The Miami Heat have been able to have a fast start to the 13-14 season despite significant reductions in the minutes to LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade.

James is averaging a career-low 35.2 minutes, down from 37.9 last season and 39.6 in his career.

Bosh is averaging 28.5 minutes per game and Wade has been able to sit out several games.

“That’s extremely important,” Bosh said. “Our second group has done a magnificent job this year and made our jobs a little easier. It’s making it easier on us not having to play a lot, especially early.”

The Miami Heat have appeared in the Finals in each of the past three seasons, but they struggled out of the gate in 2010 with a 9-8 record that led to an infamous players-only meeting exactly three years ago.

“That is so funny,” Dwyane Wade said. “I do remember that now. It’s crazy. We are so far from that now. Wow!”

“It was light years ago,” Chris Bosh said. “At that point, the only reason we had a team meeting was to discuss things. I think, of course, things can get blown out of proportion. It was a time we really had to look at each other and stand there and kind of get on the same page. It just happened in a forceful manner and sometimes that’s good.”

The Heat won 21 of 22 games after that meeting in Dallas.

“That was a defining moment where the team has to figure out who they are,” Bosh said. “That was the turning point for us. We could have gone the other way.”

The Dallas Mavericks are positioned to have salary cap room in search of superstar talent in the offseason's free agency, and NBA executives expect the organization to target Chris Bosh.

Bosh is a Dallas native and reportedly received interest from the Mavericks in the summer of 2010 as well.

Bosh has won two championships with the Miami Heat since signing with them and forming a big three along with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

Anderson Varejao discussed the chances of LeBron James returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers after bolting the organization in free agency of 2010 and winning multiple NBA championships with the Miami Heat.

“It could happen,” Varejao said Tuesday. “Bron is from Akron. Akron is not too far from here. Eventually in his career, he probably wants to play at home.”

Varejao admitted he did not like the way James left the Cavaliers in July 2010, announcing his decision in a one-hour television special.

“Going back to that, I think the way he left was wrong,” Varejao said. “But regardless … He helped me a lot, helped my game and helped me as a person. I have nothing against him. It could happen.”

The Cavaliers host the Heat on Wednesday night.

The Miami Heat have been outstanding during their current five-game winning streak, with only their 110-104 win over the Dallas Mavericks being close.

During the streak, the Heat have scored 117.9 points per 100 possessions while giving up 98.68, good for a PPP differential of +19.22.

After beginning the season with a 1-2 record, the Heat are now 9-3.

LeBron James and Blake Griffin have been named the NBA Players of the Week.

James averaged a league-best 34.0 points in leading the Heat to a 3-0 week. He led Miami in scoring in all three games and shot .702 from the field (fifth in the league), .625 from three-point range, and .810 from the foul line. On Nov. 15, James tallied 39 points on 14-of-18 shooting and added six rebounds and four assists as the Heat topped the Dallas Mavericks 110-104.

Griffin helped the Clippers to a 3-0 week behind averages of 25.7 points (tied for third in the Western Conference), 11.3 rebounds (ninth in the conference), 4.7 assists and 1.0 steals. He posted a point-rebound double-double in all three games. On Nov. 13, Griffin scored 22 points and added 12 rebounds, seven assists and three steals as the Clippers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-103. 

LeBron James is reportedly close to a deal for an ownership stake in David Beckham's MLS franchise in Miami.

James also owns a stake in Liverpool of the Barclays Premier League in England.

James can become a free agent this offseason, but his involvement in a soccer team in the Miami area further suggests he is likely to re-sign with the Miami Heat.

The Miami Heat have been very impressed with how Michael Beasley has revived his career during the early part of the season.

Beasley had 15 points on Saturday while playing in a season-high 23 minutes.

"That's Michael Beasley," Dwyane Wade said. "He's a scorer. He's a guy who finds a way to get to the basket, get buckets. He's great for this team."

"I just want him to be great," LeBron James said. "He has the potential; he has the talent. I just want to give him all the knowledge that I've got, help him out. And he can help us, for sure."

Mario Chalmers has been suspended one game for throwing a forearm and making contact with the head of Dirk Nowitzki, the NBA announced on Saturday.

The play occurred in Friday's game between the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks.

A few months after being taken to a Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals by the Indiana Pacers, the Miami Heat have taken notice of their fast start to the 13-14 NBA regular season.

"Yes, they do get our attention," Chris Bosh said. "They're playing confident basketball right now but I still feel like we're the champs and we're going to put it together."

The Heat play the Pacers on Dec. 10 for the first time this season.

"We're going to be up there in the conversation very soon," Bosh said. "We just have to put in the work right now. They have that chip on their shoulder. They have that hunger that we don't have because we won last year. We have to find different motivations and make sure that we're constantly challenging ourselves."