There’s a strong distinction between being an “unpredictable” NBA franchise and being an “under-talented” one. However, following a disappointing Western Conference road trip, the Miami Heat have shown they’re the former, the latter, and it’s been an ongoing occurrence all season.
Now holding a worrisome record of 28-28, the Heat are now sitting in seventh place in the NBA’s Eastern Conference standings and are currently touted as one of the worst offenses in the league. A three-game skid between the Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, and while even falling short to the NBA’s second-worst team, the Minnesota Timberwolves, a rift has seemingly been created for the Heat, sparking several questions about their depth, aggressiveness, coaching, and even their attitude.
This recent slump has left Miami’s current hopes of a return to the NBA Finals in near combustion.
However, a “next game” mentality is the only fitting approach for a team struggling to find consistency, especially during this season’s final stretch. After dropping their first two meetings back in late January, Miami returns home on Sunday to host the Brooklyn Nets for a third-and-final time, led by first year head coach Steve Nash.
It’s without question that if the Miami Heat want to return to the NBA’s brightest stage, they’ll have to get past a star-studded roster headlined by three of the NBA’s greatest offensive phenomenons… ever.
The Miami Heat will have their hands full on Sunday, as everyone does, with Kevin Durant.
Kevin Durant, a multiple time All-Star, two-time NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors, and a former Most Valuable Player award recipient, returned to the Nets lineup earlier this month after missing 23 games due to a hamstring injury. In four games since his return, Durant is averaging 23.8 points per game and is shooting a remarkable 65 percent from the field.
It’s evident that Durant remains as one of the game’s most lethal (and efficient) scorers, even after missing the entire 2019-20 season with an Achilles rupture. The Nets acquired James Harden from the Houston Rockets in January via trade, another Most Valuable Player winner and multiple-time All-Star, who has statistically dominated this league for the last several seasons.
Despite all of the individual accolades, Harden is yet to claim an NBA title and while he was once a former teammate of Durant’s (Oklahoma City), the closest Harden ever gotten to securing the most coveted prize was in 2012 — ultimately falling to the Miami Heat in five games, sparking the potential “Big Three” dynasty.
Harden remains out with a hamstring injury, but is nearing closer to a return. Though reports have indicated that he will travel to Miami, again, he won’t play.
Because, why not, right?
If you were to believe Durant and Harden were enough talent to garner a championship roster, they also have one final All-Star component in one of the greatest scoring and ball-handling guards who’s ever lived, Kyrie Irving.
If Kevin Durant isn’t enough for the Miami Heat and though without Harden, Kyrie Irving is certainly formidable as well.
Irving has appeared in 40 regular season games, a higher output than both Durant and Harden. However, Irving has also missed time, but not much of his absence was injury-related.
Earlier in the season, Irving made headlines as he faced a great deal of media backlash after having several team excusals from the Nets for personal reasons. It was even questioned if Irving should even continue his basketball career.
However, when Irving is on the floor, all of the off-court farce seems to just magically disappear. His talent cannot be outshined.
On the season, Kyrie is averaging 27.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 6.1 assists on a career-high 61.8 percent True Shooting percentage. That’s pretty good, huh?
In short bursts, the Heat were able to witness the Nets trio of Durant, Harden, and Irving (186 minutes on the floor together this season in total). While Miami dropped both of their previous outings to the Nets, the Heat were slammed with injuries, and were also missing their leading scorer, best defender, and vocal leader in Jimmy Butler.
In Jimmy Butler’s absence and though both in defeat, it was Bam Adebayo who shined. He would finish the first contest with 41 points, five rebounds, and nine assists on 14-20 shooting from the field and though not as electric, was good in the second game as well.
In late March though, the Nets acquired veteran Power Forwards Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge following contract buyouts with their teams and after clearing waivers.
Aldridge, however, has since announced his retirement after he was reportedly diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat, a condition he apparently has battled for the last fifteen seasons. Aldridge played just five games with the Brooklyn Nets.
How should the Miami Heat prepare for Brooklyn and what should they expect?
It’s important for the Miami Heat to try and make a statement on Sunday, not just to the Nets, but to the rest of the league. This is still a competitive roster and as we’ve seen for several stretches, the Heat can compete against any team in the NBA when they are right.
While the Nets have had several missed games from their three All-Stars, they still rank second in the NBA in scoring (119 points per game). And even with their star power, the Nets have had outstanding production from their role players, including Joe Harris, Landry Shamet, Bruce Brown, and veterans like Jeff Green and/or DeAndre Jordan.
If the Heat can get solid minutes from their reserves and perhaps give more time to recent signing, Dewayne Dedmon, there’s a good chance Miami can steal this one. According to Coach Spo, “it’s a matter of consistency and “at all levels.” as “sometimes it’s different things in different games.”
At least, that’s what he told Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
If both teams are healthy, considering the Miami Heat’s trade deadline acquisition in Victor Oladipo, there’s no question that this should be a seven game series in the postseason. While the talent separation between Brooklyn’s roster in comparison to Miami’s is currently magnified though, the Heat must rely on their “trust” rather than “talent.”