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The Miami HEAT enter this season as the defending champions, but don’t expect this group to get complacent. Almost immediately after the team’s victory parade ended, everyone in the organization got back to work. The players went through the same intense training programs that they completed last summer. The front office used the limited money they had to persuade free agents Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis to turn down larger offers from other teams and come to South Beach. The coaching staff met to discuss how they can get the most out of the talent on their star-studded roster. While some teams would be content after winning a title, the HEAT understand that they are held to a different standard and it’ll take multiple rings for this group to live up to expectations and completely silence their critics. As has been the case since this team was assembled, anything less than championship for Miami will be considered a disappointment.

HOOPSWORLD takes a look at the 2012-13 Miami HEAT:

Five Guys Think…

The Miami HEAT were the best team in basketball last year despite all the injury issues they had late in the year. They very easily could have stood pat, banked on being healthy next postseason and still been the favorites. Instead, Pat Riley brought in two former All-Stars in Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. This team is still facing immense pressure, but they’ve grown together, are more talented overall and head coach Erik Spoelstra finally is off the hot seat. The Southeast Division and the NBA championship are Miami’s to lose.

1st Place – Southeast Division

– Yannis Koutroupis
 

Last season the Miami HEAT emerged as NBA champions, and over the offseason they’ve done nothing but get better. Adding Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, in particular, gives the team additional depth and an even more lethal perimeter attack. They may be a little thin on the front line, and that’s something they may need to address before the playoffs, but the HEAT look like the team to beat in the Eastern Conference, once again. It doesn’t hurt that they play in what is now the league’s weakest division.

1st Place – Southeast Division

– Bill Ingram
 

By winning the championship last season, the Miami HEAT were able to silence their critics and take some of the pressure off of themselves going forward. They got the monkey off of their back and proved that they have what it takes to win it all. With that said, it’s still championship or bust for Miami this season. That’ll be the case as long as this star-studded group is together. One championship is nice, but this team hopes to become a dynasty. Pat Riley had another excellent offseason, somehow finding a way to add Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis despite only having the mini mid-level exception to spend. The Los Angeles Lakers have gotten better and the Oklahoma City Thunder are another year older, but the Miami HEAT are still the team to beat in the league. They’re certainly the best team in the Eastern Conference and, at this point, it’s hard to imagine any other team representing the East in the Finals.

1st Place – Southeast Division

– Alex Kennedy
 

Whatever LeBron James hadn’t figured out in his first several years in the league, he figured out during the 2012 NBA Playoffs, which means the rest of the league is in big, big trouble for the foreseeable future. Even if it was just LeBron and a bunch of bums, we’d still be talking about how dangerous his team was, but this isn’t a bunch of bums. Dwyane Wade is older, but as we saw in the Finals the HEAT are better when he’s in the passenger seat, and Chris Bosh seems to have found his mojo again and should have a better year as long as he stays healthy. Adding Ray Allen makes this team borderline unfair, and Rashard Lewis was a nice pick up, too. They still don’t have a serviceable point guard or center, which defies NBA logic, but they’re the best team in the league right now despite that. With one ring under their belts, the Big Three sure do look primed to make a strong run at winning another one.

1st Place – Southeast Division

– Joel Brigham
 

Last season the Miami HEAT took home the NBA title and if healthy the trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh give the franchise a strong chance of pulling off a repeat performance in 2013. Throw the stat book out of the window because the HEAT learned something about themselves back in June that can’t be practiced or learned from a textbook and that’s how to win under duress and overcome adversity. The HEAT isn’t unbeatable by any stretch of the imagination, but the road to the title will have to make a stop in Miami and there are only a handful of teams in the league ready for that type of challenge.

1st Place – Southeast Division

– Lang Greene

Top Of The List

Top Offensive Player: This time last year, this was a toss-up between LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. During their first season together, the superstars made a concerted effort to share the scoring load because they didn’t want to step on each other’s toes, and James’ scoring average was just 1.2 points higher than Wade’s. However, last season, Wade realized that Miami would have their best chance at winning a title if he deferred and let James take over as the team’s alpha male. After receiving permission from Wade, that’s exactly what James did. During the regular season, he averaged 27.1 points – five points higher than Wade’s average. During the playoffs, James was even better, averaging 30.3 points and taking over games on a nightly basis. At this point, there isn’t another player in the league who can match James’ dominance on the offensive end. He’s a defender’s worst nightmare because he’s usually bigger, stronger and faster than the person guarding him and he can score in a variety of ways.

