The Miami Heat are barely surviving and are on a collision course for their fourth straight Play-In Tournament appearance. And this current chapter in the era of mediocrity for the Heat can be summed up with one recent comment made by Tyler Herro.
“I'm here. It's been a long, weird, awkward season. Different injuries, in and out. I started the season out for kind of like an indefinite time, not really knowing when I was coming back. So it's just like taking it one step at a time, one day at a time and one game at a time.”
Herro said this in response to what type of season it's been for him personally, but much of that could also be chalked up to what this year has been for the Heat.
The Heat haven't had a banner season
It's been a long season, one full of randomness and awkward moments. They've been beaten up by injuries, without much clarity on the future. Still, the Heat are, somehow, surviving as they prepare to try and play their way into the official playoff field.
In many ways, the Heat still have as many questions about their future as they did before the start of this year. Considering this "gap" season was to help answer some of those concerns, there's nothing that has happened this season that has moved the Heat closer to any of those resolutions.
And that's a problem.
Interestingly enough, Herro just happens to be at the center of one of their biggest uncertainties heading into the offseason.
Aside from his individual struggles this season (mostly due to injuries), that's probably a big reason for his less optimistic view of late.
Heat are headed into a huge summer, no matter how this season ends
The Heat's players will still play this season out fully engaged, because that's what competitors do. However, there's no question that many of the Heat can already see the writing on the wall. That, unless there are big changes this summer, it's foolish to expect any different outcome for the team in the future.
Considering that the outcry against mediocrity has hit an all-time high within the fan base, there's a strong chance that the front office will almost be forced to make a bold move this summer.
Whether it involves Giannis Antetokounmpo or not, the Heat can't continue to just survive in mediocrity. As Herro's comments echo, this is certainly something that is beginning to wear on the players.
Assuming that is the case, the Heat are entering a danger zone. And if the wins and losses are not enough evidence of that, Herro's recent comments should be.