Summer Flash

Echoing Sponge's comments from a few days ago, how encouraging has it been to watch Dwyane Wade perform in the pre-Olympic exhibition season for Team USA? In case you haven't been watching, Flash leads the Americans in scoring, averaging 17.3 points a game - and this coming off the bench.

I dare say that he looks more explosive now than at any time in his career, coming off of shoulder surgery that kept him out of 31 games last season for the Heat. His defensive effort has been inspiring this summer - he is quick to jump into the passing lane and when he's got himself a steal, it is "good night, sweetheart" for a clear path monster dunk. A healthy and rejuvenated Wade, along with a squad that looks menacing (outscoring opponents in the exhibition season by an average of 36 points per game) and hungry, will likely signal a return to world basketball supremacy for the United States.

It was not a foregone conclusion that Flash was going to ever get back to his old form - surgeries have a funny way of making has-beens out of former stars (read: Penny Hardaway). It is awesome to see that Wade not only is back in old form, but may be better than ever. Watch out, NBA - he's baaaaack.

Dwyane Wade Looks...Wade-like

I've waited nearly 18 months to say this. Dwyane Wade is back! He truly is.

Have you seen his performances in the Olympic tune-ups? It's not that he's dominating weak competition (which he is) or that he's become a key member of the team. That certainly helps the argument, but that's not the main reason. It's all in the hop.

He hasn't been this explosive in a long time. He's slamming down dunks we all thought left his arsenal. He's using that brilliant first-step again. Mark my words...Dwyane Wade and the Heat are back.

Early July Heat Tidbits

* It wasn't quite that big a scare after all. After being accidentally elbowed in the chest during his first Heat practice, Michael Beasley received a diagnosis of a fractured sternum, but doctors say that he will be able to play all of the summer league games this week in Orlando, the first spotlighting a matchup of #1 (Derrick Rose) and #2 (Beasley) as the Bulls take on the Heat on Monday. Beasley will wear a protective vest underneath his Heat summer league jersey and said, with characteristic bravado, "I'm going to play until my chest caves in." I like him already.

* Everyone is eagerly awaiting 2010, not because there's a temporary moratorium on estate taxes (well, maybe for some tax law geeks and the soon-to-inherit), but because that's when Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, and a host of other gems become available free agents. The Heat appears to be saving for that year as well - they obviously want to be in a position to retain Flash. So as far as the Heat's free agent options are concerned, then, they're just looking to use as much of the $6 million mid-level exception as they can.

* Some names being thrown out as options - Portland forward James Jones (former Miami Hurricane sharp-shooter and shot-blocker extraordinaire), Pacers center David Harrison, former #1 pick and current bust Kwame Brown, Nets center Nenad Kristic, and Golden State center Patrick O'Bryant. Color me unimpressed with the viable options.

* One intriguing option is Golden State guard Monta Ellis. Ellis appears interested in becoming a member of the Heat, and the Heat seem to be reciprocating. Two problems with that scenario, however: (1) the Warriors are desperate to keep Ellis, especially after Baron Davis departed so unceremoniously to the Clippers and (2) Ellis comes with a price tag, and he isn't even a true point guard, the real "need" position for the Heat.

* Summer league notes: St. Joe's rookie forward Pat Calathes has had a few strong days of scrimmaging, and there's speculation he may make the Heat regular season roster as a 3-point specialist; former Miami Hurricane center Anthony King (projected to be a power forward at the next level) has earned himself a place among the Heat summer leaguers in Orlando. King is an extreme longshot to make the Heat roster, given the logjam at power forward and his limited offensive skill set.

Miami New Times on the Heat Draft

Our good friend from FinsNation also happens to write for the Miami New Times (and excellently, we should add). Today, he put forth a brilliant take on the Heat's Draft last night. I encourage all of you to read it.