Top Defensive Player: LeBron James’ unique skill set allows him to dominate on the defensive end as well. While Dwyane Wade and Shane Battier are above average perimeter defenders, James is one of the best in the league. Few players are better at shutting down their man, which is why James finished with the fourth-most votes in last year’s Defensive Player of the Year voting, trailing only big men Tyson Chandler, Serge Ibaka and Dwight Howard. James is a big reason that Miami finished last season ranked as the fourth-best defense in the league, allowing just 92.50 points per game and forcing teams to shoot 43.4 percent from the field. James forced plenty of turnovers last season, leading the HEAT with 1.9 steals per game while also contributing .81 blocks per game.

Top Playmaker: Mario Chalmers is improving as a floor general and Norris Cole emerged as a significant contributor during his rookie season. However, there’s no question that LeBron James is the best playmaker in Miami. Last season, James led the HEAT with 6.2 assists per game. Unlike most top scorers, James doesn’t dominate the ball and cause his team’s offense to stall. In fact, sometimes it seems like he prefers to facilitate and get his teammates involved. James led all forwards in assists per game by a large margin last season, and averaged more assists than point guards such as Russell Westbrook and Brandon Jennings. James has a knack for passing out of double teams and finding open teammates as a play develops. He creates plenty of open looks for his teammates by driving to the basket and then kicking the ball out. This season, James will have Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis waiting for the ball on the perimeter, two outstanding shooters who both rank in the top ten all-time in three-point shots made. With new weapons surrounding James, don’t be surprised if he averages even more assists this season.

Top Clutch Player: Remember all of those jokes about LeBron James not being clutch? James put an end to them last season. Not only was James the fifth-best clutch scorer in the league during the 2011-12 regular season, he delivered when the HEAT needed him most in the postseason. During the playoffs, there were three occasions when Miami trailed in a series – down 2-1 to the Indiana Pacers, down 3-2 to the Boston Celtics and down 1-0 to the Oklahoma City Thunder. James was phenomenal in each of the following games, scoring 40 points, 46 points and 32 points. In the past, James had a tendency to disappear in big games or opt to defer in the final minutes. That’s no longer the case. Last year, he averaged 40.4 points per 48 minutes of clutch time, which is defined as less than five minutes in the fourth quarter or overtime when neither team is ahead by more than five points. James’ critics will have to stick to jokes about his receding hairline because the clutch jokes no longer make sense.

The Unheralded Player: While LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are filling the stat sheet and receiving all of the attention in Miami, Udonis Haslem is doing the dirty work for the HEAT. When Haslem tore a ligament in his left foot two years ago, the HEAT missed his contributions. That’s because teammates describe Haslem as the team’s “heart and soul.” He’s the player that doesn’t hesitate to fight for rebounds, dive for loose balls and bang down low. Haslem is also an excellent leader and a strong presence in the locker room. Whether he’s starting or coming off of the bench, the HEAT can count on Haslem to provide energy and scrappiness. He’s never going to sign big endorsement deals or sit at the podium for a postgame interview in the playoffs, but he finds ways to make an impact every time he steps on the court and help Miami win games.

The Best New Addition: Entering the offseason, Miami only had the mini mid-level exception to spend so it seemed unlikely that they’d be able to add a big-name free agent. However, Pat Riley worked his magic and lured Ray Allen away from the Boston Celtics. The future Hall of Famer gives Miami another offensive weapon and makes this HEAT team even more talented and versatile than the one that hoisted the Larry O’Brien trophy last season.

– Alex Kennedy

Who We Like

1. Dwyane Wade: Wade’s decision to take a backseat to LeBron James last season showed his maturity and unselfishness, and the 30-year-old was rewarded with the second championship of his career. While injuries limited Wade throughout the 2011-12 season, he had knee surgery in July and is expected to be 100 percent healthy by the time the season starts. Wade played through pain for much of last year, but he should return to form and become more consistent now that he’s completely healthy. Even though Wade passed the torch to James and allowed him to become the number one option in Miami, Wade is still one of the best players in the league and he’s shown time and time again that he can singlehandedly take over games.

2. Chris Bosh: Miami didn’t realize just how important Bosh was to their attack until an abdominal strain sidelined him for a large portion of the 2012 postseason. Suddenly, the HEAT didn’t have an inside presence and they needed LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to have monster performances if they wanted to win games. Miami looked beatable, but Bosh returned from his injury and gave Miami the lift they needed to rally against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals and take down the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals. Bosh spent some time at center last season and he’s willing to play the five again this year, which allows the HEAT to put some intriguing lineups on the floor and create mismatches. Bosh has received plenty of criticism since joining the HEAT, but he showed his value during the postseason and Miami will need him to be similarly productive this year if they want to repeat.

