Miami Heat: Predicting How Each Player Will Fare in 2011-12

With no free agency to talk about and the season now slated not to start until possibly the mid-point of season, much like the 1998-99 shortened season, it seems like all I can speak of now are predictions on what might possibly occur next year or any sort of power rankings that you could think of.

This prediction piece goes into taking a look at how the big three and the other 12 members, with a draft pick to be signed, of the Miami Heat will fare in the 2011-12 season.

A few players' roles will be reduced while others might increase, as we can't truly judge how each of these players will fare due to a number of these players being influenced by the possibility of signing free agents.

Certainly the playing time and possible signings of the current point guards and centers will be taken into question throughout training camp.

The top players will have just about the same season as they did last year, but the rest of the supporting cast could be altered as new players are signed and current players are either released, given less minutes or given more minutes.

So without further interruption, here are a few predictions for how each player will fare in their second season playing together.

Norris Cole

You would think that Cleveland State's finest and the Miami Heat's latest draft pick Norris Cole would get some playing time considering how much the team is lacking at the point, but I wouldn't be too hasty in believing that he's going to get some significant playing time.

Considering the way they treated Dexter Pittman despite the team having a plethora of centers that couldn't fit the bill, I would say that they're going to give Cole the same treatment with some more playing time, since he appears to be NBA ready.

While Cole averaged 22 points, six rebounds, and five boards per in his final season at the collegiate level and does possess the leadership skills necessary to be a legitimate floor general in the NBA, he's still lacking in size and would get eaten alive by stronger point guards since he currently stands at 6'2" and 174 pounds.

Cole could make up for that in quickness and athleticism however. Even with these intangibles and the fact that he's been working out with LeBron James, I'd expect Cole to play in a few games, but only as an introduction to possibly more playing time in the future.

Dexter Pittman

At 6'11", 308 pounds, Dexter Pittman could very well be the future starting center for the Miami Heat if he can continue to improve his overall game.

Pittman only played in two games at the NBA level and hardly showed us any sign that he was ready to receive significant minutes. He only scored two points on 33 percent shooting and only recorded three caroms in the 11 minutes that he played. Both games he played in came late in the season as the team hardly gave him any chance to prove himself.

At the D-League, however, Pittman asserted himself as one of the league's top centers even making the All-Star game. He played and started in 22 games and managed to average 15 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks. Pittman scored as many as 27 points and grabbed as much as 15 caroms in the time he spent at the minor league level of basketball.

I'd expect Pittman to receive some more playing time considering that a few centers could be on the outs, but nothing too significant yet as he's still an extremely raw player that could use some work on his body control and offensive game.

Jamaal Magloire

You saw how much Jamaal Magloire played last season? Expect that and less next season.

Despite being one of the team's key enforcers and strongest centers (sadly) in the middle, Magloire was only featured in 18 games and deservedly so.

He was sluggish, could barely get off the ground to score or rebound, and was only utilized to assert his authority as a brutish big man that saw his only stats come in the foul column.

Magloire only scored nine more points than the amount of fouls he committed.

He'll only be 33 years old at the start of next season, but he plays as if he's 40. He's a free agent and it'll come as a surprise if the Heat do actually retain him, since there are other centers that are certainly more mobile and reliable.

Erick Dampier

I'm not sure why the Miami Heat didn't use Erick Dampier more, considering that he was the only somewhat reliable center that could pack the paint.

Then again, I'm asking this from a team that didn't use its three-point shootout champion, who converted on 42% of his shots from beyond the arc in the NBA Finals.

Dampier will be 37 years old (he's not even the oldest on the team) and joins Jamaal Magloire as the teams other pure center that could test free agency.

Dampier was reliable for the most part last season as he did his job of packing the paint, grabbing rebounds from time to time, and finishing easy shots around the rim.

But the team hardly utilized him near the end of the year, as he didn't even step out onto the court once during the team's postseason run.

The Heat will most likely decide between Dampier and Magloire. I'd see them going with Erick, since it seems as if there's still some juice that could be squeezed out of him until he hits retirement within the next two years.

Juwan Howard

Set to be 38 years old at the start of next season, free agent Juwan Howard will either fade into retirement or spend one more season with the Miami Heat to obtain his first title in a career that started in 1994 with the Washington Bullets.

