Former NBA coaches predict Miami’s chances at 72-win season..
Written by The Go-To-Man Mattie T. on August 17, 2010
With current ABC analyst Jeff Van Gundy’s recent claim that the Miami Heat will break the Chicago Bulls’ record of 72-9 during the 1995-96 season, a couple of former NBA head coaches weigh in on their predictions on how the new big 3 of Wade, James & Bosh will finish in their first season together:
Bill Fitch (1979-80 NBA Coach of the Year & 1-time NBA Champion):
Barring any major injuries to the Big Three, the Heat should win no less than 66 games. They will face some interesting and intense encounters on the road. Hopefully, all are on the basketball court.
Tommy Heinsohn (1957 NBA Rookie of the Year, 1973 NBA Coach of the Year & 8-tine NBA Champion):
Chemistry is an important factor when you get together individuals who are used to carrying a team. If the new Big Three blends their egos together, a 60-win season is easily attainable. I don’t believe the (Heat) will be unbeatable. When the Celtics brought together their Big Three, (their success was based on) how well (Kendrick) Perkins and (Rajon) Rondo played. They had the perfect balance of experience and youth. The experience pulled the young players through while the young players pushed the older players.
Right now, the Heat have all pull and maybe no push.
Richie Adubato (led WNBA’s New York Liberty to the Finals in 3 of his 4 seasons there):
The formula for winning an NBA championship has been that a team has three star players. It doesn’t matter what position they play; most teams did it with centers and two other positions. Chicago won with Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, (Dennis) Rodman and a center by committee.
Obviously, the Heat have three stars who can create their own shots and will take and make winning baskets. Their supporting cast is shaping up with Mike Miller, (Udonis) Haslem, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and (Eddie) House, similar to what Boston added after they put together Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.
There will still be a period of adjustment early by players, coaches, offense, how deep their defensive commitment will be and that will take time. But they will be the favorite in the East.
Gar Heard (famous for his “Shot ‘heard round the World”) during Game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals for Phoenix against Boston):
They will need time to adjust their games and the supporting cast will have to prove itself.
Brian Winters (2-time NBA All-Star & inaugural coach of the Vancouver Grizzlies):
They need shooters, rebounders and defensive-oriented players to do the day-in, day-out hard work necessary to win at a high level. If they add some quality players, they should be able to be highly successful. Chemistry will be key.
Frank Layden (1983-84 NBA Coach of the Year):
In order to win in the vicinity of 70, you must have two to three great players and, obviously, the Heat have three who are great when playing on teams in which they were the whole show. They will have to blend together and, in some cases, accept different roles than they are used to.
Pat (Riley) will have to do a little better than just a good supporting cast. He knows that depth will be very important in case of injuries and also rest his stars at the end of the season in preparation for the playoffs. Pat will not panic since he has been there before. He has a very solid coaching staff that will be able to deal with superstar egos.
John MacLeod (Coached Phoenix to the 1978 NBA Finals):
Even though the Heat are an ultra-talented group, 70 wins may be a stretch this year. There is still uncertainty as to how long it will take the Heat to gel. If it takes them a few months to hit their stride, their opportunity to win 70 games will be lost. As soon as LeBron (James) announced he was joining the Heat, the bull’s eye was placed squarely on their backs. Night in and night out, they will get every team’s best shot. That coupled with an improved Eastern Conference and the unpredictability of an 82-game season may make 70 wins out of reach.
