2007-2008 NBA Season Preview: Miami Heat

Shaquille O'Neal, Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem: These are the only players that you can count on the Miami Heat having to guide them for the 2007-2008 NBA season, and really, that's saying a lot these days. With Wade recuperating from shoulder and knee surgery and O'Neal still reciting "to be or not to be" when pondering how much muscle he wants to keep or lose, it's quite interesting that the most consistent player is also the one who isn't the All-Star of the trio.

Despite this, Miami has gone to great lengths to upgrade the roster and really warp the team to be at its very best to compete for another championship in 2008.

Along the players who Miami has signed has been the former legendary point guard Anfernee Hardaway, otherwise known as "Penny." With well-documented cases of greatness in Orlando and a falling-out with both O'Neal and former Orlando Magic coach Brian Hill, Hardaway has also had to deal with the greatest detriment from his past affecting his present and future: his horribly risky knees. After having what was seemingly a Hall of Fame career taken away from him because of his health (and his insistence on playing two-guard, a position that he was only OK at), Hardaway has seemed to resurrect his career in Miami (ironically, not with the Phoenix Suns, where the city's namesake is based on rebirth).

While the power positions and shooting guard spots are pretty much set (with Alexander Johnson, Wayne Simien and Daequan Cook to backup from the bench), the point guard and small forward positions are unsettled.

Eddie Jones and James Posey both departed for greener pastures in Dallas and Boston, and Dorell Wright has yet to see significant minutes since being drafted in the first round in 2004; Jason Williams still is a risk for injury, Gary Payton is reportedly going to retire, and with Charlie Bell's offer from the Heat being matched, the Heat seem to be overmatched.

Though Smush Parker has generally been seen as a risk, the veteran leadership of the team will probably steer him in the right direction; as long as Williams and Hardaway remain as backup options for point guard on the bench, a Parker-Wade backcourt should do just fine.

As for the small forward position, while Antoine Walker is still a favorable choice, his age and deterioration of athleticism and skills have eroded to the point of reconsideration of his service as a starter.

But even with all the unknowns of the Heat's roster still lurking, if Wade and O'Neal can set the tone early and win consistently throughout 2008, the East may be looking up to Miami in the standings and in the Finals.