25 Sickest Miami Heat Highlights of the Early NBA Season

At 15-5 and coming off of their best victory of the season in a 97-93 thriller against the Chicago Bulls, the Miami Heat have already done so much more than last year to prove why they're the best team in the NBA.

Aside from getting all of their injured players back, they also seem to have a more cohesive big three, a more aggressive Chris Bosh and a deeper bench. This team is considerably better than last year's experiment, where trade rumors and coach firings were the norm during a two-game losing streak.

Not too many worries yet for the Heat. The only controversy and nonsense that they've heard from the peanut gallery was how the team was better without Dwyane Wade, which is an absurdity that should never be spoken of because it's insane and doesn't make much sense.

They've had their shortcomings this year, as well as every other team in the NBA, but the Heat have established themselves as the team to beat once again.

With the Heat playing well and creating highlight reels on a nightly basis, we decide do compile their 25 sickest highlights of the early season.

25. Chris Bosh Gets the Sweet Pass From...Terrel Harris?

Yeah, you know Terrel Harris, right? He's the D-League phenom that played 74 games and averaged nine points, three boards and two assists per. You can't possibly say you've never heard of the legendary Terrel Harris.

Alright, maybe it is possible you've never heard of him because 99 percent of casual NBA fans would probably say the same thing. Only if you were a D-League fan—we're not sure why you would be—would you know of Harris.

Whether you've heard of him or not, he's got some heart, and he showed it in the Heat's shorthanded victory over the Atlanta Hawks. In over 40 minutes worth of playing time, the 6'4" guard recorded nine points, 14 rebounds and four assists.

He also pulled off one of the plays of the night on this behind-the-back pass to Chris Bosh.

24. LeBron James Sends Back Derrick Brown's Dunk Attempt

LeBron James knows how to make up for past wrongs.

After being careless with the ball and allowing Derrick Brown to nab a steal, James stalked Brown the whole way down the court.

Once Norris Cole slowed Brown's progression, it was feasting time for James. Brown went up for the dunk and was surprised when James came from out of nowhere to straight up send back the shot of the Bobcats forward.

So much for being reserved for just chase-downs.

23. Norris Cole Gets in on the Fastbreak Action

Mario Chalmers is the starting point guard for the Miami Heat, and there's no reason to argue why he shouldn't.

He's a conventional floor general that can hit the open jumper and keep the offense at a steady pace.

That's not to say that Norris Cole hasn't been impressive in his own right because he has been an absolute steal of the 2011 NBA Draft. He's not a sound enough point guard to run an offense, but he is a spark off the bench and knows how to run a fastbreak to perfection.

Take, for instance, this fastbreak against Minnesota. First, he makes the smart decision to give it to Dwyane Wade to take some attention of himself. Once that's said and done, he receives the ball and throws it up to LeBron James, who throws down the angry slam.

Kid's got a future.

22. Chris Bosh Dunks on the Entire City of Atlanta

Ridding himself of that pesky "soft" label, Chris Bosh has been making it a purpose to play aggressive and drive at will.

What we've been subject to is a confident Bosh, a more efficiently-run team and a lot more highlights from the former enforcer for the Toronto Raptors.

His dunk over Al Horford and Josh Smith perfectly showcases just how much more aggressive of a player Bosh has become.

21. Dwyane Wade Blocks Another Giant

If I was a power forward or center in the NBA, the last player I'd worry about blocking my shot would be an opposing player of the same position.

When you're playing the Miami Heat, size is limited on their end. They have only one player at 7' or taller and a few players in the 6'8" to 6'11" range. None of these players are worth being worried about when it comes to getting your shot sent back.

If there's one player you have to worry about, it's the 6'4" shooting guard.

Wade has made it a point on defense to go after every shot. He has blocked the shots of those small and large and is arguably the greatest shot blocking guard in the history of the game. He's averaging a block per for his career and is currently averaging two per through 10 games this year.

Vladimir Radmanovic should've known better than to be 6'10" and attempt a dunk over an athlete six inches smaller than him.

20. LeBron James Annihilates Mike Dunleavy

Similar to a dunk he had last year against the Oklahoma City Thunder, LeBron James managed to add even more insult to injury on this recent baseline dunk.

Unlike last year, where Kevin Durant made a silly gamble, the Milwaukee Bucks' Mike Dunleavy actually made a conscious effort to play defense on James.

The moment we saw Dunleavy defending James was about the time that we realized we were in store for something special. Sure enough, our suspicious came true, as James took it baseline and threw down the reverse over the hapless defender.

Dunleavy should have just laid down and called it a day.

19. This Is Becoming Routine...

There isn't really too much to say about this.

It's Dwyane Wade and LeBron James doing what they do best: connecting for alley-oops, putting on a show for whatever crowd that's viewing them at the time and deteriorating the morale and pride of their opponents.

