Miami Heat Season Preview: Why Heat Will Win 57 Games & the NBA Championship

We all remember how the 2010-2011 NBA season ended.  

The Dallas Mavericks were hoisting the NBA championship trophy as the big three of the Miami Heat staggered to their locker room.

The NBA season ended with questions looming about LeBron's will to win and his ability to show up in big games.  The season ended with questions about the big three's ability to become a cohesive unit and win championships.

While the Heat haven't had the chance to answer any of those questions I am about to tell you why the answers to those questions are going to be positive for Heat fans.

If you want to find out why the Miami Heat will win no less than 57 games and win the 2011-2012 NBA championship then read on.     

Adversity Will Make the Big Three Stronger, More Cohesive and Hungrier

Nothing motivates as well as doubt and hate, and that is what the Heat's offseason was all about. 

The 2011 offseason for the Miami Heat was anything but easy.  It was full of detractors saying how soft Chris Bosh is, how nonexistent LeBron is and how Dwyane Wade made a mistake by staying in Miami.

The fact that there is so much negativity surround the big three and the Miami Heat will only fuel their fire to dominate this season.

Last season the big three was a new concept and something that most critics loved to hate, but that was nothing compared to the hatred the big three are experiencing this year.  

The adversity that the Heat is already facing this year will bring them together under the leadership of Dwyane Wade—that's right, not the leadership of LeBron James. 

LeBron will have a career year with the Miami Heat, but he won't be the reason why the Heat win.  

The reason the Heat will win 57 games or more will be because of the cohesion between the big three that is fueled by the adversity they face and the focused leadership Dwyane Wade plays with. 

Lockout's Extended Offseason Provides Heat's Big Three with Stronger Chemistry

Chemistry is without a doubt the key to the Miami Heat and the big three winning their first NBA championship together.  

Last year's season for the Heat was crippled by a lack of cohesive play among the big three that ultimately led to their demise.  This lack of chemistry led to LeBron having a career high year in turnovers per game with 3.59 and Dwyane Wade having a near career low year in assists per game with only 4.6 per game. 

Those stats might seem trivial but they reflect the fact that the team lacked chemistry overall. With the extended offseason providing the big three with more time to play together and learn the intricacies of each other's game, the big three will be a much more cohesive unit this year.

I expect the big three to play more like the big three this year rather than the big two and a half, all because they've had time to mesh together.

Opposing defenses will see first hand the difference between this year's and last year's Wade, LeBron and Bosh combo, with the main difference being the chemistry that now exists amomg them.  

Immense Pressure Turns Erik Spoelstra into a More Mature and Vocal Coach

Last year wasn't Erik Spoelstra's best by any stretch of the imagination.  Early on it seemed like the Heat's big three were trying to push him out in favor of Pat Riley and he couldn't figure out a solid lineup that suited his team.  

All of that changed by the end of the year, but it wasn't enough to bring in an NBA championship.  What Spoelstra lacked last year was maturity and an ability to truly challenge and confront his players.  

With a year coaching LeBron, Wade and Bosh under his belt Spoelstra better understands what it takes to motivate the big three.  More importantly, I think Erik Spoelstra knows that he will be on a short leash this year with Pat Riley and if he doesn't motivate the Heat early on he will lose his job.

With the possibility of losing his job looming over his head early on in the season, Spoelstra will become more vocal with what he wants on the court and he will demand commitment to the team off the court.  

Erik Spoelstra will put the pressure that is on him from the front office directly on the shoulder of his star players and unlike last year they will rise to the occasion.  

LeBron Training with Olajuwon Means More Complete Post Game for Lebron

LeBron's post game has been nearly nonexistent the past few years.  

He has relied on pure strength and speed rather than finesse to be the foundation of his offensive game.  That will change this year, thanks to the work of Hakeem Olajuwon.

It finally seems like LeBron figured out what everyone has known for the last seven years—he needs a post game to become a complete player in the NBA.  In an interview with SLAM magazine LeBron said this in response to being asked why he was working with Olajuwon:  

“I look at what he was able to do throughout his career,” James said. “Unbelievable talent. Multiple champion. Just to see how he was able to dominate in the low post, for me as an individual, I just try to look at some of the things I feel I need to get better at and hit home at it. Our team becomes better if I continue to get better and that’s what it’s about.”

It's nice to see that LeBron is finally realizing that he needs to get better if he wants to win championships, and one huge way for him to get better is to perfect a post game.  

If LeBron's post game actually exists this year he can start taking advantage of defensive mismatches he often gets with undersized defenders.  

When the big three and the Miami Heat win 57 games and the NBA championship this year at least some of the credit must go to Hakeem "the dream" Olajuwon. 

The Miami Heat Have Absolutely Everything to Lose in 2011-2012

There has never been more pressure on any NBA team than there is this year on the 2011-2012 Miami Heat.  If the big three and the Heat don't win the 2011-2012 NBA championship everything will start to fall apart.  

The Miami Heat have everything to lose with a poor outing this year.  Unlike last year the Heat can't blame their lack of success in the 2011-2012 NBA season on their young coach or a lack of chemistry.  If they fail to succeed the blame will fall squarely on their shoulders, and that will motivate them to play like their lives depend on it this year. 

LeBron always had an excuse when he didn't perform.  Whether it was the fact that the Cavaliers didn't get enough talent around him or that the Heat didn't have enough time to gel together, LeBron always had something to fall back on.  The same cannot be said about this year.

LeBron has no excuse this year if the Heat don't win.  He has nothing to fall back on and that will motivate him like never before.

The fact that the Heat's championship hopes and the big three's legacy is on the line this year will motivate them to play every game like it is their last.

With everything to lose the big three will rise to the occasion and end the shortened regular season with the NBA's best record at 57-9 which will ultimately result in LeBron's first NBA championship.