The Miami Heat missed the postseason for the second time in three years, and they’ll be looking to return to basketball’s biggest stage for the first time in the post-Wade era this October.
Despite of the more improbable second-half runs in the history of the NBA, the Miami Heat found themselves heading on vacation early this past season.
Although they banded together in February, going 30-11 over the last 41 games, they failed to earn the eighth spot in the East, missing the playoffs by just one game. While certainly disappointed, the Heat have plenty of good going for them, and once training camp begins, the world will see that as well.
They have the league’s leading rebounder, as well as one of the better rim defenders in all of basketball, anchoring the middle in Hassan Whiteside.
Goran Dragic is coming off of arguably the best season of his career, and Dion Waiters showed flashes of brilliance as well.
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How, though, despite all that, did this team not make the playoffs?
The answer is relatively simple: ineptitude and injuries during the first 41 games. We all remember the scorching-hot Miami team that ran through the entire NBA, but only fractions of talking heads dare speak of the abysmal first half.
The Heat were 11-30 at one point, and had several lengthy losing streaks. They had no identity as a unit, and head coach Erik Spoelstra’s pounding headache could be seen on the sideline nearly every single night.
Miami’s main goal heading into training camp must be to avoid a replication of this start this fall.
With that being said, here are the reasons this year’s unit will break through and return to the postseason.