Four decades ago, the alley-oop didn't exist. The Heat have managed to tire it out in the span of a season-and-a-quarter.

18. This Is Becoming Routine as Well...

It's not an alley-oop, but that doesn't diminish the talent that comes with successfully completing a 96-foot pass.

The NFL draft isn't going to have many quality quarterbacks. The Miami Dolphins should be dead serious on giving Dwyane Wade a shot.

It beats Chad Henne.

17. LeBron James Goes Reverse on the Alley-Oop

It wasn't as pretty as the one he completed in Cleveland, but this reverse alley-oop was just as sweet when considering that LeBron James actually bobbled the ball before throwing it down.

We'll still take it. After all, it is a reverse alley-oop and that usually isn't something you see every day.

It's just that we'd like to see the pass from Dwyane Wade, not Mario Chalmers.

16. Chris Bosh Goes Spin Cycle Against San Antonio

There is no scarier sight than seeing Chris Bosh dribble a basketball on a fastbreak.

Not scary for the other team. I meant it's scary because he usually turns the ball over or just throws it away. Even though he's one of the most versatile and quickest power forwards in the league, he's just not capable of consistently handling the ball without turning it over.

However, when he does maintain the ball, it's usually a beautiful thing, as shown by his spin-and-dunk on the San Antonio Spurs.

Poor Tiago Splitter just happened to be the unfortunate one to be there when Bosh successfully completed a fastbreak.

15. The Norris Cole Show

We knew that the Miami Heat got a steal in the 2011 draft. We just didn't realize that he'd make his impact in the second game of the season.

The Heat were in cruise control for the majority of the night against the Boston Celtics, building up a lead that hovered near 20 points. Then, things began to take a turn for the worse in Miami's case. They couldn't hit a shot, Ray Allen was hitting three-pointer after three-pointer and the Celtics were once again putting a significant scare in the heart's of the Heat.

Last year, this season opener would most likely have been spoiled. However, they didn't happen to have an ice cold, mid-range shooter in their possession at the time.

Cole was automatic all night, but it was in the final minutes of the fourth quarter when he truly made his presence felt. With so much attention being focused on the big three, Cole was being left open on every possession. The Heat continued to find him, and once he got the ball, Cole was automatic from 15 to 20 feet.

Cole had 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting to go along with four assists and four boards per. It was the second game of his career against one of the toughest defenses in the NBA, and it didn't phase him in the slightest.

The hype has died down, but eight points and three assists per from the 28th pick is more than enough.

14. LeBron James Gives Gerald Henderson a Headache

The referees may not have counted it, but we sure do.

One of the NBA's top poster dunks of the year comes by way of a cutting LeBron James slamming right on top of the head of Gerald Henderson.

The problem is that James literally dunked it on top of Henderson's head. Because Gerald's head was right beneath the rim, the ball quickly popped out before the referees could make a ruling on the dunk being a make.

It's a good thing that the ball did pop out. Otherwise, we wouldn't have been subjected to Dwyane Wade's game-winner a few minutes later.

13. Dwyane Wade Hits the Game-Winner Against Charlotte

During the Heat's close contest against the Charlotte Bobcats, it occurred to me that I had not seen a Dwyane Wade game-winner in some time.

It took three games for Wade to end that streak.

Facing a one-point deficit against the lowly Bobcats, a team that currently stands at 3-17, the Heat needed a hero—and fast—after giving up a wide-open three-pointer on the other end to give Charlotte the lead.

Instead of giving it to James, as they did so many times last year, the ball was given to Wade. He took a few dribbles and made it inside, where he would then make a bank shot over two defenders to give the Heat a one-point lead and the eventual victory.

And no, it's not a travel, either. Check his pivot foot.

12. LeBron James Just Kills Bill Walker

I can't be the only one to share this belief, but does it seem as if LeBron James hasn't dunked as much in traffic with the Miami Heat as much as he did with the Cleveland Cavaliers?

Perhaps we're just so used to James' dunks that we don't even notice. Either way, he unleashes the beast all over the head of Bill Walker and Jared Jeffries, proving to us that he is completely capable of dunking on players much smaller and slower than him.

Sorry, Bill, not even seven three-pointers can help you escape this.

11. Chris Bosh Saves the Day Against Atlanta

It's a shame that the announcers showed absolutely no emotion whatsoever, because this was an amazing shot to say the least.

Not only does it send the game into overtime, but it comes by way of a three-pointer from Chris Bosh, a power forward who has shot 29 percent deep from his career and had made 63 shots from beyond the arc since 2003.

The game would go into three overtimes, and the Heat would end up with a victory thanks in part to the late-game theatrics of Bosh.

The Heat also happened to be playing this game without LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

10. Chris Bosh Puts D.J. White on a Poster

Remember when Chris Bosh was criticized for being passive and "soft?"

