Fansided

Midseason Grades for Each NBA Team

By Cody Williams

Jan 14, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers small forward LeBron James (23) is defended by San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers small forward LeBron James (23) is defended by San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 9, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) is helped from the court by teammates Hassan Whiteside (21) and Luol Deng (9) during the first half against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) is helped from the court by teammates Hassan Whiteside (21) and Luol Deng (9) during the first half against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

110. . 23-20. 7th East. Miami Heat. C. player

There were enormous expectations for the Miami Heat heading into the 2015-16 NBA season. Though they missed out on the postseason last year, a returning Chris Bosh joining the likes of Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic along with the budding star in Hassan Whiteside seemed like it would mean big things for the Heat and that they might be able to compete atop the Eastern Conference this season.

While the Heat are currently the No. 5 seed in the East and in the heart of a logjam in the middles of the conference standings, it’s hard to escape the fact that they have fallen well short of expectations and their potential through the first half of the season. Their defense has been wildly inconsistent this season while Dragic continues to look like an odd fit in this system. Moreover, Wade has played well this season, but his individual success has come at the detriment of the team as a whole at times.

Considering that they are above .500 and likely going to make the playoffs, it’s hard to knock the Heat too much for what they’ve done up to the midway point in the season. However, the fact that they haven’t been quite as dangerous or successful as many thought that they would be this season leaves them with a less-than-stellar grade.

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