The Miami Heat have won 8 straight and 20 of its last 21 after a 9-8 start to the 2010-11 NBA season. During the 9-8 start rumors were flying about Heat head coach Eric Spolestra being replaced by GM Pat Riley, Lebron not being happy with his decision to go to Miami and Chris Bosh possibly being traded. A couple months later it looks like what Riley, Spolestra and the Miami hopefuls hoped for is coming to fruition. Along with the new Big 3 of the NBA, veterans Carlos Arroyo and Zydrunas Ilgauskus complete the starting five. A handful of other mediocre, non-playoff tested players like James Jones, Mario Chalmers, Joel Anthony get major minutes. While newly acquired free agent Erick Dampier, sharp shooter Eddie House and seasoned veteran Juwan Howard round out the bench while former champ Udonis Haslem and former All-Star Mike Miller are out with injury. During their streak all of the Big 3 are shooting over 50% and averaging at least a double-double, clearly carrying the load as there is a lack of talent on the rest of the roster. The Heat are 2nd in the NBA in offensive efficiency (111.4 points per 100 possessions) and close 3rd defensively (100.8). The critics who said that this wasn’t the year for the Heat to possibly win it all have obviously have to reconsider. In just a matter of months the Heat have gelled and are playing championship level basketball, which a lot of critics thought wouldn’t happen until next season. The scary part is that the rest of the active roster is full of players out of their prime or strictly role players, which may help or hurt the Heat during this year’s playoff run. But with the domination of the struggling defending champion LA Lakers on Christmas Day, the injury ridden Boston Celtics and more than 3 months to gel before the playoffs the Heat are looking like a major threat to every championship contender. Oh yeah, there is always the off season to add better pieces and the next couple years as the Big 3 signed for multiple years. DAMN!
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