The Miami Heat are ready to contend for a title this year. After a strong start to their 2021-22 campaign, the Heat look like they will contend for one of the top spots in the East. Another team that is expected to be at the top is the Brooklyn Nets. But will they?
Heading into the season, the Brooklyn Nets were heavily favored to win the NBA title because of their superstar trio of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden. However, Kyrie Irving has yet to play a game this season for the Nets. This will continue until, or if, he is “eligible to be a full participant,” according to GM Sean Marks.
The team made the decision in response to Irving’s failure to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Until he no longer puts the safety of his teammates and their families at risk, he will not be able to play for the Nets.
While Kyrie Irving holds the right to make his own decision regarding the vaccine, it shows that he is not putting basketball first. If he does not get vaccinated soon, it is possible he will be traded. For now, it appears that the Nets will be playing without him.
Even without Kyrie Irving, the Nets still have the talent of Durant and Harden, so they could still win it all. However, being without Irving definitely hurts them, even if they trade for another star. The Nets did not want to destroy the chemistry of the team by adding a part-time Irving into the mix, but some issues are already taking place.
Miami Heat: Why The Kyrie Irving Situation Helps Them Immensely
First, the Nets are not doing too well. They are off to a 1-2 start, which is not great for a team with two of the top ten players in the NBA. Their defense has not improved and they have given up scores of 127, 109, and 111 points to their opponents in each of their three games.
It has been far too common for their opponents to score easy baskets without being challenged. On more than several possessions in each of these games, players have driven into the paint and scored without any help defense to meet them.
Second, while he is still putting up decent numbers, James Harden isn’t off to the start most expected from him as an NBA superstar. Through three games, he is averaging only 18.3 points per game on 39 percent shooting with 5.7 turnovers.
If the Nets are going to win it all. Harden needs to be better. The league is too competitive now. But will the Nets be able to push through all of their struggles?
With all of the drama the Nets have faced so far, they might not be able to, even with Kevin Durant putting up MVP numbers every night.
Miami Heat: Their Timeline Matches Up Perfectly With The Chaos
In light of this whole situation, the Miami Heat might be ready to contend at the perfect time. The impact of Kyle Lowry has already shown, the pace and defense have drastically improved for the Heat, and Bam Adebayo has been getting easier shots.
Tyler Herro has proven to be a very effective scorer for Miami as well. They also still have Jimmy Butler, who contributes in every way as the leader of the team. Once Victor Oladipo returns, the Miami Heat should be even better than they are now.
So, how exactly does the Kyrie Irving situation correlate to the Heat’s preparation for this season? Well first, if the Nets are without Irving, the Heat match up better against the Nets talent-wise.
Without Irving, the Nets are beatable. The Miami Heat have a good enough roster to beat them. How do we know this if they haven’t played each other yet? Well, the Milwaukee Bucks’ success reveals a lot about the Heat’s chances against the Nets without Kyrie.
In the playoffs last year, the Bucks defeated the Nets in seven games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. In the series, the Nets played three games without Kyrie Irving, but with James Harden.
Miami Heat: The Bucks Are A Team To Use For Data Collection
In those three games, Harden put up similar numbers to what he is putting up so far this season. The Bucks were able to capitalize on the situation and win in Game 7. This season, the Bucks blew out the Nets by 23 points.
If the Bucks could beat the Nets in all four of these games, then so can the Heat. Although it is true that the Bucks swept the Heat last year in the playoffs, this year the Heat are truly ready for the season.
In their season opener, Miami destroyed the Bucks by 42 points. In that game, they limited the Bucks on defense while shooting a hot 53% from the field and 43% from three as a team.
While it is more difficult to limit the Nets defensively, it is possible to shoot that well against them. The Bucks have a significantly better defense than the Nets. If the Bucks couldn’t contain the Heat, what chance do the Nets have?
In the playoffs, no team will get blown out by 42., but Miami’s outing against the Bucks shows what they are capable of against any team. Defeating the Nets or the Bucks will still be a challenge in the playoffs, but it is a challenge that the Heat are prepared for, and can overcome.
Miami Heat: Their Title Chances Are As High As Anyone’s
Next, the Miami Heat do not have to deal with the drama of unvaccinated players that some teams like the Nets have had to deal with. Tyler Herro confirmed the vaccination status of the team by saying, “we’re a fully vaccinated team.”
There are certain benefits that come with NBA teams being fully vaccinated. Since the Miami Heat are fully vaccinated, they don’t have to worry about issues like players not being able to practice or play together.
They can meet anywhere, anytime, without any restrictions. That already gives them a huge advantage. Furthermore, it shows that they are ready to put basketball first. They don’t have to deal with any outside drama regarding vaccinations.
Just like every year, the Miami Heat have built their culture around maintaining focus throughout the course of the season. As a result, they are always ready to contend in the playoffs.
Although the Eastern Conference is strong this year, the Heat have a talented roster that plays well together. They can pick apart the weaknesses of each team and take advantage of them. If the Kyrie Irving drama continues for the Brooklyn Nets, the Miami Heat could have a legitimate shot at the title.