Here's an excerpt:

"After weeks and days and hours of the gut-wrenching, edge of your seat, puke in somebody’s Cup-O-Noodles, bite your fingernails to the nub, can’t stand the suspense so I’ll just punch a random stranger in the gonads tension that Heat President Pat Riley put us through, he eventually eased all the useless anxiety and did the right thing by drafting our man Beasley. Yes, Riley had himself a serious man-crush on one OJ Mayo. But just as he almost inexplicably drafted Chris Kaman over Dwyane Wade in 2003 but ultimately made the right decision, Riley eventually came to his senses and took the right guy again last night. Why he chooses to do this to us is beyond me."

What a beautifully-crafted description of the angst we all felt, that then subsided into relief. Chris Joseph is always a delight to read, and we look forward to referencing him in the future.

Rousing Draft Success For Heat

After the many seemingly endless weeks of speculation about what Pat Riley would do in the 2008 NBA Draft, he made the biggest possible splash he could by just playing it safe. The Heat is now a viable contender to be a high playoff seed next season, if it remains healthy. A nucleus of Dwyane Wade, Michael Beasley, and Sean Marion is a force to be reckoned with. Flash is the tried-and-tested superstar, Marion is a tried-and-tested double-double machine and all around energetic pogo stick, and Beasley outshone Kevin Durant's Big XII numbers as a freshman in every way last season and there's no reason not to think he'll make every bit the impact or more as Durant made in his first NBA Rookie of the Year season.

But as many people suspected that the Heat would go with Beasley as that they would not. What WAS surprising was Riley's masterful 2nd Round moves. The Heat traded for the rights to Kansas national championship legend Mario Chalmers, the Most Outstanding Player of the 2008 Final Four. Chalmers was deeply impressive the past couple of seasons at Kansas. He is as smooth a shooter as they come, and we know that he won't shrink from clutch situations - you will remember that he was the ice-vein who hit the 3-pointer that sent the national championship game against Derrick Rose's Memphis Tigers into overtime with time expiring. The Heat weren't done, deciding to pick another Kansas player, Darnell Jackson, but then trading him to Cleveland for their second round pick in 2009.

In the end, Riley, master psychologist, played us all. The talk about Beasley being an immature prankster and about Miami's overwhelming infatuation with O.J. Mayo was all a smokescreen. Riley said, "I don't think there was any question on our part. We love Michael." New coach Erik Spoelstra described the rampant speculation the last few weeks as "a little humorous." You can play me like a fiddle anytime you want Pat, if you can deliver studs like Beasley and Chalmers.

Wade and O.J. Mayo "Good Friends"

Now here's something that can put a wrench in the Beasley-to-Miami talk. I'm not sure what Mayo and Wade have been talking about, but apparently they've been working out together and they really like each other.

This is not something to take lightly. It's no secret that Riley covets Mayo...could Wade be quietly campaigning for his new buddy?

I still maintain that Beasley is the far better selection, but a strong Wade-Mayo chemistry could make a Mayo selection a little easier to stomach.

We'll have updates on the latest rumors throughout the day.

I'm Still With Team Shaq, But Not His Rap

Earlier today, E.J. composed a well-crafted piece on why he has shifted from Team Shaq to Team Kobe. You can read his articulate verbiage here.

Lots of fuss (far too much) has been made over Shaq's freestyling escapades in a New York night club. Personally, I thought his rapping was awful, as usual, and I didn't take him seriously. I understand why E.J. and many others found it childish and idiotic, but I couldn't help cracking up.

And if we're really going back to the Shaq vs. Kobe debate, I think it's time to put Kobe in his place again. He deserves a lot of credit for playing through a pinky injury, leading the Lakers through the West, and restoring his image. That being said, he CHOKED in the Finals. He played like garbage, when even a decent performance by his standards could have tipped the scales.

What irks me is how Kobe and LeBron are referred to as "the best players in the game" when they've each crashed in the Finals of late. This, while Dwyane Wade put forth the finest performance in NBA Finals history. Wade didn't have the luxury of a good Shaq in the Heat's Finals run...in fact, Shaq stunk in that series.

