if facing off in playoffs could Detroit(8) potentially be worst possible matchup for Miami(1)

I don't think a Detroit matchup will affect Miami's draft position.

 

Wrong forum. This should be moved to Dish.

 

maybe in a few years when they get the right pieces around their bigs, and Drummond develops a little more. Right now, they have sort of a mish-mashed up roster that has alot of hole and question marks.

-Can Smith/Monroe/ Drummond play together at the same time. You really would like your 3 best players to be able to contribute and have that chemistry together that you need?

-Can Jennings make everyone else better, and not just be a black hole on offense?

-Can Smith thrive as a SF to give them the edge in size?

-Are Maggette & Billups still effective NBA players and can they stay healthy?

If they are able to put everything together to work properly I think this team can be pretty good. The edge they have long term is being able to play Monroe, Drummond, and Smith together. If it works out.... watch out. This team could be scary as hell.

 

Last season Miami's lack of size inside, and rebounding was their weak link. Showed against the Indiana Pacers. Main reason they signed Greg Oden, Miami don't need him until late season to playoffs. But yes if Oden Can't play during the playoffs against teams like Detriot or Indiana, miami is going to be in trouble again. (not saying Detriot or Indiana can beat them)

 

long answer, F no.

 

If Detroit can play like a team and not a team full of good to great individual performers then it's possible.

 

Short answer.

I think you meant to post Indy. They already had Hibbert and West down low to fight against Bosh and Haslem. NOW you add Luis Scola to the mix and bam, that's a terrible matchup for guys lacking in the bigs department. They also have guys that match up well on the perimeter against the perimeter guys.

I also could see teams like Cleveland and Chicago being bad matchups for the Heat. Big IF for the Cavs if they stay healthy enough and make the playoffs.

 

I would like to see a Cleveland - Miami matchup. Would be intriguing.

 

If Bynum were to be fully healthy than yeah but otherwise..eww

 

This is really a good question. I think it would stifle them to an extent but I don't know if their combined experience would be enough to take them out. It would cause problems though.

 

This is so eloquently stated I don't think there is anything else to add.

 

Actually scared of how good this team will be in the next 2-3 years. They will have 16 mill in cap space next year so they can use that to sign a big free agent or some smaller ones. Drummond has mad potential. I can see him as a 20ppg 15rpg 3bpg player in 2-3 years. This Pope guy is also another young talent.

They have to make a decision regarding Monroe though. Do they let him walk, or trade him for a top 10 first round pick and draft a small forward continuing their rebuilding process. Or do they keep him and hope that the 3 big lineup works out. Or do they trade him for someone like a Batum from Portland and have a nice balanced lineup of Jennings, Pope, Batum, Smith and Drummond (Portland does need a center). But these are good questions for Detroit to have.

Pistons are almost rebuilt.

 

If this team develops good enough to challenge Miami to 7 games, they won't be 8th seed.

Just clogging the lanes isn't near enough. The bigs have to have huge offensive games and Jennings/Smith need to be worlds more efficient. Not to mention, who exactly can stop Lebron AND Wade from getting the bigs into foul trouble.

 

Miami would get knocked out of the 1st round to that team.

 

Cleveland if healthy is a fun team. They're kinda like Minnesota in the West. Both teams would be insanely fun if they're healthy.

 

Don't forget Danny Granger

PG: George Hill, C.J. Watson
SG: Danny Granger, Lance Stephenson
SF: Paul George, Chris Copeland, Solomon Hill
PF: David West, Luis Scola
C: Roy Hibbert, Ian Mahinmi

That is a scary good team. They've always felt like they could take on Miami, and now they have gotten tremendously better while Miami lost Milke Miller and added Oden and Beasley.

A healthy DRose, an experienced Butler and Deng playing for his last contract:
PG: Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich, Marquis Teague
SG: Jimmy Butler, Mike Dunleavy
SF: Luol Deng, Tony Snell
PF: Carlos Boozer, Taj Gibson
C: Joakim Noah, Nazr Mohammed

The Nets geared up for one tremendous run:
PG: Deron Williams, Shaun Livingston
SG: Joe Johnson, Jason Terry
SF: Paul Pierce, Andrei Kirilenko
PF: Kevin Garnett, Reggie Evans, Mirza Teletovic,
C: Brook Lopez, Andray Blatche, Mason Plumlee

If Bynum resembles his former self and Irving steps up...
PG: Kyrie Irving, Jarrett Jack
SG: Dion Waiters, C.J. Miles
SF: Alonzo Gee, Earl Clark
PF: Tristan Thompson, Anthony Bennett
C: Andrew Bynum, Anderson Varejao, Tyler Zeller

If Giannis gives them something, even the Bucks won't be swept in the 1st rd
PG: Brandon Knight, Luke Ridnour, Nate Wolters
SG: O.J. Mayo, Gary Neal
SF: Caron Butler, Carlos Delfino, Giannis Antetokounmpo
PF: Ersan Ilyasova, John Henson
C: Larry Sanders, Zaza Pachulia, Ekpe Udoh

Pistons have potential, but will get readily exposed in the playoffs.
ATL could turn some heads, but have a terrible bench.

Knicks, Wiz, Raptors and Bobcats shouldn't surprise anyone.

This will easily be the toughest trip to the finals for Miami

 

Well, maybe the worst possible first round matchup.

I'm a big believer in Drummond. Insane rebound rate, borderline elite rim protection as a rookie, legit 7 footer, ridiculous athleticism, and but he's not just a pogo stick, fantastic hands around the rim, some pretty layups, and ballhandling ability you just don't expect from a guy that size. I liked him till I saw him guard Dwayne Wade on the perimeter, pick Wade's pocket, dunk it in transition, and on the very next defensive possession, steal the ball from Wade again, at which point I started loving him.

That said, Dwight's free throw shooting is to Drummond's as Nash's is to Dwight's. He did improve a lot on free throws from college to his rookie year, but I don't know if it's a good thing that 35% was a large improvement. Still, I believe in Andre.

I don't know if Greg Monroe will start playing defense. I don't know if they'll have any offensive spacing. I don't know if Jennings and Smith will continue to be inefficient chuckers. But if a few of those things break the Piston's way, I can see them challenging the heat. Their strengths are aimed right at the Heat's weaknesses. And some of the heat players are declining. If Oden is playing well that could change things though.