Dec 12, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) is pressured by Golden State Warriors small forward Draymond Green (23) during the second half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
The Miami Heat are the two-time defending NBA champions. Although they have been challenged in the playoffs over the past few years, the Heat have almost always found ways to win.
LeBron James is the best player in the world and it doesn’t look like that is going to change any time soon. Some players are content with their skill level, but LeBron seems to always be looking to take that next step. Last season, he decided he was going to become a better three-point shooter. What did he do? He finished the season shooting over 40 percent from the three-point line.
The Heat also have a few other dynamic players. No one will have the impact LeBron has, but players like Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are on the heat for a reason.
The Heat added players like Greg Oden and Michael Beasley during the offseason, which will strengthen their bench. If those moves work out for them, the Heat should easily be able to repeat as champions.
The Warriors also made efforts to get better this offseason. Andre Iguodala isn’t a LeBron James type of player, but he is one of the better players in the league and will help the Warriors in many ways.
How do the Warriors stack up against the defending champs? Take a look at the next few slides to see.