The Miami Heat Should Exceed Expectations (2016-17)
Even though many NBA pundits expect the Miami Heat to be a lottery team that shouldn't be the case as the team should exceed expectations. This is because Dwyane Wade was unintentionally preventing the Miami Heat from reaching their full potential on offense as the team is going to run a similar offense like they ran when LeBron James was on the team. Where the paint is relatively empty giving Dragic the option and freedom to pass or attack the basket depending on what the defense is showing. For instance, if the defense decides to collapse he will most likely pass it to the perimeter for an open shot or pass it to a player who is cutting towards the basket. If they do not, he will shoot a jumper or drive depending on whether the defense sags off or plays close to him. But this type of offense was unlikely to be displayed on a consistent basis because Dragic wanted to be a good teammate and allow Wade to play his game to avoid potential conflict with the superstar of the team.
As a result of this, the Miami Heat were running an offense where Dragic will most of the time bring the ball up to the three-point line and passing the ball to Dwyane Wade or other teammates so they can create their own shot as well as facilitate for the rest of the team while Dragic stands in a spot behind three-point line waiting for an opportunity to shoot. This led to the rest of the starters taking a bunch of mid-range jump shots because they don’t have the speed to constantly get by their defender and when they decide to attack the basket they either take a contested shot or pass it back out. This type of offense prevented the team making a deep playoff run since opposing defenses won't have to worry about constantly rotating to the open man because they know that the Heat starters don’t have the speed to constantly get by their defender which allows them to mostly to play man to man.
However, since the Miami Heat decided not to re-sign Wade this off-season, it allows Dragic to have total control of the offense without having to worry about potential conflict thus his and the team's production will substantially increase.
Similarly, the Heat should see an improvement in their defensive performance because the team assembled a roster that can help cover up for Hassan Whiteside's lack of pick and roll defense last season. For instance, when Whiteside is forced to defend a pick and roll he refuses to come out pass the free throw line because one would think that he feels that he isn't quick enough to get back to the basket in time to contest a potential shot at the rim. Which forces the guard who is caught in the pick and roll to make a decision on whether to stay with his man or go to cover the player who is going to pop and in both scenarios it would lead to a wide open long two or a three point shot. However, that issue should improve because the team has managed to put a bunch of perimeter players who have very good lateral quickness and agility. As a result of this, the team can easily switch or slide over to cover up the open lane to the basket thus forcing the offense to reset.
In conclusion, I expect the heat to improve on both sides of the floor thus the Heat should exceed expectations and be a 7 or 8th seed.
