Miami Heat: Without A Move To Make, The Heat Might Be Done

The only thing that can save the 2015-16 incarnation of the Miami Heat is a big move at the NBA Trade Deadline. Although, that could prove to be impossible

The Miami Heat are in trouble.

Big trouble.

After jumping out to a 21-13 record, the Heat since have dropped six of their last eight games. That early start to the season was fool’s gold.

Up to that point, they had only played 12 road games (compared to 22 home games), eight or nine sure playoff teams and only two pairs of back-to-backs. Their schedule to begin the season was weak and favorable, and it was pretty obvious that their quick start, which ranked them as one of the four best teams in the conference, would inflate the team’s record a bit.

The Heat were not as good as that early 21-13 start indicated. And roughly two weeks later, we’re realizing that. Miami is 23-19 and has dropped six of its last eight with a meeting with the Washington Wizards upcoming tonight. They can’t seem to hit any open shots – only made 23 percent of their 30 uncontested shots against the Bucks Tuesday night in perhaps the team’s most embarrassing showing through this most recent skid.

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On uncontested 3s this season, the Heat is shooting 32 percent. That’s fifth-worst in the NBA. They’ve also fallen all the way down to 19th in offensive efficiency – at one point they were in the top 10. The Heat still carry a formidable defense, ranked fifth in the NBA, but there’s only so far a really good D can take you.

And right now, the Heat simply don’t have enough offensive power to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference, as their recent tumble suggests.

As much talent as the Miami Heat has on its roster, one that carries Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, the makeup of this team just doesn’t make sense. Miami struggles to make shots, mostly because their best shooter is also their best center. Their shooting guard isn’t a real shooting guard and their point guard plays at his highest level when he’s surrounded by other shooters, which the Heat don’t have.

Miami traded Mario Chalmers, a quality backup point guard, because they thought Tyler Johnson would be able to step in that role perhaps even more efficiently. They were wrong.

Everything that we’ve seen from the Heat this season indicates that they need to make a trade

During the three games since Goran Dragic went down with an injury, Johnson is averaging three assists and three turnovers. That isn’t what you expect to get from your starting point guard, which is the role Johnson has been forced to assume.

The issues don’t even end there. Just look at the Heat’s next 10 or so games. They’re not going to get to the NBA All-Star break over .500. Over the next few weeks, this is what the Heat have to deal with.

@Wizards
@Raptors
@Bulls
@Nets
@Bucks
vs Hawks
@Rockets
@Mavs
@Hornets
vs Clippers
vs Spurs

I see the Heat reaching the All-Star break at 26-27, that’s assuming they can win three games on the road because I see no way they’re going to beat the Hawks, Clippers or Spurs at home.

There’s problems and struggles, clearly. It happens to every team – except for the Golden State Warriors – every year. The worst part, however, isn’t that they can’t shoot or struggle to beat quality teams on the road. It’s that there’s almost no way for them to address said issues right now.

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The Miami Heat don’t have draft picks to trade, nor assets to bring in a shooter. Everything that we’ve seen from the Heat this season indicates that they need to make a trade – a move that could help solve their shooting woes. They just don’t have the means to pull it off.

Miami needs to make a big move at the NBA Trade Deadline, desperately, but this might be one of those years that not even Pat Riley can save them.