The Good, Bad and Ugly from Miami Heat's Early-Season Results

The Miami Heat have started strong in the first year of their post-LeBron James era.

The Heat have won four of their first six games, giving them the fourth-best winning percentage in the Eastern Conference.

Naturally, there have been many positives to take away from Miami's fast start. At the same time, the Heat have seen some trends develop in the season's early goings that they hope won't continue.

Let's take a look at it all—the good, bad and ugly from the Heat's first six games. 

Good: Chris Bosh Is Thriving in No. 1 Role

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LeBron's departure gave Chris Bosh the opportunity to become the Heat's No. 1 scoring option, and the 30-year-old center is taking advantage of it.

After averaging 16.2 points per game last season working as Miami's No. 3 option, Bosh is averaging 24.2 points through six games this year.

Bosh's versatility has been on full display—he's getting buckets around the basket, from mid-range and beyond the arc.

He is playing a much more aggressive style of basketball as well, grabbing 10.3 rebounds and attempting eight free throws per game. To put in that perspective, he averaged just 6.6 rebounds and 3.4 free throws per game last season.

The Heat aren't regretting their decision to make Bosh their franchise player by giving him a $118 million contract this offseason. 

Good: Dwyane Wade Has Impressed as Well

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Bosh has been the Heat's best player this season, but Dwyane Wade hasn't been that far behind.

Wade lacks the elite explosiveness he once possessed but remains a crafty offensive player who can get buckets in a variety of ways (mid-range, post-ups, drives).

Miami's favorite son is averaging 19.7 points per game on an efficient 51.1 percent shooting from the field. 

With James gone, Wade has taken on more of a facilitating role as well. He has been the Heat's top playmaker this season (6.3 assists per game) and is doing an excellent job of helping the point guards manage the offense. 

Also, after appearing in just 54 games and not playing back-to-backs last season, Wade has started every game for the Heat this season, including two back-to-back sets.

Wade could not be off to a better start this year...

Bad: The Heat Have Been Injured Up Front

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The injury bug has struck the Heat early this season in one specific area: the frontcourt.

Udonis Haslem missed Miami's first five games with a quadriceps injury. Chris "Birdman" Andersen has missed the last four games with a rib injury, and Justin Hamilton missed the most recent game with an adductor injury.

Josh McRoberts, one of the Heat's more important offseason additions, is playing limited minutes as a result of the toe injury that forced him to miss the preseason.

Lastly, Danny Granger, who could spend some time working as a stretch 4 this season, has yet to appear in a game with a hamstring injury.

The Heat have managed fairly well given their injuries, but this team needs to get and stay healthy if it wants to compete for one of the top seeds in the Eastern Conference.

Bad: Norris Cole Has Been Inconsistent After Great Debut

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Norris Cole starred in Miami's first game of the season, scoring 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting versus the Washington Wizards.

But he has been fairly up-and-down since that stellar performance.

The good: In two games against the Philadelphia 76ers and Minnesota Timberwolves, Cole posted a total of 21 points (8-of-13 from two-point range, 3-of-6 from deep), 10 assists and four steals. 

The bad: In three games against the Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Hornets and Houston Rockets, Cole posted a total of seven points (3-of-15 from two, 1-of-6 from three), six assists and one steal.

Cole isn't just a role player as he's been in years past. The 26-year-old is the Heat's starting point guard, and the team could really use some more consistent play from him.

The Heat don't need Cole to be great every night. But he simply can't have games such as his two-point, one-assist showing against the Hornets if he wants to remain the starter.  

Ugly: Defense Has Not Been a Strong Suit

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The Heat have consistently been one of the better defensive teams every year under coach Erik Spoelstra. 

But through six games, Miami has been in the bottom half in defensive performance. The Heat rank 21st in the NBA in points allowed per possession, according to Basketball Reference. 

Miami's top issue has been rim protection. Opponents have gotten easy looks down low and that's a big reason why they are converting a whopping 53.9 percent of two-point baskets against the Heat.

Teams that move the ball well, particularly the Houston Rockets, have completely picked apart Miami's defense. The Heat haven't been as strong in their defensive rotations as they've been in seasons past.

Fortunately for the Heat, it's early in the year and they have Spoelstra, so it's fair to expect improved defensive play going forward.