Why the Heat won't make the playoffs

Mar 17, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) reacts during the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

We already took a look at why the Miami Heat will make the playoffs, now we’ll take a look at if things don’t go right, and why they won’t.

Every pro has its con.

The Miami Heat enter training camp with a renewed sense of hope and uncertainty. With Dwyane Wade elsewhere and LeBron James reigning in Cleveland, this is certainly a different team than what we’ve come accustomed to during the past six years. Positive or negative, there’s no doubt there will be a different aura in the air come tip-off time October 26th.

Although championship aspirations seem out-of-reach for now, there’s no doubt this new-look squad can make some noise this season, and with Wade gone and Chris Bosh gracefully aging, it may be time for a new leader to arise. How quick will that happen? Only time will tell, and it’s very plausible to assume that won’t happen this season. In fact, the possibility remains that Miami may even miss the postseason for the second time in three years.

Remember that long, woeful campaign known as the 2014-15 season? We saw then exactly what tends to happen when a player of high magnitude decides leaves to lace them up in a different zip code.

Wade and company struggled to find their identity post-LeBron the entire year, finishing with a record of 37-45, good enough for the 10th spot in the East. While Erik Spoelstra and Pat Riley did manage to stumble across a gem in Hassan Whiteside, that 82-game marathon ended on a sour note with the team headed to the lottery.

While the Heat do enter 2016 with a sense of hope, there’s always the flip side most tend not to think about too much, and it’s about to be tackled right in the chest.

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Chris Bosh doesn’t return

The scenario everyone dreads.

Yes, it’s looking as if Bosh will most likely resume his role with the Heat soon. Yes, it’s more likely than not that this ceases to happen. Say the doctors find another clot (knock on wood) and he finds himself in the same situation a for a third time in three years.

With a wife and kids at home, it’s certainly not worth risking your life over a sport. This goes beyond basketball.

If he’s not cleared on this go-around, Bosh may be forced to call it a career.

That would mean Miami’s best two players from last season–Wade and Bosh–would have both been lost in one off-season. The Big Three completely dissipated. Losing one All-Star is one thing, losing two would be disastrous (especially to such conditions). Teams struggle to bounce back from one star leaving, let alone two.

May 13, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Tyler Johnson (8) takes a breather during the first quarter in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Toronto Raptors at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Young guys struggle

While the young trio of Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson and Tyler Johnson have earned all the praise coming their way recently, it’s time for them to put up or shut up.

Dwyane Wade is gone. Chris Bosh is questionable at best. Outside of that, the only championship experience the Heat have is co-captain Udonis Haslem, now 36 years old and a shell of his former self.

We all saw the flaws. Winslow had no outside shot, Johnson struggled to stay healthy and Richardson’s ball handling game could use some work.

While training videos of all three have emerged through Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram, there’s a big difference between shooting in the gym and an in-game situation, particularly late in a close contest.

It’s one thing to go from promising complementary piece to the front line. There’s no doubt the whole league will see what they are made of this year.

May 3, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) drives into the key past Toronto Raptors guards Cory Joseph (6) and Norman Powell (24) in game one of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Goran Dragic doesn’t step up

With almost $90 million on the line between Dragic and the Heat, it’s been tough to say he’s quite lived up to that value so far.

Last year, we saw him put up his lowest statistical averages in years. Putting up just 14.1 points and 5.8 assists per game, the Dragon saw his shooting percentage drop nearly three points as well.

While his performances in Game 7 against Charlotte and Game 6 against Toronto definitely warrant respect, Dragic never found that level of consistency he possessed while with the Phoenix Suns. Now on the wrong side of 30, it may be now or never for the former All-NBA point guard.

Everyone assumes that without Wade in the backcourt, Dragic will be able to take control and play a game up to his tempo. If that doesn’t happen, the Heat could be lacking an identity on offense.

Apr 1, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) reacts during the game against the Sacramento Kings in the fourth quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Miami won 112-106. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

Hassan Whiteside regresses

The big, $98 million question mark.

After putting up the best statistical season of his young career in 2015-16, the 26-year-old shot-blocking maestro cashed in big this summer with a maximum deal after his first short stint in free agency.

The only question: will he live up to that amount of dollar signs? Can Whiteside prove his worth and leave his troublesome past that plagued him for years behind?

Even with a season of experience under his belt, Whiteside somehow managed to get himself ejected and suspended last season for an intentional elbow he threw at Boban Marjanovic, eerily reminiscent of his tussle with Alex Len in 2015.

The Heat Twitter-sphere has been quite harsh on Whiteside since his emergence as a legit threat, most notably, his maturity or lack-thereof when the game doesn’t go his way. There have been several instances over the past year when one would look down the bench and see Whiteside clearly disengaged from the rest of his teammates. At times he looked disinterested, at others aggravated. If that were to continue in the near future, the seven-footer could plateau before stardom.

The Heat are bolstered with youth and explosive potential, but are also hounded by lack of experience and leadership. How each player develops and reacts to new responsibilities will decide this season for the Heat.