Was the Big Three move a success for Miami, and were the Heat offseason winners?
Normally, when you look at it, you see the Heat going 58-24 and winning their first round series in five games as a good sign. However, in this case, it could be a bad sign.
The Heat struggled for three of their four wins and gave up a comfortable fourth quarter lead in Game 4, which they lost. The bench has not done very well, and if the Heat struggle against the 76ers, well, they won't have fun against Boston.
Boston ended the season rough but shook that off in New York, sweeping the Knicks 4-0 and completing an 8-0 season sweep of New York. Boston struggled for both home wins, but easily racked up two wins at Madison Square Garden, eliminating the Knicks.
If the C's take care of the Heat like that, and if the Heat don't start to succeed and win championships, some people may start to wonder if the signing of Bosh, James, and Wade was all necessary.
The Heat are getting some contribution from the bench, and just enough to survive Philadelphia. But with all the Heat's money, they could have stacked up good players, and spread out the talent around the supporting cast (like Boston, except younger and more athletic).
Sure, the move to pick up James, Bosh, and Wade has definitely paid off, but could the Heat have been even better? Could they have added more depth, and signed James, Wade, and some bench talent, or Bosh, Wade, and some valuable players (about two or three). Remember, in the NBA, two is better than one.
Boston and Chicago are no easy opponents. Chicago is stacked with Derrick Rose, Carlos Boozer and a great supporting cast, and the Big Three+One has Boston riding high. Plus, Miami is only 30-11 at home this year and they lost the season series 3-1 against the Celtics. Miami will need someone, like Mike Bibby, to step up and make plays for the Heat, and enough plays so Miami can stop the Celtics.
Even though the Bulls had a lot of trouble with the Pacers, it looks like they are still boasting a better performance. Miami has a tough road to the Finals, and even if Chicago loses to Atlanta or Orlando, the winner of that would still provide a big challenge. Three more rounds for Miami suddenly looks hard.
The bench really has the final say on this series. If the Big Three does their job, it will be down to the bench to put on the finishing touches. Boston will definitely outscore the Big Three of Miami, but the bench can put the Heat over the top in that round, in the Eastern Conference Finals, and even the NBA Finals.
It will be hard, but Miami still has a chance. Like I said (or emphasized about a million times), the bench is so key. If the bench doesn't step up, the Big Three signing of July 7 and 8 2010 will be one of the most questioned events in sports history.
The Heat struggled for three of their four wins and gave up a comfortable fourth quarter lead in Game 4, which they lost. The bench has not done very well, and if the Heat struggle against the 76ers, well, they won't have fun against Boston.
Boston ended the season rough but shook that off in New York, sweeping the Knicks 4-0 and completing an 8-0 season sweep of New York. Boston struggled for both home wins, but easily racked up two wins at Madison Square Garden, eliminating the Knicks.
If the C's take care of the Heat like that, and if the Heat don't start to succeed and win championships, some people may start to wonder if the signing of Bosh, James, and Wade was all necessary.
The Heat are getting some contribution from the bench, and just enough to survive Philadelphia. But with all the Heat's money, they could have stacked up good players, and spread out the talent around the supporting cast (like Boston, except younger and more athletic).
Sure, the move to pick up James, Bosh, and Wade has definitely paid off, but could the Heat have been even better? Could they have added more depth, and signed James, Wade, and some bench talent, or Bosh, Wade, and some valuable players (about two or three). Remember, in the NBA, two is better than one.
Boston and Chicago are no easy opponents. Chicago is stacked with Derrick Rose, Carlos Boozer and a great supporting cast, and the Big Three+One has Boston riding high. Plus, Miami is only 30-11 at home this year and they lost the season series 3-1 against the Celtics. Miami will need someone, like Mike Bibby, to step up and make plays for the Heat, and enough plays so Miami can stop the Celtics.
Even though the Bulls had a lot of trouble with the Pacers, it looks like they are still boasting a better performance. Miami has a tough road to the Finals, and even if Chicago loses to Atlanta or Orlando, the winner of that would still provide a big challenge. Three more rounds for Miami suddenly looks hard.
The bench really has the final say on this series. If the Big Three does their job, it will be down to the bench to put on the finishing touches. Boston will definitely outscore the Big Three of Miami, but the bench can put the Heat over the top in that round, in the Eastern Conference Finals, and even the NBA Finals.
It will be hard, but Miami still has a chance. Like I said (or emphasized about a million times), the bench is so key. If the bench doesn't step up, the Big Three signing of July 7 and 8 2010 will be one of the most questioned events in sports history.
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