For an enlightening take on the current status of Kobe, by the way, I strongly encourage you to read this wonderful piece from Phil Wallace of SoCal Sports Observed. If you haven't heard of Phil Wallace yet, you surely will. He's a rising star in the L.A. sports scene.

Heat Trade Thoughts, Possibilities, Rumors, Speculation

I've stated in previous posts how I want the Heat to keep the 2nd overall pick and take the remainder of Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley. That still applies, except for one slight alteration: if the Heat can package Marion with the pick for a legitimate superstar, then it's something to consider. There are also some offers too good to pass up.

Current rumors:

1. Dwyane Wade to the Bulls for the #1 pick and possibly Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah, Thebo Sefalosha. That's complete garbage, it's not happening, and I hope we never hear of it again.

2. The Grizzlies may want to deal Mike Conley and the 5th pick for the 2nd pick, as they're known to covet Beasley. This falls into the "too good to pass up category." Imagine having Conley-Wade-5th pick-Marion-Haslem. That's not only a good team, but a young one with considerable upside.

3. Shawn Marion/? for Elton Brand. I'm a big fan of this deal, but the Clippers probably won't go for it.

4. Shawn Marion/? for Lamar Odom/?. This could really happen, with the Heat likely getting something extra (Jordan Farmar maybe?). As much as I enjoyed Odom's 2004 season in Miami, I wouldn't make this move unless Odom comes coupled with something else.

Now take #3 and #4 and combine it with #2. How about this team?

Odom Trade:
PG Mike Conley/Jordan Farmar
SG Dwyane Wade
F Udonis Haslem
F Lamar Odom
C Alonzo Mourning

Brand Trade:
PG Mike Conley
SG Dwyane Wade
F Udonis Haslem
F Elton Brand
C Alonzo Mourning

Then add the 5th overall pick and improved versions of Dorell Wright and Daequan Cook. That's some talented athleticism right there.

And now for my own speculation. This is completely of my own design, based on no real evidence. Everyone got that?

Shawn Marion and the pick for Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith. The Nuggets want to break things up, 'Melo could use a new start, and Dwyane Wade would have a truly dominant scorer to tag-team with him. The Nuggets would then get Michael Beasley and an all-star (known for rebounding) in Shawn Marion to put with Allen Iverson, Marcus Camby, and Nene. Am I crazy, or does that make sense?

It's Official: Wade to Play in Olympics

Surprise! Shocker! Amazing! I couldn't believe my eyes when I read it!...

are things that won't be written seriously in this blog. This bit of news has been suspected for at least a week, but today it became official as Team USA basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo revealed the 12 man roster for the Beijing Olympics beginning in August. It's going to be nice to see Flash play for the first time in seemingly forever. He needs the to get his sea legs going in anticipation of the 2008-2009 season.

I'm geeked to see Wade play with guys like Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams, Michael Redd, Tayshaun Prince (who receives a temporary reprieve from my unmitigated hatred of him and his Pistons for the duration of the Olympics), and Jason Kidd.

I think this is the year that USA Basketball returns to dominance in international play. Besides Kidd, everyone on this team is in their prime. The talent is probably the best that's been assembled on an Olympic roster since 2000. Just say that the team contains Wade, Paul, Bryant, James, Anthony, and Howard, and visions of gold can't help but dance in your head. Most importantly, however, it is a hungry group who hasn't tasted meaningful success in international competition in nearly a decade. Look up and down the roster it is rife with players that are fiercely competitive almost to a fault. We'll see if they can mesh their talents appropriately and adjust to the vastly different international style of play to bring home the Gold this summer.

Wade Will Play in Olympics

Since we're on the topic of Dwyane Wade, I figured I'd give you a quick bit on his Olympic hopes. It seems all but certain he'll be in Beijing come August for the 2008 Summer Olympics. While some might criticize his commitment to the Heat, I beg concerned fans to give it a rest. Have some pride in your country, just like Wade does!