Yeah, I thought that was ridiculous too. It's tough going from being a first option to a third, and Bosh suffered when attempting to adjust. He couldn't find the space to drive, became too reliant on the jumper and felt as if he was being ignored.

This year, Bosh is playing like a completely different player. He's confident enough to consistently hit jumpers from as far out as the three-point line and is playing with much more aggression, as if you couldn't tell by this tremendous poster dunk on Charlotte Bobcats power forward D.J. White.

He's really got to learn how to stick those landings, though. That fall had torn ACL written all over it.

9. Dwyane Wade and LeBron James Get Fancy Against New York

The Heat had so many highlights in their victory over the New York Knicks that NBA.com actually compiled their own top 10 centered solely around Miami's dazzling throwdowns.

This was just one of many plays. In Dwyane Wade's return back to the court after a week-long absence due to an ankle injury, he certainly wanted to start it off with a bang, so he decided to get in on the act of throwing up alley-oops to LeBron James.

It's been quite a long time since we've seen this. We've managed.

8. LeBron James Completes an Inbound Pass We've Never Seen Before

When you're a member of the Miami Heat, you have to think of ways to put on a show.

The alley-oop has been done so many times that it's becoming nonchalant. The open-court dunk? It's been done. A poster dunk? Always exciting to watch, but we'd still like to see something new once in awhile.

By completing a behind-the-back pass off the inbound to Mike Miller, James became the first player in the history of the game to work a pass like that for a score.

7. Dwyane Wade and LeBron James Connect for the Game-Winner Against Minnesota

Dwyane Wade's hit his fair share of game winners. From improbable game winners against Chicago to conventional buzzer beaters against New York, Wade has proven time and time again that he can come up huge whenever his team needs him.

This time, however, he got a little help from LeBron James. On a play that was originally derived from one that the Boston Celtics previously used against them, the Heat decided to add it to their repertoire.

In a tied against the Timberwolves with six seconds left, LeBron James played the role as inbound man. Wade utilized a series of screens to elude his original defender and then leaped up to lay in the perfect alley-oop pass from James.

The Heat would go on to win, 103-101.

6. The Big Three Do It All Against the Bobcats

It's always nice to see a team work in perfect harmony together.

On this particular play, the big three find a way to do it all in the span of five seconds.

It starts off with Chris Bosh recording a block on a drive by Corey Maggette, in a tied game I might add, where it caroms near the Heat bench. Before it gets there, LeBron James races to it, grabs the ball and launches it about 60 feet to a wide open Dwyane Wade, who throws down the easy dunk.

A crucial defensive stand, an excellent hustle play-and-pass and then the dunk to complete it. No other team does it better.

5. Norris Cole Has Eyes in the Back of His Head

There were a lot of highlights in this game.

The Miami Heat beat the New York Knicks and shoved it down their throats. Even though the Knicks made 18 three-pointers, it just wasn't enough against a Heat team that was playing smart and with Dwyane Wade back in the lineup.

With so many highlights being made, it was tough choosing which one was the best. This particular play could certainly be argued as the No. 1 throwdown.

On a fastbreak, again, Norris Cole races down with only Landry Fields and LeBron James trailing behind. As Fields continues to progress, Cole gets closer and closer to the baseline before throwing it over his head to the trailing LeBron James, who promptly throws down the stellar alley-oop.

4. LeBron James Jumps over a Guy

The title says it all. LeBron James plain jumped over a guy.

I look forward to hearing the, "But John, John Lucas is only 5'11!"

He jumped over a guy. Not much else to be said. If you can't respect that, then your whole perspective is whack.

3. Dwyane Wade Dunks All over Landry Fields

Ankle injury? A mere flesh wound.

Seriously, how many players could make their debut after an ankle injury this severe and pull off a poster dunk like this only a few minutes into the first quarter?

Dwyane Wade can. Landry Fields wishes he couldn't.

2. The Big Three Does It All Against Dallas

What was that about this team not having chemistry?

It seems that I couldn't pay attention to that nonsense since I was watching perfect chemistry exhibited by the Miami Heat's big three on their fastbreak.

After blocking the jump shot of Dirk Nowitzki, Dwyane Wade then begins to race down court while being quickly followed by LeBron James, Mario Chalmers and Chris Bosh.

Wade passed it off to James and then dished it off to Bosh, who would finish the dunk with emphasis.

1. Dwyane Wade and LeBron James Complete the Double Alley-Oop

Reminiscent of a play that was pulled off in high school and one that they pulled off themselves during the 2010 training camp, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade decided to take it one step further by pulling off the first ever double alley-oop in a regulation game.

Starting off with a steal by Mario Chalmers, the point guard would throw it off to a streaking James. Heavily defended by Shawn Marion on the pass, James then tipped it over to Wade, who threw it down.

I seem to be the only one who believes this, but does it look like they actually planned this? James looks as if he's staring down Wade the entire time he's up in the air, and he even calls for the alley-oop knowing that he's being defended.