There is definitely a problem in South Beach. No longer do we have people talking about if the Miami Heat are going to win 70 games, or if they were going to sweep through the Eastern Conference playoffs. No, people are starting to wondering if this team can make it through the second round of the playoffs at best and they do not look as scary. They are team without direction. With about five weeks left in the NBA season, the Miami Heat are in complete flux.
After seeing the Heat struggle mightily in late game situations as of late, I believe the Heat do not listen to Head Coach Erik Spoelstra because there is no sign of an offense at any point of the game. I doubt that Spoelstra is inept as a coach, I just think he lost his team especially against the good teams. When a lot of the discussion about the Heat earlier this season came up, questions were raised whether if players listen to Spoelstra? Many people believed they were not. Then Heat railed off a 20-2 record in the coming weeks so people left it alone.
When the Heat made that impressive run they only faced six playoff teams, and twice against New York pre-Carmelo. The two losses the Heat had were against Dallas and the Los Angeles Clippers on the road. The Heat's record stood at 30-10, since then they are three games under .500. Not what you want heading into the stretch run to the playoffs. Spoelstra does not know how to manage this team, which was something the critics worried at the beginning of the season.
I cannot blame Spoelstra for not being able deal with all of these superstars, I mean what if I got Bill Simmons, Jason Whitlock, and Michael Smith to all write for Sports News On Tap, how do I deal with all their collective egos? I cannot say I would be able to do it, nor I am not sure Spoelstra can. I believe during the recent struggles, it is being put on display. If it comes out that Spoelstra told LeBron James to stop shooting in late game situations, and that role belongs to Dwyane Wade instead. Then somehow it becomes public, who looks like the asshole? Not Lebron, totally 100 percent Spoelstra. He has no clout whatsoever with the players, and goes about trying to get it in all the wrong ways.
The crying comment is unneccesary, you do not call out your team for crying. I can just see Kevin Garnett rattling their cage, same with the Bulls, and other teams in the league. It's one more distraction that you have to deal amongst the multiple issues that the Heat have to deal with. If I am the Heat, I would have Jamaal Magloire destroy LaMarcus Aldridge tomorrow and show some toughness. Even though I see nothing wrong with being so upset you break down in the locker room (been there done that), the Heat look soft. No one can say differently because all professional sports are filled with testosterone to the row Z of the arena.
If the Heat want to win this season, they have to get rid of Spoelstra. The National Hockey League always gets rid of the coaches like it's a revolving door, there is no reason the NBA cannot do the same. You need Pat Riley to bring back the toughness that this team lacks because Coach Spo as the Heatles want to call him is not doing them any favors.
-Charlie.
