Heat is cool, for now

Watching the NBA Finals video this summer, I realized the dream was true, my Miami Heat were the NBA Champions. The team that started it's franchise record at 0-17 was now finally an NBA Champion. How would they react to this challenge, would they come out guns blazing and fortify their championship, or would they be what my buddy Matt predicted, no better than a paper champion?

Well so far this season they've been more paper champion than true champion, playing in the Eastern Conference all this means is they are the 8 seed in the weak East, and definitely not where they should be as a champion. So what's wrong? Is a change needed? The answers are of course: Shaq is hurt, and Yes.

Shaq has missed most of the start of the season and was a shell of his Hall of Fame self when he did play, Dwyane Wade hasn't been able to lift the Heat by himself and the supporting cast has been abysmal. The Heat turned away with from made them great last year, hungry, on a mission, saavy veterans, and the emergence of the league's next great superstar. This year the saavy part is still true but the hungry and on a mission part seems to have been washed away in the summer time. Wade is playing as heroically as ever and Gary Payton has contributed heavily in Jason Williams abscence, but it's not enough. At one point Antoine Walker missed 24 of 25 three point shots. 24 of 25. With effort like the that the Heat are closer to disgracing their championship, than defending it with honor. So what can be done? A superstar injection.

AI, Allen Iverson, the Answer, is the Answer to what ails the Heat. The Heat have the talented players and expiring contracts that Philly needs. J-Will's contract expires in two years, and while Antoine Walker's contract expires in four years, there are voidable years there which would make it considerably shorter. If James Posey were substituted for Walker the benefits would be quicker for the Sixers as his contract expires this year. The Sixers would get talent and relatively quick expiring contracts. It is the best deal anyone could offer them.

The Heat? They would get AI's unquesitoned hunger and desire for a championship, which would allow him to defer to Shaq and Wade when necessary. They would get his talent, his ability to score in impossible places, and his eye for passes. In addition adding Iverson would be a conundrum for opposing teams. Who gets doubled? Shaq? That leaves Iverson and Wade one on one. Wade? That leaves Shaq and Iverson open. Iverson? That leaves Wade and Shaq open. The Heat can't lose, and with Pat Riley's guidance, this move would work. Dorrell Wright is coming into his own at the small forward position, and with Jason Kapono as a back up this position is solid if not spectacular. Trading Walker would allow Wayne Simien more playing time at the power forward which would accelarate his development and be a solid back up to Udonis Haslem, and he could even overtake him at some point in the future.

The Heat and Iverson were made for each other. At best, the Heat get a hungry, talented superstar, still in his prime for two years of his contract and a chance to extend their title last year into a run of titles. At worst? They get someone who will give them energy and talent every night and lead to more balanced scoring while securing opportunities for the other stars on the team. It's a no lose proposition for the Heat.

The Heat is cool for now, but with AI's arrival they would heat up to championship levels. All Pat Riley needs to do is make the phone call. AI...AI...AI... can't you just feel the Heat rising? AI...AI...AI...