What will Wade's role be? Chris Sheridan says he'll be the sixth man, which I have no problem with.

Here's the projected starting lineup:

PG - Jason Kidd
SG - Kobe Bryant
SF - Lebron James
PF - Carmelo Anthony
C - Dwight Howard

And the bit on Wade:

"Colangelo visited him last week in Chicago, where Wade has been working out with trainer Tim Grover.

'I liked what I saw physically, though his timing is still a little off, but by July 20 he'll be fine. I also think his focus is back where it needs to be,' Colangelo said. Wade will come off the bench as the sixth man."

Keep in mind, Wade was often employed as the sixth man in the 2006 World Championships too. It will ultimately lead to more opportunities, because he'll be the leading scorer/boost of the second wave. He's likely to get as much playing time as the starters, perhaps playing in the closing moments as well. Even if he doesn't, remember that he's coming off an injury, so limited minutes could be a good thing.

Best NBA Finals Performer? Dwyane Wade!

At long last, a credible source to back what was deemed a regional argument. Yes, Dwyane Wade's performance in the 2006 NBA Finals was the most spectacular in Finals history, including the six from Michael Jordan.

In an ESPN exposee, John Hollinger (noted stats guru) places Wade as #1 on the list of top 50 Finals individual showings. This is why I've always maintained that no matter how ineffective Dwyane Wade was when hampered by injuries the last two seasons, the Heat would NEVER TRADE HIM under any circumstances, and certainly not for Chicago's meager offer.

Here are a couple excerpts:

"For the series, Wade averaged 34.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.7 steals -- and this in a slow-paced series (neither team cleared the century mark in regulation in any of the six games). His basket attacks were so deadly because the Mavs couldn't stop fouling him. Wade shot a whopping 97 free throws in the six games -- the most of any player since the merger -- including 25 in Game 5."

Perhaps Mavs fans can start attributing the FT frequency to his incredible speed and agility? There may have been a couple borderline calls, but nearly all of them were legitimate calls. People tend to forget that.

"Overall, Wade's 33.8 PER is easily the best of any Finals performer since the merger. While it seems strange to have somebody besides Michael Jordan in the top spot, the truth is Jordan never dominated a Finals to this extent. At the time, many called Wade's performance Jordanesque. It turns out they might have been selling him short."

And that makes John Hollinger a superstar on The South Florida Fan list of noteworthy sports journalists!

One additional note: As we watched King James struggle in last year's finals and Kobe Bryant sputter despite playing on the superior team (he can't blame his teammates anymore), why wouldn't you want Wade on your team most of all? When it truly counts, he's the guy. Don't ever forget those 2006 Finals. Wade is the premier player in this game when he's healthy.

More Drivel From Chad Ford

Chad Ford now says that he has heard from undisclosed Heat brass that USC's O.J. Mayo is closer than most people think to being the Heat's chosen consolation prize if the Bulls select Derrick Rose with the first overall pick in the NBA Draft. Ford reports that many close to the Heat are convinced that Mayo is the most NBA-ready player coming out of college this year. At a private workout with the Heat, he shot around 70% and was connecting on some Top-10-worthy alley-oops.

An ironic wrinkle to Ford's report is that Mayo is forging a close relationship with Dwyane Wade, which to Ford, lends some credibility to the notion that Mayo, and not Michael Beasley, could be the Heat's choice later this month if Rose goes to Chicago. Funny - if Wade is going to the Bulls, as Ford suggests, then why does the budding Wade-Mayo friendship make Mayo-to-Heat increasingly likely to Ford? It's a free country, I guess - you're not obligated to make sense.

I still think that Beasley would be a better selection. Better to bring Beasley in to a potential logjam at power forward then Mayo into a guaranteed logjam at shooting guard (while Wade and Mayo may be getting close, they play the same position!). Mayo is not a natural point guard (for that, see Rose, Chris Paul, and Deron Williams). And while the knock on Beasley is that he has some character issues, Mayo's character is far from untouchable. Remember that time he was essentially paid to go to USC and sign with an NBA agent back when he was in high school?

