Is trouble brewing for the Miami Heat after dropping four of their last five games?
Through the first two and a half weeks of the NBA season, there may not have been a team more impressive than the Miami Heat. Through the first seven games, the Heat was 6-1, had the NBA’s second-ranked offensive and defensive rating.
They were clicking on all cylinders and all their offseason additions seemed like ideal fits on the roster. However, over the past five games, something has changed for Miami. They no longer look like that 6-1 team and no longer have overwhelming offensive or defensive units.
Miami has gone 1-4 in their last five games and over that span, the Heat has the 19th ranked offense, and the 26th ranked defense. In fairness, Jimmy Butler has missed the last game and a half due to injury. But, other than that, Miami has flat out looked like a different team.
The team has become inconsistent from 3, something that had become a strength for the team over the past few seasons. Over the course of the first month of the season, the Heat has managed to overcome their uneven 3-point shooting with Jimmy’s excellent play. As soon as he falls into a slump or missed time due to injury, the team’s lack of excellence from 3-point range is painted in a brighter light.
And looking at the team’s two losses in Los Angeles, the Heat shot a combined 19-78 (24.3 percent) from deep. Considering they lost both games by three points, if the Heat just hits one or two more 3’s in each perhaps we’re having a different conversation right now.
Nevertheless, we’re not and the Heat now looking like a vulnerable team that is not only battling uneven 3-point shooting, but injury concerns, and perhaps a bit of an identity issue.
The good news for the Heat is that their schedule softens up a bit after facing the Utah Jazz over the weekend, but there are some legit concerns about this team right now. And a lot of the concerns that have arisen over the last week and a half are the same ones that made some believe that the Heat weren’t true contenders in the Eastern Conference.
There’s still plenty of the season left and it would be foolish to count out the Heat based on five games on a brutal road trip, but I think the concerns have to be taken seriously. There’s no question that the Heat has the potential to be scary good when they’re healthy and playing as a united unit. But, at least over the past few games, that’s been hit-or-miss on most nights.
Miami needs to bounce back. And, quite frankly, it will have to start on the defensive side of the ball. Right now, Miami isn’t a good team on that end of the floor.
It’s too early to panic, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on. So, who is the real Heat? The version of the team that got off to a 6-1 start or the more recent one that is 1-4 in their last five games?