[Joshua Kaufman]

As one of the favorites to vie for the NBA championship this year, the Miami Heat has not lived up to lofty expectations. Any team with Shaquille O’Neal, Dwayne Wade, Alonzo Mourning, Gary Payton, and a host of other talented stars should be further along than they are. The return of Pat Riley to the sidelines looked to be the boost the Miami Heat needed, but the progress has been sluggish. Still, the Heat is having a good season and the talent is there to reach the finals. Pundits have pointed toward a host of reasons why the Heat hasn’t had the same kind of season the Detroit Pistons have. Am I now a pundit? I guess so. Here’s my take:

1) Shaquille O’Neal – He’s still one of the most dominant players in the league – but he is no longer the most dominant player. Coach Riley had to call him out in the press. When has anyone had to call Shaq out?
2) Chemistry – Often the most overrated topic in sports. Here, however, the lack of team chemistry is evident. Last season everyone wanted to run Eddie Jones out of town. Fair enough. But remember, Jones was a defensive force – albeit a vastly overpaid one. Replacing him with defensive sieve Antoine Walker has not panned out. Throw in a coaching change and you’ve got a relative mess on your hands.
3) Injuries – Nearly every team in sports can cite injuries as the reason for their downfall. You just have to buck up.

[Lefty Noob]

I must admit, at the time I thought Riley taking over the reigns as coach was a big mistake. But it seems to have paid off. They've gone 22-10 since Van Gundy stepped down, and their now six games up on the Wizards in the Southwest Division. In the end, I think they'll still be a force in the playoffs, as long as -- here's that word again -- they stay healthy and avoid any major injuries.