Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
The 2014-15 edition of the Miami Heat have bounced back from the disaster of LeBron James leaving to round out a very nice collection of talent that has the potential to make things interesting in the Eastern Conference.
While there are some that feel the Heat will take a big tumble down the standings, Miami president Pat Riley has put together a team that should make Heat fans feel confident that the future is still bright, as well as enough to be a postseason threat.
LeBron leaving for Cleveland propels them to the upper half of the East; Indiana has taken a bit of a dip, with the loss of Lance Stephenson, while Roy Hibbert might be a lost cause; the Bulls have taken a step forward, but Derrick Rose’s recent injury struggles paint a cloudy picture for them; the Wizards and Bobcats have improved, yet they’re both still young.
So why can’t the Heat be considered in that group?
Well, questions do remain. The Heat are going to have to fit in new pieces, as well as carve out a new identity on both sides of the floor. Roles will be re-defined, as well as rookies taking their first steps in trying to keep the Heat with the elite of the conference.
With that being said, here are the five things I think the Heat need to address: