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Miami Heat 1-on-1: Is tanking really the right answer?

By Imran Ebrahim

MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 20: Udonis Haslem #40 of the Miami Heat leads a huddle before the game against the Brooklyn Nets on November 20, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 20: Udonis Haslem #40 of the Miami Heat leads a huddle before the game against the Brooklyn Nets on November 20, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – NOVEMBER 20: Udonis Haslem #40 of the Miami Heat leads a huddle before the game against the Brooklyn Nets on November 20, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – NOVEMBER 20: Udonis Haslem #40 of the Miami Heat leads a huddle before the game against the Brooklyn Nets on November 20, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

In today’s AllUCanHeat Miami Heat 1-on-1, two contributors discuss whether the team should tank or not.

Let’s start off simple; are you for or against the Miami Heat tanking and why?

Imran Ebrahim (@iebrahim81): I’m most definitely for the Miami Heat tanking. It doesn’t have to be a “Trust The Process” type of tank, with an elaborate five-year plan and coach and/or general manager scapegoats in the process. I just want a simple, fight for a top-10 pick, where the young guys are playing an exorbitant amount of minutes, and some of the heavy contracts are traded away at almost any means necessary. Right now, and no offense to the Portland franchise, but Miami is becoming the Trailblazers of the Eastern Conference. They’re in a never-ending cycle of fighting for a low playoff seed, only to get eliminated extremely early in the game, end up with a No. 18 pick, draft a role player if they’re lucky, and repeat. To me, it’s always been about getting a top-10 pick or a bottom-five pick. Everything in the middle is just the abyss of the NBA. Especially when you take into account Miami’s payroll… why empty the bank for a first round, or optimistically, a second round exit?

Rahmeaun Rahming (@Boneman9000): I am 100 percent against tanking. If you’ve met me, you know that I am a fan of both the Philadelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat. I always root for my guys in Miami whenever they play each other. I’ve lived here in Philadelphia for 10 years and have experienced Trust The Process from the beginning. If I were a fan of a team that played in a city I’ve never been to or lived near, I’d understand why a lot of people are calling on the tanks. South Florida is not an area that can survive a tanking project from a major league sports team that’s only 29 years old. Their inaugural game was only six months before I was born. That season is a perfect representation of a city enjoying its new expansion team. They weren’t tanking on purpose, but in their first 20 games, they collected 19 losses. The fans waited on the edge of their seats for a win that came 18 games into the season against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Heat concluded that first season going 15-67, with a two-point win against Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets. The fans showed them love that season, with the Heat ranking 12th (out of 25) in attendance. I consider myself a second generation Heat fan. I remember my dad telling me stories about how the new team name came about, along with the logo. According to him, everyone knew a team was coming, but it was up to the citizens of the area to submit ideas for names and logos. The name “Heat” won, along with the logo they submitted. The Sixers have zero second generation fans alive. The city lives for its sports teams, and when all four major league teams are down in the dumps, the city loses life. You can really feel it. In Miami, there are so many other things to do. Too many entertainment options. If the Heat really started to Trust The Process, the fans would turn their backs on the franchise The team is fifth place in attendance so far this season, and that has a lot to do with the franchise’s commitment to excellence, hard work, and smooth marketing. Not throwing games for draft picks.

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