Every Monday during the NBA season The Hoops Manifesto and its Bloguin bredren team up to answer some of the burning questions from the world of the NBA. In this edition we diagnose what is ailing the Miami Heat, determine if the Hornets are for real and decide whether Steve Nash is finally slowing down or not.
Contributors: Jeff Fox from The Hoops Manifesto, Diego from Leaving It All On The Court, Aaron Hodges, Peaceman and LIVES from Knicks Fanatics, Philip from Orlando Magic Daily, Deborah Horton from Hawks Highlights, Brendan from Stepien Rulesand brumbygg & Don from With Malice.
1) The Miami Heat have about four more losses than many people who have predicted at this point in the season. What’s the problem down in South Beach?
“Oh, nothing too serious is wrong with Miami – just a little issue of having NO POINT GUARD OR CENTER!!! Their starting big men are averaging 9.4 rpg (Kevin Garnett is averaging 10.4 alone for Boston; Pau Gasoland Lamar Odom combine for 22.7 for L.A.). No team has won a NBA Championship lacking both a premier point guard and center since Jordan’s Bulls. And, to make matters worse, the dissension in South Beach has already started, with LeBron complaining about playing too many minutes.” – Jeff Fox
“The three teams Miami has lost against — Boston, New Orleans and Utah — all have stellar point guards. Erik Spoelstra has to decide how he wants to play the elite point guards; and in my mind, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James should take turns guarding them. Miami has also displayed a lack of interior force on either side of the court, and Chris Bosh has left much to be desired so far. But this is a long season and issues will get sorted out along the way. As a die-hard Heat fan, I’m not worried at all – and I would feel less intrigued about his season if Miami was 9-0 right now.” – Diego Quezada
“I don’t think the new Big 3 (ha!) are anywhere close to working together. When KG and Ray went to Boston they all bought into a ‘team first’ approach. Everyone’s ego took a back seat in order to reach the prize. A lot of this was also due to Doc Rivers who never received due credit for his ability to manage his team. Jump forward to modern day South Beach where the egos are not willing to let the whole be greater than the sum of their parts and a coach who, frankly, looks like a deer in the headlights. Pat is going to head down to the bench sooner rather than later.” – brumbygg
“Too many alpha dogs. And too many crucial holes in defense. I said at the start of the season that there were too many egos at Miami, and it was interesting to hear Erik Spoelstra say “Lower the ego” during a half-time rant vs the Celtics in Miami. And intriguing to hear Udonis Haslem intimate that at some times the effort wasn’t as good as it could be. As all and sundry pointed out, regardless of what awesome defensive efforts Wade/James put out, the Heat have massive deficiencies at the point and at center. Bosh just isn’t cutting it. And who have they been burnt with? Four games against teams with at least competent bigs and elite level points… four losses. Near the bottom of the league for points in the paint, second-chance points and offensive boards. The offense is lacking as well. What does this all add up to? Erik Spoelstra, when the Heat isn’t on, the heat is on you. Has to be feeling Pat Riley’s breath on the back of his neck by now.” – Don
“Chemistry, leadership and toughness. This issue / problem both starts and ends with LeBron James. There is no accountability with LeBron, as evident by the fact that he has now launched “Coach Spo” under the bus after the two recent losses to both Utah and Boston. Bosh is overrated as well, and Shaq might’ve been right about him. I’d love to hear Wade’s mind “mic’d up” these days.” – Brendan
“They have not yet figured out how to play as a team. They play individual games as they have in their careers with their other teams. LeBron and no one else. Wade and no one else. Bosh and not even himself. They go down the court, don’t pass, and attempt shots they do not make. Not a team….and they may not figure it out this season.” – Deborah Horton
“The problems are numerous but not too far, maybe a season, from resolutions. The first is that fans, the Heat and perhaps Pat Riley, expect too much so early in the team’s development. The Heat’s losses are to three very good teams (Jazz, Hornets and Celtics twice) with three things in common: chemistry, experience together, a dominant point guard (Rondo, Williams and Paul) and an active front line. To expect them to win decisively, as they did against the Magic, in every contest is ridiculous. There are problems which must be resolved however: 1) Bosh is lost – Bosh must be allowed to become more comfortable in the game by playing more inside-out instead of relying on isos and fast breaks. Bosh has admitted that the offense, at times, moves too fast for him and he is not sure where he is supposed to be. This is most likely the result of the improvisation skills of Wade and LeBron and the lack of a fluid halfcourt motion offense; 2) The Heat need better point guard play – Lebron must play the point guard position for longer stretches and more often. With the ball in his hand, everyone else becomes more dangerous and available for easier scoring opportunities; 3) Wade’s defense – he does a horrible job of guarding Ray Allen AND providing offensive punch in the same game; and 4) The lack of physical bigs – the front line needs to be bigger and more physical to match up against teams that will fearlessly invade the paint. Pat Riley knows he needs a dominant big man; he has never won without one. He will find one and shore up the defense. If Eric Spoelstra is lucky, he will have a chance to complete his mission and to guide this team to its inevitable improved state.” – LIVES
“A sense of entitlement is the problem down in South Beach. They think their talent is enough to win every game and that teams will bow down. Terrence Williams sent a message to Lebron James and company when he threw a shoulder that sent “The King” into the stands instead of giving up an easy layup. If you push them around they will fold. They are not physically or mentally tough enough to beat teams that aren’t intimidated by their “Dream Team.” – Aaron Hodges
2) On the other end of the spectrum, the New Orleans Hornets have started the season off 8-0. Is this a fluke or are they for real?
