LeBron James, Miami Heat: 32 Bold Predictions for the Next 5 Years for Miami
Three more games, Miami Heat fans.
After five seasons of waiting for a moment like this, the Miami Heat are now only a few games away from obtaining their first title since 2006 and their first title with LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade on the same team. Despite the constant criticism they have dealt with on a daily basis, they have managed to come together as one cohesive unit and it has now translated to postseason success.
Perhaps the most significant moment for the Heat came when they defeated the Boston Celtics in the semifinals. The Celtics had the Heat's numbers for years and had even taken three out of four games from the Heat in the regular season. However, Miami was able to expose the Celtics with their athleticism and their ability to wear opponents down. It was the No. 1 moment for the Heat this season and it could soon be No. 2.
As we look towards what is sure to be an entertaining and thrilling NBA Finals, we also look towards just how much potential this Heat team has. With their three core players still in their primes, the Heat are built for success down the road unlike the 2006 championship squad which was built for only a few seasons worth of quality basketball. With Wade, James, and Bosh all under 30 years old, it's a scary thought to consider that this might not even be the best that we have seen from these three superstars.
With experience and chemistry beginning to form, we can only look towards more success coming out of the sunny shores of South Beach. The criticisms of this team are beginning to fizzle as the NBA community continues to run out of flaws that they could point out. The Miami Heat are winning games and the NBA isn't happy about it.
While we watch the NBA take on the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals, let's also take a look at what they can accomplish over the next five seasons.
You can follow John Friel on twitter @JohnFtheheatgod
Erik Spoelstra Will Still Be the Team's Coach After Five Years
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Remember when this guy was public enemy No. 1 in the Miami community? During the down periods the team experienced earlier in the season, you couldn't talk to a Heat fan without hearing them blame coach Erik Spoelstra for the Heat's struggles. Most blamed his lack of an offensive system and his inability to handle egos for the tough stretches and we all expected Pat Riley to take over, much like what happened with Stan Van Gundy in 2005 when that team started slow out the gate.
Now that the Heat are winning games, Spoelstra has suddenly become one of the Heat's most beloved members of the organization. The sad part is that Erik isn't receiving near the amount of credit he deserves. His ability to make adjustments mid-game and in between games is nearly unmatched by any other NBA coach and it has been the reason why the Heat have been so successful this postseason.
James on Rose in the fourth quarter? That's all Spo. Perhaps the most impressive move came in Game 1 of the NBA Finals when he threw Dallas for a loop by having LeBron defend Jason Terry for most of the second half. Terry finished with 12 points, all of them coming in the first half. The Mavs had no answer for the sudden defensive assignment and they suffered.
Spoelstra's defensive sets have led the Heat to this point and it could now win them a title.
Mario Chalmers Will Be the Point Guard of the Future
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Point guard play hasn't been the Heat's strong suit. With the combined efforts of Mike Bibby, Mario Chalmers and Eddie House, the Heat can't always rely on their point guards because of their constant inconsistencies. Bibby isn't turning out to be the knock-down shooter that we hoped for, Chalmers can still make bad plays from time to time, and House becomes a defensive liability when on the floor.
When it comes to Super Mario however, he has the most upside because he will only be 25 years old upon the start of the 2011-2012 season. Aside from his age, Chalmers also brings terrific team defense and an ability to hit three-pointers when called upon. He's shooting 38 percent from deep in the postseason and was able to hit three of seven from beyond the arc in his first NBA Finals appearance.
Chalmers still has a lot to improve on, his individual defense and ball handling needs plenty of work, but he has shown promise and will be the point guard of the future as he gains experience with his newly formed team.
Chris Bosh Averages a Double-Double for at Least 2 Seasons
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The most criticized player in the NBA not named LeBron James, there hasn't been many criticisms in a positive light when talking about Chris Bosh.
For months he was called soft and was said to be drastically overpaid, but now that he is in the postseason and producing we tend to forget that we verbally annihilated this guy since the season opener. Bosh is averaging 19 points and nine rebounds per game and was key in the Heat's most recent series against the Bulls, where he scored over 20 points four out of five games.
With confidence, Bosh is one of the most dangerous power forwards in the league because of his ability to finish around the rim while also being able to hit the mid-range jumper. Since the Heat are limited when it comes to having big men who can rebound, Chris can lead the team in the rebounding department since he and Udonis Haslem are currently the only quality big men who can also rebound.
Chris has made quality improvements when it comes to finding his place in the Heat's offense and he should be able to lead the team whenever called upon.
Dexter Pittman Will Begin to Emerge as the Center of the Future
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Aside from his stellar work in the D-League where he was a perennial double-double threat, the Heat's latest draft pick in Dexter Pittman hasn't had much time to show off his skills.
Currently listed at 6'11" and 308 pounds, Pittman has the body and potential to be absolutely dominant in the post. He has an extremely wide frame which would cause any opposing centers problems in attempting to get around him and also possesses the foot work necessary to become an actual threat on the offensive end as well.
With three Heat centers nearing retirement, we can expect Pittman to begin receiving minutes in the regular season. He only played in two regular season games during his rookie campaign and played a total of 10 minutes in those two games.
Samuel Dalembert Signs with Miami and Holds His Own
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The point guard and the center spot have easily been the Heat's most inconsistent spots. However, the Heat can get some sort of point guard production from time to time, not so much when it comes to the center position where the Heat regularly get no sort of offensive help. They can look for defensive help from Joel Anthony, but at 6'9" he is hardly any sort of answer.
The most coveted center in this years free agency class for Miami would be the Sacramento Kings Samuel Dalembert. He could come as affordable for the Heat and would answer many of the Heat's concerns under the rim. Dalembert is a quality defender and has averaged two blocks per game for his career. Unlike most of the Heat centers, Samuel can also finish around the basket and would be able to handle the creative passes of Dwyane, LeBron, or any player for that matter.
Seeing Dalembert in a Heat uniform next year is very likely considering that he has very close ties with his native homeland of Haiti. Miami has a high population of Haitians living in the community and is also the closest NBA city near the country of Haiti.
Udonis Haslem Begins to Receive Serious Sixth Man of the Year Consideration
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Flying under the radar for his first seven seasons in the league, Udonis Haslem has actually begun to receive some sort of coverage and mentions from sports media outlets. He was the talk of the town in the Heat's game two win against Chicago when he made his return to the court after sitting out since mid-November. Haslem had 13 points and five rebounds in the win and would provide the rebounding and defense needed for an eventual series victory.
Haslem is the heart and soul of this Heat team as he provides constant and consistent effort and hustle every time he steps on the court, while also providing the toughness that this team desperately yearned for all season long. Having Udonis on the court also allows the Heat to run a strong defensive lineup where LeBron, Chris, and Udonis make up the front court.
Last year was his first season coming off the bench and he averaged 10 points and eight rebounds. With more open looks and a more significant involvement with the Heat, Haslem has the potential to average a double-double off the bench and could very well earn some Sixth Man of the Year consideration over the next few seasons.
Dwyane Wade Wins His First MVP
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The best player in the game without an MVP, Dwyane Wade will get his just due over the next few seasons with this dominant Heat team.
Despite leading his team to a title, winning a Finals MVP, and averaging as much as 30 points per game, Wade has never finished as high as third in MVP voting. Even this season where Wade averaged 26 points, six rebounds, and five assists per game, Wade didn't even make it into the top five of the MVP vote. Dwyane has consistently been underrated for the entirety of his career and has been overshadowed by the achievements by the likes of LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.
However, with his team improving, Wade might finally begin to receive the recognition that he's deserved over the past eight seasons. Over the next five seasons, if his team can continue to dominate then he should be able to win the award. Dwyane and LeBron have shared leadership duties all season long and will most likely do so for the rest of their tenure with Miami.
Eventually the award will be given to a deserving Dwyane Wade.
Dwyane Wade and LeBron James Each Take Home Two Finals MVPs
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If Dwyane and LeBron have proven anything this year, it's that they are not greedy players. They were aware that they would have to share the spot light and that they'd have to take less money if they wanted to play together and they have done very well over their first year when it comes to sharing the ball and their time in the limelight.
