If the heat's center is going to be ilgauskas, 100% guarantee the heat aren't the champs this year

I always thought that lebron would never win in CLE as long as he played with Ilgauskas... 

Lebron's ability to push the ball makes him a poor fit for a half court player that is basically an outside shooter... lebron would be better fit with a big man that run the floor and finish at the basket (or at least try to)

They also need an active rebounder, they have enough scoring...

Dwight and gasol will rip Ilgauskas in the playoffs because he cant play defense...

Bosh needs someone that can help him on defense also and igauskas is just too slow...

this is about the worst possible big man I can think of to join the heat...

They just filling the roles

the NWO Roles

LeBron = Hollywood Hogan
Wade = Scott Hall
Bosh = Kevin Nash
Big Z = The Giant
Mario = Syxx
Haslem = Vincent
Pat Riley = Eric Bischoff

oh yeah Mike Miller is Buff Bagwell

How old is Z? 45?

Well at least Miami got their token Center aka Luc Longley. At least Luc was in his prime (relatively speaking of course) when he was playing for the Bulls

worst decision by miami if they sign the Z

you guys do know he will be the backup center. its not going to be that bad.

And who will start at 5?

It doesn't matter.  Although Big Z is long in the tooth he provides one very important thing: shooting and floor-spacing.  People are underestimating how dominant this team can be offensively.  I mean their offensive efficiency numbers are going to be through the roof and it wouldn't surprise me if they end up being the most efficient outfit of all time.  I can't help but think this team is going to play at an extremely fast pace, anything less would be uncivilized.  Lebron was mostly constrained in Cleveland by that methodical, half-court offense Mike Brown preferred.  He will be fully unleashed this year though in South Beach.  This team is going to push, push, push (not yayo I mean the ball) and run all night long.  Look at the success a team like Phoenix has had adopting this style with limited personnel.  If it can work with guys like that, just imagine what LBJ, Wade and Bosh can do playing that way.  Lebron now has a legitimate running-mate in DWade and these two are going to be an absolute terror in the open-court.  Bosh, who runs the floor very well and is able to out-sprint his man down the court, will act as the trailer who helps finish things off.   Good luck stopping all of that.

Not only that, this team is going to consistently get into the bonus  early.  Last year in free-throws attempted LBJ was #2 (10.2), Wade was #4 (9.1) and Bosh was #6 (8.4).  They have three of the top six players in terms of free-throws attempted!!!!!!!  How gross is that?  When you get the opposition in the penalty early it completely changes the way they're able to defend.  Naturally, they can't take as many risks and they can't be as physical.  Basically, they have to concede more because if not you risk putting a guy on the line for two free ones, and nobody likes doing that.  The bottom line is this team can live at the line if they want to.

In a half-court set, stick Mike Miller in one corner, Big Z in the other and now defenses can't leave them open or else they risk being burned by a short, corner three.  And that's a shot nobody wants to give up because it's the second most efficient shot in the game next to a lay-up/dunk.  So now you've got a perfectly spread floor with open driving lanes for LBJ, Wade and Bosh (who I suspect will operate at the elbow).  How are you possibly going to stop all three of these guys playing 1-on-1 defense?  Stopping one of these guys is hard enough let alone three.  You need three legitimate stoppers to do it though.  Who has that?  Some teams don't even have one great defensive player.  I'm hoping this whole thing fails miserably just like everyone else, but sadly the chances of it happening are extremely small.

How many legitimate centers are there in the Eastern Conference anyways?  You can count them on one hand.  Howard, Bogut, Lopez, Perkins (limited offensive skills though).  That's about it.  There just aren't that many true centers in today's NBA.  So they can live with playing Bosh at the 5 if need be and they aren't going to suffer.  But I'm sure they'll be able to add another big body before the season starts.     

I seriously doubt Big Z will be their starting center, but this team is so strong and talented everywhere else that they could still easily win a title with him.  The Heat are going to be so dynamic offensively that it will more than make up for whatever potential mismatch is created on the defensive end.  If we want to talk about weak links, the Lakers just won a back-to-back titles with Derek Fischer playing point guard.  I rest my case. 

I wouldn't be worried about this team defensively though because Lebron, Wade and Bosh are all going to become much better on that side of the ball.  All these players are great defensive players.  But because they've previously had to carry such a big load offensively for their teams to succeed, defense has often taken a back-seat.  However, on this team the scoring load will be more evenly distributed, thus allowing them to focus more on defense.  So maybe instead of Dwyane Wade trying to score 40 points just to keep his team in the game, he can simply focus on locking up top point guards like DWill, DRose and CP3.  Or maybe Lebron could do the same thing.  You think he can't basically shut all these guys down if that's all he has to worry about?  How would you like being guarded by Lebron all game if you're a point guard?  That's the kind of flexibility this roster has.

Z won't be doing any heavy lifting.  He is basically riding LeBron to the title.  The same thing he tried to do last season until the team blew it against Boston.

CP, Dwill, D Rose, Parker and other top PGs will run circles around LBJ trying to guard them. He is no Kobe for that matter, trust me on that. He is a good defender but for the SG and SF position, not the PG position

and Bosh being a good defender...just LOL

I'll trust that you haven't seen much basketball.

LeBron's total DRtg last season was 102 pts given up per 100 possessions.

Bryant's total DRtg last season was 104 pts given up per 100 possessions so you're right, he is no Bryant on D, he's much better.

Kobe neede help to win the championship the last 2 years......artest, gasol and the maturity of bynum got him over the hump......remember 3 or 4 years ago he was whining about the buss not getting him the help........he was thinking about opting out of his contract and heading to dallas......

Good thread --- Good debate.

Their starting lineup is Bosh, Haslem, James, Wade and Chalmers.

Calm down guys

Bosh can't play the 5.

they got big Z for dirt cheap, would you rather have a pure scrub at equal pay or Z? ill take Z...

Wow, he's not THAT bad. For minimum salary, he's a descent pickup to play 20 mins a night or so. Sure he's old but to say Miami won't win if they sign him? really!? how stupid can one be?

I'll take neither.

I rather Have Bynum or Gasol

3-Peat

lol no shit.. im sure u would rather have lebron over artest too. haha.

It's not that he "can't", depeche, it's that he's on record saying he really really doesn't want to anymore.

I think the Heat's most effective lineup would be:

PG: LeBron
SG: Wade
SF: Miller
PF: Haslem
C: Bosh

That team could run and run and run and crush teams. Don't forget that Wade and LeBron are excellent rebounders for their positions too. Bosh isn't shabby on the glass either.

Haslem will. This league doesn't haven't any true centers anymore. Even the best one is a liability on offense.

People making a big deal about not having a true center. This ain't the old days anymore. And Lebron James is their SF. Did everyone forget the guy is built like a tank? Imagine him doubling down low?

This is actually a good point... 

Lakers are the champions because their bigs (gasol, bynum and odom) were active on defense and offense and actively rebounded...

Celtics are going with Jermaine Oneal to increase to their pool of bigs...

With Ilgauskas as the starting center, Lakers are still the better team...

insert any center that will actively rebound and defend, run the floor and help on defense and the heat have the advantage...