The Miami Heat finished week one of the season with a record of 2-1. Their only loss came by way of the Timberwolves on the road, the second of a back to back set.
The Miami Heat are off to a pretty good start. Having to make somewhat moderate comebacks during all three of their games so far, the only fault you can have is that they haven’t started games the way you would like to see them start them off.
With that in mind though, the Miami Heat have been both a pleasant surprise and exactly what we thought they would be. Let us explain.
Prior to the season, when everybody was making their predictions and/or projections, of course we got in on the fun. What we thought, differed from what most others thought, however. While we may have been predisposed to a bit of bias, we thought we were being as authentic, legit, and unbiased as possible.
When taking an inventory of the Eastern Conference prior to the seasons open, the “top” teams on everyone’s lists just didn’t look to us like they looked to everyone else. Indiana was a team to watch according to some, but we thought they would struggle mightily with their huge but underskilled big man rotation. You also have to account for the massive void that is not having Victor Oladipo.
The Indiana Pacers are currently 0-2 to open the season. Many said Boston would be much better than the Miami Heat and a threat to run away with the East, but they look very beatable as well, while Kemba Walker‘s chemical upgrade hasn’t proven to be that much of a favorable factor to this Celtics team yet.
The Philadelphia 76ers are who we thought they were, a dominant, big, and physically imposing team. But they too look beatable, even if they have an insider on their side now. The Atlanta Hawks are surprisingly 2-0 to open the season, currently tied with the 76ers sitting atop the East, but that will be addressed this Tuesday and Thursday. The Miami Heat face them on those days in back to back meetings.
Figure this though, the Miami Heat have accomplished what they’ve accomplished thus far with a somewhat undermanned roster. Jimmy Butler hasn’t played a game this season, reportedly due to the birth of his daughter. James Johnson and Dion Waiters haven’t played either, although due to their own transgressions, while Derrick Jones Jr. was notably absent in the Minnesota game due to a groin injury.
That is the surprise though. Without all of their pieces, they have looked very good as a unit early on in the season. We didn’t think they would be able to put things together like they have this early.
What this means though is that the Miami Heat looks to be for real. They have a ton of swagger, energy, and firepower. This team doesn’t lack consistent offensive punch, as they seemingly have over the past few seasons.
On top of the massive amounts of shooting and scoring they appear to have in general, they have big-time weapons as apart of this arsenal. They have snipers like Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson. They have high powered machine guns, like the constantly attacking you Bam Adebayo and Kendrick Nunn.
They have torpedo launchers like Justise Winslow and Derrick Jones Jr., who come straight at you to go through you, around you, or right over the top of you. They have long-range tanks like Kelly Olynyk and Meyers Leonard.
They even have a fire breathing Dragon that they bring out of the cave or off the bench in Goran Dragic, burning benches and second unit guys to a crisp. Now tie this all together with the nuke that is Jimmy Butler, and you have quite the arsenal at your disposal.
One thing to keep in mind is that this team is still and will continue to get better as the season progresses. The rest of the league and the conference are probably taking notice now, but that won’t help. This Miami Heat team is for real and they would rather you see them coming, that way there are no excuses, expanding reasonings, or brush offs that can occur.