The overall defensive metrics remain reasonable, with the Miami Heat 11th in the NBA in defensive rating.
But over the last 10 games, Erik Spoelstra's team ranks 19th in the 30-team league.
Over the past five, 20th.
And over the last three, which have included a pair of losses, 24th.
So, no, this is not trending in the right direction as the Heat turn their attention to the final stop on this three-game trip — Wednesday against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Good "Why?" piece by Ira. That about answers it all, doesn't it? Well, okay, you could ask a deeper "Why?", why have they slipped like that? My reaction last night, "Very disappointing performance for Miami tonight, very disappointing. Not down on them! These games happen.", is my answer tonight. They've played twenty-seven games. It's a looong season. "Heat" Culture and Coach Spo demand "100% 100% of the time," over eighty-two games. They should. That's the standard. It is no humanly possible.
But over the last 10 games, Erik Spoelstra's team ranks 19th in the 30-team league.
Over the past five, 20th.
And over the last three, which have included a pair of losses, 24th.
So, no, this is not trending in the right direction as the Heat turn their attention to the final stop on this three-game trip — Wednesday against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Good "Why?" piece by Ira. That about answers it all, doesn't it? Well, okay, you could ask a deeper "Why?", why have they slipped like that? My reaction last night, "Very disappointing performance for Miami tonight, very disappointing. Not down on them! These games happen.", is my answer tonight. They've played twenty-seven games. It's a looong season. "Heat" Culture and Coach Spo demand "100% 100% of the time," over eighty-two games. They should. That's the standard. It is no humanly possible.