Miami Heat: 3 Solid Reasons Why They Do Have A Championship Roster
By Noah Decker
The Miami Heat moved quickly this offseason. They added several pieces to their roster, with the intent to win now.
While the Eastern Conference has gotten much stronger, the Heat should still be near the top of the conference standings. But are their offseason additions enough to make another finals run?
Here is why the additions the Miami Heat have made to their roster this offseason have put them into legitimate contention for an NBA title.
1. They Have A Center… In A League Where That Matters Again
The NBA used to be a league dominated by big men. If you did not have a Wilt Chamberlain, a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, or a Shaquille O’Neal on your team, you probably weren’t winning too many games.
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While the NBA has not completely turned back into a center-run league, the center position has made a comeback, but with a modern twist. Last year, two centers led the voting for the MVP award.
The MVP winner, Nikola Jokic, is not a traditional center, but he has the size of a big man. What separates him from other centers is that he has an uncanny talent for playmaking.
Another untraditional NBA big man is Giannis Antetokounmpo. While he is not a center, he dominates the paint like Shaquille O’ Neal or David Robinson would.
Giannis has two MVP awards, a Defensive Player of the Year Award, a Most Improved Player Award, an NBA championship, and a Finals MVP in his collection. Big men matter again in the NBA.
It’s really that simple. Teams do not need to have a traditional dominant center, but they need someone who can at least guard the center position.
The Miami Heat have exactly that in Bam Adebayo. While he is only 6’9”, Adebayo can do just about everything a center is expected to do.
He is a great rebounder and defender. His playmaking abilities make it easier for him and his teammates to get open looks.
He is working on developing a solid mid-range shot. Bam is continuing to improve at every level of the game.
Adebayo is already one of the top centers in the NBA. He is an elite defender who can guard almost any position.
If he becomes a true inside presence and a threat on the offensive end, teams better watch out. He would be absolutely unstoppable.