Good news, Heat fans!

[Andrew]

Magic Johnson still believes in them.

Every NBA player better beware of @DwyaneWade and @ChrisBosh! I think they will have their best year ever!

No team in the East will want to play the Miami Heat in the playoffs!

[Retroswald13]

I tend not to believe in Magic in this one. I would neither put it as good news Andrew. Just my opinion.

[Andrew]

phpBB [video]

[Stress Fracture]

That's how you encourage a team.

[NovU]

This probably belongs to the Unpopular Opinion thread but I'm going to lay it out here. There's great chance the Heat will come out on top of East for the fifth straight Finals appearance.

[shadowgrin]

[Sauru]

This probably belongs to the Unpopular Opinion thread but I'm going to lay it out here. There's great chance the Heat will come out on top of East for the fifth straight Finals appearance.

[SoF'nAwesome]

Even old man Sauru is posting memes. What era is this...

[Sauru]

Even old man Sauru is posting memes. What era is this...

i had to call in a few favors to make it happen

[Kevin]

Chance? There.Is.NO.CHANCE

[Kenny]

In breaking news, the Lakers will win the West because they're the Lakers.

Oh well, at least Magic didn't say that James Harden is the best all-round player in the NBA.

[skoadam]

You guys are so wrong, u think that Miami without LBJ means nothing? On weak and pure east? you are really funny guys. In my opinon Heat in east finals, for sure top4 east teams and im not even fan of Heat team to know this.
Which team is real strong on east? Cavs. But who else? Indiana without Stephenson and George? No. Chicago? maybe but Gasol is one big unknown, Rose after 2 year break? Nets? one big maybe.

[Kenny]

I think you underestimate the potential impact of Pau Gasol. He's still one of the most skilled big men in the league and with Joakim Noah, the Bulls have one hell of a front court to complement Rose.

The absurdity isn't in the idea that the Heat will be competitive, because they're still in pretty good shape (at least in the Eastern Conference). What's silly about his tweets is that Magic thinks the Heat will have their best year yet without LeBron and with a broken down D-Wade. They're a team with three championships, but this one is going to be the best ever? Even the biggest "Heat fans" have to admit that's a little over zealous.

[shadowgrin]

Gasol is one big unknown

Wat?

This is a guy who on his worst year in his career with a shooting low of 46% still managed to get 13 ppg and 8 rpg and doing it with above average efficiency and then improving his numbers the following season even though he played for a coach who is clueless on how to use post players.

[skoadam]

velvet bliss, every next season was his worst so he will not be better this year. I never said he is poor player because he is(rather was) one of the most talented big guys in this league. But nowadays? only 60 games last season, 49 previous season, Last good season 3 years ago. He cant handle to be a leader last year in this worst ever Lakers. So sry, with all mentioned facts for me he is still big unknown and he looks unhealthy as hell last years.

I think you underestimate the potential impact of Pau Gasol. He's still one of the most skilled big men in the league and with Joakim Noah, the Bulls have one hell of a front court to complement Rose.

The absurdity isn't in the idea that the Heat will be competitive, because they're still in pretty good shape (at least in the Eastern Conference). What's silly about his tweets is that Magic thinks the Heat will have their best year yet without LeBron and with a broken down D-Wade. They're a team with three championships, but this one is going to be the best ever? Even the biggest "Heat fans" have to admit that's a little over zealous.

If Bulls rookies did not step up this year, Bulls team will be the same old team from last year. Tom cant find good offensive sets for this team because there is no firepower, no pure skilled shooters. I love this team, for the heart they leave on court, but sry this is not enough. I dont believe in full return of Rose, not after this kind of injury, not after two year break, im realistic guy, sry. Only good thing for this team is releasing Boozer.
i have read only quoted sentence by Andrew and i fully agreed with second. There is no chance for personal Wade's best year , but Bosh? I hate this player, but in this situation he can score so many points.

[shadowgrin]

every next season was his worst so he will not be better this year. I never said he is poor player because he is(rather was) one of the most talented big guys in this league. But nowadays? only 60 games last season, 49 previous season, Last good season 3 years ago.

Except for the fact that stat-wise his recent worst season last year is similar to his last good season that you mentioned. So much for getting worse after every season...
I wouldn't put much stock that he only played 60 games last season, Lakers were tanking last season so why would they give their effective players more games and minutes, even Jordan Hill only got 20 mpg.

He cant handle to be a leader last year in this worst ever Lakers.

How can you be a leader when your coach doesn't even know how to use you properly?
And it's known that Pau isn't exactly leadership material throughout his career.


Injury concern about Pau shouldn't be worried, he's playing behind Noah and Gibson and with Pau's defense Thibs will make sure that Pau will be warming that bench during the 4th quarter and that will keep him healthy during the season.

[NovU]

I personally have the Bulls above the Heat despite ever regressing Pau Gasol's dead body and Rose's broken knees/confidence.

