Have the Heat finally meshed?

[Guest STL10]

They are on a nine-game win streak. Dwyane Wade, LeBron, and Bosh finally look like they can play together.

 

Thoughts?

Edited December 14, 2010 by STL10

[Newman]

Yes they have, but I don't think they are still as powerful as most people thought before the season. Obviously we are still early in the season and Mike Miller hasn't even played a game yet, but this team is not at a level above everyone else. Yet.

[Check my Stats]

Nope. They're getting closer but we can't say after 26 games this team is what it will be at the end of the year. Not to mention they still need to figure out how they are going to incorporate Mike Miller into their system, I don't see how he can be utilized as much more than a spot up shooter, but we'll see. Christmas day will be the true test, playing Dallas will be important to, but we have to figure LA will be coming out to play like its the finals on Christmas, so will the Heat, that should be a terrific game.

 

Also, Bosh needs to seriously step up, 8 RPG is unacceptable.

[Multi-Billionaire]

I predict them to be up and down the whole year and then clicking at the right time in playoffs.

[Real Deal]

Nope.

 

The Heat are deciding who takes the next offensive play down the court by what they do on the defensive play prior to that possession. For example, if LeBron plays tough defense on, say, Durant...and then he also pulls down a board, it's basically his defensive play. He gets to bring the ball up the court and do whatever he wants...whether that means him driving to the rim, dropping a three, or making a play.

 

And, yes, this isn't a joke...they are really doing this.

 

It's a system that sounds fun, but won't be fun against teams the Heat will need a pre-planned offensive strategy against (ex. when they get into the playoffs).

[Poe]

No, they're still in the process of "meshing". Despite this, they are somehow the best team in the league already.

[Clutch]

that "reward" system is kinda misunderstood i think

 

its not exactly how the articles are makin it sound like, basically the heat players want to run and jump and throw alley-oops, and all spo is asking is to get solid consistent defensive stops and effort first and do w.e you want (which is why everyone is rebounding much better now)

 

its not like, lebron gets the stop and is like..ok its my turn now because i got the rebound..no one even look at the ball...

 

its about gettin stops, and gettin the ball up as quickly as possible for a highlight play...ala showtime lakers, that is the reward that they are talkin about

 

watch the games, and arroyo and chalmers still get a fair share of possessions of them bringing the ball up, even if wade and bron get the stops

 

the offense isnt based on taking turns...if it was we would still be seeing those stupid jumpshots they both were takin when the heat were losing and playin bad offensively, standing around

 

right now half the points are layups or dunks on fast breaks

Edited December 14, 2010 by Clutch

[Real Deal]

Despite this, they are somehow the best team in the league already.

 

They are going to have to beat the best teams in the NBA before they are considered the best team in the NBA. Sorry. The entire Celtics team would chuckle reading that, and I'm pretty sure the Spurs, Mavs and Lakers would all do the same.

[Real Deal]

that "reward" system is kinda misunderstood i think

 

its not exactly how the articles are makin it sound like, basically the heat players want to run and jump and throw alley-oops, and all spo is asking is to get solid consistent defensive stops and effort first and do w.e you want (which is why everyone is rebounding much better now)

 

its not like, lebron gets the stop and is like..ok its my turn now because i got the rebound..no one even look at the ball...

 

its about gettin stops, and gettin the ball up as quickly as possible for a highlight play...ala showtime lakers, that is the reward that they are talkin about

 

watch the games, and arroyo and chalmers still get a fair share of possessions of them bringing the ball up, even if wade and bron get the stops

 

the offense isnt based on taking turns...if it was we would still be seeing those stupid jumpshots they both were takin when the heat were losing and playin bad offensively, standing around

 

right now half the points are layups or dunks on fast breaks

I know all of that. It's not about LeBron going full speed to the rim, it's him running the offense or dictating what they are going to do back down the court. When he gets a defensive stop or rebound (or steal, whatever), he can run the break, slow it down and drop the ball to Chalmers, bring the ball up himself, whatever. He could play off the ball and demand it, then take a jumper or drive and kick out to James Jones.

 

Basically, a play is ran through, or for, LeBron.

 

I actually thought this was most evident during that Hornets game. I watched it last night, and it's basically how they are doing it.

 

I'm not sure if it applies to anyone else other than the big three, though...because I saw Chalmers get a couple of nice stops on one end, then become invisible on offense back down the court.

[Guest STL10]

Despite this, they are somehow the best team in the league already.

 

LOL, did you miss the games when the Mavs and Celtics destroyed the Heat?

[Abro]

They destroyed the heat?? Since when because I never saw the heat get blown out yet this season...

[Guest STL10]

They destroyed the heat?? Since when because I never saw the heat get blown out yet this season...

 

We were up by 24 at one point...

[Abro]

Well tht was only at one point. They only won by like less than 10 points tho.. Raptors and Jazz have come back from a 20+ point defecit to win games this season.. So I don't consider them to be blowout games since they became close in third and 4th quarters.

Edited December 14, 2010 by Abro

[Real Deal]

Those teams let their foot off the gas and cruised through those fourth quarters for a while, but I guess that doesn't matter. All of those wins were comfortable, for the most part. Oh well.

[*Swish*]

Well yeah, they're looking much better these days but as you said. They just need to keep driving to the basket and stop shooting random shots out of nowhere. Make some good plays, play together, swing the ball, make off ball picks. Fundamentals.. that's it. Heat could be a great team if they actually did that. And let's remember, Wade and LBJ are two of the best finishers in the league so they have NO reason for not driving. Anyways, I think they're starting to turn it over but they have to keep it up because with the big three, I think they could have a much better record as they're having right now.

