Who the Heat are vs who I expected them to be

[truthiness]

Didn't post for a while, but I thought I'd share a few (well, a lot) of my thoughts about the Heat.

It took a while, it's been longer than I thought/hoped, but they are pretty close to what I envisioned around 2008, when I figured Riles was the front-runner to get Lebron AND Wade (and perhaps Bosh).

* Lebron and Wade are finally playing together the way I dreamt of seeing them play. They are not (yet) always in sync, but they are most of the time, and the athletic plays are just so much eye candy, they might give the entire Heat fan base eye-diabetes.

* Lebron continues improving his game. Last season you could see some stuff, but this season he does so many things so much better: post-up moves, footwork, cutting without the ball, setting screens, back-door cuts etc. All while playing very good D.

* Wade is the only one that I feel is playing a little below my expectations. He seems to have lost some explosiveness (or might still have some lingering injury), but he adapted to playing a slightly less athletic game and has become very efficient at it.

* Bosh used to be called soft and labeled a bad defender, but I kept saying that was because of the Raptors' "system" and horrible coaching. Triano would give any bad coach a run for his money for the title of "worst coach in the league". He will still have one dumb play per game, where he loses the ball because he's not paying attention (usually a really bad pass), but otherwise he rarely hurts the team.

And if any Heat fans run into him, (with his permission) high five him, chest bump him, whatever you can to show him love, and tell him how much he means for the team and how much the fans love him. He accepted his role with grace, he gave up shots, stats, touches, time in the spotlight and his ego and he acted like the ultimate team player. He needs to know all his sacrifices are appreciated by fans.

* Chalmers was often criticized for being unable to run the PG position. Now everyone can see what he can do. Sure he was going to make mistakes, the PG is the hardest position to learn. I still blame Spoelstra for not making Chalmers the starter all of last season, letting him play through his mistakes, which would have helped him mature much faster.

He's not much of a playmaker, but the Heat don't need one. They need a guy who can defend and hit open shots, which he fits perfectly.

Look, no team can have all-stars at all 5 position. The Heat have the best trio in the league, so the other 2 positions have to be covered by role-players. Championship caliber teams have really good role players. Chalmers is one of those players.

Oh, and btw, ALL players make mistakes. You just have to take the good with the bad. Just accept some players have certain limitations and put it on the coaches to work around those limitations and use the players' strengths.

* Joel: see above. He's a role player, the best the Heat could find for the position. No reason whining he's no Dwight. The Heat have to do with what they have. Sure, Chandler would have fit better. So would Noah, Deandre Jordan, Marc Gasol and a few others. But they make 3-4 times more than Joel and couldn't be had. In the meanwhile Joel does his best to help as much as he can and works his ass off.

* Miller got a ton of hate last season and during the summer, but he just had a ton of bad luck. **** happens, and it happened to him (and Haslem) last season. But when he's playing, he's giving everything (part of the reason he was injured) and now he's been hitting his 3's at an incredible percentage.

* Spoelstra is not as bad as last year (when he was horrendous and lost the Finals for the Heat), but I still am not too happy with him. I have to say the team looks way better on O (ball moves better, there's a lot more cutting, back screens etc), but I don't like using the same aggressive D on all PG's regardless of how fast and/or good they are, I don't like how the Heat are the worst at defending the 3p shot and how zone D's can still kill the Heat's O. I still would have preferred Adelman (it's not just Rubio making the Wolves look so much better than last year), but now at least I hope Spoelstra can learn some stuff and make himself a better coach - hopefully in time for the playoffs.

All things considered, I feel pretty good about this team, and I think pretty much all Heat fans should, too. Not seeing so many "XYZ sucks" threads on this board would be a nice start. Of course I want a title, but I try to enjoy this ride as much as I can, because we really are all witnesses to something amazing.

[jona187]

Wade has lost a step or has some type of lingering injury. He is missing way too many layups and dunks and sometimes just looks limpy. He is learning how to play at a less athletic pace and his efficiency makes up for it.

[This IsMy House]

Wade has lost a step or has some type of lingering injury. He is missing way too many layups and dunks and sometimes just looks limpy. He is learning how to play at a less athletic pace and his efficiency makes up for it.

That was one game, every other game since he's come back form his injury he's been on fast breaks, dunking it and laying it up. I'm pretty sure he can have an off night and miss a couple. He hasn't lost a step, he's just working more on his mid-range game to help our half-court offense. Which is the best thing for him and LeBron to do. If we start to hit more jumpers, its over.

[Chosen01]

Wade has lost a step or has some type of lingering injury. He is missing way too many layups and dunks and sometimes just looks limpy. He is learning how to play at a less athletic pace and his efficiency makes up for it.

That was one game, every other game since he's come back form his injury he's been on fast breaks, dunking it and laying it up. I'm pretty sure he can have an off night and miss a couple. He hasn't lost a step, he's just working more on his mid-range game to help our half-court offense. Which is the best thing for him and LeBron to do. If we start to hit more jumpers, its over.

Pretty much, not seeing the "step slower" stuff, he still blows by defenders pretty easily from the halfcourt and on the break at least since he's come back from injury.Either way, his post game has continued to improve and that is what is also helping his efficiency.

