Originally Posted by GrandKenyon6

Time to wake up and smell the coffee. Shaq isn't saving it for the playoffs. He is simply not the player he once was. Injuries have taken a toll on his game and he's lost his quickness and explosiveness. He is a shell of his former self and that's not going to miraculously change once the playoffs begin. Please open your eyes. Miami just is not a good basketball team. To put them on the level of the Pistons and the Nets on the level below is simply ridiculous. A more accurate picture of the East would be the Pistons at the top with the Heat and Nets on the same level, which is a level well below Detroit. Stop calling Miami contenders. They are clearly not contenders. They have a clear inability to play against the top tier teams. Even if Miami makes it to the conference finals against Detroit, the chances of them winning that series is a big doughnut. Hell, I doubt they'd even win a game. They match up terribly with Detroit this year. The problems with Miami are that they rid themselves of all their shooters and they traded for Antoine Walker. No team with Antoine Walker as a major part of the team is ever going anywhere. This is fact. You have to surround Shaq and Wade with shooters. Last year they had them and that's why they were so good. That's why they were able to beat the Nets and Wizards so easily and nearly defeat Detroit. They probably would've defeated Detroit with a healthy Shaq/Wade. Not only did Miami lose their 3 best shooters, but they lost their best defender as well. James Posey is not Eddie Jones. He's like an injury prone poor man's Eddie Jones. The Nets have been able to beat the Heat this year because 1. Miami has no outside threats and 2. Shaq is considerably slower and less effective. Gary Payton is a poor shooter. Jason Williams and James Posey are inconsistent shooters. Antoine Walker is a complete brickfest/turnoverfest/embarrassment to the game of basketball. Eddie Jones, Damon Jones, and Rasual Butler could make open shots consistently. These guys can't. The Heat just are not that good a basketball team this year.