Resilient Heat
The Miami Heat have reason to believe they can be even better. Their fate is certainly theirs to carve, and if recent history holds true, they stand to put up a worthy challenge to the so-called elite. In short, it’s who they are that fuels the thought of
If there’s any surprise to the Heat’s fourth- place standing in the Eastern Conference, it’s that they didn’t bare their fangs early. Having managed to retain the core of the roster that had them going 30 and 11 in the second half of their 2016- 2017 campaign, not a few quarters figured they would be hitting the ground running. Instead, they played up- and- down ball until the first week of December, with four losses in five matches depressing their record to 11 and 13 and compelling even diehard fans to wonder if a playoff berth was more a broken promise than a realistic expectation.
If nothing else, though, the Heat are resilient. Boasting of a relentlessly gritty culture fostered by lead executive Pat Riley and perpetuated by disciple and head coach Erik Spoelstra, they have used the last month to underscore their resiliency. They have a league-best eight wins in their last 10 outings, including five straight, and the fact that they’re six games above .500 with a negative point differential serves only to highlight their fortitude in the crunch. Take yesterday’s road set- to against the surging Raptors. Under duress and in danger of leaving the Air Canada Centre with a setback after erecting a lead of as many as 12 points, they hung tough and survived. As Spoelstra has noted, they seem to “find a way at the end.” Sure, they benefited from the absence of Kyle Lowry and the late ejection of Serge Ibaka. Still, there can be no discounting the brilliant play- calling and outstanding execution that led to the game- winning basket.
Moving forward, the Heat have reason to believe they can be even better. Their fate is certainly theirs to carve, and if recent history holds true, they stand to put up a worthy challenge to the so-called elite. In short, it’s who they are that fuels the thought of
what they can be.