A Question of Chemistry - "Whose Team is the Miami Heat"?

no matter how good lebron might be, it will always be dwyanes team.

LeBron is the 2nd best player on this team… and yes he will average, or come really close to averaging, a triple double.

D-Wades house for sure.

When it comes to the final shot it doesn’t matter who takes it – defences are going to have issues running defence at one of them, let alone two…
Everyone knows Kobe takes the Lakers last shot (same as MJ for the Bulls) – could be either DWade or Lebron on a given night as long as they make the shot, and as long as they take a smart shot (looking at you Lebron…)

This is Wade’s team, Wade County.

like it was in Cleveland and if someone averages close to a triple double as a lot of people are thinking he might, then I see this pairing of them as being equals with all things considered. As far as the last second shot, I think either will get the shot. I look at this team as being built like the 90’s Bulls but potentially better, because Lebron is like Magic on offense and Pippin of defense. Besides the recent Pistons and great Bulls teams, all NBA champs over the last thirty years have had a dominant offensive low post scorer which answers a lot of the questions for both Lebron in all his time in Cleveland—Z was never a great low post scorer and Shaq was past his prime—and Wade since Shaq left. Look at Kobe, a great player no doubt, but when he did win championships, he had the most dominant low post scorer both times respectively. The Bulls did not have a dominant point guard or center and dominated. But, it will be interesting to see how the offense is worked out in camp and run during the season. I think this issue is certainly for the fans and pundits. I think these guys came together to win championships and will do whatever it takes.

I’d still pick Dwyane Wade over LeBron James any day. I mean, who here can honestly say that LeBron is more clutch than Wade? Seriously? Dwyane Wade had more ‘Kobe’ moments in the past 2 seasons than LeBron had in his entire career. When Wade takes the court in crunch time, some serious magic happens on court. He’s more motivated to come out with a burst of scoring than LeBron. Also, I think with their roles, LeBron will be dominating the offense in the first half. Then he’ll rest quite a bit in the 3rd, maybe even give Bosh a chance to shine in the 3rd. And Wade will be there to handle the Heat not only in the 4th with his outburst of scoring, but in the whole game with his playmaking. Wade’s team, no matter who comes down to South Beach.

We’ve got two of the three best players in the NBA, both of whom are completely unselfish in their approach to the game. I know a lot of people think this will be an issue, but I just don’t see it that way. There will be plenty of Steve Kerr moments to go around. As for the Heat lacking that dominant post presence, this is true. However, it can and will be overcome. A new chapter in the history of the NBA begins this season. The Heat are attempting to change the way the game is played. Never bet against D-Wade. And that Lebron guy’s pretty good too.

but both guys can take the last shot, just wade takes em more often, it really depends on who’s hot

even haslem has taken the last shot before

and bosh did it well in toronto

Wade is at his peak right now and will be for the next two years. By that time lebron will be peaking. yes people he hasn’t even played his best basketball yet. then it will still be Wades team with him respecting Lebrons “talents” and letting him take over

However, the person with the best matchup will be taking the last shot. All you guys are talking about this, but I dont think there will be very many close games in the regular season anyway

it is simple like that – both had to play their roles: In the 90s Jordan was the head guard and Pippen was the point foward, who does the whole work for the team and opens up plays for Jordan, who could make all this well selected shots, only because of the work of Pippen and later Rodman. I ask my self: Is Lebron willing to settle down? I don’t know, but maybe they find a great mix (if Spoelstra do it in the right way) and also Bron said it before: Wade is a champion already and he respect that a lot. Wade at the other side has the makeup of a champion – dominated on his final trip, like only Jordan and Magic were able. I hope and I believe that Lebron will be the next Scottie Pippen and it was his own decision to do so! We will see a more dominating Wade, because he is more effectiv if he doesn’t have to make all that contested shots. Lebron has the chance of making a triple double season and that will most likely boost up his work ethic for rebounding and also passing the ball. His PPG will definitely go down to the 20 mark, but thats fairly enough if Bosh make 20 too and Wade does 25+.

At the end of a game I would choose Chalmers to make the big shot. He has done it before and that could be his role on the team – maybe you will laughing now but I can imagine that this guy will be the next Derek Fischer or Chauncey Billups and if 2 points are enough I would always choose Wade. He is the best in driving to the basket but must make his three-throws if he’s getting fouled. I remember LA, where he missed one and Kobe hits the bank-3 pointer to win that game. I guess DWade got a lot of nightmares after that game…. It hurts a lot and I’m only just a little Heat fan, still more a Celtics-guy… (but that switches more and more….)

On most championship teams, there is a “go to” player, who has the ball in his hands at “winning time”. For the Lakers, it’s Kobe Bryant, for the Celtics, Paul Pierce, for the Spurs, Tim Duncan, and for the Heat, at least until this season, Dwyane Wade.

