Mar 8 2011
Heat Lose 5 in a Row for First Time…Now What?
The Miami Heat lost to the Portland Trail Blazers at home Tuesday night, 105-96. That makes it 5 straight loses for the Heat, the first time this has occurred all season. Again it was typical performance by the Heat, as their bench was better off playing from the sidelines, scoring a total of 8 points. D-Wade and LeBron did their thing combining for 69 points; but as I have been saying all season this team has no chemistry so it doesn’t matter how many points any part of the Heatles score, they need help. So what is the problem?
- The fact is the Miami Heat were pieced together worse then “wacko” Michael Jackson. Having LeBron, Wade, and Bosh on the same court creates nothing for their team outside their one-on-one performances. Throughout their LIVES all 3 of these players have played the game of basketball with the ball in their hands. They are not used to playing off the ball and don’t have a clue about spacing. When they don’t have the ball in their hand they either a) will demand for it or b) will wait for it to come there way. It rarely crosses their head to go set a back screen for teammates like James Jones, or Mike Miller.
This is a three person team with not a single role player who is capable of getting into any sort of rhythm at any point of the game. Not only are there not enough shots to go around but the Heat play pickup basketball for most of the game (doesn’t work in the final 3 minutes). In addition, basketball is more of a team game than people think. You can’t sign three players and try to patch up the rest of a squad, and expect to win right away, ain’t going to happen.
LeBron, Wade and Bosh (?) are having to do way too much. If you watch the Heat play The Heatles look so exhausted after even the first quarter that they are dead by the 4th.
The biggest concrete deficiency for the Heat is their down low presence, if it even exists (“Is there anybody out there”). Look at tonight against Portland: the F/C position had 0 blocks. Chris Bosh has yet again proven why he is a bad fit for this team. Tonight he scored 7 points with 4 rebounds and is not even close to the “bruiser” Miami needs or thought they had. Joel Anthony should retire at 28 and Erick Dampier looks like he was on life support since he went to Miami.
Remember the 4 or 5 championship you guys talked about; Yea don't think that is going to happen. But you guys did look pretty cool during your rock concert.
- Next problem for Miami is Head Coach Eric Spoelstra, who in my eyes has done virtually nothing positive with this team. Yea I know they went on a tear in December but that was off mere talent and easy fast break points created by Wade and James. I could have been the 4th guy on that team and the Heat would have had similar results.
However, when you play marque teams like Portland, you can’t rely on winning off fast breaks and mere talent alone especially come playoff time.
Why Eric Spoelstra will be gone?
Coaching begins with trust: your players need to believe that you will put them in a position to succeed and have their back no matter what. Well, Eric Spoelstra failed terribly with that from the onset. This was apparent when Wade and Bron expressed their frustration with Spoelstra publicly, earlier in the season. It only got worse when he keeps wanting to give LeBrick the rock at the end of games rather than D-Wade; the man who runs Miami and is one of the most clutch players in the league. And probably worse during “Crygate” when Spoesltra told the media about his players crying in the locker room.
BTW Spoelstra why isn’t James Jones playing? The guy shoots lights out. Why did he play only 2 minutes against Portland? And what has happened to that excellent defense everyone and their mother was ranting about all season?
Don’t get me wrong, Spoelstra does have a very difficult job trying to mesh all these egos and talents on the same basketball floor, but Spo made a BAD first impression with this team and based on his track record doesn’t have much wiggle room after that.
- Naturally, Spoelstra does not have a winning reputation in the NBA: he has only been a Head Coach for two years. Now you have to realize that in order to coach and tell players like LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh what to do; you either a) need to be a coach with a track record of New York Yankees Status or b) have infused so much of your trust and belief in your players that they would die for you. We all know ain’t nobody dieing for Eric Spoelstra.
- Yes he went to the playoffs twice with D Wade, where they won a total of 90 games; but that was more Wade playing against Eastern Conference competition than anything else.
The Heat need a coach with a reputation of being a proven winner in the NBA beyond a reasonable doubt, and Riley knew that coming in Spoelstra wasn’t that guy, but wanted to give him a chance. Most likely that chance is now up.
In essence, the 2010-2011 Miami Heat are a combination of bad chemistry and inadequate coaching. Wade and LeBron are so good that they have camouflaged much of the Heats’ ongoing problems. Until recently.
The Miami Heat are in dire need for something drastic to change because their next 6 games, all against current seeded playoff opponents, are going to to be tough and could get ugly: LAL, MEM, SA, OKC, @ATL, DEN.
A coaching change may be on the way sooner than originally speculated. However, if a current change is deemed too late in the season, you can bet your ass Eric Spoelstra will be counting chickens next.
Better believe Pat Riley is going to do something. So everyone "Just Shush, Be Patient"