The Miami Heat are a young franchise with a solid history of solid runs that have escalated the franchise from the trenches of the struggle for expansion teams to the realization of hopes and dreams as NBA Champions. The Heat began playing in 1988 and had to endure a rocky beginning before Pat Riley would come in and develop a team that could challenge for a championship. The roster changed to star Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway as the centerpieces and Jamaal Mashburn, Walt Williams, P.J. Brown, and Voshon Lenard as the supporting cast on the way to a 61-21 record and Heat playoff tickets to a Conference Finals against the Chicago Bulls. Michael Jordan and his cast of stars and role players won the best of seven series in five games. Almost a decade later the Heat would win the conference finals for the first time with a new collection of superstars and role players. Dwayne Wade and Shaquille O’Neal were the center/guard combination that took the Detroit Pistons in six games and went on to upset the Dallas Mavericks.
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Since then, the machinery that helped build to a championship has broke down. Now the Miami Heat are relying on a healthy Dwayne Wade to star on the wing with Shawn Marion to take the team out of the lottery and into the postseason. Heat playoff tickets will only be good if Marion plays to his name, the X-Factor. His unique ability to defend large and small, run the court, rebound, and launch the ball from three point land with an unorthodox form make him a rarity in the league and the key to providing Wade and the undermanned Miami squad with a real shot at winning more than just a few games on the regular season schedule at American Airlines Arena. Even though Shaq was playing at a significantly diminished level, he was still a big body who could rebound and post up. The question is whether Udonis Haslem and Mark Blount can fill the wake left by the future Hall of Famer.
The point guard situation is something to be worried about if you happen to be a Heat fan. Miami will have Marcus Banks bringing the ball up. The signing of Chris Quinn might provide another option for the starting backcourt. He will be an offensive improvement, but will be a defensive liability, making him the yin to Banks Yang. Michael Beasley is another possible bright spot. He went number two in the draft, which surprised many people who thought he should have been number one. The power forward is a little undersized, but dominated summer league with his ability to score down low. He could contribute this season. The Miami hopeful are really hoping he emerges as the third scoring threat. The simple truth is that the aspirations fro Heat playoff tickets really depends on him being more than just a rookie factor this season.