The good vibes of the start to the season are over for the Miami Heat, and how they've been performing of late is not enough. That's essentially what head coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters after another recent loss, and it's something that the fans have been waiting to hear.
"“We not talking about moral victories…we are developing a collective competitive will in these painful games…we’re not happy about the result…our guys care in the locker room but it’s gotta be another level — it’s not enough”"Erik Spoelstra
Spo couldn't be more right because right now, the Heat aren't good enough.
For an organization that prides itself on competing for championships, the Heat are just not there yet. They have some talented players on their roster, but not a collection of talent that could seemingly win a title this season, or perhaps at any point in the near future.
Understandably, when Spo said "not enough," he was pretty clearly speaking to the effort level of the team of late. But you can't help but see the symbolism in this quote. Sure, the Heat's effort hasn't been enough to win and close out games recently. But, taking it a step further, this organization, from top to bottom, hasn't been good enough either.
The Heat's frustrations are boiling over
And it has to be frustrating to see it flow from decisions made in the front office to limitations that Spo has on the floor.
The Heat's fast start to the season was a mirage, and the regression to the mean has certainly hit this team hard. Miami has lost eight of its last 10 games, and I'm not sure if they're turning the corner anytime soon. It certainly doesn't feel that way.
The Injuries are still beating this team up, but I'm not sure their struggles are that simple. Don't get it twisted; the injuries have certainly hurt this team's rhythm and continuity this season, but even if they were completely healthy, this is still not a championship-contending team that we're talking about.
This is a huge point of frustration for this team.
This year was always about development and patience. But for a team that is not used to "gap" seasons, it's easy to see why the last few weeks have been frustrating for the organization and the fan base.
Brighter days are ahead for the Heat, but they won't come until something dramatic shifts - first in the front office, then in the locker room.