Entering the 2021-22 NBA season, the consensus opinion was the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks were the overwhelming favorites to claim the Eastern Conference championship. Others put them on a separate tier from the rest of their competitors, but there is one proven team that has overwhelmingly contradicted that statement early in the season. Hello there, Miami Heat.

Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and the Miami Heat franchise are off to a phenomenal start with a 5-1 record, after blowing out the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night. The Heat have the highest net rating at 16.5, and their defense has been sensational at the early juncture of the season. It is no secret their signings of P.J. Tucker and Kyle Lowry have immensely enhanced their defensive performance. Both have still struggled with their shot, but the ascension of third year stud Tyler Herro has been instrumental in their success.

Herro has averaged 22.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG and 4.5 APG over the first six games of the seasons as he intends to bounce back from his subpar sophomore season. Herro has been flourishing as the catalyst of the second unit, and he has kept the doubters quiet with his top notch performance. Even without Victor Oladipo yet, their lack of bench pieces has not been felt yet because of Herro's heroic games.

The tandem of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo have been playing at a championship caliber level to start the season. Butler is already known as a superstar, but he has elevated his production to MVP standards as he is currently tallying 25.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 5.2 APG, and 2.8 SPG, which is second in the whole league. Adebayo assists have dropped from the previous seasons, but his rebounding, scoring, and defensive prowess are consistently at an excellent level for the Erik Spoelstra-led squad.

The core of Miami has vast experience at the playoff stage already, which makes them a legitimate contender to the Bucks and Nets compared to the other franchises that are off to scorching starts like the Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, and Chicago Bulls. When the pace of play slows down come playoff time and teams are focused on facing one team in a series, defense becomes so critical as the differentiating factor in getting the upper hand.

With the core of Butler, Adebayo, Lowry, Tucker, and Duncan Robinson, this unit is the perfect epitome of Heat Culture. They possess the toughness and grit that would make it difficult for the likes of Kevin Durant, James Harden, Giannis Antetokounmpo to manufacture baskets the biggest stage. Their shooting is still at a prominent level with Robinson, Herro, Lowry and Max Strus which is another crucial facet in playoff basketball.

Robinson and Lowry have not found their shooting touch yet, but they will eventually be reliable threats in the latter part of the season. Additionally, Heat President Pat Riley is known to work his magic before the trade and buyout deadline to enhance their depth by adding pieces that would complement their first unit. One ball handler and another veteran combo forward would make them a more formidable threat to the other powerhouses in the league.

It's still a long season for Dem Goons from Dade County, but it is a delightful sight for Spoelstra and the Heat that their pieces are fitting well together. When everyone is at their peak on April, no one should be surprised if Miami is raising that Larry O'Brien trophy by June.