The Miami Heat are 14 games into the season, having won eight and lost six. And although I am sure everyone was expecting some major changes to come about after LeBron James headed back to Cleveland, the things that have taken place so far this year may surprise many.
It seemed as though the Heat had shaken off their post-James depression, winning five out of their first seven games. The veterans appeared strong and ready to defend what was theirs, while the rookies and newbies showed excitement and promise. But fast forward to now and what you have is an injured Dwyane Wade, young guys underperforming and losses on three out of the last six games.
Of course, it is still very early in the 2014-2015 season, and just like anything else in life, achieving a goal takes time. Aside from losing James, Miami brought on a slew of new faces. That, combined with adjustments other teams in the Eastern conference made, led to a number of new dynamics the Heat still have to get used to.
However, aside from the norm, there are a few things the team needs to keep a close eye on in order to be successful in their journey ahead.
For starters, their three-point shooting needs to stay consistent. Last year Miami ranked twelfth in the league, relying on threats like Ray Allen, Shane Battier and James Jones. And while currently they are coming in at seventh, Shawne Williams is carrying the majority of the weight; Williams is draining almost 51 percent of his beyond-the-arc shots. Starters Wade and Luol Deng may want to work on their three-point game to keep the Heat in good standing for outside shooting.
Also, whatever bad juju the AmericanAirlines Arena currently possesses needs to be eliminated. It is a well-known fact that home court advantage can make all the difference in the world, but unfortunately Miami has only won about 43 percent of their home games this year. Whether the problem lies in the turf itself, or the crowd in the stands, something needs to be done because there should be no reason a team, much less the Heat, gets blown out in their own arena.
Defense has been an issue as well. With Miami ranking nineteenth in defensive efficiency and allowing over 104 points per 100 possessions, it is hard to believe that head coach Erik Spoelstra is know as a “defense-comes-first” type of strategist. But since he took over in 2008, he has never allowed his team to rank worse than eleventh; that is, until now. Whether the start of this season has simply been a fluke, or guys just have yet to trust each other, is to be determined. What is important is that defense becomes a larger priority, fast.
The good news though is that there are still positives, the most obvious of which is Chris Bosh. Aside from a brief slump, Bosh is on track for a record season with the Heat. Averaging 21.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, he has been a leader and role model for the rest of the squad; returning to Miami over signing with the Houston Rockets, Bosh surely wants to make the most of his decision.