In their first NBA Finals appearance together, they did a very fluent job at sharing the ball and giving each other chances to take over. It's obvious that these two players have found a balance when it comes to production on offense and it has continued on into the postseason. They will split time at the NBA's biggest stage and it could call for Finals MVP awards if they can win multiple titles.
To be fair to each other, Dwyane and LeBron will each win a pair of Finals MVP's.
Mike Miller Shoots over 40% from Deep the Rest of His Tenure with Miami
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To say the least, Mike Miller has had a tough year. He went down with an injury to his finger prior to the start of the season and sat until December 20th. Even with a return to the Heat lineup, his shot clearly wasn't there and he struggled greatly on the offensive end. He had a few break out games during the regular season, but was basically a non-threat and was inconsistent for the majority of his time.
After hitting nearly half his three-pointers last season with Washington, he shot 36 percent from beyond the arc in his first season with Miami.
In the past few postseason games however, Miller has begun to gain an offensive flow and rhythm. He's hit five three-pointers in the past three games and is a frequent contributor on the boards as well. Now that we have seen Miller begin to get over his injuries, he has become confident and is now not nearly as hesitant when taking shots.
With his confidence in tact and a healthy start to the 2011-'12 season, we can see Miller becoming the notorious threat from three that the Heat paid $30 million for.
They Win over 65 Games for 4 Seasons
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The Heat went 58-24 with their newly formed team and saw eight of those losses come in the first month of the season. Another five of those losses came during one horrid stretch in March, while the rest came mostly against the elite teams of the league. For most of the regular season, Miami struggled against the best teams of the league and saw the majority of their losses come against those teams.
Yet in the postseason they are beating those same teams with ease. It seems that this Heat team really has flipped the switch in the NBA Playoffs as they show no signs of a struggle against the elite teams. They finished a combined 1-8 against Boston, Chicago and Dallas in the regular season and are now 9-2 against those same teams in the postseason.
Miami obviously has the talent to beat up on the weaker teams and they have now proven that they can beat the better teams of the league. With the confidence knowing that they can beat anybody, they should be able to transfer that success to the regular season if they're willing to give as much an effort in the regular season as they do in the post season.
With effort, the Heat could easily take 65 wins a year for at least four of the next five seasons.
James, Wade, and Bosh All Strengthen Their Jumpers
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The offensive system for the Miami Heat hasn't usually been consistent or fluent. In fact, sometimes it's just downright ugly as we see the team sometimes forced to take too many jump shots. Over time, they have learned to overcome the toughest of defenses (Chicago and Boston) and have become a better team because of it.
One of those positives of being forced into jumpers however has been that the Big Three have all learned how to develop a touch from outside the paint. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have both become consistent shooters, but LeBron James has greatly improved with his mid-range and three-point shot. A career 33 percent three-point shooter, James is currently making 40 percent of his three-pointers in the postseason and has led the Heat to victories thanks to his shooting from deep.
As time progresses, the big three will lose their athleticism. That has been their largest advantage all season long, but they won't be able to rely on that for the rest of their tenure with the team. Eventually, they're going to have to learn how to develop consistent jump shots due to age and health issues that will pop up years from now.
Luckily for Miami, this is a problem they won't have to worry about for awhile.
They Allow Less Than 90 Points Per Game for at Least Two Seasons
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Championships are won with defense and no team in this years NBA postseason has done that better than the Miami Heat. They have allowed a team to score over 100 points in only one game, game one of the Conference Finals when they allowed 102 and have held their opponents to 90 points or less in 10 out of their 16 post season games. Miami's defense has been their anchor to their playoff run and if they end up winning the title this season, it's going to be because of their effort and tenacity on defense.
Miami has many quality individual defenders and they use their athleticism to wear opponents down. When teams match the complete effort that the Heat give for the first few quarters, the chances are high that they're not going to be able to keep up by the fourth quarter. So when the opposing teams defense eventually wears down from having to chase around LeBron and Dwyane, the Heat's defense is still fresh and still ready to play defense with a complete effort.
It's obvious that the regular season didn't mean much to the Heat since they are now beating the teams that they couldn't beat earlier. So allowing opposing teams to average under 90 points per game will be completely up to the Heat and if they want to give that same effort from this year postseason.
Erik Spoelstra Wins at Least One Coach of the Year
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As I stated before, coach Erik Spoelstra is quietly emerging as one of the league's top coaches. In his first three series this year, he has beaten the likes of Doug Collins, Doc Rivers, and reigning Coach of the Year Tim Thibodeau. As good as the Heat were in each of those series, credit needs to be given to Spoelstra who was able to make the correct adjustments on offense and defense to eventually give Miami victories.
If the Heat can bring that success to the regular season and win as much as 65 games in a season, then there is a certainty that Erik Spoelstra will take home at least one Coach of the Year award. He has out coached some of the best coaches in the NBA and deserves recognition for the work he has done throughout this postseason. His work in the regular season was just as impressive as he was able to weather the storm and the onslaught of criticism.
Spoelstra has thick skin and it's something that the biggest egos in the NBA have come to respect.
Chicago and New York Will Be the Toughest Tests in the East.
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Currently in the Eastern Conference, the Heat, Bulls, and Celtics are the clear-cut three best teams. Following closely behind would be the Magic, Hawks and Knicks with the 76ers and Pacers both developing into quality teams. However, with the 2012 free agency class approaching, the NBA world could be turned upside down with the likes of Dwight Howard and Chris Paul possibly on the move.
Boston could be on its last legs, so the need for competition in the Eastern Conference is going to be needed. With Chicago possibly set to add a few more quality pieces, they can be recognized as the Heat's greatest threat. The New York Knicks however might add another piece to the trio of Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire with the possibility of Paul possibly joining the team in 2012.
With Dwight Howard possibly leaving Orlando for either New Jersey or Los Angeles, the level of competition in the East could either rise or fall. Miami should be set for a number of Conference Finals with Chicago or New York for the next few seasons.
Dallas, Oklahoma City, and the L.A. Lakers Will Test Miami out West.
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The level of competition in the Western Conference has been far more superior than that of the East's for some time now. There have been times where sub-.500 teams have made it to the post season in the East, while a team with as much as 50 wins in the West would be a ninth or 10th seed. Even in this past regular season, the East had a team that was eight games below .500 make the playoffs while the West's eighth seed was 10 games above .500.
The Heat won't have to truly worry about the competition in the West until they reach the NBA Finals, where they could be frequent visitors. The potential teams that they could see in those Finals would most likely be the Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, or Los Angeles Lakers if they somehow manage to obtain Dwight Howard prior to free agency. Each team has played the Heat very well in the regular season and so far in the post season with the Heat currently up one game on Dallas in the Finals.
Expect a number of Heat-Mavs or Heat-Thunder Finals for the next few seasons.
The Big Three Combine to Score 100 Points in a Game
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The Big Three of Miami has had a number of miraculous moments this year. From full-court passes to jaw dropping alley-oops, these three players have shown off why their talent makes them recognized as some of the best players in the game. As far as stats go, the most impressive stat came when each player scored over 30 points in one game where they combined for 96 points.
To one up themselves, the Big Three of Miami needs to do continue to make history in the regular season. After watching those three players combine for as much as 96 points in one game, it is completely possible for these three players alone to drop over 100 points in a game. Each player is highly capable of scoring at a high rate, so scoring 100 points from these three players can be achieved if they need to.
Don't forget that each of these players averaged over 24 points per game last season. For each player to score over 35 points in one game is a feat that shouldn't come as surprising if actually achieved.
Each Member of the Big Three Averages at Least 20 PPG for an Entire Season
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These three core All-Stars on the Heat have all been recognized as prolific scorers. Each player averaged over 24 points per game last season when leading their teams and have nearly posted those same numbers as a team. In this first season together, James averaged 27, Wade finished with 26, and Bosh finished with 19 points per game.
With Bosh only one point away from averaging 20 points, the Heat would become the first team in NBA history to actually have three players on the roster averaging at least 20 points per contest. Dwyane and LeBron will easily average over 20 points per game for the rest of their tenure with Miami, it's Bosh who might not be able to average over 20 due to his role as a third option.
