Now what I will take issue with, is this notion that Heat players, specifically the superstars, talking as if they are martyrs; no sir...don't play that card. While I will admit that the venom that is being spewed toward the Heat is more than I have ever seen before from NBA fans at arenas. I mean at the beginning of the year, they were getting booed relentlessly as a team (I'm not so sure that this is still the case, especially when you consider their recent struggles). I will also concede that there were SOME in the media who had already "crowned" this heat team as the greatest assembly of talent that we have ever seen and that they would "easily shatter the Bulls 72 regular season wins (see Jeff Van Gundy)." But as we really sit back and look at what to make of this team, it is imperative that true sports fans and reasonably objective individuals speak out and dispel all of the hype that surrounds this team, expose their weakness and offer plausible and pertinent solutions that might make this team competitive come playoff time; that is what I aim to do today.
1) Get Real- Real basketball fans understand that "teams" win basketball games, not individuals. Right now, the Celtics and Spurs are examples of great teams. The Lakers, Bulls and Thunder would be examples of really good teams, with an outstanding winner (Kobe, Durant, Rose). All the Heat are right now is a combination of great players who haven't played much together and a bunch of guys who have not been able to consistently do their job...and while they could eventually become a great team or a really good team, people need to understand that it will take time.
2) Chris Bosh Grow A Pair- This guy is not a winner. At best he is a glorified role player with a nice jumper and a flare for disappearing in the clutch; and he is allergic to banging for rebounds. I saw last night that he said something to the affect of he needs to be in the post and start demanding the basketball...and while I agree with that, you aren't playing with Jose Calderon. Bosh needs to establish himself as a low post presence before he can start demanding anything...
3) In Crunch time Know Your Role- Lebron is not a closer...he is a smart basketball player. He doesn't have a killer instinct ala Jordan and Kobe, but he always knows the right play to make for others. Stop trying to be a closer Lebron. the heat need to put Lebron in the block late in games and allow him to make plays for the shooters (Attn: Miller, Chalmers, Bibby, Jones, House...all you need to do at practice, after practice before practice is shoot from 3 point range. If yall don't start hitting those shots consistently, you will continue to be an embarrasment). Bosh...i know it's hard for you, but late in the game you need to forfeit your offense game and become a rebounding, defensive minded big... and when the Heat need that last shot, for goodness sake Spolestr run the play for D. Wade so that you can get someone who has a little bit of killer instinct.
4) Finally- Just play ball. Do you havea target on your back? YES. But i contend that you should when you throw a party for yourselves when the season starts adn you openly talk about winning multiple rings. Do you have a great collection of core talent? Yes...but again, it's going to take time for it all to gel. So when you lose continue to say, "we will figure it out" and leave it there. Don't start offering up excuses and trying to say that the rest of NBA fans are"getting what they want" every time you lose; fyi the smart money was on Boston and now looks a lot like Chicago will have something to say about winning the east, well before the season started.
At then end of the day we just want you to either be Hot or be Cold....but don't give us Lukewarm...it just taste bad that way.
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