NBA News: Miami Heat Think They Can Compete Without LeBron James

LeBron who? The Miami Heat don't need no stinking four-time MVP. At least, that's what they think.

The current Heat team still thinks they can be very competitive in the Eastern Conference even without James on the roster. While the team did add Luol Deng and Josh McRoberts in free agency, they know it's a far cry from replacing the NBA's best player.

"I don't think we're as talented as years past, and we're going to have to make up for it in toughness," Chris Bosh said.

Some of the names on the back of the jerseys may be different, but the mindset is consistent with that of previous squads.

"The Heat culture, the Heat code, that will remain the same," Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Our standard and our expectations of what our organization is all about, that remains the same. That's one thing you can count on in a league where there's constant change."

That all sounds well and good, but is Spoelstra capable of keeping this team in the playoff hunt?

"You have to be able to coach different teams, different challenges," Spoelstra said. "And we're looking forward to this challenge."

James' departure puts more pressure on remaining wing players, such as 32-year-old Dwyane Wade, who has missed 74 games over his last three seasons due to injury (54 last year alone).

"My goal is to be available every day for my teammates and see what that equals out to," Wade said. "Hopefully it equals out to success for myself, individually, but (also) for our team."

Bosh, who signed a max contract in free agency worth $118 million over five years to stay with the Heat, is expected to become the focal point of the Heat's new offense, but he hasn't worked as a primary option since his last season with the Toronto Raptors in 2009. Even then, the Raptors missed out on the playoffs.

"I can't wait to see CB grow into a new role," Spoelstra said. "Where he can really impact this team is starting, No. 1, with his leadership."

Spoelstra is no longer concerned with who is and who isn't with the Heat this year. He just wants to win. To try and accomplish that, he knows he has to switch up his approaches to suit the new faces this year. This isn't going to be a recycled version of last season's Heat team.

"I think it's a dangerous thing to try and plug in and attempt to fill in spots that are not there this year and try to make it the same as last year," Spoelstra said. "It's a new team. You have to be open to where this team can go and the direction and the roles."

"I'm looking at this as a blank canvas."

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NBA, Miami heat, Dwyane wade, Chris bosh, Erik Spoelstra, Fantasy Basketball
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