The Heat is On!
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The Heat start their 20th season tonight at the American Airlines Arena welcoming Eastern rival the Detroit Pistons. Both teams ended last season exiting early in the playoffs but none more disappointing then the Miami Heat’s white washing at the hands of the Chicago Bulls. The Heat got off on the wrong foot last season getting blown out at home in what should have been a night full of celebrations. Last season was riddled with injuries and malaise from guys like Antoine Walker and Shaquille O’Neal. Shaq missed more than half the season due to a knee injury, while 2006 finals MVP and leading scorer Dwyane Wade was sidelined 25 of the final 29 games due to a shoulder injury. If the Heat hope to contend this year the injury bug must be avoided. It’s amazing out of any team in the NBA, the Heat relies on it’s health more than anyone.
The final roster has been trimmed down and the fellas are ready to start the road to the finals. Check the roster breakdown below.
Quotables
Zo on last season…
”Back then, we were fat and happy,” Mourning said of last season’s team. “We were content with being champions, and felt that with the entitlement of being a champion, a lot of teams would just fall to their knees when they came to play us.”
Shaq on the addition of new players…
”We’re much more dynamic,” O’Neal said Wednesday. “We’ve got a lot of size. We won’t have to double as much. We’ve got that third and fourth scorer — guys who can give you double figures every night. And guys are ready this year.”
Ricky Davis on fitting in with the fellas…
”We can definitely get up and down the court with these guys,” said Davis, who will start at shooting guard and move to small forward when Wade returns. “We definitely have a Big 3 down here. Hopefully, we can jell together. [O'Neal] and [Wade] have already jelled. I just have to come in and adjust with them. It’s going to be fun.”
Wade on the new roster…
”Even though we came back last year with the same guys we won a championship with, that was then,” Wade said. “This roster is better prepared to go through this season, with what we need to do after how last year turned out. I think we’re all excited about this roster and we’re ready to see if we can put this team back in contention for another title.”
Predictions and Other Previews
ESPN, SI, Yahoo!, FoxSports, Miami Herald, Sun-Sentinel, Detroit Bad Boys, Need4Sheed
Fan Confidence Poll
Loading ...Note: Rip Hamilton will not be playing for the Pistons tonight as he was scratched due to a personal family emergency.
As I mentioned yesterday I may consider live blogging tonights game if I can get some interest. Any of you going to be around the computer tonight and would want to check out a live blog?
Let’s get your game, season and overall predictions on the 2007-2008 Heat season in the comments.
Photo via your pal Matt @ flickr
