Since LeBron James took his talents to South Beach, no team besides the Heat has represented the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals. However, former GM and current analyst Steve Kerr believes that will change in 2013/14. According to Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times, Kerr is picking the Bulls to unseat the Heat this season, as Miami faces the pressure of trying to three-peat.
"Emotionally, it's just exhausting to keep doing it year after year," Kerr said. "Particularly when you have to deal with everything Miami has to deal with on a daily basis, just the constant critiquing and scrutiny on the team, and then you factor in the injuries with [Dwyane] Wade and [Chris] Bosh and their health. I don't think Miami will get out of the East this year."
Here's more on the Heat:
- The Heat "initially balked" when Michael Beasley's agent called the team to gauge its interest, writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. However, Pat Riley reconsidered, and meeting with Beasley eased many of the concerns that Riley and Erik Spoelstra had, according to Jackson.
- Ethan Skolnick of the Palm Beach Post examines the one-year contracts signed by Beasley and Greg Oden, exploring the duo's chances of making the team and earning minutes this year, along with the odds that either player returns for a second year in Miami.
- Considering spending the mini mid-level exception would cost the Heat about $11MM in taxes and there aren't many free agents available worth more than the minimum, Miami is unlikely to spend its MLE, says Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Winderman leaves the door open for the Heat to add a player who is bought out later in the season, particularly if the club is able to find a taker for Joel Anthony, but the mid-level could very well go unused.