That's an organization and a team to admire. God, that's a great team. Ira Winderman reminded me that they added Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday in the off-season. To a team with Jayson Tatum (4th DARKO, so you know he's great), Jaylen Brown, Derrick White. As Ira wrote:
"The gap between the Heat and the top of the East...was never more apparent than Thursday night." It can be captured in a single photograph:
Porzingis vs Thomas Bryant. "Heat" Culture vs Boston Brahmans. The Soviet Union vs the U.S. Brute vs Beauty. Diamonds in the Rough vs Diamonds in a Regal Setting. YMCA vs NBA. ("the Celtics are in another league," Ira). Talent vs Hard Work. .533 vs .777.
I know, I know, you hear me say this every year (and I have said it every year for the past ten years) when the "Heat" hit a rough patch in a good season (this) or are stuck in Middlesbrough all season (last). "Yes, the playoffs are a different animal. "Sure, coaching yet could matter in a playoff series." (But what about the coaching right now? This five-game losing streak, the twenty-five different lineups this season? Starting Nikola Jovic ten straight games? How far did coaching take us in the Finals vs Denver?) The sum is greater than its parts. But see previous paragraph. That's a great sum with great parts.
The "Heat" will right themselves, Spo will right them, but how right will they be? Beat-Boston-in-the-playoffs-right? Beat-Beer-in-the-playoffs-right? Beat-Denver-right? How about New York? Indiana? Cleveland? Orlando? All of the Eastern elite have upgraded significantly. Miami did too with the Lowry-Rozier trade. Is it enough? Do "we have enough"?
No.
