How are the Miami Heat winning? Easy: by making no excuses.
The Miami Heat have every reason in the world to be struggling.
Between the likes of injuries aplenty, poor third quarter play and a roster missing a so-called superstar, it would be understandable for the team to fall by the wayside.
And yet, instead, they are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference. Just a game and a half behind the Cleveland Cavaliers. Fresh off a seemingly impossible clutch win over the Charlotte Hornets, on the road.
So, what’s holding this group together?
That’s simple. They make no excuses.
"“We have some grit to us,” Wayne Ellington explained. “We’re a tough team, man. We’ve been through a lot. We don’t make excuses. A lot of teams just say that, but we mean it. We actually live by it. We grind it out, man, that’s all I can really say. I can’t even pinpoint, it’s just a character of our team. We’re not going to let go.”"
Not when they’re missing an abundance of offensive manpower with Goran Dragic, Tyler Johnson and Dion Waiters all out at the same time. Not when Hassan Whiteside is limited to just 10 points, and 24 minutes of play. Not when they’re down five points, with 34 seconds left in the game.
It isn’t just about their mindset on the court either.
The entire culture of the organization is built around the notion of never giving in.
Take James Johnson, for example. A guy who may have been drafted, but essentially went overlooked thereafter, never quite finding the right fit with the Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings or Memphis Grizzlies. Who turned his entire lifestyle around upon arriving in South Florida. Who bought into the system right away.
But still, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Because while the forward may have re-signed with the team last summer, after averaging a career-high 12.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.0 steal a game, 2017-18 hasn’t exactly gone as planned.
Already having missed seven matchups due to injury, the 30-year-old is averaging 10.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists per contest. Respectable numbers, maybe, but not where Johnson would like to be.
But that hasn’t stopped him from giving the team everything he’s got. Which on Saturday evening, happened to be 22 points, six rebounds and seven assists in 29 minutes. Including scoring five points in four seconds, essentially helping to earn the victory.
Down late to a team that had no business ever taking the lead in the first place? Forget the injuries. Forget the fatigue. Forget being on the road. No excuses.
Next: Wayne Ellington leads Miami Heat to dramatic victory over Hornets
That’s how the Miami Heat get ahead.