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NBA 2015-16 Season Preview: Luol Deng believes Miami Heat investment can take them back to the Finals
Heat have made significant investment over the summer after missing the play-offs last season
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Your support makes all the difference.The departure of LeBron James was always going to hurt the Miami Heat.
The world's best player led the team to the NBA Finals in all four of his seasons in Florida, winning the Larry O'Brien trophy twice.
When the superstar decided to return to his home-state team the Cleveland Cavaliers, those around the NBA expected the Heat to face a significant drop-off, but not to miss the post-season entirely.
With fellow All-Stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh still with the team, as well as former All-Star Luol Deng signed to, somewhat, fill the void of the departed James, General Manager Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra would have been confident last season of still being a contender.
But Wade missed 20 games and Bosh was ruled out for the rest of the season in February with a worrying condition; it was announced he had been hospitalised with blood clots on his lung.
Riley had traded for All-Star point guard Goran Dragic just days earlier, but the pair never got to play together, and sixth man Josh McRoberts also played just 17 games.
This summer Bosh, Wade and the rest of the Heat are healthy and there is optimisim about the squad contending again.
Free agent signings Gerald Green and Amar'e Stoudemire add bench depth, while rookie Justise Winslow fell a lot further than expected in the draft to land in Miami.
British veteran Luol Deng, about to enter his 12th season in the league, is expecting a lot from his team.
"A lot of things can happen throughout the year, but if we stay healthy we’re very good. I’d take our chances with anyone," he said speaking ahead of the opening night game against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night.
"I think we have the potential of going all the way," added the two-time All-Star. "The ultimate goal is obviously to reach the highest level and to win it all.
"But at the same time we’re not coming in thinking we’re better than anyone, I think we’re going to earn it and we’ve got to show we deserve to be one of the best teams this year."
Deng believes that re-signing Wade to a new deal over the summer has been key.
"Dwayne is a winner. We didn’t want to change a lot in the squad. We are excited to be back and play together, so the chemistry could even be better than it was last year."
Deng averaged 14 points, 5.2 assists and 1.9 rebounds in his first season in Miami but is looking to improve this season.
"Individually, I want to challenge myself to have the best season I possibly can," he said. "I just turned 30, I feel great, and I really think your focus level as you get older is way better.
"But you really want to bring that consistency to your team; you try to improve them in every way. A lot of times it’s not on the court, it’s what you do, just mentally where you are, maturity wise, being a leader. I think those things can help you excel your game and those are the things I want to focus on."
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