The Miami Heat has overdosed on ‘Heat Culture’ and it’s ruining the franchise

The Miami Heat has overdosed on the idea of “Heat Culture” and it’s beginning to ruin the franchise.

There was a moment when “Heat Culture” was a phenomenon that many across the NBA would look at in jealousy. However, like many outdated and ineffective catchphrases, the Miami Heat need to put “Heat Culture” to bed. Because the more and more “Heat Culture” gets thrown around, the more it loses its luster. And along the way over the last few seasons, “Heat Culture” has been misdefined by many in the front office.

At least in my opinion, “Heat Culture” was something to hold with pride. It was entering the Miami franchise with this idea that it was all about basketball, hard work, and all about the Heat. When you watch the Heat this season, it’s been everything but that.

Instead, what has “Heat Culture” evolved into? Well, it’s evolved into surrounding your star players with undrafted and unproven players and hoping your “culture” will develop them into difference-making players. Well, at least, that’s what the front office has done a great job of making it seem like it.

The Miami Heat has failed in surrounding their stars with a competent supporting cast

This is the tweet that prompted me to write this “article:”

The fact that the Heat has played 12 undrafted players this season is quite literally improbable. The make it worse, three of these players are key contributors to the Heat and one of them is riding the bench after signing a $90 million contract a couple of offseasons ago.

The topping on the cake is that the expectation is that the Heat should be applauded for this. Because this is “Heat Culture.” I, for one, will not stand for it. This should actually be embarrassing for the Heat.

On one hand, we constantly hear that the Heat is championship or bust. It’s winning or misery, right? Then, on the other, the team is expecting to compete for a title by running out 12 undrafted players. This is nothing short of laughable by the front office.

The Heat was one win away from making the NBA Finals last season. I get that. I understand. What did they add to this team during the offseason to help the team get over the hump? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Instead, the front office was hoping that “Heat Culture” would work its magic again and one of these undrafted players would steal another $90 million from the front office in another outlier of a season.

What did the Heat get instead? Their medicine.

You can make the argument that this team is bad because Kyle Lowry was a terrible acquisition two offseasons ago or because Tyler Herro hasn’t made the jump that many expected him to make this season. Sure, those are two valid arguments.

However, Heat fans can’t continue to let the front office skate.

The mantra of “Heat Culture” used to mean something around the league. Now, it’s a complete joke. What was once a sense of pride for the team has evolved into settling for mediocrity.

The Miami Heat is drunk on “Heat Culture” and it’s beginning to ruin the franchise.