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Earlier this season I wrote about how the Miami Heat would be better than most expected. Critics pointed mainly to a lack of depth and health issues as their main drawbacks. With the Heat holding a 23-7 record, tops in the East, and amidst a 12-game winning streak it seems they have been proven wrong. The roster is deep and while injuries have hit, the team has played through them.

Shaquille O'Neal makes the majority of the headlines but Dwyane Wade is the driving force of this team. Wade has built upon his success in last year's playoffs and is having an All-Star caliber season, leading the Heat in points and assists per game and ranking in the top 10 in the NBA in both categories. Over time, Wade may prove to be a far more fitting sidekick to Shaq than either Kobe or Penny Hardaway were and just as capable of taking over a game alone.

Shaq is not dominating as he has been in the past, but he's still putting up large numbers and most importantly, his presence helps others. Eddie Jones started the season with very inconsistent performances but has come on as of late; his versatility is crucial. It was well-known that the trio of Shaq, Wade and Eddie Jones would be the key to Miami's success this season, but the supporting talent has stepped up and quieted the talk of Miami having a shallow roster.

Damon Jones has proven he is more than a fitting replacement for Rafer Alston and the team has not lost since he stepped into the starting lineup. Udonis Haslem has been fantastic starting at power forward, taking full advantage of playing alongside Shaq. Off the bench, Keyon Dooling, Shandon Anderson, Rasual Butler, Christian Laettner and Michael Doleac form a second unit that can be trusted to stay competitive in any game.

Although not even halfway through the season, the Heat are showing that they are head and shoulders above the rest of the Eastern Conference and show no signs of slowing down. A trip to the NBA Finals and a clash with a formidable Western power looks imminent.