Maybe I'm the last one to the party, but I'm here now. I'm finally ready to admit that the current Miami Heat roster totally and completely sucks.
I'm a Mr. Brightside kind of dude, you see. I look for the best in people, including (and especially) basketball players. Particularly players on my favorite team. I just see upside all over the place, whether it's there or not.
But even I have my limits. Once preseason got underway, I've looked at the Heat with a more skeptical eye. And damn, that's ugly.
Here are a few things I once believed that have been exposed as exaggerations or outright falsehoods.
THEORY: Joel Anthony will have a breakout season. TRUTH: Joel Anthony would be really good at volleyball, since you're not allowed to catch the ball in that sport.
THEORY: Udonis Haslem can play center. TRUTH: You can play Udonis Haslem at center, but that doesn't Udonis Haslem can play center.
THEORY: Miami's talent extends beyond the big three of Dwyane Wade, Shawn Marion and Michael Beasley. TRUTH: No it doesn't.
THEORY: Mario Chalmers was a second-round draft steal. TRUTH: Mario Chalmers was a second-round draft pick for a reason.
THEORY: Jamaal Magloire can regain his status as a serviceable starting center. TRUTH: Jamaal Magloire is finished. (I really should have known this one.)
THEORY: Miami's wing position is full of specialists, each bringing a needed skill to the rotation. TRUTH: Miami can have either shooting or perimeter defense off the bench, but not both at the same time.
THEORY: The Heat would show more than enough progress to keep Dwyane Wade off the free-agent market in 2010. TRUTH: I'm glad the Mayan calendar ends in 2012, so we'l only have to watch two years of post-Wade basketball.