How The Bucks Compare: An Early Eastern Conference Primer
By Adam McGee
Mar 24, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Khris Middleton (22) during the game against the Miami Heat at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Milwaukee won 89-88. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Miami Heat
Last Season: 37-45 (10th)
Player Additions: Amar’e Stoudemire, Gerald Green, Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson
Player Subtractions: Michael Beasley, Shabazz Napier, Zoran Dragic, Henry Walker
2015-16 Outlook
It’s not easy to rebound from losing LeBron James, but it is probably easier to do so when you’re located in Miami and Pat Riley and his bag of championship rings still call the shots for the franchise.
The Heat had a challenging season last year which ultimately resulted in the team missing the playoffs, but all things considered, they held it together well.
Injuries to Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade at different stages of the year certainly took their toll, but at the same time there were some bright spots.
Without question none was bigger than Hassan Whiteside. The Heat stumbled across Whiteside, and in turn may have actually found a strong, shot blocking center capable of near double-double averages. That’s almost like the definition of a lottery win in the NBA.
Aside from Whiteside, the Heat hope that they have found their point guard in Goran Dragic, and considering the money they paid him this summer, they’ll need him to play like an All-Star too.
Many experts seem to feel the Heat are going to push their way back towards the top in the East this year, and I suppose the additions of Stoudemire and Green, as well as drafting Winslow will definitely help to solidify the squad, but are they contenders?
I’m not seeing it, personally, but maybe they’ll prove me wrong.
How The Bucks Compare
If the Heat are a contender, I think that should be cause for great excitement amongst Bucks fans as there isn’t a whole host of differences between the two teams.
The Bucks have a center who is considerably more proven at the NBA level, a much more talented small forward, and just like the Heat they have two star players at the two and four spots, except in the Bucks’ case, Middleton and Parker’s peaks should still be ahead of them rather than behind them.
Miami should be a good team this year, but they don’t seem like someone for Milwaukee to be afraid of.
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