“That Chris Paul guy sure makes all the difference, doesn’t he?! They are in no ways a fluke, as they are winning the old fashioned way – by playing among the best defense in the League (second best defensive rating in the NBA). And they aren’t beating up on the weaklings of the NBA either – among their victims are Miami, Milwaukee (twice), Denver, San Antonio and Portland.” – Jeff Fox
“The Hornets have beaten some good teams: Milwaukee, Denver and Miami. Chris Paul is playing like he is the best point guard in the League, and the new management clearly appears to know what it is doing. Outside of the Los Angeles Lakers, the West is wide open. The Hornets seem to be a team that has positioned itself well and plans on staying there.” – Diego Quezada
“CP3 is the real deal. Bayless is going to have a breakout year because of PT Baby! However..they will get killed in the playoffs ..as Paul then makes his move to New York!” – Peaceman
“NOH has sprinted out of the blocks, but I think lack of overall talent and depth will show them up in the end. The West is mighty deep once again and NOH doesn’t have the horses.” – brumbygg
“Long season, short bench. Guys performing above what we would expect (‘cept Paul). This amounts to flash-in-the-pan. Guys like Emeka Okaforaren’t rookies, they’re not going to suddenly transmogrify into offensive beasts. Sooner or later, they return to the norm. Add to that, the injury tendencies of both Okafor and Paul… and by the mid-point of the season I don’t think NOLA are going to be held in the same degree. They’re doing a helluva lot better than expected tho’… and it may keep the (Chris Paul) wolves at bay for now.” – Don
“Hard to tell. It is still very early in the season. But we know Chris Paul is a fantastic point guard (definitely in the top three in the league) and that makes everyone on the team better. The big difference, from what I have seen, is the (re-?)emergence of Emeka Okafor. He is finally pulling his weight on both ends of the floor and a lot of that has to be credited to Paul but also to Okafor taking advantage of the opportunity. If he and Paul can stay healthy, then New Orleans might be around for a while.” – Philip
“The Hornets are playing at a very high level right now led by arguably the best point guard in the game. However, they will run into a tough stretch eventually. The test will be whether or not they can bounce back from lackluster performances. The Western Conference is too strong for them to avoid being exposed at some point.” – Aaron Hodges
3) Steve Nash started off slowly this season (averaging a career high 4.0 turnovers per game). Is Nash finally aging and slowing down or are his teammates to blame?
“It’s the teammates, to be sure. Nash is averaging his highest scoring average of his career (20.0 ppg) because he has no reliable second-in-command on the team. Nash is still “the man” for the Suns, but he’s stuck playing with a bunch of third-option guys – unless Jason Richardson is your idea of an ideal co-main eventer on a team.” – Jeff Fox
“Nash has a heart the size of an Elephant..but father time has his own game, Nash can’t win!” – Peaceman
“Yes and yes. Nash has always played a high-octane game. His body can’t keep up with his brain these days. Of course, it doesn’t help that his teammates aren’t up to his calibre of play. Rondo’s assist totals are outstanding because his teammates are putting the ball in the hole.” – brumbygg
“Phoenix is to blame. Or at least, Rob Sarver is. Nash has been robbed of any semblance of the team he once had, and Phoenix really owe it to Nash to make up their mind as to whether they’re going to compete or rebuild. Compete? Then put pieces in that can do just that – don’t scrimp on paying guys like Amar’e what they’re due. Rebuild? Then trade Nash to a competitive team. He’s owed at least that.” – Don
“Just as guys like Amar’e Stoudemireand Shawn Marion once upon a time posted numbers that were heavily influenced by Steve Nash, Nash’s numbers were kinda helped by having those options at the finishing end of a dime as well. It has been a long time since Santa Clara though for Stevie boy, and I’d say it’s probably a combination of both.” – Brendan
“It could be a little of both. But that Phoenix offense is built on Nash knowing where his teammates are going to be at all times. Losing Amar’e Stoudemire is a bigger deal than perhaps the Suns will let on.” – Philip
“There’s nothing wrong withSteve Nash other than the fact that he’s been going through a divorce and simultaneously awaiting the birth of his third child. This no doubt had his mind elsewhere instead of focusing on what happens between the lines. I would expect him to be back in form as his life gets back in order. Losing Amar’e Stoudemire probably has played a role in Nash’s declining numbers but this team will get comfortable sooner rather than later as evidenced by their victory over the Lakers on Sunday.” – Aaron Hodges
4) Finally, every week we’ll be picking a Game of the Week that we will predict a consensus winner of. This week’s game – Fri, Nov 19th – Oklahoma City @ Boston.
Record so far: 1-1
Consensus: Boston, by an overwhelming 80% of the vote
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