Miami Heat: So Far, So Super

In 2011-2012, thus far, the Miami Heat have shown that they are comfortable in their high-profile skin.

That's the good news. The bad news is that an obviously motivated Miami Heat team will have to wait another 60 games or so to prove that their Finals defeat to the Dallas Mavericks was a taint.

Nevertheless, the Heat are not demonstrating any impatience on the court. Instead, they are proceeding apace, devouring opponents, annihilating opponents, burying opponents without any problems at all.

Further, all of their vanquishing is being done in a systematic, smooth, yet scintillatingly entertaining fashion.

In this way, the anxiety of their faithful about whether LeBron James, Dwayne Wade Chris Bosh—the team's “Fab Three”—have fallen off the fast track to possible multiple Larry O'Brien trophies, has been at least temporarily assuaged.

To wit: Just a matter of hours ago, the Heat smothered a tough Indiana Pacers team, picked by many to make the playoffs, by 35 points. Earlier, the Charlotte Hornets succumbed to Miami by 39.

And, on national TV, on the NBA's opening night, Dec. 25, the Miami Heat destroyed the aforementioned Mavericks (the final score was not indicative), in that the game was really over by halftime.

The win over the Mavericks on Christmas Day could be thought of as a revenge mission, but Miami's disposition was dispassionately determined. The victory was a matter-of-fact destruction with no strings attached.

Indeed, that's what one notices about this season's Miami Heat squad: They project that it is about basketball business. The microscopes that magnified the tears after the Dallas defeat have receded into a steely purpose.

The face of the Miami Heat is the NBA's best player, LeBron James. To the point: Take a look at his face. The strain is gone. For the time being, we have LeBron at ease with himself as a person, with himself as a player. A blue LeBron has been replaced by a renewed LeBron.

James elaborates on the burden he felt during his premier stint with the Miami Heat and how he feels that that's currently internally ameliorated : “I had never put too much pressure on myself, but it was such a different situation last year, going from a guy people liked to a guy people hated, going to a new team, new city, learning a new system....”

“I’m just a lot more comfortable this year. More alive. Back to being myself.” http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/13/2543899/for-miami-heats-lebron-james-destination.html#storylink=misearch

Watching James on the court this season leads one to suspect he has truly done some letting go of the demons. For example: the back-to-the basket moves he worked on with Hakeem Olajuwon in the summer. “King James” has broadened his royal repertoire. He's no more just a crash and drive to the goal one-trick high flier.

James shoots jumpers from all positions on the court now, not just when he is wide open and set. He'll pull up. He'll back his defender in, turn, and launch a 15-footer. He'll “face you and take you.” In a flash.

There is not the hesitation of a man worried about shot-taking or shot-making criticism. Like in the past. Statistical translation? James leads the league in scoring with a 30 points per game average.

But it is not just James, with his Heat crew as a supporting cast. As a team, the Miami Heat lead the NBA in assists. This reveals aplenty. Such as they are all in it together.

Much has been made of the Heat's new “no-huddle, spread offense,” which Heat coach Eric Spoelstra picked up from University of Oregon football maestro Chip Kelly during the recent NBA lockout.

But the mantra of this high-tech offense is to maximize the strengths of all of the Miami Heat team members, even if it will maximize the assets of the “Fab Three” more than the rest of the team. The offense is working: The Heat lead the NBA in offense, putting up 108 points an outing.

Moreover, there is avant-garde wisdom in the new Heat scheme.

Spoelstra explains: "The more that we've tried to think conventionally in terms of guys playing just a specific position, it restricted us a little bit... We can put pressure on teams to adjust to us.”

Pat Riley, the Heat president, adds: “We don't have a 7-foot-2-inch guy who's going to take care of that stuff [blocking shots, forcing errors, etc]. Playing bigger and thinking bigger is trying something new.” http://espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miamiheat/story/_/id/7378111/nba-oregon-ducks-football-muse-erik-spoelstra-miami-heat

Welcome to the nouveau riche Miami Heat.

Prima facie, “playing bigger and thinking bigger” is actually going to tell Miami's tale and legacy. When Pat Riley won his championships, Magic Johnson, James Worthy, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did just that. Riley knows winning's essence.

Can Wade, Bosh, and especially James, together in athletic concert, show the growth Riley alludes to? No one knows for sure, but in this crucial season, they are exhibiting that they have the aptitude and attitude to accomplish Riley's objectives.

The Miami Heat are simply feeling good about themselves.