2010 Miami Heat Season Preview

With the smell of opening night about a month away, it’s time to look at the retooled Miami Heat and do a season preview.

Starting Five

• Mario Chalmers
• Dwyane Wade
• Chris Bosh
• LeBron James
• Joel Anthony

Key Reserves

• Mike Miller
• Udonis Haslem
• Eddie House
• Carlos Arroyo
• Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Significant Offseason Additions

• Signed Bosh to a six-year deal
• Re-signed Wade to a six-year deal.
• Signed James to a six-year deal.
• Signed Miller to a five-year deal.
• Re-signed Haslem to a five-year deal.
• Signed House to a two-year deal.

Significant Offseason Losses

None. (Some people might say, "What about Beasley?", but truth be told, with the pieces we picked up this offseason, it makes the loss of Beasley insignificant. With this being said, I wish him nothing but the best, but to me he wasn't a significant loss.)

Men on the Hot Seat: Mario Chalmers and Erik Spoelstra

“The point guard job is mine to lose,” said Chalmers to the media. He has never been so right, after a sub-par sophomore campaign, Chalmers is hoping to build on the success of the retooled Miami Heat and become the next great Miami Heat point guard.

But, if he has another subpar season, instead of seeing a lot of playtime, Chalmers will see most of the games from the bench with Arroyo, House, and even LeBron running the point.

Third-year head coach Erik Spoelstra has the most important season of his short career this season. Can he manage all the egos in this team and make them sync into his program?

Can he take this Heat team past the first round of the playoffs? Will he even be around for the playoffs if he can’t guide this super-team to a winning record by the All-Star break?

Remember, Pat Riley has every reason to come back to the sidelines to coach the team he put together. If by the All-Star break Spo’s Heat is barely above the .500 mark, except him to step down and let the Godfather take over yet again.

Biggest Question: Can LeBron lose his pride and be second best to Wade?

To be honest, this question can go three-ways. Can Bosh be okay with being the third-best player in the team? Can Wade be okay with not taking all the shots? It’s a very delicate situation and there’s a very fine line between greatness, and failure.

Don’t get me wrong, this team will be great, but the first year will be one of those “feeling each other out” kinds of year. Not only for LeBron, Bosh, and Wade, but for this entire Miami Heat team that only have seven players from last season, and only two left from the championship season.

2010-11 Record: 64-18 (first seed in the East, first in the Southeast Division)

I’m going on limb here and day the Heat are going to win 64 games. Yes, a crazy number, but if you think about it, it’s a very reachable goal. And if Jeff Van Gundy thinks they can beat the Bulls record, why can’t we go 64-18 our first season?

Playoffs Prediction: Eliminated in the NBA Finals by the Los Angeles Lakers (4-3)

I’m not saying Miami can’t win it all, I just think they won’t. Like I’ve said in my podcasts, it’s all about who gets home-court. If Miami gets it, then they might win. I still think it’s too early and that it will take at least a year for this team to gel to the dynasty we all want, but for now, my prediction is lose in the Finals in seven.