NBA: 3 teams that should still be optimistic despite their slow start

Miami Heat

There’s a few reasons why I believe in the Miami Heat most, of the three teams on this list. First, the Heat are the most talented team that is currently out of the playoff picture. When you run down a roster and see names such as, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, that’s enough talent to get you in the playoffs alone.

They’re also surrounded by a savvy veterans with NBA experience in the regular season and the postseason like Goran Dragic, Andre Iguodala, and Udonis Haslem (even though he’s more of a player-coach at this point in his career).

Second, they’ve been hindered by injuries this season. We’re around 22 games into the regular season and Jimmy Butler has only played in 10 of them. Avery Bradley has missed some time whose still a great on-ball defender and veteran. Meyers Leonard has been ruled out for the season, too. Leonard isn’t the most talented player but he’s a giant that can spread the floor and is a beloved teammate.

Earlier this season Miami went on a five-game losing streak in which they played Brooklyn twice, Toronto, Denver, and the LA Clippers. Here’s why I don’t panic about the losing streak if I’m a Heat fan. First, Jimmy Butler was out for all those games. Second, out of the five teams they played, all of them are currently in the playoff picture. No too mention Brooklyn has the No. 1 rated offense and the Clippers were the No. 1 seed in the West at that time.

And lastly, it was early on in the season. A losing streak in January doesn’t make me hit the panic button.

Here’s the final reason to be optimistic about the Heat; their culture. They are tough, grind it out, never beat themselves type of team. Those are characteristics you have to have when your team has less talent or an underdog. The key to Miami’s success in the past is that they’ve had insanely talented teams who have those characteristics as well. I think they have yet to tap into their recipe for success this season and a key player has been out as well.

The Heat will get it figured out. Granted, a slow start may keep them from getting homecourt in the playoffs. But the idea of a healthy Miami Heat team will miss the playoffs is blasphemous to me.