[Poe]

 

They are going to have to beat the best teams in the NBA before they are considered the best team in the NBA. Sorry. The entire Celtics team would chuckle reading that, and I'm pretty sure the Spurs, Mavs and Lakers would all do the same.

 

 

 

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban believes the Heat deserve to be considered the NBA's best team right now.

 

The Heat haven't loss since suffering a double-digit loss to the Mavericks a little more than two weeks ago. They held a players-only meeting that night that sparked an eight-game winning streak.

 

"They're pretty damn good," Cuban said. "Just the way they play is different than anybody else. That's a big adjustment. They've got those guys that can finish. They get out like the old [steve Nash] Suns, but they don't stop at the 3-point line. They just try to dunk over you. That makes it tough.

 

"They're playing a lot different than they did. They were walking the ball up. Now they're not."

 

Dallas is currently on a 12-game winning streak.

 

"I didn't say they're going to win a championship," Cuban said of the Heat. "I don't know. I'm not saying they will or won't.

 

"I'm saying they're the best team in the league right now."

 

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/70545/20101213/cuban_miami_has_become_nbas_best_team_right_now/#ixzz188IhKA4n

 

 

Coming from the owner of the Mavs team that "destroyed" the Heat by 11 points. I'm sure he's chuckling, as well as all the other owners of teams that may come close to contending with the Heat.

Edited December 14, 2010 by Poe

[Sun Tzu]

You would think they have meshed together already with this nine game winning streak they are on after a rough start but I don't think they're are fully meshed together yet. I guess we'll have to wait and see when they have a tougher schedule.

[Nitro]

As someone else said, we aren't even 30 games into the season yet. They are meshing a lot better than they were to start the season, but they still have a lot of room for improvement in halfcourt sets. Besides, they are still without their 4th and 5th best players (Miller and Haslem), so we haven't even seen a glimpse of what this team will eventually be once they incorporate those players. However, the idea that the only difference between the Heat when they are 9-8 now is simply due to their new run-and-gun and "reward" system is false. Finally, the entire Big 3 are playing like how we are accustomed to seeing in the same game, and not playing like glorified role players. Wade is getting a lot more opportunities to handle the ball and makes plays for himself and teammates, LeBron is not settling for as many jumpers as he was earlier in the season, and Bosh has found exactly where his nice is in the offense and on the glass. Also, Dampier has done a great job of protecting the paint and boxing out big men for rebounds, and Chalmers is giving PG's a lot more trouble defensively than Arroyo or House do.

 

Even though I agree they aren't currently the best team in the NBA, they have won 9 straight games by 10pts or more, including at Salt Lake City. In other words, it isn't way too far fetched to say they are playing the best basketball in the league currently.

[SRV]

Thing is, we can't be great going from one game to another. Our judgment point is the Mavs and the Lakers, if we beat both of them by double digits and continue our streak, then are we the best? Cause its kind of hypocritical to say they aren't the best team, and then just by beating two teams they are suddently the best team.

 

Obviously we have a lot of talent, and some nights that talent isn't as great as other nights, that is my concern. I am wondering if the trio is really this good, or if our opponents just became brain dead over the last month.

[Real Deal]

Coming from the owner of the Mavs team that "destroyed" the Heat by 11 points. I'm sure he's chuckling, as well as all the other owners of teams that may come close to contending with the Heat.

Cuban will jock anyone not named Phil Jackson or Jerry Buss. He has stated, twice (over the last two seasons), that his Mavs would take out the Lakers in the playoffs.

 

You can take Cuban's word for it. I'm sure you weren't listening to him when he was contradicting your predictions that the Lakers were going to win it all, though.

[N.1.A.K.]

They destroyed the heat?? Since when because I never saw the heat get blown out yet this season...

 

down 16 going into the 4th quarter vs. Dallas, lost by 11. 11/27

 

losing by 16 to Indiana. 11/22

[Abro]

Still not blowouts tho..

The indiana loss was terrible tho.

What do.u consider to be a blowout tho?

I consider it to be like by 20+ points..

[Abro]

Coming from the owner of the Mavs team that "destroyed" the Heat by 11 points. I'm sure he's chuckling, as well as all the other owners of teams that may come close to contending with the Heat.

Lol Poe I said the same thing in another post! Thts funny. But RD refused to take it seriously..

[Real Deal]

"I tell you what, now that they've got Ron Artest, I couldn't think of anything better," Cuban said during an appearance on Dallas' ESPN 103.3. "If you would have said, what one player -- and I'll get killed over this -- what one player would you like to see on the Lakers? Ron Artest. Could you imagine? Ron Artest has got the ball, and Kobe's standing there, 'Throw me the ball.' Thank you, Ron Artest."

 

"When (Johnson) was with us, the expectation was to win a championship," Cuban said. "I don't think that's the situation right now with the Nets. I think he recognizes that his job is progress more than rings right now. But you never know. If Prokhorov does what I did to try to make deals and get something before the trade deadline then all that changes. But, you know, building a true professional team means having to spend money. We just haven't seen it." Asked if there was any added motivation to beat Prokhorov's team, Cuban responded, "Who?"

 

“I wish Mike all the best off the court. As always, I hope the Spurs lose 82 games.”

 

“Hell yes. That’s it. Hell yes. We’ve got the size now. We’ve got the depth. We’ve got a lot more depth than the Lakers. It’s not even close there.”

 

But, yeah, I'll listen to Mark Cuban, because his Mavericks have won multiple championships, like he says they will do every year.

[Abro]

well the mavs do.have alot of depth now... N they r alot better at the C position.

N I don't see anything wrong with any of those quotes.. N im pretty tht any owner with a team like the mavs would be expecting championships.. Because theyve been almost there for years now..