Anyone for the Toronto Raptors to worry about from the Southeast Division?

MIAMI HEAT

Last season actual: 44 – 38

This season forecast: 41 – 41

Welcome: No-One

Farewell: No-One

For a team that was in the bottom half of the conference last season, you would have expected the Miami Heat to make some moves to build around Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside.

Instead, the Miami Heat have decided to bring back the exact same team as they did last season.

It’s an interesting decision and bet on continuity. They do have good pieces around Whiteside and Dragic such as Justice Winslow, and James Johnson.  Both players are strong, lengthy wings that can help to guard imposing scorers such as Kawhi Leonard.

Combined with great coaching in Erik Spoelstra, the Miami Heat have all the building blocks to be a solid team. What holds them back is a lack of a pure number one option or even another player to pair alongside Goran Dragic.

Whiteside has often underperformed which might have something to do more with attitude than his ceiling as a player.

The Heat’s coaching elevates them as a team. When other opponents face Miami this season, they can expect a team that will be extremely physical and always provide a battle.

However, offensive lapses will end up costing this team games, especially close ones when other teams clamp down. The Miami Heat for 2018-2019 will ultimately be much like the Charlotte Hornets, on a treadmill of mediocrity. (Granted slightly better mediocrity than the Hornets)