However, with Bosh beginning to prove once again that he is completely capable of being a first option, it is completely possible for Bosh to average over 20 per game and for him to become the third player on the team to average at least 20.
LeBron Becomes the Clear Leader of the Team Once Dwyane's Age Catches Up on Him
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With the way he plays the game of basketball, you would never guess that Dwyane Wade was actually 29 years old.
The sad part is that he is an old 29 as his reckless style of play has cost him a number of his best year. In the two years following the 2006 championship run, he only played in 51 games in each season and was beginning to be considered as done. He made a triumphant return in the 2008 Olympics where he led the USA team in scoring off the bench and then went on to average 30 points per game the next season.
Wade's game has been at its best over the past three seasons and it has now got them to the point of another possible title. Dwyane's injuries have taken a toll on him and it's affected his shooting style as it seems that he doesn't have the same arc he used to put on his shots prior to the number of devastating injuries he suffered.
While Wade might soon have to take a rest off of driving at will, there will be the youthful LeBron James who will always be considered a threat in the paint. James is 26 years old and has yet to suffer a significant injury thanks to his freakish athleticism. He is a lot more durable than Wade and will soon be the leader of this team once Dwyane's health begins to deteriorate and he's forced to become a jump shooter.
Each Member of the Big Three Sets Their Career High for Points in a Game
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LeBron James has scored as much as 59. Dwyane Wade has dropped 55. Chris Bosh has had as much as 44 points.
These are the career highs in points for each of these individuals. They are all still completely capable of scoring this much again and each of their career highs are going to be set as members of the Miami Heat. James nearly matched his career high earlier in the season when he set the mark in the NBA with 51 points against Orlando.
It will come as difficult since they all play together, but at times these players allow one player to run the offense. At times, they have allowed LeBron to go off, others they allow Dwyane to take over, and they have even let Bosh take over, most recently in the teams postseason series against Chicago where he scored over 30 on two occasions.
Miami Becomes and Remains as the NBA's Best Fourth Quarter Team
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Remember when the Heat were one of the league's worst fourth-quarter teams? In a five-game span, they allowed four teams to come back from double-digit deficits in the second half. Each of those teams was a playoff contender and it was a scary sight to see the Heat, in the midst of attempting to grab the No. 1 seed, allowing any team to run over them in the second half despite having some of the leagues best closers.
That was so three months ago.
Now the Heat have become the league's scariest team to face in the fourth quarter. They set the tone early, grab a decent sized lead, and then never relinquish it the rest of the way. Their athleticism allows them to wear opposing defenses down and by the fourth quarter, they aren't able to score against the Heat's fresh defense and aren't able to contain the Heat's Big Three.
With confidence and a clear distinction that they can close games out, the Heat are set to run the NBA when it comes to beating teams at the most dire moments.
They'll Go 4-4-4-4 in the Post Season
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Now this one is a stretch.
However, it's a plausible stretch. Just look at what they're doing now. In the Eastern Conference Playoffs where they had to take on the athletic Philadelphia 76ers, the veteran Boston Celtics, and the upstart Chicago Bulls, they were able to take each team out in five games. Keep in mind that this is only their first postseason together and that they still have so much to improve on.
Once they have more experience in the playoffs and playing together under their belts, they can actually look at the prospect of possibly sweeping every team they face in the postseason. It's not a completely far fetched idea since the 2002 Los Angeles Laker team actually went 15-1 in the playoffs, with the one loss coming when Allen Iverson scored 48 points in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
This Heat team is like none we have ever seen before and they have already completed the impossible on a number of occasions. The Eastern Conference isn't exactly the strongest conference and the Heat could take advantage of that by sweeping each team they face right on through the NBA Finals.
LeBron and Dwyane Go 1-2 for the Scoring Title
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They almost completed it in their first season together. Why can't it happen when they actually gain some experience playing with each other?
LeBron James finished second and Dwyane Wade finished fourth in this years race to the scoring title with James only coming up one point short of placing first and Wade only a few percentage points from placing third. These two are players that were born to score and they've been doing so their entire career with James averaging as much as 31 points and Wade averaging as much as 30.