The Celtics have and will continue to run end-of-game plays for Ray Allen. And KG was widely considered the best player on that team until at least his ‘09 injury, despite being the “A-Rod” to Pierce’s “Derek Jeter.” No chemistry problems there, and that’s considering those players weren’t the friends and international teammates our guys are. They would have three-peated had they not had their injury issues.

This Heat team is constructed more like those Celtics, or the Spurs. Pop has no problem letting Ginobili take the last shot, and there could even be an argument that Manu was their MVP in ‘05. Parker was actually the MVP in ’07. That’s a well-balanced team that won three titles in five years.

Is it any surprise that LeBron made the decision he did, when three of his last four playoff exits came at the hands of a team with an elite Big 3 that sacrificed personal glory to be perennial championship contenders?

Wade might be the de facto leader right now, but he is three years older with a possibly shorter career window. This team will become “LeBron’s” soon enough, and it’s obvious Wade is okay with that if it means competing for titles over the next years. These guys all know their history, and they probably don’t really care who’s the Kareem, who’s the Magic, and who’s the Worthy of the group, as long as they’re hoisting the trophy together at season’s end.

Personally, I am in the group that thinks LeBron doesn’t deserve alpha status after that pathetic showing in the Celtics series in games 4-6, no matter how well he plays with the Heat.

Give me a break. He played better in Games 1, 3, and 6 than Kobe did in any game of this year’s Finals. LeBron carried his team in ’07 to a Finals they had no business being in, was the reason they took the ’08 champion Celtics to seven games, and against the Magic in ’09 played as great as Jordan or Magic ever did in the playoffs.

Reasons 1 through 10 why the Cavs never won it all have to do with supporting cast and coaching. The regular season doesn’t matter beyond seeding and that team was never built or managed to beat elite teams in the playoffs.

I don’t doubt LeBron had some lousy games against the Celtics this year, but that was a playoff team for the ages, embarrassing everybody (almost including Kobe) with their defensive brilliance. If LeBron really could have carried the Cavs to a title, he would have done so and left a winner and a hero. But nobody could have carried that overrated team, with no #2 option, past the dangerous competition it faced.

Blah blah blah LeBron was insensitive about how he left the Cavs. Nobody is disagreeing with that point, now let’s move on and understand the logic behind it and let’s talk basketball.

Dwyane Wade.
Go to guy? Wade or Bron.

Wade or Bron, depending on who is open.*

I’m constantly hearing from the Heat critics that team chemistry will lead to this team’s downfall. I’m just not buying it. Chemistry is good, but people are giving it entirely too much weight. As far as what it takes to win a NBA championship, I’d say talent is maybe 80%, team chemistry is about 15%, luck is about 5%.

The weakest argument I continue to hear regarding the importance of chemistry is comparisons with the failures of USA Basketball to win gold in intl competitions in the mid 2000’s. Chemistry is lot more important in college basketball and international play because those tournament are one and done scenarios. The NBA playoffs are best 4 out of 7 series. If intl competetion was set up that way, the USA would never loose because even our “B teams” are superior in talent to the rest of the world. In the NBA playoffs elite talent wins 90% of the time.
 
 

TEAM offensive flow, and more importantly TEAM defensive flow over the couse of the entire game, require time together on the court to achieve.

It’s evident that LeBron’s ego is the biggest in the league – so he could cause problems if winning turns out to be more difficult than most are predicting…

Having made those points, I’ll go further to say that those who discount the fact that the Heat will have a very good chance of showing great chemistry since many of the players are friends and have played together. The MV3 were teammates on the gold medal Olympic team, Miller and Haslem are friends, Haslem is obviously a member of the championship team, Z is a long time friend and teammate of LBJ.Anthony, Jones and Chalmers are all leftover from last year’s team. The chemistry on this Heat team has been often underrated I believe.

All you can treasonably alk about is potential…

Dam typo’s

Geez, with this type of talk, you’re turning into laker fans. Lebron is the best player in the league. Who cares about stupid questions like, “who’s team is this” Lebron’s the best player, so it’s his team. I’m not sure how hard of a concept this is for some of you to grasp.

I can’t agree that a guy who quit on his teammates and home area fans halfway through the Celtics series can in any way be referred to as “best”.

Defensive monster? Really? Passing like Nash?

Wow

They are both alpha’s LBJ didn’t get MVP of the regular season twice just cause n D. Wade wasn’t the MVP of the Finals just cause they are both Alpha’s that will share the spotlight and both of them don’t mind sharing they just want to win and to win for them is being NBA Champions. Sure its D. Wade team but he himself said now I have roomates that can help take care of our home. LBJ n D.Wade r both the leaders of the team CB1 is after that. Some nights one may have a better night than the other but thats a problem both of them would have loved to have last year. Lets go Miami Heat!!!!!!!!