MIAMI – Take one look at Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh – the Miami Heat’s Big Three – and you can tell they’re more relaxed this year. That’s because the focus of the season is different, it’s more about the Miami Heat than the Big Three.
That’s a liberating feeling for all involved.
“I feel this year we’re head above heels from where we were last year,” James said.
A year ago the Big Three were the talk of the nation. It was all about them. Everything they did was new and splashy, bold and dramatic. Back then, the Big Three ruled the world. Some even wanted to dub them the Three Kings. They bathed in the adulation and stardom.
Nowadays, things are different.
The preseason story is whether the Miami Heat can win the title, not whether the Big Three can win the title. And the national fascination with the Big Three has died down a great bit thanks in large part to the Big Two — Chris Paul and Dwight Howard.
But even before interest waned, the Big Three took steps toward learning coping skills. Maybe that’s what happens when you lose to Dallas in six games in the NBA Finals, as the Heat did — you reflect, you examine. But you understand the goal remains the same.
“If we don’t win a championship, yes, it’s a bust year,” Wade said.
You also understand the title isn’t bequeathed, it’s earned. And you understand it starts with you.
Each of the Big Three had his moments of self-improvement in the past few months. Wade, who appears more physically fit than ever, did boxing, yoga and Pilates.
The soft-spoken Bosh, who married his longtime girlfriend during the off-season, added about 10 pounds of muscle and worked on being more confrontational and assertive.
James honed and developed low-post skills with Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon.
And they all looked at peace.
“I’m at a good place right now,” James said. “Not too much bothers me.”
Perhaps all of this means the high-profile, star-studded Miami Heat is moving toward being a normal team, which, as we all know, is a relative term.
Last year was a circus with the Big Three in the center ring. Before training camp the Heat held a Big Three welcome celebration which, even according to president Pat Riley, got “wonderfully out of hand.”
There was a stage, pyrotechnics, about 12,000 cheering fans, and brash talk of multiple NBA titles.
Heat Media Day 2010, which was about two months later, was just as crazy, not from a logistical/orderly standpoint, but from a hype/interest standpoint.
Hundreds of media, national and international, were on hand to glimpse and question the impressive collection of All-Star talent. The Big Three sat on a stage together, answered questions together, went to photo shoots together. Everything was about the Big Three. The rest of the team ate the crumbs.
Heat Media Day 2011 wasn’t nearly as crazy. Maybe 70 or 80 media members were on hand. Apparently, the national appetite for the NBA runners-up isn’t nearly as voracious as it was for a team poised to go on a long run of titles.
Surely the lockout and abbreviated training camp has something to do with the low turnout. But overall, right now, it appears the Heat might not face the same type of hype, or, more importantly, venom, it faced last season. Of course, it’d be hard to top the hatred of last season.
“We expected a lot of turmoil and scrutiny last year,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Can’t say I expected the amount we got. It was a different level. There will be some of those moments again, but I like the fact our guys are committed to each other.”
That commitment was forged by fire. The Big Three were burned quite a few times. But now they’ve been through what they think is the worst of the worst, and although they didn’t win the title, they’re in a better place mentally; they’ve gleaned knowledge.
And now, theoretically, they’ll use that knowledge to win the title.
“I think we’re the best team in the league,” Bosh said. “And we’re going to work like it.”
The Heat should be a better team this year. If forward Udonis Haslem and swingman Mike Miller can make a contribution, and newly-acquired forward Shane Battier does what he usually does (play tough defense and hit 3-pointers) everything points to a good season. Winning the title is a different matter.
First, James has to come through in the clutch.
Second, the Heat needs to address its size deficiency/lack of presence in the middle. They need to find a reliable game plan (Dallas’ zone defense was so disruptive it might have been the No. 1 factor in winning the title). And that’s only a few things that need improvement.
But that’s for later. Right now the thing to understand is you’ll see a happier, better-adjusted Big Three at the beginning of this season.
And if they can keep the focus on the team, and not themselves, it’ll be good for everyone.
Chris Perkins is a regular contributor to SheridanHoops.com, covering the NBA and the Miami Heat. His columns will appear every Tuesday. Follow him on Twitter.
I’m so glad to see some well informed & fair coverage of my favorite team. Thanks Sheridan, for getting a contributor who will cover the Heat. I turned to this site 9 million times during the lockout and since for reliable nba info and I’m so happy there will be regular updates on the Heat specifically. Thanks again!
“First, James has to come through in the clutch.”
Actually, that’s the only thing that needs to improve. I’m the biggest Dirk fan in the world, but even I acknowledge the only reason Dallas won is because Lebron disappeared in key moments of the series. He doesn’t even need to be clutch. He just need to show up and be productive.
It’s kind of sad, but the disparity between Miami and the rest of the league is still extremely large if the big 3 play to their ability. People keep talking about CP3, Howard, Chandler, etc. It’s all a waste of time because the talent gap is so huge between Miami and everyone else.
As someone who despises Miami and everything stand for, I can only hope Lebron disappears again. Otherwise, Miami will have a cakewalk to the title.
What do you think of Melo, Stoudamire, Chandler, Douglas (yes, Douglas). The Knicks lack depth so that will be their achilles heel.
Melo, STAT, Chandler — not a single two-way player among them, but together, they’re getting paid MORE than Lebron/Wade/Bosh. So they’ve got less space to add guys and less talent to show for it.
Make no mistake, Chandler makes the Knicks better, but it remains to be seen if the coaching staff can put together an above-average defense with what they’ve got on the roster. Chandler also fouls a lot, so the Knicks still need a decent backup for him to cover their Center minutes.
Like you said, depth will be a problem, but I’m not sure bad defense won’t be just the same.
Eh, I’m not expecting too much out of them. They will make the playoffs but aren’t a championship contender. It’s an odd collection of players who don’t really fit D’Antoni’s system imo. Plus, I don’t think Carmelo is better than Wade or Lebron. And I think Amare is about on par with Chris Bosh, as unpopular as an opinion that might be.
The only time that Carmelo seems to really kick it into gear is when he’s playing against Lebron. His “attitude” seems to change and he really plays. As for STAT vs. Bosh. Eh, I disagree with you. In my eyes, Bosh is weak. That being said, if he really did bulk up like he says he did, maybe that’ll change. But, when it comes to PFs, I see Stat as a better player than Bosh by a lot.
If you look at their head to head matchups, there really isn’t a huge difference as of late. Skill wise, I think Bosh is better. He is more refined, but they are both great offensive players. However, Bosh is a way better defender than Amare. And statistically over the years, has proven to be a better rebounder.
Amare is obviously more mentally tough and much more of a leader. But those things are kind of hard to measure. So like I said before, they are about on par with each other. To say one is better than the other by “a lot” seems to be a statement without a whole lot of evidence to back it up.