These days, Miami Heat tickets should allow fans to see a team that's on top of the world. The team won their first NBA championship last season, and they have a long-time centerpiece of the league in Shaquille O'Neal leading the way in star power and overall resident comedy. They also have perhaps the most dynamic young star in the basketball world in Dwyane Wade, a player who is achieving Jordan-level status with his unbelievable talent and performance in pressure situations.

However, all is not right currently with the Heat, and Wade has been speaking out in strange ways in recent days, calling out other stars such as Dirk Nowitzki and LeBron James, and this appears to be totally out of character for the usually positive and likeable superstar. Below we'll take a look at why Wade may be frustrated, and we'll make our best guess as to whether the Heat will return to their place atop the NBA this summer.

O'Neal's Injuries

Shaq may be getting older, but even if he isn't the physical freak he once was, he still commands an enormous amount of attention every time he plays. The problem is that he hasn't been on the floor much lately, and that clearly makes everything harder for every other member of the team. Without Shaq demanding double teams in the paint on offense, the defense on the perimeter is tighter and teams are less hesitant to drive to the hoop on the other end of the floor.

Age

The Heat made the decision last summer to basically bring back the nucleus of players that won them the NBA title, and that included players such as Antoine Walker, Gary Payton and Alonzo Mourning, a local hero who at one time was able to move Miami Heat tickets all by himself. The problem with this strategy, however, is that age can catch up to basketball players quickly, and without the presence of young legs, this team has been playing tired lately, especially since the absence of O'Neal only creates more of a challenge for everyone involved.

What it all Means

The Heat currently sit two games under .500, and luckily for them, that still keeps them right in the thick of things in the watered-down Eastern Conference. Perhaps this is a team that is thinking of just getting into the playoffs and turning it up a notch at that point. That has worked in the past for other teams, but in reality, this team needs to get healthy and get fresh for the late-season and post-season run.

If they can do so, it still comes down to the fact that the Heat have two of the best players in the game, they won't be facing a dynamic or dominant team in the Eastern Conference playoffs and will have at worst an even chance against anyone they face in the playoffs. Basically, Miami Heat tickets may still be an opportunity to see a team in the midst of a repeat of their championship run from a year ago, but it's getting to be about time to kick it into a higher gear.