trouble staying healthy, and Amar’e Stoudemire’s knee problems have been well documented over the years.
Despite the solid additions to the team, there are a few obvious weaknesses within the squad. Here’s hoping that the team does better this preseason. Deng figures to be one of the floor spacers in Miami’s starting lineup, with he and Chris Bosh spreading the floor from the forward positions so that Dragic and Wade can attack the basket from the guard spots.
“This is what we do”, Spoelstra said. There’s really no one behind him on the depth chart though, so this will bear monitoring throughout the season.
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How do they match up with Memphis? He’s grown in that role and with new veteran players, everybody naturally turns to Dwyane as the cornerstone of our franchise and they turn to (Chris Bosh) and they turn to (Udonis Haslem). However, Memphis has always fared well against the Heat, going 4-3 against them during their 4-year run with LBJ. “I’m not looking to go through anything loud next year”. Things have drastically changed since then, and although Wade is still very much one of the primary leaders of this team, in order for this current team to reach its potential, Chris Bosh has to step into the leadership role and guide this team to a championship. Miami’s bigs are capable defenders, which is why Memphis sometimes struggles to score in the paint, but as long as they continue to knock down open looks from outside, the trade off clearly favors the Grizzlies. The bench is where the Grizzlies hold a decided edge, so once both coaches go to their reserves, look for the disparity to show up and Memphis to press their advantage.
