Power Rankings
Overall Rank: 9th
Tier: Playoff Locks
Projected Seeding: 3rd in East
Unlike the 1999 Bulls and 2011 Cavaliers, who went into a downward spiral after losing the world's best player, that took years to escape, the Heat have an elite roster just one year removed from losing superstar SF/PF LeBron James in free agency, which has to be largely credited to Pat Riley and the rest of Miami's front office. Star PG Goran Dragic runs the point, while the aging and injury-prone, yet still productive, franchise star SG Dwyane Wade makes up the backcourt. PF/C Chris Bosh, after sitting out half of last season due to blood clots, is perhaps the team's number one option on offense, and defensive studs SF Luol Deng and breakout C Hassan Whiteside form arguably the league's most complete starting five. The bench is also looking good, featuring #10 pick rookie SG/SF Justise Winslow, the high-flying SF/SG Gerald Green, and several other key role players, such as PF/C Amare Stoudemire, PG Mario Chalmers, and C Chris "Birdman" Anderson. Miami could be a title contender by the end of the year, if they remain healthy, but that could be a big "if". Wade has missed at least 20 games in each of the last couple of seasons, and Chris Bosh of course missed plenty of action last year as well, among others. A couple other potential red flags are that this starting five has not ever logged a single minute together, and guys like Wade, Stoudemire and Anderson are really getting up there in years. However, if these red flags prove to not be so severe, particularly health, expect Miami to be Cleveland's chief competition out East.
Overall Rank: 9th
Tier: Playoff Locks
Projected Seeding: 3rd in East
Unlike the 1999 Bulls and 2011 Cavaliers, who went into a downward spiral after losing the world's best player, that took years to escape, the Heat have an elite roster just one year removed from losing superstar SF/PF LeBron James in free agency, which has to be largely credited to Pat Riley and the rest of Miami's front office. Star PG Goran Dragic runs the point, while the aging and injury-prone, yet still productive, franchise star SG Dwyane Wade makes up the backcourt. PF/C Chris Bosh, after sitting out half of last season due to blood clots, is perhaps the team's number one option on offense, and defensive studs SF Luol Deng and breakout C Hassan Whiteside form arguably the league's most complete starting five. The bench is also looking good, featuring #10 pick rookie SG/SF Justise Winslow, the high-flying SF/SG Gerald Green, and several other key role players, such as PF/C Amare Stoudemire, PG Mario Chalmers, and C Chris "Birdman" Anderson. Miami could be a title contender by the end of the year, if they remain healthy, but that could be a big "if". Wade has missed at least 20 games in each of the last couple of seasons, and Chris Bosh of course missed plenty of action last year as well, among others. A couple other potential red flags are that this starting five has not ever logged a single minute together, and guys like Wade, Stoudemire and Anderson are really getting up there in years. However, if these red flags prove to not be so severe, particularly health, expect Miami to be Cleveland's chief competition out East.