The Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers are both built around star power, but the way those names fit together looks different from spot to spot. In this matchup-by-matchup look at the projected lineups, the edges bounce back and forth - with the Heat landing on top in a few key places and the Sixers owning others.
At point guard, Philadelphia has the bigger name and the stronger case. The Sixers are reportedly using LeBron James there, a role he helped lead to championship success in 2020 with the Los Angeles Lakers at the Orlando NBA Bubble.
That same year, James led the league with a 10.2-assist average in 67 games, and at 41 he still brings one of the sharpest basketball minds the game has ever seen. Anfernee Simons is expected to back him up, giving Philadelphia a scoring boost and another playmaking option off the bench.
Miami, meanwhile, will lean on Davion Mitchell to run the show. Mitchell is coming off a career-best year with a 6.5-assist average, and with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Klay Thompson, and Tim Hardaway Jr. now in the mix, there’s a real chance that number climbs.
Dru Smith looks like the backup, bringing a steadier two-way presence than flash. Still, this one goes to the Sixers.
Shooting guard is where the Heat start to swing momentum. Thompson’s arrival puts him in line to start next to Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, and his reputation as one of the most dangerous three-point shooters in league history makes that fit especially dangerous.
Miami should be able to create plenty of clean looks for him with Antetokounmpo and Adebayo collapsing defenses from the middle. If the 36-year-old starts, Tim Hardaway Jr. would handle the backup role after a top-three Sixth Man of the Year campaign.
Philadelphia counters with Tyrese Maxey shifting over to shooting guard, fresh off a monster season in which he posted 28.3 points on 46.2 percent shooting, along with 4.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists in 70 games, all starts. He also picked up Third Team All-NBA honors and finished seventh in Clutch Player of the Year voting.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is the likely reserve, and his two-way impact has already caused Miami problems before, especially when the games get biggest. This one is tight, but the Heat get the nod because they can lean on a four-time champion.
The small forward spot tilts back to Philadelphia. Miami kept and extended Andrew Wiggins this summer, and he looks like the obvious starter after a productive season that included shooting better than 40 percent from the field and from three, something he had never done before.
Simone Fontecchio is the likely backup, and his shooting and defense should keep him in the mix. On the other side, the Sixers are expected to start Jaylen Brown, a former Finals MVP and five-time All-Star who is coming off an MVP-caliber season: 28.7 points on 47.7 percent shooting, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in 71 games, all starts.
Justin Edwards is the fit behind him, with defense and three-point shooting helping him earn minutes. The Sixers take this one.
Power forward belongs to Miami. Antetokounmpo is the obvious starter there, and even after an injury-riddled season, the 31-year-old still looks capable of taking over any night.
Bobby Portis Jr. is projected as the backup, bringing a tough defensive edge and the ability to stretch the floor. Philadelphia is expected to start Dean Wade, a dependable three-point shooter with a 6-9, 228-pound frame, and Jabari Walker would back him up.
But this is the Heat’s matchup.
At center, stability pushes Miami ahead. Bam Adebayo is the clear starter, with his three-time All-Star nod and six All-Defense selections making him the safest presence in the group.
Nick Richards, listed at 6-11 and 245 pounds, is the likely backup. Philadelphia’s preferred starter is Joel Embiid, though health concerns could create another season of turbulence.
Ariel Hukporti and Adem Bona are also on the roster. In the end, the Heat get the edge here because of certainty.
So when the dust settles, Philadelphia claims point guard and small forward, Miami takes shooting guard, power forward, and center, and the overall picture is as balanced - and as star-heavy - as it gets.
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