Miami Heat Preview: How the Puzzle Pieces Should Fall
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With the influx of talent on this newly constructed Heat Dream Team , and the roster nearly complete, there are decisions to be made over the allotment of minutes for next year.
We know the top six or seven will get theirs, but what about players eight through 15? Let’s take a look at the available minutes for next season.
Note: The total amount of minutes allotted to a team is 240. With the possibility of tons of blowouts this season, James, Wade, and Bosh might see a dip in their usual minutes, which in turn will only help Miami in the playoffs.
The Heavy Hitters (240 minutes remaining)
LeBron James
LeBron is going to play the most minutes on this team. His body is ridiculously strong and durable, as he has never played less than 75 games in a season. The Heat will utilize him at the point at certain times of the game, including crunch time when the offense will likely feed off of his playmaking ability.
LeBron’s role will be similar to Magic Johnson on the Showtime Lakers. His versatility is going to drive opposing coaches insane because you cannot game plan for a guy who can play any position on the floor. He has a legitimate chance at leading the league in assists, which is unheard of for the league’s best scorer.
Predicted minutes per game: 39
Dwyane Wade
Wade, although not quite as durable, has had a nice stretch of healthy seasons lately (78 games a season the last two years). He is going to continue to do what he does best. Score. With more playmakers around him, the burden eases and will allow him to pick his spots more this season. His efficiency should increase as a result, as he hasn’t had this type of talent around him since, well, ever.
Predicted MPG: 37
Chris Bosh
Bosh has never had a playmaker around him in the mold of Wade or James. Life is going to be easy for the star big man with the killer mid-range jumper. As i mentioned in previous posts, it would not be a shocker if he led the team in scoring.
Why?
When James and Wade penetrate into the paint at will, a post defender is going to have to help, leaving Bosh wide open. He has a complete arsenal of offensive skills and people will finally get to see what this guy is all about on the NBA’s new biggest stage.
Predicted MPG: 37
Second Tier (127 minutes remaining)
Mike Miller
Miller is going to lead the league in three-point shooting from an efficiency standpoint this year. When you put one of the best shooters in the league on a surreal team like this, with playmakers everywhere, how could he not have the best season of his career?
Predicted MPG: 30
Udonis Haslem
He might not be a starter, but he is going to play a bunch. He will be utilized at center at times alongside Bosh when the opposing team isn’t as large up front as, for example, the Lakers or the Magic. Haslem is going to be extremely effective because he doesn’t need the ball in his hands to impact the game.
Predicted MPG: 28
Role Playing Starters (69 minutes remaining)
Mario Chalmers
Chalmers will start the entire season pending on one major facet of his game: shooting. If he can’t knock down the open jumper at the top of key, a shot he is going to have open for eternity, he won’t play. His defense has the potential to be elite, especially with the help behind him. If he knew what was good for him he would dedicate his summer to shooting, more shooting, and then, when he gets tired, keep shooting. Chalmers has the gift of opportunity; to become a big-time player on this team.
Predicted MPG: 25
Joel Anthony
Anthony is the designated shot blocker this year. His job description: protect the rim at all costs. He really needs to improve his post moves because he does not have any. He won’t be on the floor for his offense, but it could only help the team if he developed a couple of go-to moves in that area of his game, and his playing time would increase as a result.
Predicted MPG: 20
Bench Role Players (24 minutes remaining)
Zydrunas Ilgauskus – His ability to knock down the outside shot and draw his defender to the perimeter will make the game even easier for Miami's wing players.
Juwan Howard – How much he has left in the tank still remains to be seen. His impact probably won’t be seen until playoff time.
Carlos Arroyo – The smart, steady point guard can be a key contributor. He knows how to run a team and make good decisions.
James Jones – The three-point specialist needs to develop as a perimeter defender to establish some sort of role off the bench.
Eddie House – Eddie is going to be a huge fan favorite yet again in Miami with his bombs away perimeter shooting.
The above five players are not all going to play every night. It’s going to be a matchup game. If the team needs extra shooters, Jones and House will get their numbers called.
If the team needs more size, Big Z and Howard will fill the void. Arroyo will probably get the most consistent minutes of the bunch because there is only one true point guard ahead of him, and should Chalmers struggle, he has a chance to overtake him.
Deep Bench
Jamaal Magloire – His six fouls could come in handy against the Dwight Howards of the league. Everyone loves a designated hacker.
Dexter Pittman – A very raw player. He needs to first improve his conditioning before contributing anything.
