Miami HEAT - What's the issue?

[Dave Gray]

It seems that they have no system.  We're playing ISO with one of our 3 superstars, but the guys without the ball are just standing around.  This means that even though we have good players on the court, the offense doesn't allow them to work in tandem.  Meanwhile, our opponents are running plays, moving, cutting, and getting layups through a scheme.

For as good as we are, we're taking way too many outside jumpers.  I'm told that Spolstra is adding new looks to the offense throughout the season.  I hope that comes sooner than later, because right now, we're relying only on our sheer skill to beat opponents in a glorified game of 1-on-1.  Against balanced teams, we'll have problems.

That said, it's taking someone on the opposing team to have a ridiculous game in order to beat us.  (Ray Allen going 7 for 9 from three.)  It's a playoff atmosphere for every one of our games and we're getting every team's very best shot.  I think that it'll be hard to beat us in a 7 game series, despite us not looking too sharp to this point.

[Fau Teixeira]

i think it's the difference between people playing together a month vs. 2 years .. i think as the season goes on the heat will get more and more in sync with what the proper strategy is to playing winning basketball.

as long as they keep beating people who they're supposed to beat and make the playoffs, then that's a whole new story

[JVides]

Don't worry about it, Dave.  The Heat will get it together and win 60 games.  They won't threaten 72-10, won't threaten the Lakers' 33 regular season wins in a row record, but will be fine down the road.

The issue is that 2 of the 3 main players on this team are adjusting to new systems, teammates, and roles (LeBron to primary ballhandler / distributor, Bosh to third option and defender/rebounder). 

One thing that needs to happen is that the outside shooters need to make their shots in order to open up the floor.  It seems teams are now defending the Heat by collapsing the paint, as Miami doesn't scare anyone from the 3-point line (other than, occasionally, James Jones).  Someone also needs to step up at C and PG so that Miami isn't 3-on-5 on offense.  Ideally, the PG would be a 3 point shooter who would benefit from the drive & kick game. 

As an aside, did anyone see how tiny Joel Anthony looked when guarding Shaq?  It was like me posting up my three-year-old!  I know Shaq's huge, but damn, I think he ate Jermaine O'Neal or something!

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

The Heat are not very big up front and will continue to have problems with teams that pose a big front court.

[Dave Gray]

The Heat are not very big up front and will continue to have problems with teams that pose a big front court.

I don't agree. 

A big front court doesn't scare me.  I think that the problem is that we don't do well against little guards that can distribute (Chris Paul, Rondo).  They drive, we collapse, they dish and make shots.

We had all kind of weird matchups last night, that didn't work in our favor.

[JVides]

The Heat are not very big up front and will continue to have problems with teams that pose a big front court.

I agree to some extent, but "big" teams that would give Miami problems would only really be:

Los Angeles (Lakers)
Boston
San Antonio
Orlando
Houston (if Yao is right)

Other than that, there are some "maybe" teams like NY, Chicago, etc...but the rest of the league has problems at the 5 spot, too.

[Dave Gray]

I don't fear Orlando (who we already walloped) or Houston, but am more afraid of Phoenix and Charlotte.

I think the Lakers give you trouble, just because they're pretty solid from top to bottom and are well coached.

[Pappy13]

That said, it's taking someone on the opposing team to have a ridiculous game in order to beat us.  (Ray Allen going 7 for 9 from three.)

I got news for you.  That's only a decent game from Allen.

[Phishfan]

I don't fear Orlando (who we already walloped)

That is a pretty good team.

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

Granted I don't watch the Heat regularly being from the West but what I have seen from them is they tend to get beat up inside the paint and that seems (to me anyway) to be a glaring weakness on that team. It very well could be, as Dave said, the point guards getting good penetration to create easy buckets for others. I will have to pay closer attention the next time the Heat are on the tube.

[gocowboys31]

The problem with the heat is they arent tough enough physically or mentally. The heat can beat up on all the scrubs the NBA has to offer, but their season will be judged on the playoffs period.  Boston plays with an edge, intensity, and nastiness when they play miami. Boston was sick and tired of hearing about miami. It's personal when they play the heat.

Everytime wade or lebron came down the lane SHAQ was right their to hammer them and make them shoot free throws. Meanwhile. Christina Bosh is allowing rondo to come down the lane and posterize him. Rondo can affect the game without even scoring and Pierce just loves to get into lebron's head and, Ray Allen just frustrates wade by running him off screens ans drilling 3's.

The celtics were playing without Kendrick Perkins, Jermaine O Neal and Delonte west. If the heat think the regular season is physical wait until the playoffs. Im tired of hearing the chemistry excuse with the heat. That shit never comes up when they're beating up on the minnesota's, philadelphia's of the world, but when they play a team like boston who could give a shit about how much hype they've recieved and will punch them in the mouth that's when chemistry is thrown into the equation.

The bottom line is boston is better and will remain better. They know how to bully the heat and break their will. If i were Miami id try and trade for James Posey. He can guard 3 positions and plays with the kind of nasty streak you need to beat a team like boston. They need an enforcer in the worst way. Pat Riley didnt look to happy last night, and Lechoke James is already bitching about playing to much......Umm their is a reason the cavs never won the title. When the pressure was on he missed 2 free throws, shot an airball, and hit the side of the backboard on a 3!!!... It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

Go CELTICS!!

[bsmooth]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/boston-celtics-star-paul-pierce-takes-twitter-dig-at-miami-heat-lebron-james-111210

Could someone in South Beach tell Haslem that Pierce is the guy who has a ring and is going to the hall of fame unlike him.

[Fau Teixeira]

Haslem also has a ring. What of it. Pierce is an Internet tough guy. Very manly.

[bsmooth]

Haslem also has a ring. What of it. Pierce is an Internet tough guy. Very manly.

When you are a scrub whos career will amount to nothing, you do not talk shit about a future hall of famer. Pierce has earned the right to talk smack about an overhyped team that his own team has beaten twice this season already. Pierce's club was and is still the odds on favorite to win the East and challenge for the title. Miami has been overhyped all summer over the two teams that played in the Finals last year and looking like it will be a rematch again this year.

[JVides]

When you are a scrub whos career will amount to nothing, you do not talk shit about a future hall of famer. Pierce has earned the right to talk smack about an overhyped team that his own team has beaten twice this season already. Pierce's club was and is still the odds on favorite to win the East and challenge for the title. Miami has been overhyped all summer over the two teams that played in the Finals last year and looking like it will be a rematch again this year.

1- Haslem's no scrub.  Ask Dirk Nowitzki, whom Haslem guarded and frustrated in the 2006 finals.
2- Pierce is not Michael Jordan.  Don't make him out to be a "you can't talk about this guy or else" person.  He's a nice SF.  Don't get carried away.
3- Miami is over-hyped the same way the Celtics became over-hyped the second Garnett joined them.  The hype became justified when they won a title.  We'll see if the hype in Miami is justified, in time.  My guess?  Yeah, it will be.
4- Nice of you to draw such strong conclusions after 9 games.  10% of the season's done, and you're anointing the conference champs.