Wade is still easily leading guards in dunks,despite missing 9 or some games this season, I think the Knicks games was the only game I could remember vividly where Wade missed some easy dunks/layups but then again so did LeBron and Bosh.

LeBron and Wade's chemistry is much better than last year and it's a sight to see and you'll continue to see them improve on how to play off each other.

[DWadeno3]

How exactly has Wade's year been disappointing? Sure, he's had his injuries and some bad games because of it, but ever since he's returned, he's been extemely efficient and has shown even more improvements in his already excellent postgame. He may not use his athleticism as much anymore because he's that good in other areas, but he's still flying as high as usual and blowing by people as easily as he used to. It's more of a matter of adapting your game to your new surroundings (meaning the new players around you) than aging or losing athleticism, as Chosen01 said.

[DefenseWins]

Wade started off really bad, but has picked it up tremendously since coming back from the injury.

I mean he's just 2nd in PER to LeBron now. In his low minutes of production before the Knicks game, he was BALLIN'! In the Knicks game he took bad shots playing iso's, but so did LeBron. Eventually they'll figure it out to set themselves up offensively and not go away from what was working in the half-court offense.

But the ending to this season was better than I expected. I didn't expect them to all of a sudden be disciplined, usually there would be trap games lol, but I did not expect them to sudden bulldoze teams consecutively. People say we did this last year, but not like this with this schedule. Also with good basketball and not just iso's. It was team ball all around.

One thing I would like to see is Wade do good against Chicago. Since he has been back, that has been his only bad game. I find it amazing we've won the last 5 against Chicago with him playing terribly.

In the beginning he looked like he lost a step, but it was just injuries. These days though he keeps losing the ball while trying to do a spin move inside surrounded by people, and loses the ball... lol.

[truthiness]

How exactly has Wade's year been disappointing? Sure, he's had his injuries and some bad games because of it, but ever since he's returned, he's been extemely efficient and has shown even more improvements in his already excellent postgame. He may not use his athleticism as much anymore because he's that good in other areas, but he's still flying as high as usual and blowing by people as easily as he used to. It's more of a matter of adapting your game to your new surroundings (meaning the new players around you) than aging or losing athleticism, as Chosen01 said.

I didn't mean disappointing as in "playing bad", and I specifically mentioned how he became more efficient. It just seems to me that he toned down on the athletic plays. It might be "by design", he might be saving his legs during the season as much as possible. I am pretty sure he can still do it when 100% healthy.

[DWadeno3]

How exactly has Wade's year been disappointing? Sure, he's had his injuries and some bad games because of it, but ever since he's returned, he's been extemely efficient and has shown even more improvements in his already excellent postgame. He may not use his athleticism as much anymore because he's that good in other areas, but he's still flying as high as usual and blowing by people as easily as he used to. It's more of a matter of adapting your game to your new surroundings (meaning the new players around you) than aging or losing athleticism, as Chosen01 said.

I didn't mean disappointing as in "playing bad", and I specifically mentioned how he became more efficient. It just seems to me that he toned down on the athletic plays. It might be "by design", he might be saving his legs during the season as much as possible. I am pretty sure he can still do it when 100% healthy.

It's a major difference between "toning it down on the athletic plays" and "He seems to have lost some explosiveness", which was your original statement but I'll leave it at that. All I'm gonna say is, he might've had some bad games while he was injured but has been nothing but spectacular since returning from the extended rest. After struggling to find his niche within our new offense, he has adapted beautifully and is now constantly finding his spots and thus able to dominate a game offensively. His midrange game is back while his postgame is better than ever and such a great weapon on a consistent basis, which is key to our offensive flow when him and LeBron are on the floor at the same time because it forces defenses to throw a double-team at him down low, which then creates room for others. Thus, I don't understand how he's the only one who has actually played below your expectations.

[Chessboxer]

I'd have to agree with the notion that Wade is just rations out the type of athletic plays he usually displays. I really think its just by design. I can point to several games this year (comeback game against the Knicks, vs. Boston/vs. Mavs) where he looked as explosive and athletic as he's always been. Hes fully capable of his typical highwire act when called upon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji8V6KvV408

He is just so well rounded/skilled and creative that he does not depend on his athleticism as much to create opportunities. He's also added several moves to his scoring arsenal that are not predicated on athleticism. For example he has this move where he crosses half court on the left side. sprints diagonally to the right elbow and shoots a floater. You also might notice he finishes more shots with his left hand even in postups.

His functional strength seems even better (which is expected since he is 30 now). Its the one aspect of his athleticism that impresses as much as his speed/quickness. The recent Orlando game comes to mind, when Reddick tried to strip him in mid air and Wade just ripped right through it for the and one. Or when Howard fouled him hard on a layup and Wade easily layed it in for the And one barely even moving. I think Wade is really one of the most physically strongest guards I've ever seen.

[Chosen01]

Wade doesn't try to do windmills and as much high flyers as much, on a fast break you'll see him do more simple dunks but that doesn't mean he's lost his some athletic ability, like alluded early it's more of the fact that he's saving his legs,he's still one of the most explosive finishers in the league but I think you see him trying to preserve his body more for the playoffs more more.Come playoff time is where you'll see the electrifying dunks as always.

Also You have to remember that when LeBron and Wade go on the break 90% of the time they still blow by the guys trying to defend them in transition pretty easily.