The thing I notice about the Heat is that the Flames have had a different construction of the team over the last three years. Ward's first year as coach had a veteran-heavy line-up with a handful of 2008 and 2009 picks as youth. Then the 2010 players turned pro last year and the group got a bit younger but kept some vets. This year, they have the 2011 and 2012 draft picks, the maturing 2010 players and the assets they got for flipping some of their existing youngsters (and veterans).
It's a definite progression, and I'm not unconvinced that a plan wasn't involved.
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