The Miami Heat have been one of the most slept-on teams all season this year. It is questionable why people are not giving the Heat the credit that they deserve because they have been playing like one of the best teams in basketball, despite all of the injuries that they have had to overcome.

The Heat did not perform to what they were hoping for last season as they were swept by the Milwaukee Bucks in the playoffs. The season before that, they made an NBA Finals. There is no reason to think right now that this Heat team cannot win an NBA championship.

Just like every other contending team in the NBA, there are many questions about this Heat team. Let's take a look at the three biggest questions about this Heat team this season.

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Heat Questions 2022

3. Do they have a guy who can take over the game?

This is probably the biggest question about the Heat and it might sound crazy to some people. There have been many questions about if Jimmy Butler is really that guy who can take over a game. We have seen him do this before in his career including the NBA bubble where he carried this Heat team to an NBA final.

Although the Heat might not have a guy that can take over a game like the Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, or the Philadelphia 76ers, they still have a very good option in Jimmy Butler.

Miami doesn't necessarily need somebody to come out and score 35-plus points per night come playoff time. The reason for this is because they play elite-level defense and they also have some guys who can shoot the 3-point shot at a high level.

If the Heat can get contributions from everybody in their lineup, just like they have had all season, they are going to be a very good team come playoff time.

There has been some questioning about if they do have that star who can really take over a game and the simple answer is yes. Jimmy Butler has proven throughout his career that he is a high-level player when he is healthy so there's no reason to expect him to do any different this season.

2. Can the defense continue being elite?

Before the Heat had some unfortunate injuries throughout the season, they were one of the best defensive teams that the NBA has ever seen. Due to their players being injured earlier in the season, it was a short sample size but what they were able to do on the defensive side of the ball was simply incredible.

If the Heat are going to want to win an NBA championship this season, they're going to need their defense to continue to play how it was at the beginning of the season when everybody was healthy. If they can continue defending at that high of a level, it's going to be very tough for teams to beat them.

Miami does a great job against guys like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, and Joel Embiid. They have a bunch of length on their roster and they have a few guys that they can throw at each of these stars.

A lineup that includes guys like Kyle Lowry, Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, and PJ Tucker is going to be very hard to score on come playoff time. Not only are all of these guys high-level defenders, but they play with a type of grit and physicality that isn't seen by many. Even if the opposing team does score on them, they make it tougher than anybody in the league.

1. Are they title contenders?

There has been some questioning about this Heat team for whatever reason on if they are a title contender.

At the moment, there is no reason to think that this team isn't one of the best in basketball and can't win an NBA title.

Their biggest competition in the Eastern Conference is going to be the Brooklyn Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks but the Heat match up perfectly against both of these teams. What they have been able to do this season despite being injured is very impressive and they deserve their flowers.

They have been without two of their best players in Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo for an extended period f time this season and they are still 27-16. Miami holds the third seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Heat have also had some other guys step up for them this year as Tyler Herro is having a career year. He is still very young so it would be hard to say that this is going to be the best season of his career but if he can continue playing basketball at this high of a level, the Heat are going to be a very tough team to beat come playoff time.