The NBA's regular season is right around the corner, but even without game one having been played, the Miami Heat are already proving to be one of the big winners of the offseason. The acquisition of Giannis Antetokounmpo has completely changed the outlook for this franchise, and this is just the beginning.
But despite the strong start to the Giannis era, the Heat have much to prove. And many naysayers to prove wrong.
As we inch closer and closer to the start of the season, we explore four myths that the Heat (with Giannis) will definitely shatter before too long.
The Heat won't have an elite defense
Even though I'm not quite sure how this narrative would have much legs to walk on, there was a portion of the offseason in which some national media members were wondering if the Heat, with Giannis and Bam, would have enough defense to carry them.
That is laughable and probably says more about the media member than the Heat. Nevertheless, even if this myth still exists, it's going to be quickly struck down. The Heat are far more than just Giannis and Bam on the defensive end of the floor.
They have a myriad of very good defenders such as Davion Mitchell, Dru Smith, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, and Pelle Larsson. There may be a few concerns about the Heat heading into the start of the season. Defense won't be one of them.
Giannis is not a top-5 player anymore
If it hasn't become abundantly evident thus far in preseason, it will soon, not long after the start of the regular season. Giannis is still a top-5 player in the NBA. As long as he's healthy, that's not going to change. Not yet. To a certain extent, his injuries last season, understandably, blurred that.
But Giannis is not going to waste much time reminding the rest of the league just how good - and dominant - he still is at this point in his career.
By the time the NBA Playoffs roll around, I firmly believe that we're all going to see that the demise of Giannis has been greatly exaggerated.
Erik Spoelstra will struggle to make Giannis and Bam work
Much has been made about the concerns that could arise when it comes to the fit between Giannis and Bam, and understandably so. On paper, it's not necessarily a super clean fit. Meshing two alphas with very similar strengths could prove to be a difficult task.
And for most teams and coaches, that's a fair worry. But not for the Heat and Erik Spoelstra.
If there's one team and coach who you'd think could make it happen, it's this one. During his time with the Heat, Spoelstra has seen and done it all. With his track record, I can't imagine doubting him and his staff in their ability to figure out how to make the Giannis and Bam dynamic work.
Sooner rather than later, the rest of the league is going to quickly realize that.
Miami will be a play-in team
It's impossible to block out all the doubters, but I can't envision a scenario (one that doesn't include a colossal injury) where this team with Giannis isn't significantly better than what the Heat have trotted onto the floor each of the last few seasons.
At least to me, it's just absurd to think that the Heat are going to swap out Tyler Herro, Norman Powell, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, and Kel'el Ware for Giannis, Portis, Klay, Hardaway Jr., and only be marginally better.
I refuse to believe that.
I can almost guarantee that's not going to happen. As much as the haters may want it to be the case, the Heat are not going to be the huge failure that they're hoping to see them be. I truly believe that the Heat are going to be really, really good this season. But at the very least, they won't be a Play-In Tournament team. That streak is over.
Add us as a preferred source on Google