3-on-3 preview: Kings at Heat, 7:30 ET

February, 21, 2012
Feb 21
2:16
PM ET
LeBron James
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Do the Heat have any concerns going into the Sacramento game?

The Heat sit atop our power rankings and have beaten their last six opponents by double-digit points. Everything seems to be going right for them as they head into their match against the Sacramento Kings.

Are the Heat peaking too early? Should they be worried about the lack of close games to sharpen their clutch execution? Are there legitimate concerns at this juncture in the season?

In another installment of the Heat Index's 3-on-3 series, our writers give their takes on the storylines before the Heat (25-7) take on the (10-21) Kings.

1. Fact or Fiction: the Heat should be concerned about peaking too early.


Tom Haberstroh: Fiction. Erik Spoelstra is still keeping plenty in his back pocket for the playoffs, so I don't think we're seeing anything close to the final product right now. This team still has room to grow. Sure, they've made games look like Varsity vs. J.V. scrimmages, but there's always room for improvement.

Michael Wallace: Fiction. There's nothing really wrong with peaking and finding a dominant rhythm at this point. I can hear Herm Edwards' voice in my head right now: "You play ... to win ... the game." As long as the Heat don't get too complacent, though, they're fine.

Brian Windhorst: Fiction. The Heat should be concerned about staying healthy and having their players as fresh as possible for the postseason. A huge reason they have been playing so well recently is this is the healthiest the team has been since it was put together in 2010. You can't control injuries obviously but the Heat now know what their ceiling is when they're all together. Decisions should be made over the next two months, even if it means shutting a player down like they did with Wade earlier, to try to capture this in the playoffs.



2. Fact or Fiction: Miami should be concerned about clutch execution.


Haberstroh: Fiction. It seems like forever ago that the Heat needed to buckle down in crunchtime, doesn't it? That's because it has been a while -- the last time the score was within five points in the final five minutes of the game was Feb. 5 against Toronto, over two weeks ago. The Heat are 9-4 in those games this season. If they see none of those close games until the playoffs, they should be concerned. But it's too early to press the panic button now.

Wallace: Fiction. Miami won't continue to blow everyone off the floor, so there will be some games along the way that test their execution down the stretch. But last time I checked, they had a pretty decent track record of finishing off opponents in those situations this season. We'll see if that remains the case come playoff time.

Windhorst: Fact. This is not their strong suit. Yes they have had some successes this season but it is still an area that's been a problem. They have the "closer" lineup they've been working on and that will be tested plenty more before the end of the season. This is probably the biggest impediment between them and the title.



3. Fact or Fiction: The Heat don't have pressing concerns at this point.


Haberstroh: Fact. You could point to Chris Bosh's average of 13 points in February. You could point to the fact that the league's reigning 3-point champ is buried on the bench. You could point to Wade's sudden inability to make a shot outside 20 feet. But then you realize that every team would trade their problems for the Heat's "problems." In a second.

Wallace: Fact. They're relatively healthy. They're playing efficiently on offense and a dominant brand of defense in stretches. So in essence, there's no sign of trouble right now. By the way, that sound you hear is Pat Riley knocking on the hardwood at the Heat's arena.

Windhorst: Fiction. They're getting by with smoke and mirrors at center and Chris Bosh's production has plunged. Now, every team in the league would like to have the Heat's problems. But no team ever is concern-free.

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