Miami Heat: Mike Miller is the Super Team's Ace in the Hole

The NBA preseason is really nothing more than a series of glorified scrimmages, but due to the Miami Heat's moves in the offseason, there was plenty of interest in the Heat's recent game against Kevin Durant's Oklahoma City Thunder.

Never mind that Heat star Dwyane Wade was injured, because LeBron James and Chris Bosh put on a show, and looked dynamic in the open court, and in transition, as the Heat downed the Thunder, 103-96.

It's just the preseason but if the Heat can really sustain that type of pace, then I see few teams being able to keep up with them, and the irony is, the Heat play an uptempo game, but defend with an Eastern Conference attitude.

James and Bosh looked great, but what stood out in my mind was the image of Mike Miller, and the number of wide-open shots he missed from the three point line.

Miller finished with 15 points on 6-13 shooting from the field, but he missed seven out of his 10 three-point attempts, and man was he open.

Miller had time to catch most of the passes, tie his shoes, square his shoulders, and he still missed the shots.

The errant shots were bad, but they were also the type of shots that Miller would usually hit under any other circumstances.

Miller looks healthy, his mechanics were good, and his release was as quick as ever, but the shots simply would not fall.

They will eventually.

Miller is a 40 percent three-point shooter for his career, and he shot 48 percent from distance last year with the Washington Wizards in the 54 games he played.

Miller may get an abundance of those open looks because if the Heat are really that good in transition, and James keeps pushing the pace, all Miller has to do is plant on the three-point line and fire.

Anyone who pays attention to basketball knows James, Wade, and Bosh have the potential to do amazing things, but Miller may be the type of player to help them do great things.

Whenever Miller has been healthy he has been a pretty good player, and at 6'8" he has great size for a shooting guard, and good enough ball-handling skills to initiate the offense as well.

Miller just might be the elusive "X-factor" for Miami that pushes them over the edge, but only if he can hit a few of those shots that he missed against the Thunder.

James will certainly provide Miller with a myriad of opportunities to stamp his own signature on the Heat's team, and the attention that Wade and Bosh command place Miller in a very enviable position.

But, only if he steps up to claim it.

Granted, the Heat will face other teams who offer more interior resistance than Oklahoma City so Miller's play would not address that issue, but if he starts hitting those wide-open shots, the Heat will be extremely tough to beat.

Through two preseason games Miami has made it very clear they intend to run the opposition into the ground, and with the numerous possessions that will create, Miller should thrive.

Wade's return will mean even more open shots for Miller, as he will receive even less defensive attention, and if he can find his touch from distance, Miller could be the Heat's ace in the hole.