Tuesday night was a difficult night for the Miami Heat (4-6) as they fell on the road to the Detroit Pistons 123-121 in overtime. This was an ugly loss for the Heat as they have now encountered an ugly season at 4-6.
The Miami Heat were coming off a huge 95-94 road victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves as it knocked off three consecutive losses. The win over Minnesota was an opportunity to get their season back on track and play more efficiently with the NBA Cup beginning.
Instead, there are more questions than answers about this team that looks to win an NBA title with Jimmy Butler before he either retires or leaves via free agency.
Speaking this week, the ‘Run It Back’ crew Michelle Beadle and Lou Wiliams wonder if it too late for the Heat.
Williams explained: “It’s early, it just feels like something is off in Miami and I think this is a carryover from last season when they fell short. Miami is one of those teams you always feel like come playoff time,
“They’re going to be in the mix because how they train, how they work, the Heat Culture and how they attack the postseason but if it feels like something is off.
“I feel like it starts with Jimmy Butler’s health and his ankle, you know with him not being available, they’ve had to lean on other guys to get them through, it just hasn’t been enough. I just don’t know, I’m hitting the panic button, it’s a vibe.”
The Heat struggling throughout the regular season is nothing new as they have caught their biggest break during the postseason chase.
In the 2019-2020 NBA Season, the Heat finished in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, but went to the NBA Finals. The following season, they finished sixth in the East. In the 2023 NBA Postseason, the Heat finished in seventh place in the East, but made to the NBA Finals.
Miami is a team that knows how to grind their way to get the playoffs and potentially the NBA Finals. This season feels different as Butler hasn’t been fully healthy. He has only been the team’s leading scorer in two of the three games this season and they were within the first three games.
Guard Tyler Herro has been the star offensive player for Miami this season as he has been the leading scorer in the last five games and six of the last seven games.
The schedule is going to be brutal for the rest of the season, especially with an aged roster. The good news is that Miami is in ninth place of a weak Eastern Conference, just ahead of the Pistons. Miami does have to hurry to gain some rhythm and consistency before the Milwaukee Bucks (4-8) and the Philadelphia 76ers (2-9) manage to find their rhythm first.
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