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| Heat players look on from the bench in their 93-77 loss to the Pacers (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) |
The Heat lost their opening game against, in my opinion, the real "Big Three" of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics. An 88-80 defeat at the hands of Eastern Conference powerhouse Boston was not what was expected of high-powered Miami. Now the Heat sit at 8-6 and play the Orlando Magic tonight and could perhaps be facing yet another loss.
Coming into tonight's matchup, the Heat are on a two-game losing streak after being slammed by the Pacers on Monday, a game in which Wade only had three points. Although Bosh has finally gotten his game going averaging 24.5 points and 10.25 rebounds in the last four games, Wade has fallen off the radar only averaging 10.3 points in the past three games he has played in. (Wade sat out the loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.) That's more than 11 points lower than his season average of 21.4.
Now fingers are being pointed at head coach Erik Spoelstra. Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson said in a phone interview that he thinks Wade, James, and Bosh should get Riley to coach. In theory, it is a good idea. However, I think that it may be a more complicated issue than Spoelstra being a run-of-the-mill coach.
The Miami Heat have a problem with their depth and a lack of extraordinary talent outside the New Big Three. This was plain for me to see at the beginning of the year. Yes, three superstars are intimidating, but if you look at the rest of the team, there is nothing to say that Miami is a big threat. Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas has had a very decent career in Cleveland, but coming into this year with the Heat he is 35 years old. Unlike 38-year-old Shaquille O'Neal of the Celtics, Ilgauskas has never had stellar athleticism. As a young buck a player can be a little slow and still have a sizable impact much like Ilgauskas did in his early days in Cleveland. But now slow becomes slower and a slow 35-year-old center cannot do much to stop quick young centers and forwards like Orlando's Dwight Howard and New York's Amar'e Stoudemire. The reason I make the comparison to Shaq is because he once had that quick step that Ilgauskas never had. Quick can become slow and still be effective (for example, Shaq), but slow becomes slower and becomes ineffective (for example, Ilgauskas).
Still, Big Z is not the only problem with the Heat bench. Pat Riley brought in Mike Miller who has yet to play this season as he is nursing an injury. Miller looks to return Christmas day to face the Lakers. Also, point guard Mario Chalmers has not produced this season with his lack of minutes. Chalmers is averaging just around seven minutes per game while a high ankle sprain suffered this summer still nags him.
With the lack of depth of the Miami Heat it is difficult to see much success in their future even with the incredible talent of the New Big Three. Carlos Arroyo and James Jones provide only small sparks to the Heat's flame and Ilgauskas and Juwan Howard are not exactly in their primes. Miami picked up veteran Eric Dampier with Udonis Haslem out for the season after having foot surgery. Things are not on the up for the self-proclaimed powerhouse of the NBA.
As the Heat head into Orlando tonight to face the Southeast Division-leading Magic and Dwight Howard, they may be in for a long night despite the court-wiping Miami performed in the duo's last matchup in which the Heat won by 26. In this game, as I mentioned earlier, the Heat have lost two straight and are not playing stellar basketball. They look to turn it around tonight, but if they do lose and lose badly, the Heat's flame may just die out.
p.s. I am picking the Magic to win tonight.
p.p.s. My Phoenix Suns play the Bulls tonight. Go Suns.
p.p.p.s. For more senseless babble, follow me on Twitter. twitter.com/bradley_w_parks
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