NBA Pre-season win predictions: Eastern Conference, Southeast Division
By Brian Boake
Oct 21, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh (left) guard Dwyane Wade (3) and guard Gerald Green (14) celebrate in the second half of a game against the Washington Wizards at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 110-105. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
Miami Heat
Last season: 37 – 45
This season: 46 – 36
If I’m going to get any team wrong by more than ten games, it will be the Heat. A lot of forecasters think this group is primed for 50+ wins, and they might be right. However, that would require all the rickety Heat players, like Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, to play more than 70 games at full health, and I simply can’t see that happening.
Then there’s guard Goran Dragic, whose offensive talent is unquestioned but is a minus defender. Hassan Whiteside was perhaps the league’s biggest surprise last season, piling up huge rebounding numbers after being on the trash heap. Can he duplicate his success? Josh McRoberts and Amar’e Stoudemire were banged up last year. One wonders if they are ready to hit the floor, and whether Luol Deng and Chris Anderson have anything left in the tank.
There are too many question marks for me to rank them higher.
Next: Rounding into a contender in DC