Miami Heat Thread

That makes sense. Even if LeBron is better than Durant by the end of the season, people will say that Durant made his team better.

But for realz man, LeBron is by far a better player than Durant. He might hold back during season games, but overall he is on another planet.

Just for this season, I'd say KD outplayed LBJ. KD yet improved from last season statistically while LBJ was kinda laxing/coasting in early season (though he's been picking it up since the second half of season).

There's a lot to love about this rivalry though. KD is no joke and has stepped to be a threat to LBJ's realm which at one points looked impossible for anyone. These two are not only our generation's best but two of the nicest talents historically. This just sets up as nice entertainment for next several seasons.

I think KD is still worthy given the season he's had and probably still a decent pick, given the media's general reluctance to give the MVP to the same player three times in a row in the past quarter of a century or so. It's a really, really close race though and I hope the voting ultimately reflects that. I don't think either player should win in a landslide.

As for LeBron's 61 points, that's an impressive game regardless of the opponent, so I'll have to respectfully disagree with what Dominique Wilkins wrote on Twitter. He has a point of course, but you play the team that shows up and a big game is a big game.

It's cute LeBron finally got his first 60-point game, he should do it 3 more times so he can even match Kobe, maybe outscore an entire championship contending team in only 3 quarters with 62 points for good measure.

Beast.

Ignore the troll above. He's down on his knees licking Kobe's ballz, as usual.

Anyway, here's a fun article on LBJ and his all-around game.

The sports reporting world, this site included, has been heaping praise on Kevin Durant lately with good reason, but let’s not forget that LeBron James is still having one of the most efficient scoring seasons and best all-around seasons ever. Again. His consistency is so astounding, we take him for granted.

With the exception of his shooting percentages, LeBron’s stats are all down this season. However, his per game averages are still fantastic and rarely achieved in NBA history. As of the halfway point in the season, James is averaging over 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists per game. Only 7 players have ever done this. Only 5 have ever done it more than once. Only two other players have managed to hit those averages since the NBA / ABA merger in 1977, and those players are Michael Jeffery Jordan and Larry Joe Bird.

Here is the full list:


Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/23/2014.

Pretty astonishing that those are the only players to have managed 26-6-6 averages over a season. I’m surprised no one of the Kobe Bryant, Clyde Drexler, Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Dwyane Wade, Scottie Pippen, Vince Carter All-NBA swingman contingent ever did it. Very exclusive list, and LeBron makes it every season except his rookie year.

Hondo’s inclusion is interesting. He’s one of those players who really demonstrates that ability and production are not the same thing. Many years he didn’t do a lot of playmaking or really high volume scoring. He just used his motor to provide a buzzer to buzzer decoy and pick apart the defense when they lost track of him. But he had 26-6-6 in his pocket when the team needed more from him. And he did it twice.

Jordan is also interesting on this list. We tend to think of Michael primarily in terms of his great scoring and defense, but his all-around game was as good as it gets prior to his first retirement. Oscar and Larry are not surprising, though it’s probably worth mentioning that Bird managed to get all those assists and was never a primary ball-handler. That is pure passing skill and court vision.

LeBron is far and away the all-around game King with his ten inclusions on the list. Doing it all is just what he does.

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Such a champ.

Pretty astonishing that those are the only players to have managed 26-6-6 averages over a season. I’m surprised no one of the Kobe Bryant, Clyde Drexler, Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Dwyane Wade, Scottie Pippen, Vince Carter All-NBA swingman contingent ever did it. Very exclusive list, and LeBron makes it every season except his rookie year.

I guess it's slightly surprising, but circumstance has a fair amount to do with it. I mean, Scottie Pippen didn't have a great opportunity to average 26 points with Michael Jordan averaging 30 or so year after year.

Jordan is also interesting on this list. We tend to think of Michael primarily in terms of his great scoring and defense, but his all-around game was as good as it gets prior to his first retirement.

Couldn't agree more, though at the same time I'd suggest that anyone who doesn't believe MJ's all-around numbers were pretty good in their own right hasn't looked into his career too deeply.

Also to note, Michael Jordan probably was more all around than numbers suggest (if we want to go apple to apple). Iirc the pace was slower in his time thus less possessions to work with on per game basis on both ends of the floor which means less availability in total numbers of each stats. Not to mention scoring came harder in his days.

Skip Bayless knows what he's talking about, even the azn with them was in awe of Skip.

LeBron choking away the MVP race.

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IV. An "Ideal" Roster
Ideal 2014-15 roster
Pos Player Age 2015 Salary 2015 WARP
C Chris Bosh 31 $13.8m 7.6
PG Mario Chalmers 29 $2.7m 2.7
SG Vince Carter 38 $0.9m 3.9
SF Carmelo Anthony 31 $13.8m 11.1
PF LeBron James 30 $13.8m 21.1
bC Chris Andersen 37 $0.9m 4.4
bPG Norris Cole 27 $2.0m -3.4
bSG Dwyane Wade 33 $13.8m 6.5
bSF James Jones 35 $0.9m 1.2
bPF Rashard Lewis 36 $0.9m 0.3
RES1 Udonis Haslem 35 $0.9m -1.0
RES2 Shabazz Napier 24 $1.0m -0.7
Est. Payroll: $65.2 million; Updated Win Range: 61 to 65
Notes: Est. Payroll includes built-in minimum salary slots beyond top 12 on roster; Updated Win Baseline includes a coaching adjustment.

Doolittle: Right now, the "what-if" on everybody's mind is the Melo-to-the-Heat scenario. Amin already crunched the numbers financially, so I decided to go with that as the starting point for a new Big Four era. We'll go with Amin's "Even Steven" option, which divvies up Miami's possible cap space evenly among the four stars. Obviously, this would take more than a little collusion on the part of the players involved, but we're more interested in how it translates on the court right now, roughly speaking.

With the Big Four in place, they'd join returnee Cole, who is under contract for next season. I've also assumed Miami keeps its first-round pick, and I have them taking Chad Ford's anticipated target, Connecticut's Shabazz Napier. Basically everything else on the season-ending Miami roster gets renounced. I can see James Jones, Rashard Lewis and Udonis Haslem -- who as Amin pointed out would have to agree to decline his player option for 2014-15 -- coming back for the veteran's minimum. I have Andersen coming back again for the minimum, but that could be a stretch. He's worth more. I don't see the same happening for Chalmers or Allen.

The final three rotation spots would have be filled with the room exception -- which I've given to Chalmers because he'll probably be the best free-agent option to fill the point guard slot -- and one more minimum salaried free agent. The latter player could be a starter, as it would not surprise me to see Wade shifted into a Manu Ginobili-like super-sub role. If Vince Carter wants to ring chase, tag-teaming with Wade might be a great option for him.

All in all, the baseline looks great, though the real world results would be less, and offer a lot of downside when you consider defensive shortcomings and the age of the foundation players. The final payroll is well under the tax line, which is an inevitable by-product of putting the new roster together with cap space. However going forward, beginning in 2015, Miami would have the full mid-level exception available for further roster improvements. I have my concerns about how Anthony would fit as a supporting player, though my guess is he would probably lead Miami in scoring, while James' assist total skyrockets. Would that translate to wins? It'd be a fascinating experiment. On the other hand, defense would be a much bigger problem than what is represented here. In any event, with so many moving parts, Miami's reload is as much an exercise in fantasy as any team in the league.

Shabazz Napier to the Heat is becoming a bigger story, but does anyone else think he won't fall so far? I was at one of his practices and saw him play live at March Madness, and he was probably the most underrated player in college basketball last year, only getting attention later in the tournament. But now that he's a national champ all the teams will be wanting him.

Shabazz Napier to the Heat is becoming a bigger story, but does anyone else think he won't fall so far? I was at one of his practices and saw him play live at March Madness, and he was probably the most underrated player in college basketball last year, only getting attention later in the tournament. But now that he's a national champ all the teams will be wanting him.

I'm not sure Napier will drop at #26. He's projected to be picked around #20-22 with Ennis and Smart in front of him as only "pure" point guards. On the other hand, the list of capable players is pretty long this year, so maybe Napier will drop out of the Top 25. This could become an interesting evening...

Well I see him going in the 16-25 range so I don't think he'll last to 26, I think Isaiah Austin might be a better pick if we can't get Napier.

Napier will be a solid upgrade over Chalmers...

I wanted McGary. Watch out for him in Oklahoma. He could have been an instant inside presence for the Heat.

Napier is an ok prospect. But I don't think he's an upgrade over Chalmers yet. Even NoCole's still ahead at this point. You are looking at possibly 2 years for him to be anywhere near as effective as Chalmers imho.

I think the kid is a proven scorer, and he doesn't shy away in big moments. I think they need someone with guts... and that makes up for size and athletic ability that Napier gives up. Chalmers just didnt work out in the end.

Chalmers is kinda that guy, a scorer and likes to take big shots (bit too much for his talent). And we know he's more than gutsy. Also bigger than Napier which is handy against taller backcourt in the NBA defense, especially for the Heat defense where you're forced to constantly switch and bother the shooters while running with hands in the air.

When it comes to scoring, Chalmers still shot over 45% while averaging nearly 10ppg alongside the trio. Napier's FG% is only .05% better while playing in college for 16ppg. And we know he can't possibly keep up anywhere near his 16ppg alongside the Heat trio in the team. Given that he will need adjustment time in the NBA, I am hesitant to pick this kid over Chalmers nor NoCole already.

we shall seeeeeeeeee..... lol

according to LeBron, this is the guy he wants at the point anyway. He's won the confidence of James, so that works for me.

Let's just be glad, that LeBron is the best GM/Scout in the league. Wait! He isn't...

Chalmers is kinda that guy, a scorer and likes to take big shots (bit too much for his talent). And we know he's more than gutsy. Also bigger than Napier which is handy against taller backcourt in the NBA defense, especially for the Heat defense where you're forced to constantly switch and bother the shooters while running with hands in the air.

When it comes to scoring, Chalmers still shot over 45% while averaging nearly 10ppg alongside the trio. Napier's FG% is only .05% better while playing in college for 16ppg. And we know he can't possibly keep up anywhere near his 16ppg alongside the Heat trio in the team. Given that he will need adjustment time in the NBA, I am hesitant to pick this kid over Chalmers nor NoCole already.

You are talking about vintage Chalmers. I feel like he already passed his prime

Norris Cole is much better than Chalmers. And has potential to grow. I don't know anything about Napier, but a change of scenery in the Point Guard position is much needed. And Norris Cole isn't ready to be a started yet. I liked those rumors about Kyle Lowry though. That would be great.

Let's just be glad, that LeBron is the best GM/Scout in the league. Wait! He isn't...

Or is he...

Well if this trade is approved or if it already was and I missed it, looks like Shabazz will be the starting PG next season. Can't wait to see him play when the Summer League starts in July.

https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/dwyan ... 12883.html

It's cool to see what is happening at the moment but I doubt Loul wants the Heat over money. This is the same kid that refused Bulls' lowballing offer. Will he take the Heat's lowball now?

Still seems like the first step towards bringing back the entire Big Three, at least.

Bosh seems to be the most unstable among those 3. I don't understand which offers are making him this confused.

I doubt about Deng joining Heat. Lowry already resigned. Melo chances are thin as well. That leaves Heat to a very limited chance to make a noticeable change in their roster.