WORDS BY: GELO GONZALES & OMAR GLENN BELO
This year, they’ve lost their first ever draft pick, Emeka Okafor in exchange for Tyson Chandler. While Chandler is no doubt just as big an inside presence as Okafor was, the problem here is that Chandler is even more inept on the offensive side.
And offense, or the lack of it, is the Bobcat’s worst problem. Last year, they were last in the league in points scored per game at 93.6 points per game.They haven’t done anything yet to address that pressing need. Gerald Wallace is the best scorer this team has and for many pundits, he’s really just a defensive specialist. Raymond Felton can’t shoot, and Boris Diaw, for all his versatility, isn’t an offensive post presence, which will make life for the perimeter players even harder. Raja Bell might possibly be the only Bobcat player who can shoot accurately, but creating a shot for him will be hard given the aforementioned circumstances. Unless those offensive needs are addressed, expect the Bobcats to win fewer games than they did last year.
Miami Heat
Coach: Erik Spoelstra
Projected Starting Five:
PG: Mario Chalmers
SG: Dwyane Wade
SF: Michael Beasley
PF: Udonis Haslem
C: Jermaine O’neal
Key Additions: Carlos Arroyo, Quentin Richardson
Key Losses: None
The Heat has one out-of-this-world talent who goes by the name of Dwyane Wade. DWade was incredibly motivated last year to be the best after a few scary injuries in the 2008-09 season had experts asking if he still had what it takes. And if last season proved anything, it’s that yes he still did, leading his team to the Playoffs.
This season, Wade might have to do more of the same to keep this team afloat. First off, Beasley has yet to develop into a true second go-to-guy on offense. Though talented and athletic, Beasley is as inconsistent as rookies come, and unless he makes a giant leap this year, the Heat are looking at a mediocre 40-something wins this season.
Like Beasley, Chalmers should continue to develop and draw some attention on the perimeter with his three-point shooting this year. On a more negative note, Jermaine O’Neal just isn’t the same anymore, hasn’t been in All-Star form for a couple years now, and it’s unlikely he’ll ever regain his old form. Udonis Haslem, as always, will surely be just like his old low-key solid self.
And maybe that’s what the Heat needs, another guy who can blow fans away aside from Dwyane Wade. The hitch was, Carlos Boozer failed to relocate to Miami, opting to stay in Utah with the Jazz. Which leads us to believe the Heat only has a 50-50 chance of nabbing a playoffs berth. Winning games will prove to Wade that the Heat has the building blocks to convince him to stay after his contract expires at season's end.
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