The biggest surprise for the Miami Heat this season isn't the fact that they've outperformed expectations; it's the fact that they're the most fun team to watch in the NBA. With their uptempo pace and ability to create chaos with their non-stop energy on both ends of the floor, the Heat has suddenly become one of the league's most entertaining teams.
NBA Draft expert Sam Vecenie pointed out on a recent podcast that the Heat is the team that he enjoys watching the most, and he couldn't be more right.
The argument can be made that the Heat haven't been this fun to watch since LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh were roaming the sidelines for the team. But credit to Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who has completely changed the tune surrounding this team.
It should be pointed out that "fun" doesn't necessarily mean "good." But the Heat, to their credit, has been both so far this season.
How the Heat have surpassed expectations
Not many expected the Heat to factor much in the Eastern Conference this season. In fact, the phrase "gap year" was being thrown around the Heat before the season began. While the Heat could still very much be in the midst of a "gap year," they've still found a way to be relevant in the win and loss column.
Through the first quarter of the season, the Heat ranks in the top 3 of the Eastern Conference standings, and is top 2 in points scored per game. Spo has managed to completely alter the way they play on the offensive end of the floor, and it's made a huge difference for the team.
The season is still incredibly young, but there's now a good enough sample size that suggests the Heat may have some sustainability. The fact that they're both fun to watch and really good is a stark shift from what the fan base had come to know for the past two seasons.
Even when the Heat have been good in the post-LeBron era years, it's been built around a brand of basketball that isn't always easy to watch. It was a slow-down, pick-and-roll heavy approach.
But Spo completely altered their offensive philosophy, which is built on pace, space, and ball movement - and it's paid off in more ways than one for the team.
This is certainly a different era for Heat basketball. Thankfully for fans, they're both entertaining and particularly good. It's certainly a breath of fresh air.