If the Miami Heat are going to prove to themselves (and the rest of the Eastern Conference) that they've truly put their early-season struggles behind them, they have a great opportunity to do so during their crucial upcoming five-game homestand.
If the Heat are going to do that, they're going to need Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo to lead by example. As they've done more often than not over the Heat's last seven games, in which they've gone 5-2, they're going to need to set the tone. Early and often.
With big games against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and even with the Milwaukee Bucks mixed in there, the Heat have a chance to start changing the narrative on their season.
The Heat need to find a way to defend their home floor
Should Miami be able to emerge from this homestand with a 4-1 or even a 3-2 record, that would be considered a huge win for this team, especially considering that they began the year. At 0-4, the Heat seemed destined for disaster.
If they can somehow get to the point where they're 9-8 (oh, wouldn't that be great?) after the first 17 games of the season, especially after all the struggles they've been through, how could Heat fans not be content?
But that would mean the Heat would have to go 3-2 in their next five. That means, assuming they beat the Bucks, which won't be a cakewalk with all the internal motivation that the team from Milwaukee will have, the Heat would still have to win two of these four games: Cavs, Pistons, Thunder, or Rockets.
It's doable, but it won't be easy.
That's why it all has to start with Giannis and Bam. The Heat's dynamic duo sets the tone, one that hopefully the rest of the supporting cast will follow. Interestingly enough, it's not exactly something that the Heat have had much success in doing so far this season.
Through their first four home games, the Heat are just 1-3. For a team that wants to make a deep run in the NBA playoffs, or perhaps even get there, that's not ideal. The Heat need to find a way to defend their home floor. And they can start shifting that energy on this five-game home stand.
The Heat have certainly played better over these last seven games, but they don't exactly have a marquee win just yet. In fact, their last three wins have come against the lowly LA Clippers, Sacramento Kings, and Utah Jazz.
Miami is not going to apologize for beating bad teams, but at some point, the Heat will need to beat a quality one. That's something the Heat have a great opportunity to do over the next week and a half.
The question is, can they do it? If so, it all starts with Giannis and Bam. This is why Giannis wanted to be in Miami. To compete. After a sluggish start, it's time for Miami to start doing so.
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