How The Miami Heat Are Giving Eastern Conference Teams A Run For Their Money
A decimated roster led pundits, fans and analysts to predict a Miami lottery berth this preseason. Problem is someone forgot to tell the Heat players, whose culture thrives on winning.
The push for NBA playoff contention is definitely on.
Especially when it comes to the Eastern Conference, a place where it seems just about anything can happen.
Including a team that started out at the bottom of the barrel, suddenly looking to grab that eighth spot and secure a seed in the postseason.
Yes, the Miami Heat, who only two months ago held an abysmal record of 11–30, are 28–33 as of Friday morning. Ninth in the East. And only a game behind the № 8 Detroit Pistons.
Shocking? Not so much.
It is true that the organization’s 2016–17 run seemed doomed from the start. Between the face of the franchise Dwyane Wade announcing he would be signing with the Chicago Bulls, president Pat Riley unable to catch his “whale” in superstar Kevin Durant, and beloved Chris Bosh not being cleared to play by training camp, South Beach appeared to be in trouble.
There were silver linings, of course. Hassan Whiteside re-signing on a four-year, maximum contract deal. The front office matching Tyler Johnson’s Brooklyn Nets offer sheet. And, a plethora of low to mid-level players like James Johnson and Luke Babbitt became available to acquire on economical one-year deals.
But, it is safe to say the majority of the league had written the Heat off by the time preseason even came around.
Even some of Heat Nation fell into this category.
Yet, despite Miami’s rough start, true supporters knew there would be more to this season’s story than lost stars and an abundance of injuries.
Because Miami Heat basketball never quits. As proven by the fact, here we are, at the beginning of March, with Miami right back in the thick of the things.
So how did they do it? And what will propel them to keep winning?
Well for starters, they Never — Gave — Up. Not for a single second. Even when only a couple guys were available to come off the bench, due to injury. Even having just a few wins under their belts. Even when fans were calling for the team to tank.
“I know the guys here aren’t trying to do that.” Johnson said. “You’ve got guys on one-year deals who can’t afford to do that. People are going to say whatever they want about tanking. You can’t really listen to all that outside noise. I think if you did, you would go a little crazy. We’re trying to get as many wins as we can. I mean, you put together eight wins in 10 games and all of sudden you look up, with the way the East has been shaping out this year, you can be right back in the hunt.”
And that is exactly where the Heat are.
The team knew success would come down the road. They just needed a (mostly) healthy roster. And time to build chemistry. So they never panicked. They just kept on grinding it out.
The grind has always been a team effort too, perhaps the main reason for Miami’s fortitude.
Obviously there are headlining acts, guys who are leaders night-in and night-out. Goran Dragic being the first of them.
A recent nominee for Eastern Conference Player of the Month, Dragic has been playing an insane level of basketball lately. Averaging 20.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists a game this year. Moreover, his points per game jumped to 22.5 for the month of February. Including shooting 47.5 from beyond-the-arc. He has mastered the art of running the floor at his pace, continues to have a hot offensive hand and has proven himself as a playmaker as well.
Which brings us to Whiteside, another dominant force for the Heat.
The big man has certainly found his groove this season, averaging 16.6 points, 14.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per matchup. He is a threat on both ends of the floor, making him extremely difficult to contain. And, to make things that much better, gone are the days of childish fouls and immature interviews.
However, without the rest of the Miami Mafia, playoff inclusion would be nearly impossible.
Take Johnson, who is averaging 14.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.2 steals a contest, and just recently had a 24-point game (in 28 minutes) against the Philadelphia 76ers.
And what about Dion Waiters, the fearless shooter who had back-to-back 33-point performances and ended last month averaging 18.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists a game? He is undoubtedly a huge part of the Heat’s comeback.
Then there is James Johnson, or ‘Bloodsport’ as his friends like to call him, an underestimated force of nature who is averaging a career-high 12.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 blocks per contest. Messing with him, or his teammates, is not something that comes highly recommended.
It does not stop there though. Rodney McGruder, the team scavenger, has come up as a defensive powerhouse against pretty much anyone you could think of. Wayne Ellington, The Man With The Golden Arm, went from Heat Killer to the team’s three-point secret weapon. Okaro White who up until recently, was the only undefeated player in the league.
Miami does not need a Super Team. Or Three Alphas. Or even the Big Three, for that matter. Because 7/11 and Johnson and Johnson are doing just fine.
The Heat have developed into their own heroes. Ones that have The Godfather as their president, and Coach Of The Month as their leader.
April 15 will mark the start of the 2017 NBA Playoffs.
Better start expecting to see Miami there.
