NBA: Five teams which will turn the 'Heat' on Miami

3. Brooklyn Nets

Brooklyn Nets

One of the three legitimate threats to the Heat this season. The Nets have shown how productive an off season can be provided you utilise your time and money. Coached by the recently retired Jason Kidd, this team can give most teams a run for their money.

At full health, Nets start with an all All-Star team on the court: Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Brook Lopez. Just look at that team. It has got talent, size, speed, experience, youth, everything. They have an incredibly deep bench too: Andrei Kirilenko, Jason Terry, Andray Blatche and Tomike Shengelia just to name a few. They are sound both offensively and defensively.

There are two reasons as to why they have not been placed higher up in this list:

1) Team chemistry. Most of the starting five are new to Denver. Also, Williams has always been the man in Brooklyn. The same applies to Garnett and Pierce who have been “The Men” in Boston. How well they can co-exist will go a long way in determining the success of this team.

2) Kidd, while being a legendary player, has never coached before. That’s definitely a liability albeit with his experience and leadership, I am sure he’ll figure out a way to overcome it.

Despite these two concerns, the Nets have a deep and strategically sound team. I would be very surprised if they didn’t make a deep playoff run.