The Miami Heat are getting set to start their second round playoff series against the Bucks on Monday. Here’s on last toast to a special trio of doubters.
The Miami Heat are still playing meaningful basketball!
What that means, in this peculiar year, is that they are still on the road to potentially achieving their ultimate goal, the NBA title. With the fact that still being there is a privilege at this point, that inevitably means that certain teams are not.
Some teams never showed up, as they weren’t invited. Some teams were invited, but still never showed up, figuratively.
Some teams were invited, showed up, but just didn’t have the goods to stay. Sometimes that happens.
What’s worst though? Would you rather have never been invited?
Would you rather have been invited, but not play well at all? Lastly, would you rather have been invited, played well, and realized that your best just wasn’t good enough this year?
They are all tough questions to answer, but luckily, the Miami Heat don’t have to. It’s important here though because there were three specific teams that were invited to the bubble that are no longer there that fit some of these narratives.
Basically, they couldn’t cut the mustard. It’s hard but it’s fair, sad but it’s so.
Those three teams, specifically the 76ers, the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Portland Trail Blazers all had a massive hand in the Miami Heat being able to still be there as well.
The Miami Heat are still in the bubble. That means they are still in contention for a title, while other teams, well… are not.
With that though, let’s look at another phenomenon.
For some reason, the fanbases of those teams, those who covered those teams, and even some nationally thought that the Miami Heat were getting the raw ends of those deals that have helped them remain there. Needless to say, they were all wrong.
Philadelphia 76ers fans and those who cover them thought Jimmy Butler made the wrong choice. Everyone said he was just coming to “party” or for an “early retirement”.
He’s partying all the way to the Eastern Conference semi-finals. The next thing he’ll retire is Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Portland Trail Blazers fans and Hassan Whiteside are probably still somewhere screaming “we got shooters!” He probably has great range on that shout from the balcony at his house, because that’s where he currently is. That goes for him and the “shooters” he now has in Portland.
Lastly, hey Memphis Grizzlies fans! You still think you won that trade?
Most of us loved Justise Winlsow and still have mad love for him, so this has nothing to do with him, however, I will say this. When dealing with certain people, if you think you are winning the negotiations, they typically have you right where they want you.
Pat Riley is one of those people. No one knew that Jae Crowder would become Reggie Miller lite once he arrived in Miami, but with his makeup, his physicality, his mentality, his toughness, and this culture, it was bound to be a fit.
Andre Iguodala speaks for himself. Everything he has ever done or at every point in his career, he has almost been the epitome of Miami Heat culture, although never playing in it until now.
It was all about getting him in basketball shape and once that happened, with his history, we knew we would have a primetime player that we could count on in the crunch.
Solomon Hill seems like a throw in, but you can’t teach his tenacity and willingness to get after it. Also, at his size and with his defensive instincts, you can always use a guy like that on your bench. You never know what you might need him for, a big stop attempt or otherwise.
Either way, to all those peoples, media types, and fans out there that swore that your side was getting the better of these deals, thus leading to having a better year. Cheers!
The drinks and the jokes are on you. We are sending you greetings from the Disney Campus, as we are still here and well… you guys just aren’t.