Even at 37 years old and in his 17th NBA season, Howard still provided the Heat with a boost while attempting to fill the big shoes Udonis Haslem left behind for most of the season. Howard received more minutes than anyone anticipated, and he responded with solid defense and the occasional 15-foot jumper or hook shot.

However, he can barely get off the ground anymore,and it'll be a shocker to see the Heat actually play him next year.

I'll see him signing with the team for the veteran's minimum, but I'm not expecting Miami to give any playing time especially with Haslem slated to return and the possibility of the team adding some depth to the power forward and center positions.

Eddie House

Every team has that little spark off the bench that could be relied on to drop a few quick field goals or play some solid defense on a key player on the opposing team.

That player for the Heat would be Eddie House, who was relied on last season as the teams third-string point guard that could come in and quickly fire up some three-pointers to give the team a boost from the perimeter.

God knows they needed it, too, considering James Jones and Mario Chalmers were the only other reliable options from beyond the arc.

It's already been announced that he'll be with the team next year, so the Heat won't have to go searching for another three-point shooter who can sporadically make shots when necessary.

House will only be 33 years old next season and is coming off of a solid year with the Heat where he averaged five points while converting on 39 percent of his three-point attempts.

He's an extremely streaky shooter at times and could be more of a liability at times if he's not connecting on his shots, but he's a veteran leader and the Heat need that at the point.

With James Jones and Mike Bibby most likely on the way out, I wouldn't be surprised to see House play a significant role off the bench as one of its main three-point shooters if the Heat don't make a play for one during free agency.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas

If you thought Zydrunas Ilgauskas was slow footed last year, just multiply that by 100 and that's what the Heat will probably get out of the Lithuanian this upcoming season.

If LeBron James has any say in the Miami Heat organization, which he does, then you should definitely expect Ilgauskas to finish out his contract with the Heat before becoming an unrestricted free agent next season.

He's a solid offensive threat who can nail jumpers from as far out as 20 feet and is also a force in the middle when it comes to tip-ins, as his 7'3" frame proves to be a significant advantage when under the rim.

His defense, however, is pitiful and it led to the team only playing 'Big Z' in nine games over the postseason. He was 35 years old last year and it showed every time he attempted to play defense on a center that had some quickness to him.

When he wasn't making jumpers, Ilgauskas was basically useless, as he proved to be too much of a defensive liability to be used.

Ilgauskas won't be starting any more games for the Heat next year and I do expect him to have a declining role on the team, but he'll be utilized to stretch out the offense and whenever an opposing team's center isn't too much of an offensive threat.

James Jones

It was an absolute travesty and embarrassment of how little the Miami Heat played James Jones in the postseason and in the Finals last year.

Despite being a solid contributor all season long and filling in nicely for the injured Mike Miller, the Heat coaching staff made Jones look like a scrub at the end of the year by not playing him in the teams final nine games of the postseason.

It's not as if he wasn't contributing either as he made a three-pointer in all but two of the games he played with a 25-point performance coming in the team's Game 1 win over the Boston Celtics.

The team only played him for two minutes in Game 2 of their Conference Finals series against Chicago and then sat him out the rest of the postseason.

Even though the Heat were desperate for shooters to break the Dallas Mavericks zone, the stubborn ways of Erik Spoelstra getting too used to the teams success proved to be the downfall of Jones' tenure with the Heat.

Jones is a free agent and it is highly unlikely that he'll return after the way the coaching staff completely disrespected and discredited him during the team's championship run.

Mike Bibby

I thought the case of James Jones not playing in the postseason and the dilemma at the center was sad, but it doesn't even compare to the downfall of Mike Bibby.

Since 1998, Bibby has been one of the league's most solid and consistent jump shooters from the mid-range and perimeter. He's a career 38 percent shooter from deep and has converted over three three-pointers per game for a season during his impressive career.

The Heat brought him in for some consistency at the point considering that Mario Chalmers, Carlos Arroyo and Eddie House just weren't cutting it.

Bibby played well during the season as he converted on 46 percent of his three-pointers, but once the postseason hit he became a completely different player.

He started all but the last game of the postseason and he should've been benched a whole lot sooner considering he shot 28 percent overall and an even more embarrassing 26 percent from deep.

He couldn't make an open shot for his life and it cost the Heat greatly since they were already playing with a limited bench. He's a free agent this year and it'll be a shock if the Heat actually make an attempt to re-sign him after the way he played in the postseason.

