Miami Heat players (L-R) Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Ray Allen, and LeBron James wait during a timeout against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half in Game 5 of their NBA Finals basketball series in San Antonio, Texas, June 15, 2014.
Miami Heat players (L-R) Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Ray Allen, and LeBron James wait during a timeout against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half in Game 5 of their NBA Finals basketball series in San Antonio, Texas, June 15, 2014. REUTERS

Without superstar LeBron James, the Miami Heat are expected to undergo major changes for the upcoming 2014-2015 NBA season. Not surprisingly, part of the tweaks would be more offensive loads for the pair of stars left in the line-up— Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

An article by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald confirmed the potential changes with the Florida franchise as the Miami sports beat writer had a few chose quotes from different Heat players including Wade, Bosh and a Heat official.

“You will see some tweaks in how we play,” the unnamed Heat source said. “We can’t just show up and expect to win it in the fourth quarter any more.”

The Heat official of course is referring to James’ usage with the team the past four years with the Heat. LeBron was after all front and centre on both ends of the floor in Erik Spoelstra’s offensive and defensive systems.

James averaged 27.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game in his final season with the Heat. James led the Heat in all of those categories.

Wade and especially Bosh knows the changes are coming and both are ready to assume bigger roles for the squad.

“It’s cool to be in that situation again. I’m a much better player than I was the last time in that position.” Bosh said.

Meanwhile, Wade’s statement was more vague and cryptic.

“I can’t go back five years,” said the 32-year-old shooting guard whose play on both ends has gone down a bit compared previous seasons when he was considered one of the franchise players if not the primary star of the squad.

Bosh was once the franchise player for his previous team, the Toronto Raptors. In his final year with the Canadian franchise he logged in impressive double-doubles of 24.0 points and 10.4 rebounds in the 2009-2010 NBA regular season.

For his part, Wade averaged 26.6 PPG in the pre-LeBron era in Miami.

To compare, Bosh averaged 16.2 PPG and 6.6 RPG and Wade 19.0 PPG in the last season of what was Miami’s “Big Three”.

There is little doubt that a team with LeBron James, who is considered the best player in his generation will be a very different team from a team without him.

Miami acquired the likes of Luol Deng, Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger via free agency. Along with the veterans in Mario Chalmers, Chris Andersen and Udonis Haslem, the Heat will at least be competitive enough in the conference.

While losing LeBron James is a big blow for Miami, the Heat can still bank on the fact that once upon a time, Bosh and Wade carried their respective teams as franchise players. Can they prove that life in Miami will be sunny even without The King?

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