3. Erik Spoelstra: After winning the championship last season, Spoelstra is no longer on the hot seat and he has some job security going forward. Prior to winning the Larry O’Brien trophy, Spoelstra often received the blame when Miami’s star-studded team didn’t live up to expectations. While it may seem like Spoelstra’s job is easy given his team’s talent, managing the minutes, touches and egos of multiple superstars can be even harder than coaching a team with lesser talent. Spoelstra has done an excellent job in Miami and experienced success, even with Pat Riley looking over his shoulder and expectations reaching monumental proportions. Spoelstra’s seat is much cooler today than it was at the start of last season, at least temporarily.

4. Shane Battier: Though his contributions don’t always show up on the stat sheet, Battier is an important piece for the Miami HEAT. Even at 34 years old, he’s still one of the better perimeter defenders in the league because of his high basketball IQ. Battier is a student of the game, studying plenty of game film and analyzing statistics more than any other player in the league. Few players prepare for games better than Battier, which is why he knows every player’s tendencies. Battier is essentially a coach on the floor and he has emerged as a leader in Miami. It’s not uncommon to see Battier offering advice to his teammates, sharing the wealth of information stored in his head. It’s no coincidence that teams get better once Battier arrives.

5. Rashard Lewis: It’s been a few years since Lewis was a significant contributor on a playoff team, but the 33-year-old insists that he’s healthy for the first time in awhile and ready to make an impact in Miami. Lewis has spent the offseason training at Impact Basketball in Las Vegas and he’s no longer limited by the injuries that slowed him down in Washington, including right knee tendinitis and a bone bruise in his left knee. Lewis is excited to play for a contender again and believes he’ll fit right in with the HEAT since he can spread the floor and knock down three-pointers. Miami’s offense is at their best when LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are able to penetrate and kick the ball out to open shooters, as we witnessed in last year’s playoffs. Lewis gives the HEAT another offensive weapon that is versatile and can play multiple positions, like many of Miami’s rotation players. Signing Lewis for the veteran’s minimum was a steal.

– Alex Kennedy

Strengths

Most teams are offensive-oriented or defensive-oriented, but Miami isn’t most teams. The HEAT are one of the few teams in the league that can be considered elite on both ends of the court. Miami has the league’s sixth-best offense and fourth-best defense. Not only will they score on you, they’ll make things incredibly difficult for you on the other end. Miami’s depth and versatility is also one of their strengths. They have so many weapons that they can afford for one of their best players to have an off night because someone else can pick up the slack. Also, after spending two years together, Miami has developed excellent chemistry, which could give the HEAT the edge over newly-assembled contenders such as the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets. When the HEAT are playing to their full potential, they are nearly impossible to beat. That’s what happens when you have three of the best players in the league and top-notch role players.

– Alex Kennedy

Weaknesses

For the second-consecutive summer, Miami pursued a perimeter player with the limited money they have to spend. Ray Allen is a great addition for the HEAT, but the team is still missing a starting-caliber center. While that didn’t stop them from winning the championship last season, the HEAT could run into trouble if they run into a dominant center in the postseason such as Dwight Howard and the Los Angeles Lakers. Chris Bosh will likely play some minutes at the five again this season, but that doesn’t solve the problem. The HEAT were the ninth-worst rebounding team in the league last season, averaging 41.61 boards per game, and it wasn’t uncommon to see big men have big games against Miami’s revolving door of centers.

– Alex Kennedy

What Needs To Be Said On Opening Day….

Party’s over, guys. We accomplished exactly what we set out to do last year. But that was last year, and now we have to do it all over again. The best part is we learned a great deal about ourselves as a team and it should set us up for another title run. Our smaller lineup, with Chris at the center spot, is nearly impossible to guard, and we can apply such defensive pressure that other teams simply cannot handle us. LeBron, Dwyane, I hope you guys are ready for a long haul season. We cannot allow a bit of success to be the enemy of something more. Ray, Rashard, welcome to the team. We need you to fill roles for us to continue our journey – hopefully you are ready to add another piece to our team. Expectations are even higher now. Even if this was our championship, no one can stop talking about the Lakers and their moves, or the ready-to-take-the-next-step Thunder. Let’s show them we are more than just a one year wonder.

- Anthony Macri and Brett Koremenos

The Burning Question

Can the Miami HEAT repeat as champions in 2012-13?

It’s never easy to defend a title. When a team wins a championship, they enter the following season with high expectations and a target on their back. With that said, that’s nothing new for the Miami HEAT. If any team is prepared for the pressure that comes with raising a banner, it’s Miami. They’ve been under scrutiny from the moment they joined forces and they’ve been getting every team’s best effort for the past two years. When LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh signed with the HEAT, they wanted to build a dynasty and go down as one of the greatest teams in NBA history. This was never about winning one championship. It was about stringing together multiple titles, as James famously announced when the trio was introduced. We’ll see if they have what it takes.

– Alex Kennedy