Miami Heat: Is Tyler Johnson right about not tanking?

It’s been a rough start for Miami Heat, who currently have an 11-14 record; yet, the team has no plans of tanking.

Expectations have failed to turn into reality, and after the fall out of the Jimmy Butler trade, Miami Heat fans have about had it.

Thanks to the slow start, fans have been pushing for the team to tank.

Of course, a lot of this came before the teams’ recent success of winning four of their last five games. The narrative has stayed the same though, while still currently out of the playoff mix and seeing who would be available in the draft.

But, Tyler Johnson isn’t about it.

"“It’s f–king dumb,” he told Shandel Richardson of The Athletic. “If you really think that as a fan, I don’t think you’re a true fan.”"

Is he right? Is the idea of tanking with this team a bad idea?

Or does it make you a fake fan if you disagree with him?

The first half of December seemed like it would be the stretch that would dictate the direction president Pat Riley would/should take this team; it included two difficult home games, prior to a six-game West coast trip, against solid teams.

Halfway through this stretch, the Heat are playing away from the idea of a tank. After beating the Clippers 121-98 on a night that the Heat lacked Goran Dragic, Josh Richardson, Wayne Ellington and Hassan Whiteside, it seems like head coach Erik Spoelstra may have figured this roster out.

Richardson may be in a bit of a slump, but that happens from time to time, and he’ll surely work his way out of it. What’s still clear is that it’s the young gun’s time.

Bam Adebayo isn’t just lobbying for Whiteside’s spot, he’s earned it. The Heat are a better team with Adebayo on the court and is by far the best center of choice.

Outside of that, Justise Winslow has arrived.

He’s playing the best basketball that fans have ever seen from him, and is turning into the player everyone has been patiently waiting for. In the last five games, Winslow has averaged 14.8 points per game, including 20 versus the Phoenix Suns, and 21 against the Clippers.

There is reason for optimism in Miami and good thing too, as it may be the only route.

The reality with tanking is that Miami doesn’t have a clear way to a top-five pick. The Heat are not going to finish worst than Phoenix, the Chicago Bulls, the Atlanta Hawks, the Cleveland Cavaliers or the New York Knicks.

What’s more of a buyable option, is improving with the young talent and making a push for the playoffs. Miami is only a half game back from the Orlando Magic and the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference, as well as a game back of the Charlotte Hornets and two back of the Detroit Pistons’ sixth spot.

In other words, it would be harder for Miami to tank, than it would be to make the playoffs.

So at this point, fans shouldn’t be asking for a tank; instead, they should be grateful for their team’s mindset and unwillingness to quit.