Miami Heat: Strengths and Weaknesses

Prohoopz.net — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 23:54:54 -0400

Strengths

D-Wade- When you have the third best perimeter player in basketball—next to LeBron James and Kobe Bryant—there is always a chance that you are going to be able to sneak out of the first round of the playoffs.

In the case of the Miami Heat, the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference should be their main focus right now.

Length- Mario Chalmers, Jamario Moon, and Michael Beasley all have lengthy wiry builds. This allows them to get their hands on a lot of loose balls, and put pressure on the perimeter players of the opposing team.

No Pressure- No matter who the Miami Heat end up facing in the first round of the NBA playoffs, whether it be the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, or their best chance the Atlanta Hawks, they will have less pressure on them to win then their opponent.

The Magic and Celtics already know what they are expected to do, and that is to win a Championship THIS year, while the Atlanta Hawks are trying to cling to the end of Mike Bibby's prime with at least one playoff series win. In the case of the young Miami Heat, they have in many people’s minds overachieved this year.

Weaknesses

Point Guard - Yes, Chalmers has length, and has done a more than adequate job for a second-round rookie, but the fact is that he is young and experienced.

Everybody is aware that he has a lot of big game experience from his Kansas days, but it is just not the same. Chalmers at this point in his career, looks at times simply overmatched by veteran point guards like Maurice Williams.

It’s going to be a lot to ask of a rookie point guard to be able to step up and guard Bibby or Rafer Alston. Backup Chris Quinn, is really inexperienced as well, and not exactly a guy that’s going to be able to put a ton of pressure on the ball.

Inside presence - Yea, yea this is why they did the Jermaine O’Neal trade. But from what I've seen of Jermaine O’Neal lately, he looks like a 30-year-old man with 50-year-old legs.

The guy still knows where to be on offense and defense but lacks the explosiveness to be a serious threat to a Dwight Howard or Kevin Garnett.

Coaching Experience - This could be a good or bad thing. But if the Heat find themselves in a game seven situation, I'm putting my money on Stan Van Gundy and Mike Woodson to make the right decisions because of their playoff experience. Not to say a rookie coach has no clue, but the playoffs are a whole different atmosphere. Stan Van can tell him that first-hand.

Who They Want and Why?

The Miami Heat need to focus on the fifth seed so they have the opportunity to play the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. They really do not want to see Howard and the Orlando Magic because they do not match up well at all with Orlando.

Rafer Alston has much more experience than Chalmers, Pietrus will pressure the perimeter, and Turkoglu and Lewis are too potent from beyond the arc. Nothing really needs to be said about a Howard-O’Neal match up either.

The team the Heat really should want to play in the first round is the current fourth seed Atlanta Hawks. Yes they took the defending Champion Boston Celtics to seven games last year, but that had a lot to do with the pressure being on the Celtics.

Wade shouldn’t have a problem dissecting through the Hawks backcourt of Bibby and Joe Johnson. Johnson will be expanding a ton of energy on offense, and Bibby just isn’t that great of a defender at this point in his career. In addition, O’Neal if nothing else, does have a height advantage over Al Horford that may come in handy with some tip-in opportunities.

Marvin Williams’ health concerns are another reason the Heat should want to see Atlanta. Regardless, they will have to limit Josh Smith and Johnson with tough physical defense.

Michael Beasley may not have done what the scouts thought so far, but come playoff time he will be a dangerous bench player. The Atlanta Hawks will be bringing Flip Murray, and Mo Evans off the bench as their main perimeter options, while Zaza Pachulia may be forced to start with Marvin’s injury.

So if Miami can counter Murray, and Evans with an explosive Beasley, and Daequan Cook, they can be effective in the second and third quarters.

Overall

The Miami Heat are a young and inexperienced team. However if they are able to secure the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, they have a legitimate shot at advancing to the second round.

The run will most likely end there, but it would be a big step to take with a rookie head coach and point guard, and will show Wade that they are moving in a direction that he will want to be a part of in the years to come.

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Miami Heat: Strengths and Weaknesses