Pat Riley once said, “Great teamwork is the only way we create the breakthroughs that define our careers.”

Over the years, Riley has proven his worth by getting players to accept their roles within a team structure in order to win games. He was able to do it in Los Angeles with the Lakers and he did it again in New York. He’s also done it once before in Miami. He understands that it takes more than talented players to make a team. Players have to be accepting of roles; they have to be happy. Riley knows this and once LeBron James made his “decision” to head south with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, he knew exactly the type of players he had to have in order to fill his roster.

Riley had to go out and get players who would be happy with a minimal amount of shots. He had to get guys that had a strong veteran presence in the locker room to keep order. And he had to get guys that love roller coasters because it’s going to be one heck of a ride in South Beach. With the current roster established, individual aspirations must now be set aside and the sole focus should be on winning a championship.

As a coach, I can see some looming issues concerning team dynamics but based on the current roster there are several ways to keep every member involved and contributing to the greater good.

Obviously all things will start with Dwayne Wade and LeBron James. Both are extremely talented players but most notably, they are gifted passers. James averaged 8.6 assists per game last season and Wade averaged 6.5. Those numbers tell us that both players willingly give the ball up and this will pay dividends for their teammates.

James and Wade are two of the best in the league at playing in isolation. Now that they are on the same team it will be virtually impossible to double-team either one. This will allow LeBron and Wade the opportunity to take advantage of their defender one-on-one and it will draw plenty of help defense.

Drawing other defenders will create open teammates and free passing lanes. Couple this with two willing passers and you have easy baskets which is why the addition of a shooter such as Mike Miller (and the recently added Eddie House) were so important. Miller shot 50% from the floor overall and 48% from the three-point line during the 2009-2010 season. He will have plenty of opportunities to knock down wide-open jumpers.

The NBA is a pick-and-roll league and I expect to see plenty of it in South Beach. However, you may not see one particular player setting as many screens you think. The star power of LeBron James and Dwayne Wade is so bright that Chris Bosh is often seen as the afterthought. Many believe that he will be limited to setting screens from James and Wade but I don’t see that as the case at all. In fact, I see Bosh putting up some big numbers if used in what may seem an unconventional manner to some. I think instead of seeing Bosh play screen-and-roll with Wade and James we will see Udonis Haslem setting the screens.

Why Haslem and not Bosh? Well, in a pick-and-roll situation the ball handler generally has four options off of the pick. He can look for his own shot, he can find the screener, he can pitch to the weak-side spot up shooter (Miller or House) or he can find the post on the opposite side of the floor with what we call a duck-in. It’s the duck-in that has me thinking we’ll see Haslem setting more screens.

The picture perfect scenario would be to have LeBron or Wade clear out to one side of the floor. They would then bring Haslem up the lane and have him set a screen on the side creating a sideline pick-and-roll. If Bosh starts on the opposite side of the floor in the post then his defender will have to provide help once Wade or James get into the lane. This creates easy dunks for Bosh so keep an eye on this option as the season progresses.

Speaking of Chris Bosh, where does he come into play besides the above-mentioned option? Bosh is the enigma in the picture. Seen as a quiet, unassuming star, it will be interesting to see if he can indeed slip into that persona while in Miami. Bosh averaged 24.0 points per game last season to go along with 10.8 rebounds a game. I am not concerned with Bosh’s offensive game because he can score in the paint and Eric Spoelestra will have some set plays in order to get Bosh the ball on the block. The number that concerns me with Bosh is his offensive rebounding average. According to his statistics page on the NBA website, he only averaged about three offensive rebounds a game during the 2009-2010 season. Why does this number give me reason for worry? Lebron James and Dwayne Wade each averaged about 20 shots per game last year with James shooting 50.3% and Wade at 47.6%. Bosh was right behind them, attempting 16.5 shots per game. All three players aren’t likely to get the same amount of shots this year. If both James and Wade continue to shoot at the same clip and percentages then there will be roughly a total of at least 20 missed shots a game.

Now, factor in that Bosh only averaged three offensive boards a game then I start to see a situation in which Bosh gets lost in the shuffle. The main cog in the wheel in Toronto, Bosh could become a spoke in Miami. I believe one of the keys to success for Miami will be keeping Bosh involved in the game plan.

Pat Riley has done a marvelous job at filling the holes on the Heat roster with unassuming role players and I am certain  Riley has made it clear to the new additions what will be expected of them.

Mike Miller is the designated shooter and I’m sure he’s fine with that because he will see plenty of open looks this year.

At point guard either Carlos Arroyo or Mario Chalmers know that their job will be to get the team into its sets or spot up and knock down open shots. I see Chalmers and Arroyo filling roles much like B.J. Armstrong, John Paxson and Steve Kerr filled in Chicago during the Bulls’ championship years. Each was capable of handling the ball but in crunch time Michael Jordan or Scottie Pippen took control. In Miami I expect Dwayne Wade and Lebron James will be called upon to do the same thing leaving Chalmers and Arroyo free to shoot.

Joel Anthony, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Udonis Haslem and Jamaal Magloire will be counted on to play defense, rebound and occasionally take advantage of any mismatches in the post.

With Dwayne Wade and LeBron James, the Heat have two of the best transition players in league history. This is an aspect that should not be overlooked because players that get out and run in transition find themselves on the receiving end of passes for easy buckets. It is in the transition game where players like Haslem, Anthony, and Magloire can get plenty of points. I always tell the players I coach to run the floor and get out on the break because of ample scoring opportunities. If the big fellas can do this then I see them being content to play with this group.

This is also an area where I see Mike Miller having a tremendous effect on the game. One of the deadliest shots in transition is the corner three. If I’m a defender it would be a scary sight to see Wade pushing the ball down the floor with James on one side, Chris Bosh on the other and then a 48% three-point shooter spotting up in the corner.

It is possible to keep this group happy for the entire year but it will not be without some bumps and bruises along the way. It will take the players some time to develop the necessary chemistry with the “Super Friends.” The sheer amount of talent on the floor at one time will allow Miami to win the games they’re supposed to win but down the stretch and in the playoffs chemistry will be of utmost importance.

There will also be an ever-growing media presence that follows this team. All eyes will be on the Heat and every minute detail will be scrutinized. If the team doesn’t meet expectations right away then how will they handle it? The increasing criticism can lead to tension that, in turn, if not diffused will boil over and quickly become a cancer. Indeed, the toughest test the Miami Heat may face this year may not come from the personalities inside the locker room but from those outside of it.

Overall, I do believe that everyone in Miami will be happy with their roles, especially if the team is winning. I am curious to see what happens if there’s a losing streak or a tough loss down the stretch when playoff seeding is being determined. During the Heat’s 2006 championship run Wade, Shaquille O’Neal, Antoine Walker, Jason Williams, they all said the same things. They were on the same page. Of course, that was also with Pat Riley doing the coaching. Could the same change come this year if the team isn’t living up to the hype? Only time will tell but I do think Miami will be one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference, just not the favorite.

The Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic are pretty good teams but the Heat will undoubtedly improve from their 47-35 record from last season. Also, do not forget the atmosphere in American Airlines Arena will be electric every night. Add the arena atmosphere to Miami’s natural atmosphere, weather and lack of state taxes along with a talented roster and you have a great recipe for success.

Now, let’s hope they don’t leave it in the oven too long.