The Miami Heat Have, Thus Far, Exceeded Expectations And Some
By Max Marshall
For the Miami Heat and everyone else, the past couple of NBA seasons have been tough. Let alone, the past couple of years of life have been tough for everyone as we all learn to adjust to COVID.
Although it has, sadly, become the new normal, the Miami Heat have had their ups and downs since it all started. This year, in particular, has been a wild one for Head Coach, Erik Spoelstra.
To be frank about it though, he’s done an unbelievable job when you consider how he’s navigated having guys out due to protocols or injuries. Every game is different, from the playing style to how many active bodies can suit up.
He should definitely be in the Coach Of The Year discussion, but who knows, that national bias may not allow him to bubble up enough. To make a brief case though, the only coach besides Spoelstra who should be in the running is Cleveland Cavaliers Head Coach, J.B. Bickerstaff.
Other than that, there aren’t many others, if any, with stronger cases.
The Miami Heat had pretty sizeable expectations coming into the year. Up until this point and with all they’ve endured, they’ve done a pretty good job.
Miami has been missing Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Victor Oladipo, P.J. Tucker, Markieff Morris, and just recently, Dewayne Dedmon.
Those are all rotation players that haven’t played this year at all or have missed impactful amounts of time. How could you forget two-way player, Caleb Martin, who has been a beautiful find for the Miami Heat?
He has also missed time from being in the health and safety protocols. When he’s been on the floor though, he’s been as impressive as any two-way player ever has been.
Speaking of those types of guys though, how about summer-league standout, Omer Yurtseven? Realistically, he could have been signed by anybody in the league.
Though a slow start to his season with him getting spot minutes, with Adebayo missing time due to a thumb injury, Yurtseven was playing really good backup minutes behind Dedmon. As Dedmon went out due to a knee sprain though, Yurtseven has stepped up to start, not missing a beat.
Guys have been dropping in and out of their starting lineup for the whole year. In their past ten games though, included amongst that piecemeal affair with the lineups, they’ve gone 8-2.
As of right now, this season has to be up there when it comes to Spoelstra shining and the team persevering with everything going on. It’s such a Culture team.
They have enough to get it done on most nights and that’s regardless of who suits up. Up until this point and as they do on any given night, they have exceeded expectations and then some.