With how much Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat are being overlooked across the league, it's going to be nearly impossible for them not to prove the masses wrong this season. In fact, if Giannis can remain healthy, there's a very good chance that the Heat, especially if they can gel early, will soar past their projected regular-season win total.
But that notion is not something that is shared across the national landscape. In fact, two prominent NBA reporters are fading the Heat's 46.5-win total for this upcoming season. On the Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast, both Windhorst and Tim MacMahon are siding with the under on the Heat this season.
Their explanations were simple. It's the idea that it's going to take time for Giannis to mesh with the rest of the team, especially Bam Adebayo. The Heat's lack of shooting was also mentioned, along with the fact that the Eastern Conference has gotten much more difficult over the summer.
Giannis Antetokounmpo's greatness is being sorely overlooked
All fair points. Of course, there's just one exception to all that. Many are forgetting just how great of a player Giannis is, and the type of impact he will end up having for the Heat.
Let's just put it this way: the prognosticators are essentially saying that Giannis is worth 3.5 more wins for the Heat. That's just crazy. Sure, there are the injury concerns, but when Giannis was healthy, he was averaging 28 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists on 62 percent shooting from the field.
Plus, let's remember that Giannis reportedly wanted to return late in the season, but that idea was shot down by the Milwaukee Bucks in hopes that they could get a better draft pick. Giannis only played in 36 games last season, but that should've been a higher number if it weren't for the Bucks stepping in.
That tells me that the concern around Giannis' health could be a bit exaggerated heading into this upcoming season.
If nothing else, Giannis and the Heat are going to enter this season with an even bigger chip on their shoulder. As they should. The NBA's orbit continues to doubt the Heat or take away from the big move that they made to tip off the offseason.
The concern about the team's supporting cast is surely understandable, but with two stars as talented and versatile as Bam and Giannis are, it'd be insane to think that Miami won't take a huge step forward this upcoming season.
Even more so with one of the best players in the world getting all the extra motivation that he needs.
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