Miami Heat: 5 Biggest Needs for 2011-12 NBA Season

Now that the National Basketball Association has righted the ship, it is time to start feeding the hype machine.

It is assumed the Miami Heat will be at or near the top following the completion of 66 tightly packed contests.

Considering the conditions and its relative youth and athleticism, that should be a good presumption.

In its first campaign, the new Heat did many things well, mainly with pure talents and well-rehearsed skill. Still, there are a few things that the Heat can do to ensure the disappointment of last year works to the good of experience for the future.

Build Good Chemistry

The ability of a team to react to the critical moments in the game with fluidity versus robotic, over-analytical thoughts is key to long-term success.

Most of the success from a season ago could easily be attributed to consistent defense on a nightly basis.

The Heat offense seemingly never got into a flow that resembled a team with good chemistry.  

Part of that was the revolving door at the point position. With the Heat already locked in to more than $65 million, it is hard to see them doing anything outside of their organic roster.

Another piece of the cake had a great deal to do with injuries.

If the injury bug stays away from the critical role-players this season, building this chemistry will be less of a Rubik’s cube.   

Have an Offensive Identity

When we watch a large contingent of good teams in the NBA, it is easy to determine what the staff wants to do to generate points.

We know Dallas will ride the big German when it matters most, but there is plenty of room for the subsidiary shooters to light up the board.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been a triangle-based opportunistic offense since Phil Jackson returned to save the City of Angels from the rein of the mid-2000s.

It's easy to tell where the offense originates and the multiple avenues of approach.

Conversely, the Heat are without an offensive identity. Most often last season, the hotter of the two wing players would shape the flow of the game.

If Dwyane Wade was finding the seams and finishing around the basket in atypical form, the Heat would ride him to the checkered flag.

If LeBron James was filling the stat sheet in virtuoso form behind his jump shot, the Heat would take that locomotive to the next station.

With a year of film study and the strength of normal progression, it is expected that the Heat will better be able to utilize the other scorers on the roster.

Chris Bosh needs to know how and where his looks will consistently come from. Mike Miller has to know that his open shot attempts from last year will still be there.

Although laced with talent, the Heat needs to clean up this side of the ledger.

Figure out the Future of the Point Guard Position

Mario Chalmers closed last campaign on a high note, taking and making some big shots in key moments during the second season.

Still, Chalmers seemed to be the best of a few average options last season.

Is he the answer to the lead guard trick question?

Do the wings need a guy who is a distributor and a table setter, or would they best be suited for a John Paxson, BJ Armstrong type?

A ball-dominating Chris Paul type may not be the answer for South Florida. A player of that magnitude would take away from the creative abilities of both Wade and James.

A Rajon Rondo type may not have the shooting ability necessary to take advantage of the rotating defense.

It is a quandary that many believe needs a finite plan for ultimate success. It could be that Miller mans the small forward position as Wade and James manage the guard spots at the end of games.

Even with that potent-on-paper lineup, at some point the lead guard has to be identified.

Close Games

Based on the results of both the regular season and postseason contests from a year ago, the Heat have to figure out how to nurse substantial leads when the end result is still in question.

Remember Game 2 of the NBA Finals?

What about the Orlando Magic game from March 3rd?

This argument is less about who takes the final shot and more about taking the aforementioned chemistry and managing a lead.

With the major weapons the Heat have, this near phenomena caused many experts to scratch their heads a season ago.

While there is no key to closing out games per se, a team with an offensive identity can typically turn to the finer parts of that program when ad hoc is less desirable.

Coming off of a season that saw its fair share of ups and downs, yet ultimately ended in a Finals appearance, leads me to believe this conundrum should be in the rear-view mirror.

Continue the Defensive Efforts from Last Season

When all else fails, the Heat can just do its best Denver Broncos defensive effort to stay in games.

The Heat made its mark athletically from top to bottom last season, anchored by Joel Anthony, who became a real force with his shot-block timing and defensive positioning.

With Wade and James taking on the most outstanding weapons from the opposing teams, this element of the game should continue to be main focus for the Heat.

The Heat are not in a situation where a multitude of new talent needs to be imported—I expect the old defensive mantra of championship success to hold true for another 66.