5 takeaways from the Miami Heat’s loss at the hand of the Brooklyn Nets

Road woes continue

The Miami Heat are next to unbeatable at home, but they are very mortal when they hit the road. The Heat are 17-1 in the friendly confines of American Airlines Arena in Miami, and are now an unimpressive 10-10 on the road.

For context, that’s the 11th-best road record in the NBA, far below the other contenders and even the middle ranks of the playoff teams. Whatever ails them when they travel, this is one of those crucial things that must be dealt with as the season goes on if their goal of making a top-two seed is to be attained.

The doghouse has shifted

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra’s doghouse has been well-documented. First it was James Johnson and Dion Waiters who couldn’t get on the floor. Now it’s Kelly Olynyk and Dion Waiters (Waiters is staying there, by the way).

Twice in the past week, Johnson has played crucial minutes in place of absent teammates. Early last week he stepped up when Jimmy Butler got a night off, and with Justise Winslow‘s absence Friday night against the Nets, Johnson made the most of his opportunity.

Johnson’s defense was stout and tenacious, and he scored all six of his points going 2-of-2 from 3-point range. Especially with Winslow’s continued availability being a mystery, Johnson may find himself with an important role on this team yet.