They have versatile swingmen Shane Battier and Ray Allen on the perimeter, stable point guards 
in starter Mario Chalmers and backup Norris Cole, and three able rebounders in forwards Udonis Haslem and Chris “Birdman” Andersen and center Joel Anthony. They have balance.
But what this team does better than past Heat teams is impose its will on opponents. The Heat makes you play their game.
We saw the same trait with the 2012 champion Heat. They used their brand of “small ball” so effectively, they made Oklahoma City big men Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins almost useless in the NBA Finals.
This team, however, is better because with Battier tied for sixth in 3-point shooting (.436) and Allen tied for 14th (.423), they’re more effective at the inside-out game that starts with James and Wade attacking the paint.
Miami is shooting a league-best .496 from the field and a second-best .391 from 3-point range, both franchise bests.
Each member of the Big Three – James (.563), Wade (.520) and Bosh (.540) – is shooting a career-best from the field.
As for the undersized defense, consider for 12 consecutive games in February the Heat forced more turnovers than they committed. They’re disruptive because they’re so pesky and skilled on the perimeter.
And you still can’t beat the Heat in the game’s final two minutes.
Last Friday against Memphis was a prime example. James was having his worst shooting night of the season at 4-for-13 from the field. But after Memphis closed its deficit to 90-89 with 42.5 seconds left, the Heat went to work to get the back-breaker.
Wade passed to James, who took the ball to the top of the key. Bosh was open in the paint for a short basket, but James pulled up and sank a 3-pointer with 24 seconds left to seal the win.
Wade had the confidence to pass to a struggling James, who had the confidence to take the shot instead of passing to the open man, which had been a major blight on his late-game resume.
Again, none of this means anything unless the Heat wins the title. But right now they seem to be the best Heat team ever.
Chris Perkins is a veteran Miami-based sports journalist who covers the Heat for SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter.