The Miami Heat were eliminated in the first round of the NBA Playoffs by the Boston Celtics, ending one of the most annoying seasons in quite some time.
Even though it was a rough one, this was a season to sit back and reflect on what went wrong and right, and there are actually some lessons the Heat can take from the remaining playoff teams.
Knicks and Pacers
The first two teams currently dueling it out are the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers. Both teams have showcased unique strengths and strategic adjustments that can serve as valuable lessons for the Miami Heat.
The biggest lesson that the Heat can learn from the Pacers is that the play-in should be avoided at all costs. Freak injuries occur often, and the Heat just saw it happen with Jimmy Butler.
What if the Heat weren't playing that extra game? They would have a Milwaukee Bucks team without Giannis Antetokounmpo and what would become a hobbled Damian Lillard as well. Match-ups matter, and Indiana took care of business in the regular season to guarantee themselves an advantage. The Heat, unfortunately, blew a lot of big games and lost to some bad teams. If the Heat could have those back and make things right, they could potentially still be playing right now.
A valuable lesson the Heat can learn from the New York Knicks is the importance of versatility.
While this iteration of the Heat is one of the deepest in the Jimmy Butler era, it lacked players who could break the mold and showcase a diverse skill set. In contrast, the Knicks boast several guards, wings, and bigs who excel in various roles, including shot creation, spot-up shooting, slashing, or being a defensive menace.
The Knicks adeptly leverage these different skill sets to complement their superstar, Jalen Brunson. Emulating this approach could help the Heat optimize their roster and create confidence in the locker room, as guys know what they'll be getting from each other on any given night.
Despite the rivalry, the Knicks and Heat share more in common than one might think. Both teams frequently shuffle players in and out, seeking the perfect fit alongside their star players. For the Heat, this offseason should focus on reducing redundancy among their players. A soft retool, rather than a complete overhaul, could be the key to continued future success.