Beasley is still the monster who put up mind-boggling numbers for a Kansas State team that had, without him, had no reason to go to the NCAA Tournament. NBA ready? Talk to most league executives and have them tell you about Beasley's strength and unreal-for-his-age repertoire of post moves. Don't get me wrong, O.J. is a stud; but let's not forget that Rose and Beasley are in a class of their own. It really is them and everyone else.

Wade to the Bulls? UTTER NONSENSE!!!

I'm pretty much in a state of disbelief right now. Apparently, anyone can make up the most ridiculous NBA trade rumor imaginable and people will run with it...INCLUDING ESPN.

Chad Ford, whom I used to respect, makes a case for a Wade to the Bulls deal. WHAT??? The only thing more amusing than this pathetic excuse for an argument is that Bulls fans are chiming in against the deal FROM CHICAGO'S END. What the hell???

I'm sorry to even be reporting this. Truly, I am. Please tell me I'm not losing my mind here.

The ABCs of the NBA

With six you get eggrolls but in the NBA it's as simple as 1,2,3. You need 3 top level stars to win in today's NBA. Boston goes with Garnett, Pierce, and Allen. While the Lakers come with Kobe, Odom, and Gasol.

L.A. was just a Western conference outcast until the Feb trade brought the third leg to their stool. San Antonio has it. Detroit has it, but appears to be losing it. Unless you've got Shaq in his prime teamed with a Kobe level player, and I've checked all the scouting reports down to sixth grade level...there are no Shaqs anywhere.

So you'd better go with the ABCs. Do the Heat need to go to school to learn how to read, write and draft? You've got your A with Wade. You've got your C in Marion. So you need your B in Beasley. Any of you night owls who were watching K-State playing this year saw a kid playing 1 on 3 in one of the toughest conferences in the country and putting up huge numbers.

So what if he likes to laugh. Remember winning is suppose to be fun. So take your B and add up those 1,2,3s and get back into the playoffs. Simple.

NBA Insight and More

Is it just me or are the NBA rumors more interesting than the games? Since the Heat aren't going from worst to first, lets look at reality. A healthy Wade (if not all future entries with be discontinued and I'll be watching Bill Murphy in Groundhog day), Marion (so what if it's 17m plus) and Beasley (I love lefties) as your top three. Haslem, Wright, Banks, and Mourning as your 5 to 8. Basically we need to find a number 4 to be a playoff team and beat an aging Detriot,and a not really that good Boston. Nobody scares me and the Portland State grad will suprise with his coaching.

Breezing thoughts: Quit telling me to go see the Marlins after 13 years of garbage. I'll take the Heat title for this season's record, but baseball's about hope and mine looks like it's moving to Cuba. Do they have hockey down here? Orlando would be better. Can't wait until the NBA draft hoping for a rose to bloom.

Should the Heat Go For Elton Brand?

We've talked about the possibilities for Heat trades. They have a very moveable big-salaried chip in Shawn Marion, along with the trusty #2 pick. Elton Brand's name is being thrown around in a number of places, so I'm curious to know what you all think.

Is Brand over the hill, or can he be the dominant inside punch to another Wade-led championship team? If the Heat could get him without dealing the pick and also manage to bring in Ron Artest, wouldn't this be exciting?

PG Derrick Rose
SG Dwyane Wade
SF Ron Artest
PF Udonis Haslem
PF/C Elton Brand/Zo/FA

That would be a whole lot of athleticism on the floor. Possible? Good?

Summoning The Lottery Ping-Pong Ball Gods...

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Miami Heat as they try to have the ball bounce the right way for the first time in the 2007-2008 season!

Here's hoping Flash harnesses his super-hero powers and forces the ping-pong balls to bend to his overpowering will.