Mike Miller

It would be wrong to judge Mike Miller on last season, considering all of the obstacles he had to overcome throughout the year.

Miller dealt with injuries all year long including a preseason injury that occurred when he got a finger on his shooting hand caught in LeBron James' jersey during a practice. The ailment would keep Miller out until late December and he'd struggle greatly.

His shot wasn't as fluid as it previously was and it came as a direct result of the injury that he suffered in the preseason and the other ailments that he had to deal with throughout the year that included a shoulder injury, an injury to his non-shooting hand and a concussion.

He only averaged six points and averaged a near career low of 36 percent from beyond the arc. It was quite the decline from the 48 percent he shot from the land of three last season with the Washington Wizards.

We know that he's capable of making shots, as he has been one of the league's most consistent shooters since joining the league. If he can completely recover from his injuries, especially the one on the thumb of his shooting hand, then there's no doubt that the Heat will get the consistent shooter that they signed for $30 million during last year's offseason.

Udonis Haslem

Losing Udonis Haslem might have carried the biggest impact on the team, and that includes the team's lack of a center or consistent shooter.

Since being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2003, Haslem has represented the heart and soul of this Miami Heat franchise. He's a warrior and is basically Alonzo Mourning without an inside game and the biceps.

Haslem leaves it all on the floor and he does it on a consistent basis as the hard work and hustle he provides even tends to rub off on his teammates.

It was extremely difficult for the Heat to lose Haslem only 13 games into the season, as they were then forced to rely on Juwan Howard as their back-up power forward. Not to mention, they also lost another consistent mid-range shooter to go along with the loss of their main perimeter shooter in Mike Miller.

Haslem suffered a torn ligament in his foot on Nov. 20 and is still recovering to this day. He was brought in during the Conference Finals to provide a spark, which he did, but it wasn't the same Haslem, as he still didn't have the lift to consistently make jump shots while also being limited when it came to hustling as not to aggravate the injury.

When healthy, Haslem is one of the league's most reliable mid-range shooters, rebounders, and defenders and that's exactly what the Heat are going to need if they want to make a legitimate title run that's going to end with the actual title in their hands.

Haslem will be utilized as the teams back-up power forward next year and will be ready to average the solid 10 points and eight boards that he's consistently averaged over his career.

Mario Chalmers

The same way the Miami Dolphins are giving Chad Henne one last chance, the Miami Heat are going to do the same thing with Mario Chalmers as their floor general.

After an inconsistent regular season where they allowed Chalmers to start, only to bench him a few games later due to inconsistent play, he actually proved to be one of the teams most reliable shooters during their postseason run. He averaged eight points during the playoffs and shot 38 percent from the field with his defining moments coming in the Finals.

He had four games with at least 12 points and converted a three-pointer in all but one game. Chalmers also had three games where he recorded three or more three-pointers and was probably the team's third best player behind Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, considering just how much he exceeded expectations.

He attempted to fill in for the absent Mike Bibby and even got the start in the final game of the year, which could mean that Chalmers is going to be given the start next year.

This is a make-or-break year and if he's proven anything over his three-year NBA career and his time at the NCAA level, he responds very well to pressure. The Heat don't have many choices in free agency this year when it comes to finding a point guard, so it's going to be up to Chalmers to lead the offense.

My prediction? I can see Chalmers becoming a solid three-point shooter, but he's not going to become anything near a Rajon Rondo-type of player who suddenly becomes an overnight All-Star because of his superstar teammates.

Joel Anthony

There's just something about Joel Anthony that makes it impossible not to like him.

He's put the Miami Heat and their fan base in fits with his inability to catch and finish the simplest lay ups or dunks and is constantly stalling the offense because of how inept he is when it comes to playing on that side of the ball.

Still, he's Joel Anthony and he's the hardest worker on the team next to Udonis Haslem and for that we thank him. His defense came up huge on a number of occasions during the Heat's postseason run with key defensive stands against the Philadelphia 76ers' Thaddeus Young and Elton Brand, the Boston Celtics' Kevin Garnett, and the Chicago Bulls' Taj Gibson and Carlos Boozer.

I'd say the Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki, but even Joel can't make miracles happen. Nowitzki's got over three inches on him and with a shot designed like a catapult, Anthony couldn't do much but get his hand in Dirk's face.