We knew coming into the season that their scoring totals would drop since they were playing together, but they actually scored more than what we originally expected with James averaging 27 and Wade averaging 26. With LeBron and Dwyane each being the scoring leaders of the Heat, these two could go one-two for the scoring title.
With New Players and Experience, the Bench Becomes More Consistent
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With Mike Miller hampered by injuries and Udonis Haslem forced to sit out the majority of the season, the Heat haven't been able to find any sort of consistency from the bench.
From an offensive stand point, Miami has had to look towards Mario Chalmers and James Jones as their key contributors off the bench. Neither player is very consistent and is hardly an answer to any of the concerns that the Heat faced when it came to finding a scorer aside from the Big Three. It's the reason why the Big Three were forced to score as much as 96 points in one game just to pull out a victory.
They'll have a healthy Miller and Haslem back next season but thanks to the Heat's recent success, the Heat could inherit players that are willing to take a pay cut for the possibility of winning a title. Miami already has their core in tact and have proven that they can be a successful team, so the prospect of winning could attract some free agents next season that could help the Heat address a number of issues.
They'll Win a Game by More Than 40 Points
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Miami has proven that it can beat the worst and best of the league. With a dominant postseason performance and a quality regular season, the Heat can easily be considered one of the league's best teams. While they've only had one victory over 15 points in this years post season, they are the best in the league at blowing teams out.
The Heat won over 20 games last seasons by double-digits and won multiple games by at least 20 points with their biggest win coming in the form of a 32 point blow out against the Minnesota Timberwolves in early November. The Heat rarely lost to a sub-.500 team as they used their talent and athleticism to beat the lesser teams of the NBA and it showed with a number of 20 point wins.
With the team developing chemistry and possibly with confidence heading into next season, the Heat could build off of that and win a game by as much as 40 points. Against the worst teams in the league, Miami has the talent to beat a team like Cleveland or Minnesota by as much as 40 points if they can't keep up with the athleticism of the Heat.
The Fans Will Start to Show Up Early
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Miami fans are an interesting bunch. They only like a winner, yet they keep going to Miami Dolphin games religiously. They have the same love for the Miami Heat and Florida Marlins, they come out in droves when the team is good and winning. However, they are very distrustful of every teams organization for what the Dolphins and Marlins have done to them.
The Marlins fire sales following their two World Series wins in 1997 and 2003 and the Dolphins consistent ability of being inept when it comes to signing the right players has given the South Florida a distrust or their sports teams organizations. The Heat organization however has now given the Miami fanbase reason to trust the team thanks to their summer pickups.
Now that the team is winning and has given the fans enough confidence to start showing up to the games, we can actually see Heat fans showing up to the game early and actually staying around for the whole game rather than just the second and third quarters.
The Big Three Will Consistently Be Healthy
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One of the greatest accolades that the big three possess is their durability.
Even though Dwyane Wade had to sit out a combined 64 games between 2006-2008, he has remained in tact and has only missed 15 games since the start of the 2008 season. His two superstar teammates have yet to miss any significant time with Bosh missing no more than 15 games in a season and James missing only as much as seven.
Over the past three seasons, these three players have been durable and haven't missed any significant playing time. In their first season playing on the same team, they encountered only a week stretch where each player suffered injuries. It's a good sign of things to come because these players don't have to put their body on the line as much because they can rely on each other for easier scores.
Because they are able to take the pressure off of each other and don't have to risk their bodies as much to score, they'll be able to play less minutes and won't be subject to possible injuries.
For an Entire Season, They'll Only Lose One Home Game
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At 30-11, the Heat weren't even close to being the league's top home team. In fact, they nearly had a better record on the road at 28-13.
Gaining home-court advantage in the final game of the season wasn't thought to be that important considering how well the Heat played on the road. It turns out that it did matter because the Heat are now 9-0 in the friendly confines of the American Airlines Arena and only 4-3 on the road. The Heat have been dominant on their home floor and have seen their toughest home games against the 76ers.
