I look at the standings today and we're 6-1. Then I notice the Heat are 7-1 (well, already knew it). So I check out their stats. WOW. LeBron is averaging 30 PPG, with 8 rebounds and 7.5 assists on 60% FG shooting. Wade has missed a couple of games but is averaging 19 PPG and 6.5 assists. Bosh is averaging 20.6 with 8.6 rebounds on 55% shooting. So yeah, the big 3 can do their thing together, at least for this small sample size of games (8). But it doesn't stop there. Chalmers is averaging 12 PPG on 57% shooting with 4.5 assists. Udonis Haslem gives them 10 RPG in 30 MPG. And rookie Norris Cole gives them 11.1 PPG on 48% shooting with 3.5 APG. That's 5 guys scoring in double figures. Maybe their weakness is at C where they start Joel Anthony, but he seemed like a good fit for them last year, and didn't keep them from making the Finals. That and Bosh is playing some C this year along side Haslem at PF. They're scoring 109.3 PPG as a team and giving up 97.4. That's a difference of 12 PPG. The Bulls are scoring 97.1 PPG and giving up 86.6. That's a difference of 10.5. So Miami must not be as good a defensive team as us or something? LeBron is averaging 2 steals a game, Bosh 1.1, Wade 1.5, Chalmers 1.9, and Cole 1.4. (CJ Watson and Boozer are our only two players averaging > 1.0) We're allowing opponents to shoot .419 FG%, Miami allows .427 FG%
The Heat look great this year. Lebron is playing with a focus that should make the rest of the league worried. Once again, the east looks like a two horse race between us and them. I do think this team is capable of anything, but if I had a gun to my head, I think if we were to meet again in the playoffs, the series would probably play out in a similar way. We put up an admirable fight, but Lebron is just a more impactful player than Derrick Rose, and our second banana's don't stack up to theirs, which overcomes our superior defense.
Cole has potential but he needs to get some pointers from Rose. He's playing a bit wildly. Also Lebron-Wade need to keep resting, and the Bulls are a great team too.
Miami is just running more and playing at a higher pace than last year. It's not going to last, at least as far as the pace goes.
I don't see much to make me think a playoff series with the Heat would go much different. Heck, our 2 guard "solution" rarely plays. There are 2 great teams in the East right now. But I don't want to play the Heat in the playoffs.
