Miami Heat: Why last year’s 30-11 run was not a fluke

Despite the Miami Heat turning their 11-30 record into a 30-11 run, many still think their end-of-the-season success story was a fluke. Here is why those people are wrong.

It seems like no matter what the 2016-17 Miami Heat did, it was never enough.

First, Hassan Whiteside’s decision to re-sign went overlooked.

Then, Dwyane Wade’s departure overshadowed president Pat Riley having acquired impressive talent on short-term contracts.

Nevermind that having a bench only three players deep at one point, was not a good enough reason to struggle.

There was criticism against Justise Winslow, despite having only played 18 games before being ruled out with a torn labrum.

And the broken record discourse, calling Tyler Johnson’s contract abominable.

So of course when they were able to turn an initial 11-30 record into a 30-11 run, finishing 41-41, people simply labeled it a fluke.

However, it was truly anything but.

For starters, 11-30 was never really representative of the team’s identity.

It was merely the consequence of a series of unfortunate circumstances. Chris Bosh’s state of health. Wade heading to the Chicago Bulls. A slew of injuries across the board. An almost entirely new group of guys, needing time to build trust with one another.

For some time there, the stars simply could not align for the Heat. But after a while, Miami grew into itself. The Big Three era may have completely died out, giving way to an organization based off up-and-comers, but that did not mean Miami Heat Basketball was going anywhere. At its core, the franchise still stood for the very same things: determination, hard work, fight.

So once the shock of losing Wade wore off, after it was clear Bosh could never make a comeback, when the team got healthy, with time around one another… the magic happened.

There were no more distractions. Gone went the “what-if’s.” It was all about the culture. The here and now. The Heat could finally perform like the squad they were always meant to be.

The squad they will continue to be, moving forward.

Team basketball is also something that lead to Miami’s turnaround.

At the start of last season, the team could not quite work as a unit. Between guys like James Johnson and Dion Waiters feeling like they still had something to prove and Goran Dragic trying to figure out his new role, it was every man for himself.

But now?

All for one and one for all.

Which is not something that is going away anytime soon. These guys formed an unbreakable bond both on and off the court, chemistry that will propel them forward right away come 2017-18.

There is also the fact that the Heat are riddled with raw talent.

At this point, there is not a single member of Miami that does not bring something to the table. So-called brand names or not, no player is a wasted resource. From 3-point specialist Wayne Ellington to defensive powerhouse Rodney McGruder, everyone plays a crucial part in bringing the team success.

And last year’s squad has only further shown growth.

Take Whiteside, who has been testing the waters from downtown all summer. Or Dragic, who in his first 45 minutes of Eurobasket play, totaled 54 points, dished 8 assists and grabbed 5 steals.

But there is also new talent joining the mix, in the likes of rookie Bam Adebayo and former Boston Celtic Kelly Olynyk. While Adebayo, a big man who can shoot, already caught the eye of his draft class, Olynyk is known for his go-getter attitude and hustle on both ends of the floor.

Now will there still be rust to shake off? Sure. Is the team going to hit bumps in the road along the way? Absolutely.

However 30-11 was no anomaly. Sheer luck. Happenstance. It was never giving up. Sticking together. Leaving everything on the floor.

Next: The best 5 Miami Heat fantasy basketball seasons

So come this season, get ready for more Miami Heat success. Is it October yet?