One of the bigger questions heading into this year’s NBA was how the Miami Heat would fare in a dark, cold, LeBron-less world.
The answer so far? Eh, ok.
Many have noted that LeBron’s skills certainly masked a lot of weaknesses for the Heat during his time there. James is the quintessential example of a complete player. He dominates offensively while still locking down on defense, getting in the paint for rebounds, and setting up other teammates at will when the opposition focused too much on him.
Offense stagnating? Give it to LeBron and let him do his thing. Defensive intensity lacking? LeBron will lead the charge. Getting beat on the boards? Let LeBron in the lane and he will do the dirty work.
So how does Dwayne Wade view this season thus far in lieu of James’ absence?
“It’s like a regular basketball season,” Wade said in an interview earlier in the month with USA Today. “It’s still a team that’s trying to figure it out. We’re sure at times and unsure at other times — in the same game, sometimes.”
Obviously, the four-time MVP left a large hole in the Heat that nobody could fill. Still, the Heat had to make a move to replace James at small forward in the starting lineup.
Luol Deng was brought in for the dubious task, and has held up well for the most part, averaging 14.0 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Deng is nowhere near James in his passing skill, posting 1.6 assists per game this seasons as opposed to James’ 6.9 per game average. He is probably the better defensive player however, with Heat coach Erik Spoelstra often assigning him to cover the opposition’s top threat.
The Heat also brought in journeyman Shawne Williams and Danny Granger in the offseason, and drafted Shabazz Napier to fill some needs at small forward and point guard. Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, the remaining members of the Big Three, both resigned with the Heat after opting out of their previous contracts. Granger, who missed most of the last two seasons with knee injuries, pulled a hamstring just days before the season opener. He has appeared in just six games since then, as he continues to recover from the injury while also battling illness as of late.
The new-look Heat started the season off well enough on a three-game win streak, and initially seemed like they’d be just fine without their former MVP. The rest of the season however has proven to be more difficult, with the team now sitting at 11-13 after Sunday’s 93-75 loss to the Chicago Bulls. Miami is currently in 7th playoff position.
Dwayne Wade has missed seven games due to injury so far, and Granger still has yet to find a way to get on the floor and make an impact.
Scoring has been the key issue for Miami in most of it’s losses. The Heat, who averaged 102.2 points per game last year, currently rank 23rd in the league with 95.0 points per game. Rebounding has been an issue too, as the team sits at dead last in the league with 35.4 boards per game. The fact that rebounding is largely an effort-based statistic does not bode well for Spoelstra and his team, but it is something that can be largely improved with increased player focus, despite the team often employing a small lineup.
There have been some bright spots this season for Miami.
Norris Cole and Mario Chalmers have performed at a high level at the point guard position. Cole is posting his usual numbers while providing a strong defensive presence in the back court. Chalmers’ current averages of 12.7 points, 4.3 assists, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game are all career highs, as is his field goal percentage of 44%.
Shawne Williams has also been posting career highs in all categories while providing solid backup play to Luol Deng at the small forward position. Williams is currently averaging 8.2 points, 1.2 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game while being on the court for a career high 24.3 minutes per game.
Shabazz Napier, despite averaging 21.4 minutes per game in his rookie season, was recently sent to the D-League after some poor shooting performances. He is expected to return after a short time and resume his role in the rotation.
The Big Two have been the leaders of the team as anticipated, picking up the slack (when healthy) while the rest of the team adjusts to the changes. Chris Bosh is averaging 21.6 points per game, his highest since joining the Heat in 2010. Dwayne Wade is averaging 21.3 points per game on 52% field goal percentage.
The Heat and their new lineup have shown a lot of potential. As the season goes on and the offense is able to continue adjust, spacing the floor and becoming more pass-oriented, the Heat’s point production should see an increase, and so should the win column.
If Wade is able to stay healthy, Bosh continues his strong play, and the rest team continues to improve and mesh, the Heat should maintain their grip on a lower playoff seed. If Granger can ever return to form, they will be even more dangerous, possibly getting as high as a 4th or 5th seed.
Not quite the level of play they had with LeBron, but in a weak conference, they should be just fine.
