How many rings would melo have won if he was on that heat 2010-2014 team instead?

DS17 · Post #1 » by **DS17** » Fri Apr 7, 2023 4:03 pm

What do you think! If melo was on the heat during that time instead of lebron?

I honestly think 2011/2012 could have resulted in a ring since Wade could have been Prime Wade and not have been competing with bron for that main ball handling roll. Melo as a spacer and scorer would have worked amazing for this heat team.

It is importance to note the defensive prowess that Heat Lebron had… melo wasn’t even close.

So overall, lebron on the heat = 2 rings. I think Melo would have helped them get one.

Post #2 » by **dockingsched** » Fri Apr 7, 2023 4:06 pm

0 cause they ain’t getting past Lebron.

Saints14 · Post #3 » by **Saints14** » Fri Apr 7, 2023 4:09 pm

They'd have a shot in 2012 but I'd still bet 0. No way they beat the Spurs in 2013 if they even made it to the finals

JayMKE · Post #4 » by **JayMKE** » Fri Apr 7, 2023 4:12 pm

So if Melo went to Miami instead of Lebron? Maybe 1 IDK, Wade/Bosh/Melo would have still been a dangerous combination but assuming Cleveland stays together & Boston it would be a crowded east.

sjballer03 · Post #5 » by **sjballer03** » Fri Apr 7, 2023 4:19 pm

Ein Sof · Post #6 » by **Ein Sof** » Fri Apr 7, 2023 4:25 pm

Hornet Mania · Post #7 » by **Hornet Mania** » Fri Apr 7, 2023 4:50 pm

Are we assuming Lebron stays on the Cavs and that his everything else stays the same?

In that case I could see them winning in either 2011 or 2012. The original Lebron Cavs weren't world-beaters, I think a Wade/Melo/Bosh team would be comfortably favored against them if the next-best Cav is still Mo Williams.

SerialChiller · Post #8 » by **SerialChiller** » Fri Apr 7, 2023 5:05 pm

At first those Heat teams were ridiculously top heavy and had no pieces around the big 3. So I don't think Melo instead of Lebron would be enough. If you could just replace Lebron with Melo in those 2011 finals I think they win because I think he'd help Wade more than Lebron did in that series which isn't saying much lol. But I don't think they get there without Lebron.

And later on when the Heat had players like Battier and Allen around the big 3, Wade was succumbing to his bad knee and wasn't at his best anymore, so the drop off from Lebron to Melo would be too much to overcome.

So maybe they eke out 1 but I think they have 0, Lebron and Wade defensively together were insane, Melo ruins that.

rand · Post #9 » by **rand** » Fri Apr 7, 2023 5:06 pm

2011 would be their only realistic shot. LeBron was so bad offensively in the Finals and Melo actually smoked Dallas in his 4 regular season games vs those Mavs (27/9/4 on .631 TS%). Yeah regular season matchups aren't necessarily indicative of anything but it's a much better sign for Melo than if he had struggled vs Dallas that season.

Post #10 » by **HMFFL** » Fri Apr 7, 2023 5:09 pm

Melo as the second option wouldn't have won a ring.

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heezyo2o · Post #11 » by **heezyo2o** » Fri Apr 7, 2023 5:16 pm

I think they lose to the Spurs both years and have a hard time getting past Boston. Maybe get to the finals once their first year

Roger Murdock · Post #12 » by **Roger Murdock** » Fri Apr 7, 2023 5:16 pm

Zero finals appearances

Without LeBron that team loses a ton of defense, rebounding l, playmaking, and ball handling. They’d be much worse on both sides of the ball and didn’t have the depth to make up anything close to it.

I think they’d lose in ECF to Bulls and would get comfortably beaten by the Pacers and Celtics in following years

Woodsanity · Post #13 » by **Woodsanity** » Fri Apr 7, 2023 5:18 pm

nbafan38 · Post #14 » by **nbafan38** » Fri Apr 7, 2023 5:35 pm

Lean 0 but depends what team Lebron was on.

Now if you asked prime Melo on 2017-2019 GS I imagine peoples answers would be very different.........

Hello Brooklyn · Post #15 » by **Hello Brooklyn** » Fri Apr 7, 2023 5:38 pm

The better question is how many rings do the Heat win if Melo was there instead of Bosh.

LeBron/Melo/Wade would have been crazy. I think they likely win in 2014 and maybe even 2011.

Bosh was terrible in 2011 and not good in 2014 either.

Shock Defeat · Post #16 » by **Shock Defeat** » Fri Apr 7, 2023 5:39 pm

Multiple. Wade would have maintained being the #1 option with Melo being a highly efficient #2.

Post #17 » by **tsherkin** » Fri Apr 7, 2023 5:40 pm

I can't envision them winning a ring with Melo replacing Lebron. They lose so much in terms of scoring efficiency and defense and gain... nothing. Melo was objectively worse than Lebron his whole career, so it would be a massive downgrade.

Post #18 » by **cupcakesnake** » Fri Apr 7, 2023 5:45 pm

I hate the Melo/Bosh fit and this really zaps their passing and defense.

This team would badly need a good point guard, a defensive wing, and a center. Lebron kind of gave them a little of all of those and allowed them to get by.

GSWFan1994 · Post #19 » by **GSWFan1994** » Fri Apr 7, 2023 5:56 pm

What if it was Melo in Bosh's place?

How many rings?

Post #20 » by **tsherkin** » Fri Apr 7, 2023 6:18 pm

GSWFan1994 wrote:What if it was Melo in Bosh's place?

How many rings?

Still zero. Bosh was a critical piece in their defense.