Greg Cote Answers 7 Questions

We at The South Florida Fan (TSFF) are indebted to Greg Cote for being so gracious with our questions. He answered seven of them in his chat today. I give them to you below, with an additional comment from us beneath:

1. Q: With the Hanley Ramirez signing, the Marlins' record, and the poor play from other South Florida teams, do you plan on giving the Marlins some more spirited coverage? They could really use your help!

A: Yeah I've written columns off a handful of games already, most of the spirited variety. Fish have until mid-July (Dolph training camp) to themselves in the market and must take advantage. But the starting pitching is starting to be the concern everyone thought it might be.

Comment: Cote and the Herald have started to jump on board. The Fish need to stay in contention through July to garner perpetual interest.

2. Q: What are your thoughts on the Heat's chances in the lottery tomorrow night? Is the organization doing anything superstitious?

A: No, no rabbit's feet. However Dwyane Wade's feet will be at the lottery. Dwyane just bought his mother a church; maybe he can bribe somebody. As it is the Heat has a 46.5% shot at the 1st or 2nd pick. It's a really bad system that needs reworking. I'll say that now so it doesn't look like I'm whining when the awful Heat get the fourth pick and a much better teams lands Derrick Rose.

Comment: Glad Dwyane Wade will be there. 46.5% for the top 2 picks really isn't all that good, so we should hold off on the Rose vs. Beasley comparisons.

3. Q: Do you support instant replay in baseball, and do you think it will be approved any time soon? Thanks!

A: I don't support instant replay for calls like balls and strikes, but would like to see it for plays such as whether a home run was fair or foul.

Comment: Agreed, except I'd also like plays at the bases to be reviewed.

4. Q: Who makes it bigger in Hollywood: Jason Taylor or Dwyane Wade?

A: Damn good question, which is another way of saying I have no answer. Like both of their futures outside of their sport, but if I had to buystock in one guy's non-sports stardom it might be Wade. His greater appeal to the hip-hop crowd opens a few doors JT might not have. Close call, though.

Comment: Cote has always been fascinated by Hollywood potential. I think Wade has the higher ceiling, but he'll need to regain his top form and stay healthy.

5. Q: Between the Marlins, Heat, Panthers, and Dolphins, who are the five most standup guys? Are they also your favorites?

A: Marlins, Fredi Gonzalez, Luis Gonzalez, Matt Treanor. Panthers, Olli Jokinen. Heat, Wade, Zo, Udonis. Dolphins, Taylor, Channing Crowder, with good early vibes from Tony Sparano. Will miss Zach Thomas. Yes the standup guys tend to be my favorites. The guys who don't duck when things are going wrong.

Comment: Excellent, thorough answer from Cote. Channing Crowder is a surprising inclusion (especially after his infamous "London" comments), but he is a Gator after all. Nice to see Tony Sparano getting some early love from the Miami media.

6. Q: Do you sometimes find yourself rooting against Lebron because he steals so much of Wade's attention (even when Wade won Finals MVP)? I couldn't help myself in the Celtics-Cavs series.

A: No, not really. That's cyclical. In June '06 it looked like Wade had overtaken LeBron. There's enough room for both, just as there was enough for Magic and Bird.

Comment: Apparently that's just me.

7. Q: With Le Batard on sabbatical, do you see yourself stepping in like a backup QB? You could be Steve Young to his Joe Montana...the Herald could have some tough choices.

A: I prefer to think of myself as Lou Gehrig stepping for Wally Pipp. Actually I've written more columns than Dan the past couple of years or so as he's cut back, so taking over this chat every Monday is probably the biggest change for me.

Comment: Any Lou Gehrig (of Columbia fame) reference gets major points at The South Florida Fan.

Thank you to all who participated, and special thanks to Greg Cote for accepting so many questions.

Dwyane Wade or Hanley Ramirez?

Greg Cote, blogger extraordinaire of the Miami Herald, put forth an interesting question today:

Who do you think will retire having had the greater career: Hanley Ramirez or the Heat's Dwyane Wade?

