After shocking the league with their bubble playoff run to the NBA Finals in 2020, the Miami Heat’s hopes of defending their Eastern Conference title proved too grueling this year to overcome. The Milwaukee Bucks made short work of a team that looked fatigued and out of sync, sweeping the series 4-0 and avenging a 4-1 loss to the Miami Heat the previous season.
While there were several factors contributing to Miami’s shortage of efficiency on both ends of the floor, the bottom line was that the team was clearly outmatched and outworked by the more talented Milwaukee team.
If Miami has any chance of competing with the NBA Champion Bucks next season or another Eastern Conference contender, such as the star-studded Nets, they will have to make some changes that put them in a better position to win. Here are five things they can do to remain or put themselves back in title contention, not ranked in order of importance.
1. Keep Udonis Haslem Around
After 18 seasons with the Miami Heat, there is, perhaps, no one that embodies Heat Culture as much as Udonis Haslem. The Heat captain is likely to retire soon and he will be greatly missed by fans.
The energy and motivation he brings to every game is unmatched and irreplaceable. Pat Riley should do everything in his power to keep UD around the organization.
Could an assistant coaching role be in his future? Well, not next season, as he apparently plans to give it another go.