Despite only standing at 6'9", Anthony was the team's starting center for the majority of the season and for the most of the postseason as well. The chances are highly unlikely that Joel will be starting next season, as the team is most likely to pick up a pure center during the offseason.

Anthony's not going to see the amount of playing time he got last season, but he will fill in at center and power forward from time to time for defensive purposes only because he can't do anything else.

Chris Bosh

I've constantly argued why Chris Bosh should have a larger role in the Heat's offense and for good reason.

He's the X-factor on the team and he could completely turn the momentum in the Heat's favor at any given moment because of his consistent mid-range game and his ability to beat just about any other power forward in the league off the dribble.

It's also been argued by analysts and casual fans alike that Bosh should be traded over the off season to either acquire a pure center or point guard. Having a center or point guard who could influence the team in a positive light for once would be beneficial, but the team needs to stick with Bosh because of the huge role he could play on the team with his scoring and rebounding.

He's easily one of the best scoring power forwards in the game today and could be a first option on this team if given the chance.

Don't expect that to happen, though. Bosh is still recognized as the third scoring option on this team and will continue doing so next year. The first year of his tenure with the Heat was a roller coaster ride for Bosh since he was transitioning from first option in Toronto to a third option with his new team.

He proved he could score from anywhere within the perimeter at a consistent rate, but he was still hesitant with his jumper at times and was still too passive when driving, even at the end of the year.

With all that he learned from his first year in Miami, it shouldn't come as a surprise to see Bosh vastly improve. He knows the system better and he's hungry to win a title, as evidenced by his breakdown following the team's loss, so there's no doubt that we will see a new and improved Bosh this upcoming season.

He wants to win and he's going to help the team greatly on their journey if the team allows him.

LeBron James

If there's anyone on the Miami Heat more ready to win a title than anyone else currently on the roster, it's LeBron James and there's not even an argument.

You honestly think a guy with an ego as huge as James really wants to go another offseason of having to endure the criticism and knowing that he still doesn't have a title? It doesn't seem possible that James is capable of being proven wrong for consecutive seasons.

That's why you should expect James to have the best season of his career next season. Statistically, he'll lead the team in scoring and assists once again, but he's going to be playing harder than ever before considering how badly he wants to prove his critics wrong after failing himself and his team a few months prior.

James considered the week after the NBA Finals to be the "hardest week of his life", and the chances are unlikely that he'll want to endure that for another season.

The Heat have full faith in their superstar and they're going to give him chances to lead the team, especially since they now know that he is capable of going off and coming up big in the clutch.

The Heat realize that they have to instill their own deal of confidence into their star player for him to perform and if that means allowing him to lead at times, then so be it.

James should also greatly improve from last season, along with the rest of the big three, and that could mean a more fluent offense if he can learn how to play without the ball in his hands and becoming less reliant on isolations when doing so.

Expect solid stats once again from James and a possible MVP nod if he can help lead the Heat to 60-plus wins and a No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Dwyane Wade

That crowd sure does looked excited. The guy on the court sitting to the right of Dwyane Wade really looks like he's about to get fired up. I'm not sure why the crowd looks so disinterested when they have Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh and the most entertaining team in the NBA to look forward to watching.

But that's besides the point. Dwyane Wade has been a member of this Heat team for going on nine seasons now and has been the team leader since being selected with the fifth pick in the 2003 draft.

He and James, and sometimes Bosh, swapped leadership duties over this past season with mostly positive results. The only problem is that the coaching staff didn't realize that Wade was the true leader of this team before it was too late.

Even though Wade is the clear leader of this team because of his ability to consistently perform in the clutch, it doesn't mean that he and James, and hopefully Bosh, will continue to swap leadership duties over the course of the regular season and post season.

Set to be 30 years old at the start of next season, Wade will only have a few more athletic years before beginning to need to become reliant on a jump shot or else risk serious injury.

This upcoming season will have Wade more motivated than ever to perform above expectations, since he's coming off of his first championship loss, while facing the possibility of not being able to drive as prolifically as he could before.

If the Heat want to win a championship the next season, they're going have to allow Wade to lead the team in the Finals.

He's now been there twice and has performed admirably on both occasions with a 35-point per game effort in 2006 and a 27-point per game effort on 55% shooting in the team's recent Finals appearance.

Wade won't lead the team in scoring, but he'll lead when it counts and it'll ultimately result in a Heat championship and a second Finals MVP for Wade.