Miami Heat Report Card
Overall based on preseason expectations: C
General: This is basically another version of the Charlotte Bobcats esp. on D. A team that likes to dictate games by deliberately making teams put up shots deeper into the shot clock than they would like. On offense, unlike Charlotte, everything runs through their do it all combo guard Dwyane Wade, and aside from his flashy plays, the team on O also likes to be very deliberate with tempo by keeping the game slow.
Key to their success: Once again. Defense and tempo. One of the top teams in the league in FG% D and points given up, though it's a result of the fact that they allow less than 80 shots a game, and take less than 80 shots a game themselves on avg.
Bad Points: Offensive variety and diversity. The good news is that they make over 45% of their shots, and teams shoot 43% or so against them which is helping them win. Bad news is that the show on offense is Wade, Wade, and Wade, with not much help besides a bit from O’Neal and a bit from Beasley. Wade is worth nearly half of the offense's points when you consider his points and dimes. Another good scorer needs to come here to either speed the tempo up or at least take some of the scoring load off of him. The playmaking can stay.
LeBron, I mean Wade money available: At least $47.6 million will be off the books; Dwyane has a 17 million buck option that he can pick up and there’s another 5.5 million in team options. About $70.2 million could be free next year to assemble the Dwyane/LeBron/Bosh big three. Should Wade not pick up his option and sign elsewhere, AND no one on the A List or B lists signs here for the 2010-2011 season, expect another 2007-2008 season for this group, because they will be that bad. They don’t have a lotto pick, which makes it worse, but they may get a steal. God has been kind to Miami.
How far can MIA go: They could get to the 2nd round this year, but I don’t think there’s enough talent and upside in O’Neal for them to go past the 2nd round barring injuries to Orlando and Cleveland and Atlanta. They could catch Boston off guard. If Miami has a 1st round exit, Wade will “test the waters” though I still think he will re-sign with Miami.
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