Why the Heat aren't a lock to win the title next year?

[dsallupinyaarea]

They have a roster filled with guys that haven't figured out how to win yet. Other than Dwayne Wade and Udonis Haslem no one on that team has proven to be a winner.

LeBron James - If you think he's a winner please go back and watch games 5 and 6 of the 2010 eastern conference semi-finals. I've never seen a superstar athlete act so indifferent to the outcome of a game. Or you can go back and watch his post-game press conference following game 7 of the 2008 eastern conference semis (the game when James and pierce went bananas and basically traded baskets at the end of the 4th). The guy doesn't seem to care that he lost. He almost seemed happy to be there.
Chris Bosh – Hasn’t played in a 2^nd round playoff game in his entire career.
Mike Miller – Hasn’t played in a playoff game since 06
Juwan Howard – I didn’t even know he was alive.
Mario Chalmers – Potential to step up but nothing proven yet.

In basketball, unlike any other sport, you have to learn how to win. In football or baseball you can get hot and ride a streak to the finals but it rarely ever happens in basketball. The 2008 Boston Celtics are the only team, in recent memory, which were put together and won the 1^st year. It almost doesn’t count either because that team was put together with veteran players that went through he bumps elsewhere. Kobe’s Lakers, Duncan’s Spurs Wade’s Heat, Shaq’s Lakers, and Jordan’s Bulls. All of those teams went through their bumps before they broke through.

On top of all that, the Lakers are a tough match-up for the Heat. Who is Chris Bosh going to guard (assuming he decides to play defense this year)? Ron Artest can slow down Lebron James. Kobe and Wade are a wash. Kobe will be super motivated next year because he knows what’s at stake. A 2^nd 3-Peat while taking down the super-team would elevate him up at least one level on the Mount Rushmore of basketball, and he knows it.

[Cebby]

They aren't a lock but they're clearly the co-favorites with the Lakers.

Quote:

Kobe’s Lakers, Duncan’s Spurs Wade’s Heat, Shaq’s Lakers, and Jordan’s Bulls. All of those teams went through their bumps before they broke through.

Because they were rookies playing for teams not anywhere close to the Heat. The only similar team was the 2008 Celtics.

The Spurs, Heat, and Bulls had the #1, #5, and #3 picks for a reason.

[driddy]

I've been rewatching the playoffs on NBA TV and something stands out, in crunch time, you have to have guys that will take and make that shot. Fisher, Kobe, Gasol have no problem chucking it in crunch time and Fisher seems to improve his percentage when the game is on the line. Lebron and Wade have no problem but based on the sports illustrated article, Lebron wants to pass those off so Wade and Bosh will get the shots and Im betting Bosh shrinks up in those moments. I don't see Miami getting out of the east, due to their coach being untested and Bosh getting punked. The other guys are non factors because the stars lead the fourth quarters. Every championship team has that guy that rallies them to play defense, and these guys don't have that guy. They will trade baskets until someone shuts them down, then the ahead will buckle.

[Chip Douglass]

You basically answered your own question.

[stopper654]

Ron Artest slowing down Lebron???? You can't be serious bout that, no way in hell artest can slow down lebron one on one.

[Big3Heat631]

relying on artest to stop lebron will work as well as chocolate and chicken soup.

[ex carrabba fan]

Who in the world called them a lock

[dsallupinyaarea]

Quote: Originally Posted by ex carrabba fan

Who in the world called them a lock

Point taken. I should say this is why they aren't favorites.

I said slow down Lebron. No one on the planet can stop Lebron. The Lakers brought Artest on for four reasons. Carmello, Lebron, Pierce and Durant. Now if he'd just stop shooting the basketball.......