How do the 2014-15 Heat match up vs the 2014-15 Cavs?

[LikeABosh]

I think we match up pretty well with them as of right now unless they get Ray...

I don't think Ray will be a huge factor. He obviously provides spacing, but they already have Miller who can do everything Ray can plus more

[Wolfy1983]

Li

For a guy with not as much heart as Bosh did (keeping in mind he struggled with lottery teams in the Western Conference while Bosh wallowed in mediocrity in the weaker Eastern Conference), he sure puts up better scoring and rebounding numbers. Please tell me where this heart discovery came from.

Yes, Irving isn't Wade now, but Wade is declining and Irving will undoubtedly get better alongside LeBron James and Kevin Love in the coming years. A championship is very possible for that team, whether you like the fact that LeBron signed with them over Miami or not.

If Miami could do it, why not Cleveland? Love now has talent around him; I think it's time we sit back and watch without making extreme assumptions as though we had a crystal ball. Stop sounding so bitter.

It's always a numbers thing with you guys. Has love made crucial stops on the defensive end? Sure it's great to be a double double guy on offensive but if you're not making an effort on the other end, than I say yeah, he's missing something.

Yes, numbers are indicative of factual data. It helps in the validation of a point. Was Bosh always known as a great defender prior to joining Miami? I don't think so. He was maybe average. As far as interior play, an aging Shaquille O'Neal referred to him as the "RuPaul of big men," not long after dropping 45 on him. But Bosh, already an intelligent player and human being, would find a niche in Miami's intelligent defensive system. That changed.

He came to Miami and his defense improved, not just because of his own talents, but because of the system around him. We don't know if Love will replicate that, but we should know by now that we can't automatically assume that Love will be a poor defensive player even now that he's surrounded with the best team he's ever had around him. It's hypocritical.

It also means you don't know your history. According to Basketball Reference, Chris Bosh had an offensive/defensive rating of 113/107 in the years preceding his arrival in Miami. That's about six seasons. Kevin Love's offensive/defensive rating through six seasons? 117/106. Chris Bosh's offensive/defensive win shares during that time? 42.7/19.1. Very good. Kevin Love? 34.1/12.9.

For the second time, let's wait and see what Love does with James/Irving before making uninformed assumptions. People will assume all HEAT fans think in this manner and it only makes us look dumber and more ignorant.

Like I said, it has all to do with effort. You like to go by numbers well Bosh was averaging a block a game with The Raptors. As for Love, his best year came in his rookie year with 0.9 which has fallen down. You know what, I'll take you advice and wait because maybe being on a contender now, maybe he can improve on those numbers.

[RJM]

Li

It's always a numbers thing with you guys. Has love made crucial stops on the defensive end? Sure it's great to be a double double guy on offensive but if you're not making an effort on the other end, than I say yeah, he's missing something.

Yes, numbers are indicative of factual data. It helps in the validation of a point. Was Bosh always known as a great defender prior to joining Miami? I don't think so. He was maybe average. As far as interior play, an aging Shaquille O'Neal referred to him as the "RuPaul of big men," not long after dropping 45 on him. But Bosh, already an intelligent player and human being, would find a niche in Miami's intelligent defensive system. That changed.

He came to Miami and his defense improved, not just because of his own talents, but because of the system around him. We don't know if Love will replicate that, but we should know by now that we can't automatically assume that Love will be a poor defensive player even now that he's surrounded with the best team he's ever had around him. It's hypocritical.

It also means you don't know your history. According to Basketball Reference, Chris Bosh had an offensive/defensive rating of 113/107 in the years preceding his arrival in Miami. That's about six seasons. Kevin Love's offensive/defensive rating through six seasons? 117/106. Chris Bosh's offensive/defensive win shares during that time? 42.7/19.1. Very good. Kevin Love? 34.1/12.9.

For the second time, let's wait and see what Love does with James/Irving before making uninformed assumptions. People will assume all HEAT fans think in this manner and it only makes us look dumber and more ignorant.

Like I said, it has all to do with effort. You like to go by numbers well Bosh was averaging a block a game with The Raptors. As for Love, his best year came in his rookie year with 0.9 which has fallen down. You know what, I'll take you advice and wait because maybe being on a contender now, maybe he can improve on those numbers.

It likely won't happen (re: blocks) as that's not a part of Love's game, nor does he possess the requisite athleticism to become a dominant shotblocker. Pairing him next to Anderson Varejao and LeBron James in the front court will help mask those deficiencies in a substantial way. Love plays with more than enough effort. You don't average 12.2 rebounds a game for your career (15.2 in 2010-2011, a career high) by accident.