Over the course of last season, the Miami Heat were never able to pick up the speed and contend with other organizations in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Injuries were the main reason for Miami’s downfall as the team finished the season at a disappointing 37-45, and the Heat were unable to make it to the postseason. This season, however, Miami is looking to dominate the Eastern Conference.

This year, the Heat have a serious opportunity to make an impact in the East. With Chris Bosh returning from blood clots on his lungs, and a healthy Dwyane Wade and Hassan Whiteside, an immediate change for the better will be seen on the offensive side of the court. Add in a tempo-setting Goran Dragic and first-round draft pick Justise Winslow, the Miami Heat shouldn’t have much of a problem bettering last season’s record.

All of this is only possible if this team can get past the main problem: staying healthy. Shooting guard Dwayne Wade has a long-standing struggle with his knees. Forward Josh McRoberts tore a ligament in his right knee, keeping him on the bench last season, but McRoberts appears ready to breakout this year as a key contributor. If the Heat can limit those nagging injuries, the organization should be able to find success.

The Heat’s player personnel have been looking very strong in pre-season play. Miami have been able to keep all of their veteran players in the lineup, players such as Wade and Luol Deng, another forward. The Heat got very lucky scooping up Justise Winslow in the draft, and signed Gerald Green and Amar’e Stoudemire in free agency with minimum contracts. Young star center Hassan Whiteside is continuing to create highlight-reel worthy plays on a regular basis. On paper, this organization is an elite team and has a surplus of talent.

Aside from LeBron James over a short stretch of time, Wade has led the Heat in scoring since the 2004 season, averaging 24.8 points a game. Even with a good amount of bench time last season, Wade averaged 21.5 points a game, 4.8 assists, and 3.5 rebounds in 62 match-ups. Goran Dragic, the Heat’s new starting point guard, has averaged 17.1 points a contest, along with 5.9 assists and 3.3 rebounds.

Although Wade and Dragic make up for an amazing guard duo, 26-year-old center Hassan Whiteside is the player to watch. Last year, Whiteside averaged a double-double per game with 11.8 points and 10.0 rebounds. He also tacked on 2.6 blocks a game. Whiteside shoots .616% from the field, ranked near the top of the NBA in shooting percentage. The only downside to Whiteside’s game was his free throw percentage. Whiteside shot below 50% from the charity stripe, a scary number for fantasy owners. By dominating the boards, protecting the basket, and becoming a reliable part of the offense, Hassan Whiteside is a true representation of tremendous potential.

Overall, this is the season the Heat fans are expecting. Don’t expect this organization to be so unbelievably spectacular, but this is a team that should be able to make waves within their conference. The Miami Heat will finish with a winning record of 49-33.

Western Conference Champion: Golden State Warriors
Eastern Conference Champion: Atlanta Hawks
NBA Finals Champion: Golden State Warriors
Season MVP: Stephen Curry