Miami Heat: 2013-14 NBA Preview
2012-13 Vitals
66-16, first place, Southeast Division; won NBA championship
PPG: 102.9 (5th of 30)/Opp PPG: 95.0 (5th of 30) per Basketballreference.com
2013-14 Roster
Chris Andersen F-C
Joel Anthony C
Shane Battier SF
Michael Beasley F
LeBron James F
Dwyane Wade SG
Chris Bosh F-C
Udonis Haslem PF
Rashard Lewis F
Greg Oden C
Mario Chalmers PG
Norris Cole PG
Ray Allen SG
James Jones F/G
Jarvis Varnado F/C
Justin Hamilton C
Eric Griffin SF
Additions: C Greg Oden, F Michael Beasley
Subtractions: G/F Mike Miller (waived via amnesty provision).
Projected Starting 5
PG Mario Chalmers
SG Dwyane Wade
F Shane Battier
F LeBron James
C Chris Bosh
Season Outlook
Coming off their second straight NBA Championship triumph, the general synopsis was that the Miami Heat would have a quiet summer due to the lack of cap room and minimal spaces available in the overall squad. However, Pat Riley, being the bargain hunter that he is, may have stumbled upon something special in regards to Michael Beasley and Greg Oden.
Oden, regardless of his small 82-game sample, has shown glimpses of a player who can dominate the paint and be a great presence inside. And with his size, strength and defensive prowess, he could prove a lot more valuable to the Heat than his two-year, $2.1 million contract may suggest. Miami was in desperate need of player like him, especially after meeting Roy Hibbert in playoffs last season.
In addition to this, he should go a ways into helping out on the boards too after Miami were dead last in rebounds(38.6) per game.
Michael Beasley seemed to be in free fall when the Heat snapped him up after several teams were sent the opposite direction by his volatile persona.
Even with his ability to be a versatile scorer, Beasley has had trouble fulfilling his potential as a No. 2 overall pick and the 24-year-old has had several run-ins with the law, usually for offenses involving marijuana. Yet, in spite of the red flags, Erik Spoelstra and Pat Riley have decided to give B-Easy another shot in the NBA and you can’t help but think he won’t have too many suitors if he keeps up his off-the-court shenanigans.
The fact that Miami has kept almost every player from last season means that they will have continued chemistry and leadership which can only bold well for. Hopefully it rubs off on Beasley, too.
Best case scenario
The new infusion of talent makes Miami an even bigger force to be reckoned with and the Heat blitz their way to a hat trick of NBA championships–thus ending the Super Friends/Big 3 era in style as many expect the pack to be split up after 2013-14.
Worst case scenario
Michael Beasley continues to treat the NBA like his very own stomping ground and goes haywire again. Greg Oden’s knees give away again and wreck another season for him, while Dwyane Wade’s knees continue to give him trouble and speed up the decline of his illustrious career.
Long story short: No championship hat trick for LeBron James and Co. as they fail to win the Eastern Conference for the first time since the Big 3 assembled.
Predicted Finish
61-21, first in Southeast division, first in Eastern Conference
[slider_pro id=”16″]