Ready or Not, The Miami Heat Are Arriving

The Miami Heat have experienced more than the usual ups and downs of a regular NBA season this year. And who could blame them with such irregular circumstances clouding this uncertain season? From the lowest points of starting Gabe Vincent for almost a week. To losing to shorthanded Clippers and Warriors teams in back-to-back games in February. The dark grey cloud of underperforming and the “bubble fluke” moniker looked as though it was starting to accumulate mass the further the season went on after a loss to the shorthanded Hawks in Atlanta.

Little did the fanbase know the team was slowly getting their rhythm together and smoothing the edges as they worked in Trevor Ariza and Dewayne Dedmon. The loss in Atlanta may still be frustrating, but it looks more like a hiccup than a reflection of what the team is starting to represent. After all of that work of building consistent habits — we’re witnessing the fruits of their labor come together now. The team you’re starting to see on the floor may have taken a while to get revved up, but it’s got a full tank of gas (unlike most of Florida) now and is ready for the race of the Postseason.

Those games in January where everything was as off-kilter as you can imagine didn’t help much. Neither did the roster’s construction that took until about a month ago to finally start making sense. Everyone was getting a late start into this unholy mess of a season. But now that the mess is clearing itself up by way of the trade deadline burden being gone, the PF spot filled up by Ariza, and the bench giving huge contributions. This team is finally resembling Miami Heat basketball.

Everyone has settled into and thriving in their respective roles at the perfect time. Jimmy and Bam are the 1-2 punch leading the charge. Kendrick Nunn has settled nicely as the starting guard playing within himself alongside them and giving timely baskets when he can. Duncan Robinson is not only hitting three-pointers at a nearly automatic level but has made amazing strides on the defensive end. The bench duo of Goran Dragic and Tyler Herro has been on fire since Tyler came back from his injury, shooting 57% from 3 with a +20 Net Rating. Dewayne Dedmon and Trevor Ariza have plugged those holes the team desperately needed while not taking any mess from anyone.

This is all everyone wanted to see shine through as the light at the end of the tunnel. Now we see the usual “March” run that Erik Spoelstra teams go through, only it’s slightly delayed due to the scheduling around this chaotic season. “I want to win. We just know what we’re capable of,” Jimmy Butler said after the blowout win against the 76ers. They know they’re starting to break the shackles of this covid season towards what could be another memorable postseason run.

The trials and tribulations of this year could have broken them. They just as easily could have said, “it’s not our year,” and packed it in like the Boston Celtics. The loss versus Atlanta might have been the final blow for any other team in their position, but they pushed through. Jimmy Butler gave them a kick in the pants they so desperately needed not too long ago, both on and off the floor. Their record since Butler’s returned from his Covid-related absence stands at 32-19, which is 4th best in the east during that span.

That kick that Jimmy gives is like that of a horse you never want to be on the wrong side of. You’re either riding with him, or you’re getting bucked off as swiftly as possible. And this Heat team looks like they’re ready to be the cavalry. This recent stretch has felt like them sending a message to the rest of the league that they’re not afraid of anything, anyone, and any team. Jimmy Butler said to TNT, “nobody intimidates us.”

It certainly looks that way when you watch that killer instinct start to return to them. Udonis Haslem’s game against the 76ers was the perfect encapsulation of the energy the team is manifesting right now. No fear only pure unwavering action, boss. They’re not afraid of a team led by Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. They have Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler. Not to mention a coach in Erik Spoelstra that knows what it takes to adjust throughout a playoff series. They’re going to throw everything and everyone imaginable at Philadelphia in a series should they meet.

Atlanta? New York? The lack of a homecourt advantage doesn’t scare them. They’re battle-tested, unlike those likely first-round opponents. Milwaukee? Sure they added Jrue Holiday, but that mental space Miami owns in their heads can’t be overlooked. I’m not saying this will be easy by any means. I’m not even guaranteeing a win for Miami either. But do you want to doubt a Jimmy Butler and Erik Spoelstra-led team to vanquish Giannis and Coach Budenholzer once again?

I’m not here to tell you Miami should be considered the favorites. But there’s a path here for them to get to the Conference Finals once again. As last year proved, a path is all they need as long as Jimmy Butler is the one leading them through it, no matter how treacherous it may seem. There’s no better guiding light.

And what a delicious dish it would be to serve to the bigger outlets and “bubble fluke” pushers than another deep playoff run. Do you think the guys in that locker room don’t hear those whispers themselves? We’re talking about a team filled with guys who have been counted out and misunderestimated numerous times. We’re in for a wild ride this postseason, and I would not have sounded this enthused only a month ago. As one of Jimmy Butler’s favorite singers, Taylor Swift, said, “these things will change. Can you feel it now?”

Erik Spoelstra never sacrificed throughout the year for a few cheap regular-season wins here and there. He stuck with his plan and now it’s paying off. Jimmy Butler is averaging the lowest minutes of his career thanks to this plan. That lift on his jumper looks as good as it ever has in his Miami tenure. Butler is more than ready to be fully unleashed on whichever opponent wants to try him. The offense looks like that well-oiled machine we’ve grown accustomed to. They’ve been a top 5 team in terms of offensive rating since April. Imagine telling that to someone not too long ago.

It may have been a bumpy right filled with plenty of unexpected stops, but this is what the fans have been waiting for. Everyone seems to have found their guts. Nothing is scarier than a Miami Heat team with rhythm, led by a top 2 Coach, a rested proven playoff superstar and a fear of no one. The team will take the battle to whoever stands in their way. I’m ready to watch them fight and to make their opponent never feel comfortable. I hope you’re ready too.