With confidence on their home floor, the Heat can now look to their home court as an actual advantage over other teams. They have beaten the best teams on their home floor series after series and they can transfer that to next years regular season when they know that they have the potential to beat these teams in the regular season.
LeBron James Competes in a Dunk Contest and Wins
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He's captivated us in games with his uncanny ability to throw down, so why not let it fly during the dunk contest?
LeBron has disappointed us before when it comes to the dunk contest. During the 2008 All-Star weekend, James said on TNT that he would participate in the 2009 Slam Dunk Contest. This was thought as an attempt to revive the dunk contest, which hadn't been too electric as of late, and it would have had he actually followed through on it. The 2009 dunk contest was an absolute travesty and it turned a lot of people off of James and the dunk contest.
To get on the good side of the populous, James will participate in at least one dunk contest, win it, and then retire.
LeBron James Leads the Team in Scoring for at Least 3 Seasons
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After their first season together, LeBron James has become the Heat's main offensive producer. Of course, Dwyane and Chris will get theirs when it comes to scoring, but it's been James who has become the teams most consistent Heat player on the offensive end. He posted up 27 points per game during the 2010-'11 campaign and led the team in scoring by a point over Wade.
He and Wade will share the duties of being the teams primary scorers for the rest of their tenure. They're both prolific scorers that are terrific at finishing around the basket with jump shots that can be turned on at any given moment. With each player finding more consistency in their jump shot, their scoring output will only rise as they find new dimensions of scoring.
Wade and James will split the primary scoring duties with LeBron leading the way for the majority of the time thanks to his age and athleticism.
They Win 75 Games
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As I said earlier, if the Heat can give a consistent enough effort they can be perennial leaders of the NBA in the regular season.
The only problem is that the effort in the regular season doesn't exactly match the effort in the postseason. This Heat team in the playoffs looks entirely different than the one we saw in the regular season as they are currently beating up on the same teams that they fell victim to a number of times during the first 82. It's obvious that if this team can give effort in each and every regular season game that they can break the 1995-'96 Chicago Bulls record of 72 wins in one season.
The Heat aren't going to get any worse any time soon even with Dwyane Wade set to be 30 upon the midway point of next season. They'll continue to grow as a cohesive unit, find better players, and continue to get better as each player on the team gains more experience. It's going to be up to the Heat if they want to pour in the effort to win as much as 72 games in a season because they certainly has the potential to do so.
LeBron James Will Win at Least Two MVPs
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After witnessing just how badly LeBron James dominated the reigning MVP Derrick Rose, it was apparent that the NBA might have made a mistake with the most prestigious individual award in the NBA. Rose was kept in check all series long and was held to six percent (1-for-15) shooting when being defended by James, which usually came in the fourth quarter when the game was on the line.
Rather than the MVP closing out games, it was the former MVP that was taking matters into his own hands and leading the Heat to a 4-1 series victory.
Face facts, the media handing Rose the MVP award this season was a travesty. He had a terrific regular season, but he faltered in the postseason when he faced a team with a staunch, hard-nosed defense that wasn't going to allow him to penetrate at will. After stealing the award this season, James might win it next season not only because the Heat are set to lead the NBA, but also because he deserved it this season.
If James can help lead the Heat to impressive regular season outputs, then James winning at least two MVP awards within the next five seasons should come with ease.
They'll Win Four Titles
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The obvious reason for these three players coming together was for the sole purpose of obtaining titles.
Amidst all the obstacles and struggles that this Heat team has dealt with this year, they still find themselves only three games away from their first NBA Finals in only in their first season together. From a struggling 9-8 team that couldn't figure out how to beat a team in the fourth quarter to a dominant force that no team wants to face, the Heat have already assessed their authority over the NBA world with huge series wins against Boston and Chicago that only took five games each.
The Heat have proven that they are completely capable of holding their own against the best teams of the league and most importantly, that they can finish teams off in the fourth quarter. Over the entirety of this post season, Miami has shown time and time again that not only can they finish teams off in the fourth quarter, but that they can also use that fourth quarter to win games.
As Dwyane, LeBron, and Chris continue to form chemistry and continue to improve as a cohesive unit, it shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody if this Heat team dominates over the next five seasons.
