The Miami Heat are currently ranked fifth in the Eastern Conference, but are tied with the fourth and sixth spots with equal records of 39-29. They’re also only a half-game out of third place in the increasingly tight East and the team still has high hopes of making a serious playoff run come April. How far can Miami really go, though? At Heat Nation, we believe the sky is the limit.
Here are five reasons the Heat can win it all in 2016:
1. Versatility
When you think “versatility,” you think of guys that can do it all. Guys that can stretch the floor, play defense, play the perimeter, fill in at multiple positions, etc. Right now the Heat have a slew of guys that fit that bill.
Joe Johnson is stretch guard/forward combo with a six-foot-seven frame and a nasty three-point game. Luol Deng has been one of the most versatile players in the league over the past decade and can play efficiently at the three or four spot. Chris Bosh, if he returns, can play power forward and center and is one of the best big men in the league when it comes to spacing the floor.
At center, Miami can elect to go with the overpowering strength and size of Hassan Whiteside or the more crafty, offensive-minded veteran Amar’e Stoudemire. In addition, despite Dwyane Wade only being 6’4,” his versatility down in the post is remarkable for a shooting guard and he’s been one of the best shot-blocking guards of all-time. Top that all off with another combination guard/forward “energy” player like Justise Winslow, who has shown flashes of brilliance on both ends of the floor in his 2015-16 rookie campaign, and you’re looking at one of the most versatile teams in the league.
Next: The Great Wall of Whiteside
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2. The Great Wall of Whiteside
What Whiteside is doing off the bench right now is just remarkable. Over the last 10 games, the big man is averaging 16.8 points and 12.5 rebounds per game while shooting .560 from the field. In addition, he still leads the league in blocks by a long shot and is finally knocking down his free throws like a seasoned, veteran shooting guard.
As a matter of fact, he’s shooting a spectacular .811 from the free-throw line since the All-Star break. His presence down low will likely carry Miami through several playoff games this year and perhaps through more than one series. Despite dealing with some disciplinary issues in the past, it seems like the seven-footer has renewed his focus, though he never likes to make much of what some around the NBA have deemed an “attitude problem.”
“Y’all guys acting like I’m going around beating people up and getting technicals and just going crazy,” Whiteside said. “My whole life has been tough. I’m still facing adversity. (Now) I just come out and try to be aggressive, but in a good way. I just try to channel that in a positive way to help the team out instead of hurt the team.”
His low-post dominance and ability to affect shots is showing up on opposing team’s scouting reports days in advance, simply so guys can prepare. As a player expected to receive a max contract next season, he will surely play his heart out come playoff time and show the world what he can do when the spotlight shines bright.
“We never experienced the [NBA] Finals before or making a deep playoff run. S—, we never even experienced making the playoffs,” teammate Tyler Johnson recently said about him and Whiteside. “Despite everything that’s happened this season, we have a chance to do all of that. That’s just something he’s been thinking about for a while.”
Next: Deep Roster
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3. Deep Roster
Head coach Erik Spoelstra’s starting lineup currently looks like this: Goran Dragic, Wade, Johnson, Deng and Stoudemire.
As for the bench, it has been all about quality over quantity as of late.
Josh McRoberts and Udonis Haslem haven’t been seeing the court much lately so that leaves Whiteside, Gerald Green, Winslow and the emerging Josh Richardson to make up most of the second-unit minutes. Those are four guys that could easily start on a number of NBA teams right now. If Bosh returns this season, Deng may return to the bench, which would make this team even deeper and scarier to face in the playoffs. For what it’s worth, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith seems to agree with this notion.
Next: Sustained Play of Dwyane Wade
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4. Sustained Play of Dwyane Wade
He’s too old, they said.
He’s washed up, they said.
He’ll get hurt, they said.
People keep doubting and Dwyane keeps doing. Continuously proving people wrong is the name of the game for Wade, as he’s shown, at 34 years of age, that he’s still got it. Though he may have lost a half-step or so since the days of “Flash” and the 2006 NBA Finals, Wade is finding craftier ways to score and get teammates involved. He’s still a superstar in this league. He recently made his 12th All-Star Game appearance and is averaging 19.0 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game, not gaudy numbers, but really not far removed from his career averages of 23.7 PPG, 5.8 APG and 4.8 RPG.
With Wade it’s never been about the numbers, but more about the moment. Big time players step up in big time games and with three NBA Championships and an NBA Finals MVP award under his belt, it’s been proven time and time again that Wade has what it takes to make the most of the moment.
Though this 2015-16 Heat team is more about playing defense, sharing the ball and getting everyone involved, the Heat front office and players alike still have the utmost confidence in Wade’s ability to come through in the clutch and provide superstar-like performances when it matters most. Look for some vintage Wade magic early and often in the playoffs this year, as he tends to step it up when things are really on the line.
Next: Postseason Experience
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5. Postseason Experience
Dwyane Wade: three-time NBA champion, five-time Eastern Conference champion, NBA Finals MVP, 12-time NBA All-Star.
Joe Johnson: seven-time NBA All-Star, third in the NBA in total games played amongst active players without an NBA Finals appearance, 87 career playoff games.
Chris Bosh: two-time NBA champion, four-time Eastern Conference champion, 11-time NBA All-Star.
Need we say more?
In addition, guys like Deng, Haslem, and Stoudemire have been in the league for years and have several decades of combined NBA playoff experience under their belts. Aside from veteran players, the Heat also have Pat Riley and coach Spoelstra at the helm, who have been to the NBA Finals time and time again throughout their illustrious coaching and front office careers. All this experience transfers to leadership which, hopefully for Miami, will transfer to playoff wins. Aside from maybe the San Antonio Spurs, you’d be hard-pressed to find more experienced leaders involved in a single NBA franchise.
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