Miami Heat defense is worrisome

Through four games this season, the Miami Heat are allowing the second-most points per game in the early stages of the NBA regular season. Though the Heat are 3-1, Sun Sentinel columnist Dave Hyde is concerned about how the Heat are going to play defensively in the long run.

While Hyde does say in the article that it is still too soon to panic, he brings up the signing of offensive minded players like guard Ray Allen and forward Rashard Lewis, replacing defensive minded players like Udonis Haslem and Joel Anthony off the bench:

But the legitimate question on the table is how the Heat go about incorporating two offensive-minded newcomers while remaining true to their defensive-minded roots.

Hyde though acknowledges that even last year, a signee like Shane Battier said that it took him 'months' to get comfortable in the new system. Battier believes that's the reason why the defense is having struggles early in the season:

"I'd rather have room for improvement,'' he said. ".If we were clicking on all cylinders now, it'd be hard to sustain it. I look at it from that we're buying low, defensively. We have room to go high."

The Heat host the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday at AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami. Tip off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on Sun Sports and the radio broadcast will be on 790 AM, 710 AM and 104.3 FM.