The Miami Heat = The Duke Blue Devils
Not really, but kind of……
Hear me out.
Within a four day span last week, the Miami Heat lost three consecutive games to teams that most of us thought they should beat; the Warriors, Clippers and Nuggets.
But as I sat and watched highlights of the first, and all of the last two games, I started to see a pattern as I thought about the Heat’s season so far. With a shortened season due to the lockout, depth and the way that teams manage their injuries will play a huge part in how the regular season will go. If you can play 10-12 guys a night like the Trailblazers, you will be in good shape and your stars won’t have to log heavy minutes. But if your starting center goes down like the Hawks, then things could get a little iffy.
Every since The “Heatles” decided to come together last season, the target was placed upon their backs. That red paint on that target intensified after their collapse in the NBA Finals, and the belief that the Heat are on a mission to quiet all of their naysayers didn’t help either. While I do believe that the Heat will redeem themselves in June, their voyage to the Finals may be filled with more bumps than they expected.
This year’s 66-game season will have the feel of a college schedule, rather than the regular 82-game season. Teams that would normally play twice a year in a home-and-home matchup will only play once now. Playing four games in six nights will now be the norm instead of the exception. Giving the Miami Heat a “Duke-like” feel. Teams will play their best and fans will fill up the stands, as it could be the only time The Heatles come to town.
When Duke losses a game, it’s usually because a team they should beat played their best game of the season or a single player had the performance of his life. For instance, in the Heat’s first loss of the season Tracy McGrady came off the bench to everyone’s surprise to score 16 points and hit some huge 3’s down the stretch for the Hawks. Similar to the second half that the Temple Owls had when they served Duke their second loss of the season.
Four games later, the Heat lost in back-to-back overtime games in consecutive nights to Golden State and LA, which was followed up by a double-digit loss to the Nuggets, thus turning the Heat into what I would to call the NBA’s version of the Duke Blue Devils. Guys get up for the Heat more than any other team, and so do the coaches and fans. It’s what Coach K and his teams have faced since the early 90’s, taking everyone’s biggest punch every time you step on the floor. While the scoreboard might not always agree due to a lack of talent, the Heat and Blue Devils never get the opportunity of a night off or the chance to sneak up on anybody.
Simply put, they are the hunted.
LeBron = J.J. Redick (The guy everybody wants to hate and OVER analyze his every move)
D. Wade = Jason (Jay) Williams (The guy everybody loves, but hates the fact that he plays for “them”.)
Chris Bosh = Mason Plumlee (The multi-talented big man who’s frustrating because he’s inconsistent)
Shane Battier = is well, Shane Battier.
Sometimes you have a thought, and you run with it. This post was me running, LOL.
ThePlayingField 