The Miami Heat just endured their first defeat after 13 straight wins, making it the perfect time for another edition of The Stretch 4.
Not that long ago, the Miami Heat held an ugly record of 11-30.
But after a 13-game winning streak, the men of South Beach are back on the map. A map that no longer includes the Tank Train, thank you very much.
Now 24-31 and tenth in the Eastern Conference, the Heat are actually only a few games away from playoff contention. Something that a month ago seemed impossible. However, the team certainly proved all of their haters wrong.
And had another great week under their belts.
On Monday, the Heat pulled off a 115-113 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, which started off their four-game road trip. Wednesday, Miami found themselves up against the Milwaukee Bucks (a game I was fortunate enough to be at), blowing them out of the water 106-88. On Friday, the Heat faced off against the Nets, earning a 108-99 victory. Which brings us to Saturday night’s 117-109 loss versus the Philadelphia 76ers.
Sigh.
But all good things must come to an end, right?
So what went especially right for the Heat this week? Time to take a closer look…
For one, Goran Dragic remains unstoppable.
How many times must I say it? Dragic is a beast.
And it’s seriously about time that others outside of Heat Nation take notice.
It seems like no matter how well Dragic performs, there’s always someone else to focus on. Regardless of the fact that he’s tied for leading the league in shooting percentage (48.2) for point guards. Or that he’s ranked second in three-point shooting (56.2 percent), period.
Yes, Dragic’s average of 23.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists a game this month still doesn’t seem to impress the general public.
So I’m here to spread the word.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Which seems like the perfect time to bring up his 33-point performance against the Timberwolves.
He was the definition of a fire breathing dragon.
Going 13-of-17 (7-of-9 from downtown) in 33 minutes, Dragic certainly set the pace for the entire team that night. And although things got tight down the stretch, the 30-year-old’s leadership helped keep his squad afloat.
As did the fact that he dished out 9 assists.
Sharp shooter? Check. Perfect playmaker? Check.
What more could you ask for from your point guard?
Miami also housed the only undefeated player in the league, Okaro White.
In case you missed it, the Heat recently let go of Derrick Williams in order to sign White.
(Not to worry though, Williams already found a new home with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and scored 12 points during his debut with LeBron James and company.)
White, who initially came aboard when Miami requested permission to add a sixteenth player in light of a plethora of injuries, was first signed to two separate 10-day contracts with the team. However, after making quite an impression on the front office and coaching staff, president Pat Riley decided to keep him on a longer term basis.
And at 24, the rookie earned the title of the only undefeated player in the league, as the Heat were amidst their winning streak.
In fact, White became a part of Heat Nation’s motto during the team’s success, coining each victory the number of wins-Okaro.
Quite an accomplishment for a guy who went undrafted in 2014, and up until recently had played overseas in Italy and Greece, and thereafter in the Developmental League for the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
While Miami’s loss to the 76ers may have finally left him defeated, the forward still has plenty to bring to the table.
Okaro and upward.
We need to talk about James Johnson, too.
Recently, a certain Twitter poll was run.
Best J.J. in Miami Heat history?
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) February 11, 2017
And no disrespect to the rest, but I couldn’t agree more.
Johnson has been killing it lately. Making an already fun winning-streak, that much better.
The 29-year-old is averaging 12.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.1 blocks per matchup this year. And 18.2, 4.7, 3.3 and 1.8 a contest in February, including recent back-to-back 26-point games.
He is holding it down offensively. Strong on the defensive end. And overall bringing forth energy that is quite frankly hard to match.
As is the fact that he is a total jack-of-all-trades.
Did I mention what a team player he is?
"“Yeah, all credit to my teammates. All credit to the coaching staff. You can always do something, but if the coach won’t allow it or the teammates won’t let you generate that, then it’s out of there. I appreciate them.”"
And you better believe the feeling the mutual.
In fact, head coach Erik Spoelstra and some of Johnson’s teammates have started to compare him to James.
"“I don’t [know] if there’s another guy in the league – maybe LeBron and him – who can play the position one to five,” Dragic said. “And JJ, he’s such a good player. He can handle the ball. He can get us into our offense. He’s great passer, great finisher and on defense most of the time…”"
Johnson, who was signed to a one-year, $4 million contract this summer, seems to have finally found the right home.
And Heat Nation should definitely expect to see much more of him down the line.
But, things didn’t go so well in Philadelphia.
They say nothing lasts forever. And this was certainly the case with the Heat’s winning streak.
Because 13-Okaro came to an end on Saturday night, when the 76ers got the best of Miami.
(Yes, that hurts me as much to write, as it does you to read.)
The 117-109 loss was a combination of being tired from playing back-to-back games, Robert Covington, Nerlens Noel and Dario Saric each having 19 points a piece, and Hassan Whiteside having a poor offensive performance.
Although the big man did finish the evening with 19 rebounds, he totaled only 12 points in 33 minutes.
Willie Reed did not do so hot, either. To say the least.
The center only recorded 2 points and 6 rebounds in 14 minutes.
Yikes.
Next: Miami Heat: Goran Dragic continues stellar play as streak is snapped
The Heat’s historic streak may have been broken, but there is no doubt in my mind that there’s more greatness to come. Until next time, folks.