in NBA Articles

Reigning Finals MVP

I know the Miami Heat are the NBA’s defending champions after finally winning the first title in their franchise’s history last season and that they have one of the best young players in the game in Dwayne Wade.

But, I am not prepared to award this team absolutely anything (other than the respect they deserve for last season’s accomplishment) heading into the 2006-07 season.

Don’t get me wrong – the Heat will once again be one of the best teams in the league, but expecting anything beyond a conference finals appearance, may be a bit premature – even for a team that has nearly the exact same roster as last season’s champions.

Here is my preview on the Heat for 2006-07.

Point Guard

I’ve never been a Jason Williams fan – or a Gary Payton fan for that matter – but I have to give credit where credit is due. This combination of veterans did exactly what they were brought in to do – add stability to a team sorely lacking it from their previous point guards. Williams pretty much lost his penchant for wildness and Payton’s understated contributions at both ends of the floor can’t be denied. Simply put, if this pair comes back and performs the exact same way they did last season, (they will) the Heat will be fine at the point.

Shooting Guard

It’s scary to think that Wade hasn’t reached his peak yet, but that’s exactly the case. When Wade improves his perimeter shot a little more, he’s going to be downright unstoppable. Oh, he already is? I almost forgot how he single-handedly shredded the Dallas Mavericks defense down the stretch in last season’s championship series.

Small Forward

Simply put, I’m amazed that even Antoine Walker couldn’t mess up the Heat’s drive to the championship title. Walker combines with starter, James Posey, to give the Heat a formidable “offensive/defensive” duo that more than held its own last season and should do likewise this season. Neither veteran player complained about getting minutes and meshed together perfectly to give the Heat one of the best small forward combinations in the entire league.

Power Forward

I don’t care what anyone says, if Udonis Haslem didn’t play almost perfect basketball in the postseason (especially in the deciding game six) the Heat may not have hoisted anything besides a few tubes of Ben Gay, or in Shaq’s case, a few Icy Hot back patches. Haslem is a tough, hard-nosed player who does all of the dirty work and rebounding that Shaq doesn’t and is the second most valuable player on this team behind Wade if you ask me.

The Heat also have another player I like a lot – and one that could be scary good at some point in the near future, in former Kansas Jayhawk, Wayne Simien. Either way, it would appear that the Heat are set at this position for years to come.

Center

So what Shaq and backup, Alonzo Mourning are aging. This combination is the best tandem at the center position in the entire league. Shaq can still score when necessary and Mourning’s active play at both ends of the floor is nothing short of amazing. I’m sure this pair can crank it up for at least another year or two in an effort to grab the brass ring one more time.

Prognosis:

I expect the Heat, at the very least, to reach the eastern conference finals (they will). However, I am not prepared to say they are going to undoubtedly reach the championship series. Of course they will have the proverbial “bulls eye” on their backs all season, and I’m sure the Pistons and Bulls will have something to say about whether Miami advances to the finals or not.