Miami Heat Roundtable: Reviewing the first 10 games
After six-straight losses, do you see things turning around anytime soon?
Frank Urbina: It depends on the health of the team. Miami has yet to have all their players available this season, with Josh Richardson just recently returning from injury, Wayne Ellington still sitting out with a thigh bruise, Goran Dragic twisting his ankle, and now Winslow hurting his wrist. Ellington’s return could really help the team with their 3-point shooting, Dragic is the only true point guard on the team, and Winslow is the best option at SF and probably at PF too. These last two games against San Antonio and Atlanta were promising; Miami fought hard and used their stingy defense to keep them in close games against two really good teams. Maybe a clean bill of health can help the team start translating some of these moral victories into real ones.
Simon Smith: They can, but it doesn’t look promising. The Heat have yet to win on the road, and face an upcoming four-game road trip against Washington, Philadelphia, Detroit and Memphis. Although they have been competitive in most game, the lack of real starpower has been evident. Pat Riley has generally used the first 20 games as a measuring stick to determine the state of the team. If the first 10 games haven’t made up his mind, the next 10 certainly will.
Allana Tachauer: It has to, doesn’t it? As easy as it might be to say, the truth of the matter is it is still early. Wait till Richardson totally gets his groove back. Wait till Dragic returns. Wait till Winslow and Waiters start being more efficient. Plus there are still plenty of opponents out there who are worse than us, that we have yet to face up against. Not to mention that if the loss to the San Antonio Spurs proved anything, it’s that Miami is scrappy as all hell.
Cory Sanning: Anything can happen, but as of now, I wouldn’t bank on it. Yes, the Heat have the firepower and talent to be, at the minimum, average offensively, but do they have the will and the experience? Wait until Dragic returns and everybody is in tip-top shape to come to such a conclusion, however I would agree it doesn’t look promising.
Ivan Mora: Unfortunately no. Not until mid season at least. Their latest games have actually been close and hard fought but they are still struggling offensively. They need to find their identity as a team and a clear leader needs to step up. Whiteside, honestly, can only do so much. I feel It will have to fall on Winslow or Waiters to motivate their team and get them back to winning. The talents there, they just have to find that right rotation to make it work. Things will get better when Dragic comes back. Dragic, Richardson, Winslow, J. Johnson, and Whiteside should be their lineup moving forward.