The Good, Bad and Miami Heat Culture: Richardson for Most Improved Player?

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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) /

The Bad

This week, two of our AllUCanHeat contributors gave their opinions on whether the Heat should tank this season, given the slow start. The fact that we are even talking about this just over a month into the season is a little sad, but the Heat are not giving much reason right now to not talk about it.

The biggest issue is that the Heat are losing games to teams that they should be beating.

Losing one here and there to an underdog team is one thing, but the Heat lost to the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers just this week — two teams they could have and should have beat. Right now, the Heat are half a game ahead of the Washington Wizards — a team that while they are eleventh in the East right now, are having enough issues to make it seem a whole lot worse.

So the tanking question, while a hard one to have this early in the season, is valid, given the state of the Heat.

But do I think they should take that route?

Absolutely not.

This has not and I don’t think ever will be Miami Heat Culture.

The Heat are not a team to tank and in doing so, I think it would only discourage younger core players like Richardson in their efforts.

I can also see that mentality having a very negative impact on the playing of Hassan Whiteside, who needs all of the motivation he can get to continue playing well, and avoiding a fallout like at the end of last season.

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