But if there's any team that can give the Cavs trouble, I just think it'd be the Heat. Look how LBJ couldn't handle the heat in Texas.

[skoadam]

every next season was his worst so he will not be better this year. I never said he is poor player because he is(rather was) one of the most talented big guys in this league. But nowadays? only 60 games last season, 49 previous season, Last good season 3 years ago.

Except for the fact that stat-wise his recent worst season last year is similar to his last good season that you mentioned. So much for getting worse after every season...
I wouldn't put much stock that he only played 60 games last season, Lakers were tanking last season so why would they give their effective players more games and minutes, even Jordan Hill only got 20 mpg.

He cant handle to be a leader last year in this worst ever Lakers.

How can you be a leader when your coach doesn't even know how to use you properly?
And it's known that Pau isn't exactly leadership material throughout his career.


Injury concern about Pau shouldn't be worried, he's playing behind Noah and Gibson and with Pau's defense Thibs will make sure that Pau will be warming that bench during the 4th quarter and that will keep him healthy during the season.

Bulls dont need more defense cmon! Thibs got huge problem with this, he is so much defensive that he forgot how to play offense. Look around, last champs, Mavs great offense, Heat great offense, Spurs dont have to tell ya right? Im not telling that Bulls best option was Carmelo but damn when i watch Bulls last two seasons, they need some1 who can shoot f ball. Mean, look at this roster, there is no talented offensive player(except Rose). Bulls team was great, but only with healthy Rose(before injury), someone who can stretch the floor with his individual skills. Bulls sign Dunleavy and what? Dunleavy is just son of coach, very average player, he didnt help. If Mirotic,McDermott fail or/and Rose will not back to full health this team will die in first/second round.

[_Steve_]

I don't know how Heat fans can be so delusional to think their team would even survive the first round in the relatively weak eastern conference.
Let's break down who could be able to carry the team.

Wade's body is done. He may have again an far above PER season, but how many games will he play? Heat took a lot of weight from his shoulders last year, which is something they won't be able to do next season.

Bosh will find scoring a lot harder if he'll be more in the focus of the opponent's defense. I bet he'll get less open looks from outside without LeBron.

Who's the 3rd option? Dead Danny Granger? Basketball Jesus McBob? Mario Chokers? Is it supposed to be Cole, Haslem or the Birdman? Most likely the 2nd or 3rd guy will be Deng with no further scoring options available.

Who will be their primary ball handler? Heat still lack a NBA caliber point guard and Wade's got other duties/will not play because of injuries.

To sum it up. The Heat won't survive the first round if they ever get so far...

[skoadam]

Ok so please look at standings and tell me what is your first 8 east teams if miami can be 9-15 in your opinion i want to see 1-8 from you.

[NovU]

Bosh is fine. He'll score and rebound more as he returns to the post area and plays run through him more now. He will probably provide superstar numbers like in Toronto. Wade? Wade says he expects to play 75 games and physically he's just fine. He admitted that he just stunk last season but there's surely chance that he could play at superstar level. Part of the reason he didn't sign for a longer term was because he thinks he can get a better deal soon enough when he proves he's not dead yet. Besides, you are a moron if anyone think he was horrid last season. He was still a quality star when he was on the floor (Finals aside).

Minus LBJ and Ray (only real loss), the Heat added Deng + some. The team returns to team ball from hero ball. This team's still competing.

Which teams from East do you think will be definitely better than the Heat? Outside maybe-Bulls (only if Rose & Pau are good) and sure-Cavs.

[shadowgrin]

The team returns to team ball from hero ball. This team's still competing.

Because the Heat stunk it up so bad that they had to resort to LeBron playing hero ball to get them to the Finals, what makes it any different now that the Heat won't stink again especially now that LeBron is out?

[NovU]

So how bad do you think the Heat will become?

It's kinda tiring to respond to every ambush. Why not elaborate and share your thoughts and prediction.

[shadowgrin]

From other threads...

lol at Heat fans thinking they can compete for more than a 1st round playoff appearance at best without LeBron.

Wade's done, he might show up with the occasional good games but that won't be consistent when the Heat need it most.
Only Bosh can carry the team now and even if he goes back to being Raptor Bosh the Heat will only be a bit better than those Bosh Raptors.

(New SVG Pistons) Still better than the (new) Heat.

So to be exact, at worst Heat are below the Pistons, at best Heat are a 40+ win team.

[NovU]

I think the Pistons are 40 wins team(while the Heat 50) at their best though so I didn't take your argument too seriously.

It all depends on Wade though. I still have high hopes with Wade so I guess that's where we really differ.

Btw, which other teams would you put ahead of the Heat? Currently, I only have the Cavs as a sure deal. The Bulls, Bobcats, Hawks, Nets are all more or less the Heat's range. I can't really say which team truly stand out outside the C(he)a(t)valiers. Or is this the season where the Raptors end up being a second seed? If then I wouldn't completely rule out the Heat in the playoffs.