It's been well documented that we love these kinds of questions at The South Florida Fan, and I'll commence the discussion with my opinion. A month ago, the answer would have certainly been Dwyane Wade, in a Flash if I may say. Even on the heels of a horrid, injury-plagued season, Wade has the insurmountable distinction of having won a championship single-handedly, willing his team from down 2-0 and 13 points halfway through the 4th quarter. That Finals performance was one for the ages, and he deserves every accolade imaginable in the NBA universe.

So how has Hanley Ramirez managed to creep his way into the conversation? Through sheer brilliance, that's how. The 2006 Rookie of the Year may have been grossly underappreciated before this year, but his statistic prowess can no longer be ignored:

2006: .292/.353/.480, 17HR, 46 Doubles, 119R, 11 Triples, 59RBI, 51SB
2007: .332/.386/.562, 29HR, 48 Doubles, 125R, 6 Triples, 81RBI, 51SB

Those numbers are well beyond any predecessor. Simply put, he was in a league of his own. This year (18 games)?

2008: .366/.444/.634, 5HR, 16R, 14RBI, 5SB

We're looking at a phenom of all phenoms, a potential all-time great in the game of baseball.

Furthering Hanley's argument is Dwyane Wade's propensity for injury, especially in a sport so infamous for career-stunting wounds.

Even with all that, the nod has to go to Dwyane Wade. He's just accomplished so much more, and Hanley Ramirez is just an infant. The fact that it's close, however, is very much to Hanley's credit. Personally, I just hope we have the pleasure of watching both of them for a long long time in South Florida.

Which South Florida Sports Franchise Will Improve First?

Today, Dave Hyde of the Sun Sentinel found a little optimism within a miserable question: Which weathered franchise in South Florida will improve first? This is his order:

1. Heat
2. Marlins
3. Dolphins
4. Panthers

Before I give my opinion, let me just say that the Panthers were on the cusp of the playoffs, and the Marlins are currently in first place. It's way too early to call the Marlins a success, but for the sake of argument, let's focus on the 2009 season. Here's my order:

1. Heat: I agree with Dave Hyde here. The only thing stopping the Heat from being a playoff team is Dwyane Wade's health. As I've said before on this blog, it's easy to forget just how dominant Wade was when healthy. Throw in Marion/FA and an early draft pick (Michael Beasley or Derrick Rose), and this team is suddenly good again. I also can't imagine the defensive effort being any worse. In a renewed season, the Heat will rediscover their will to play hard on both ends of the floor.

2. Marlins: Again, Dave Hyde and I are on the same page. I was almost tempted to put them first, but I never underestimate Dwyane Wade. Imagine this current lineup, supported by a monster staff of Josh Johnson, Annibal Sanchez, Chris Volstad, Gaby Hernandez, Scott Olsen, and refined versions of Andrew Miller, Ricky Nolasco, and Rick Vanden Hurk. They'll all be back. Oh, and Cameron Maybin just might be starring in center field too. The future is bright for the Marlins.

3. Panthers: This is where Hyde and I disagree. The Panthers showed tremendous promise at the end of the year. David Booth is clearly a star in the making, and there are a number of other young players on the verge of breaking out. If they can retain Olli Jokinen (a player Mr. Hyde conveniently left out), they'll be a playoff team for certain.

4. Dolphins: I just don't see much happening this year, even under strong management. Is John Beck the starting QB? I like the 'Fins chances of pulling off 7 or 8 wins, but this isn't a contending team yet (of course, we really need to see what happens in the Draft first to truly determine this). Now as for the 2009-10 season? That's a whole other story. Also on the Dolphins' side: in no other league do teams complete turnarounds like the NFL.

Now that I've put this all together, I'm feeling quite giddy about our sports teams down here. Things may have hit rock bottom, but they'll be fine and dandy soon enough. I'll leave you with projected records:

2008-09 Heat: 47-35, 5th seed
2009 Marlins: 88-74, contend for Wild Card
2008-09 Panthers: 41-30-11 (93 points) - 7th seed
2008-09 Dolphins: 7-9