Preseason Predictions: Magic Knock Off Miami, Lose To The Lakers In 2011 Finals
This Article Courtesy Of Rip City Report
There is something to be said for building a team and not just a collection of talent.
The Miami Heat may very well have the most talented roster in the NBA, but in no way are they a team just yet.
And nor will they be until they prove their collection of talent can play together.
If you look at the Orlando Magic, their roster is built for playoff success.
This is not to say that the Miami Heats roster isn't because three superstars on one team should be a recipe for success in all walks of the NBA, but the Orlando Magic have done things the right way.
They started with a center and a good one at that.
Then they added pieces around him that complimented his skill sets; playmakers, shooters, and mobile attacking players.
And the day that Dwight Howard develops a consistent post game is the day the Miami Heat should have questions about their perennial Championship hopes.
But until then, and especially next year, the Orlando Magic will be an obstacle.
That's not to say that you can't break through a roadblock, but it is tough to do.
In terms of players, the Miami Heat have weaknesses. They may not all be glaring weaknesses, but some of them are.
First off, is their glaringly weak big man core.
If the Miami Heat want to have a better chance at getting through the Magic, or even the Lakers, they are going to have to find a center that can both defend a dominant seven footer and can score against a dominant seven footer.
Right now the Heat have neither.
The second issue is at the point guard spot. Right now, they don't have a healthy point guard.
Mario Chalmers and Carlos Arroyo may be ready for training camp, but if your team is in a rebuilding state you need every second you can get to build that chemistry with your new teammates.
In the Miami Heat's case, that is everyone.
I fully expect the Heat to win multiple championships in a span of five years, but next year will be a building year. They will figure out who belongs around the big-three, and they will have to make changes accordingly.
The Heat will also be building chemistry.
That quality is often overlooked as when considering Championship contenders.
A good example of that would be the Los Angeles Lakers.
A perennial championship contender that may have the best player in the NBA, but also has a roster that has gelled.
The Lakers are a tight team with a lot of veteran talent.
Kobe Bryant has had a summer to recover and should be entirely healthy heading into the 2010-2011 season. That is something we haven't seen in a while.
A healthy Kobe Bryant, along with the additions of a solid back-up point guard (Steve Blake), and a defensive stopper (Matt Barnes) make them the favorites to repeat.
We don't know if the Miami Heat have found players that fit into their system.
What is their system?
Who are their players in that system?
Who will be running that system?
The Miami Heat have a lot of questions to answer before they are ready to take home a title and the Orlando Magic will be poised to knock them off.
A combination of a well rounded team and dangerous scoring options up against the Miami Heats weakest positions make them more than just a thorn in the side of the Heats Title hopes.
The Los Angeles Lakers are still the title holder and all signs point to them raising the Larry O'Brien Trophy at the end of the season.
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