Miami Heat: 7 Bold Predictions for the Heat's Second Half

The Miami Heat are an NBA-best 26-7 right now and are poised to earn the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs. The second half of the season will be big for this team in many ways.

How well will the Big Three continue to mesh? What can we expect from their supporting cast? Will the Heat finish the year as the best?

Read on to find seven predictions for the Heat's season moving forward.

A Double-Digit Win Streak

The Miami Heat are the most dominant team in the NBA right now. So, this prediction really isn't that far out there.

The Heat will win at least 10 games in a row at least once during the remainder of the season. What would make that so special is that they will only have around 30 games do it, forcing them to win a third of their remaining games consecutively.

That's big-time basketball, but it's what we've come to expect from this squad.

Multiple Triple-Doubles for LeBron James

As the playoffs near, the Miami Heat will need to rest starters at least somewhat in order to be fresh for the postseason. That's good news for LeBron's stats.

Think about it. Who are the Heat going to rest more? An often-injured Dwyane Wade or a guy like LeBron, who is nearly never injured?

Wade has already been injured this year. He'll keep playing big minutes for awhile, but they'll be scaled back so he'll be healthy for the playoffs. The Heat will have to rely more on James, which will inflate him numbers even past their currently ridiculous figures.

Chris Bosh Continues to Be the Underrated X-Factor

Chris Bosh is the most underrated star player in the league. But that is his own fault for playing with guys like Dwyane Wade and LeBron James.

However, it is impressive that Bosh still puts up 18 points and eight boards per game on a team dominated by James and Wade. Bosh is the X-factor on this team, a guy that no one notices but is really helping carry the load.

He's especially important in balancing out the Heat offense by providing the team with scoring from the post. He'll continue to put up great numbers, and they'll climb too.

Dwyane Wade Wins Key Games

Right now, everyone is still questioning LeBron James' ability to perform in the clutch. That will continue. However, no one is questioning Dwyane Wade's ability to be in the right place at the right time to win games.

He'll do that multiple times for the team during this second half of the season. It may not be against big teams, but they'll be key moments when the Heat need a lift that no one else can give them.

Hitting key jumpers late in the fourth quarter. Making free throws to take the lead with less than 10 seconds left. That's what this guy has brought to the table, and he'll do it again in the weeks to come.

Miami's Supporting Cast Answers the Call

There will be at least one game during the second half of the season when the Big Three's supporting cast rises up and carries the load.

Guys like Udonis Haslem, Mike Miller, Norris Cole and Mario Chalmers will answer the call and perform big in a big moment. They'll lift up their leaders when they need it most.

It sounds odd, especially for a team that is so superstar-laden, but it will happen. The Heat are now one of the deepest teams in the NBA—it will show in a big way down the stretch.

They'll Win over 50 Games

Before anyone cries, "So what?", let me remind you that this is a 66-game season we're talking about. Winning 50 games in this season is the equivalent of winning 62 games in an 82-game season.

They won't stop with 50, though. They'll win more. This team, after nearly two years together, is finally the team that people thought it would be. It is dominating the NBA in ways reminiscent of the great teams of the past.

Whether or not they'll join that pantheon in the playoffs remains to be seen.

They'll Be Pushed

All of that being said, don't forget that this team still isn't alone at the top of the league. Chicago sits at 26-8 and Oklahoma City at 25-7. Both are fast on the heels of the Heat and have enough youth, talent and depth to make the race interesting.

Derrick Rose is clearly a beast to deal with in Chicago. Combined with the Bulls' team defense, they are a tough opponent.

The Thunderous duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook is perhaps the only one in the league that can match the firepower of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

This team must continue to play as it is now, dominantly, to finish off these two opponents in this race. Even if they do, both will be close behind and ready when and if the Heat come calling in the playoffs.