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NBA Predictions: 2014 Miami Heat Season Betting Preview

Heat NBA Picks

The Miami Heat are going to have a drastically different look than they have the past four seasons. The 2014-15 NBA campaign will be the first year since LeBron James came to town that they’re not considered favorites, but out East, they should still compete for home-court advantage with talent across the roster.

2014-15 Miami Heat
Eastern Conference
2013-14 Record: 57-25 (34-7 @ Home) .659
Odds to win Title: 50/1
Odds to win Conference: 55/1[dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]

Cappers Picks provides free NBA HOOPS handicapping tips all season long.

Heat Key Losses

LeBron James – You can’t start this conversation without talking about LeBron James. The King has taken his talents back to Cleveland, and as a result, the Heat find themselves without the best player in the game on their roster.

With James gone, the Heat are missing out on 27.1 points, 6.4 assists, 6.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. They’re also missing 56.7 percent shooting from the field, 37.9 percent shooting from deep and, of course, a player who is capable of posting a triple-double on any given night.

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Ray Allen – Although any name after James will seem rather insignificant, Ray Allen makes the cut for obvious reasons. He’s arguably the best three-point shooter in NBA history, he was a reliable source of offense off the bench and his clutch shooting gave Miami hope in any late-game situation.

Heat Top Newcomers

Luol Deng – There’s no replacing LeBron James, but Luol Deng has been given the arduous, if not impossible task of softening the blow in a post-LeBron world.

Although Deng is likely past his days as an All-Star, he’s a solid player who will impact both sides of the floor. At 29 years old, Deng has winning experience, and that’s what this team needs as it’s no longer considered a hands-down favorite.

Heat Top Players

Chris Bosh – Chris Bosh is about to experience a rare transition as it pertains to NBA superstars. He’s about to go from third wheel to No. 1 option in a single offseason.

With James gone and Dwyane Wade aging, Bosh is set to re-establish himself as the best player on a team — the first time he can make that claim since the Toronto Raptors days. He’ll spread the floor with his jumper at the center position, and the hope is that he’ll make Pat Riley look like a very smart man with the max contract he signed the big man to this summer.

Dwyane Wade – Dwyane Wade isn’t the same player he once was, (as evidenced by the 54 games he played in last season) but he’s coming off a year that was one of his most efficient in terms of shooting. If he can adjust his game to reflect his age and health, he’ll remain one of the best shooting guards in the NBA.

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Luol Deng – While other players such as Josh McRoberts and Mario Chalmers have a chance to impact the roster significantly, Luol Deng — in his first season with the team — will be the third option on offense, and possibly one of the better defenders on the roster.

Heat Strengths

Star Power – It might sound ludicrous for a team that just lost the biggest superstar in all of basketball, but this team still has a talented roster with star power at multiple positions. Think about it: If James hadn’t just left South Beach, you’d see a roster comprising Bosh, Wade and Deng with players such as McRoberts, Chalmers and Chris Andersen to round out the rotation. This team should still compete for home-court advantage out East.

Heat Weaknesses

Age/Health – The Miami Heat are an older team that will deal with issues throughout the season when it comes health and athleticism. This group has dealt with similar problems the past four years, but James’ health and abilities were enough to counter the weaknesses. We’ll see this season if Wade and Bosh leading the way can have the same adverse effect when it comes to players sitting throughout the year.

Heat 2014 Betting Prediction

The bad news for Miami? It’s not longer the team to beat out East.

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With James gone, this group is a monumental step behind where it was the last four years, and the truth is that the Heat will have to work harder than they have since 2011 to get back to the Eastern Conference Championship.

The good news is that this group won’t drop off the same way the Cleveland Cavaliers did when James took his talents to South Beach. In fact, it won’t even be close, as the Heat have the star power to remain relevant — especially considering the conference they play in.

When looking at the East, the favorites have to be the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls (if healthy), the Washington Wizards and the Toronto Raptors. Those four will be the favorites to earn home-court advantage, but the Heat should be right there in the fifth or sixth position, with a chance at cracking the fourth or third seed if everything clicks from the onset of the season.

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By PDX PIX

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