The Miami Heat officially begin training camp next week, but one thing is pretty obvious for the team heading into the start of the season. It's the painful reality that the Heat simply are not a serious threat to win the Eastern Conference this season.
Can the Heat embrace an underdog mentality and emerge as a feisty team in the East this year? Absolutely. However, even if things do play out somewhat perfectly for Miami this season, it'd be hard-pressed to envision a scenario where they finish in the top 5 of the East standings.