Posted 12/01/2010 10:24 PM

There has been talk about how embarrassing the Heat have been.  Really, we all expected more, and I think that's what gives us the most the laugh about.  Most of the time when the Lakers started losing, their fans would say "at least we're not the Heat's record".  However, when you put the records aside, I believe the Lakers are the ones underperforming.

Before I say why, let me mention that BOTH teams have similar expectations.  Anything but a championship for these teams is falling short and a disappointment.  The Heat (LeBron) promised one (well, actually about 9, but you can only get one a year).  The Lakers however are looking for a three peat, and anytime you are the defending champions, losing the next year is anything but falling short.  Therefore, the Heat not having the record they want, and a rare 4 game losing streak (especially with all the trash talking) for the Lakers is not what they want.

Now let's look at the Heat's games played so far, who are 11-8.

@Boston - L
@Philly - W
vsOrlando - W
@New Jersey - W
vsMinnesota - W
@New Orleans - L
vsNew Jersey - W
vsUtah - L
vsBoston - L
vsToronto - W
vsPhoenix - W
vsCharlotte - W
@Memphis - L
vsIndiana - L
@Orlando - L
vsPhilly - W
@Dallas - L
vsWashington - W
vsDetriot - W

The Teams that the Heat have lost to...

Boston x 2 - 28-8
New Orleans - 13-5
Utah - 15-5
Memphis - 8-11
Indiana - 9-8
Orlando - 14-4
Dallas - 14-4

For a combined record of 91 - 45

Now let's look at the Lakers games played.

vsHouston - W
@Phoenix - W
vsGolden State - W
vsMemphis - W
@Sacromento - W
vsToronto  - W
vsPortland - W
vsMinesota - W
@Denver - L
vsPhoenix - L
@Milwaukee - W
@Detriot - W
@Minnesota - W
vsGolden State - W
vsChicago - W
@Utah - L
vsIndiana - L
@Memphis - L
@Houston - L

The Teams the Lakers have lost to...

Denver - 11-6
Phoenix - 8 - 9
Utah - 15 - 5
Indiana - 9-8
Memphis - 8 - 11
Houston - 6 - 12

For a combined record of 57 - 51

Obviously, the Heat have had more competition.  Also, the teams that have beat the Heat have also beat the Lakers or haven't played them in Indiana, Utah, and Memphis.  Indiana and Memphis add a lot of losses to both combined records, while Utah gives 15 wins and 5 loses to both teams combined records.

The Heat (11-8) are 9-4 in their confrence, 3-1 in their division, 9-3 at home, 2-5 road
The Lakers (13-6) are 9-5 in their confrence, 4-1 in their Division, 8-2 at home, 5-4 road

The road looks lopsided, with the Heat 2-5 and the Lakers 5-4, but let's look at the road warriors...

Heat lost to NOH, Orlando, Boston, Memphis and Dallas.  Each of those teams, except Memphis are in the top 5 of their confrence at least.  When you take away the Hornets, that's Top 1 in the East, top 2 in the East, and top 2 in the West.

The Lakers road loses have been against Utah, Memphis, Denver, and Houston.

When you take away Memphis, like we did with the Heat, the highest seeded team is Utah, who is now seeded 3, but was seeded 4 before the Lakers lost tonight.  However, the other teams are 7th seed and 12th seed in Denver and Houston.

Obviously, the Heat have had the much harder schedule, going against the top teams in the league, while the Lakers have had a very easy schedule, losing to some of the worse teams in the league.  The best team they've beat have been the Chicago Bulls, who are 9-7 and 4th seed in the East.  The best team the Heat has beat was the Orlando Magic, who are 14-4 and 2nd seed in the East.

Honestly, I'm thinking the Heat have been better than the Lakers so far this season, even with less wins and more losses.