The Miami Heat were in the NBA Finals last season.
Although they lost to the Denver Nuggets, many expected them to be back with a vengeance, regaining their spot as the top team in the Eastern Conference.
While they have only played five games on the year, as Hoop Central has recently pointed out, they have started the season with a 1-4 record.
The Miami Heat are 1-4. pic.twitter.com/qa1v0PnsIo
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) November 2, 2023
The Heat’s lone victory came over the Detroit Pistons, a one-point nail-biter of a season opener.
This slow start has been well-documented by fans across the league, yielding mixed results.
https://twitter.com/DurantMuse_/status/1719897737989161132
The Miami Heat way:
1) “run it back”
2) make a tough, exciting, deep run in the playoffs
3) be a premier destination for high-value trade targets
4) get none of them and “run it back” again
5) repeat cycle— SportSociety (@SportSocietyUSA) November 2, 2023
They always do this in the reg season they gonna end the 9 seed and make the finals again
— japta (@DubsBetterrrr) November 2, 2023
Not about how you start but about how you finish. Let’s talk end of season.
— Colin (@CdotSwish) November 2, 2023
They were a play-in team last season. Got lucky and had a good run for a few games during the playoffs. Went 2-7 their last nine games. Miami just isn’t a good team. Doesn’t help their “star” player taking rest game a week into the season. Play in team at best this season, too.
— Bruce Dowell (@SIJGLC) November 2, 2023
As some of these fans have pointed out, the Heat have tended to start slowly over the past several years.
This is a growing trend throughout the NBA, as teams seem to wait to play their best in the late stages of the season.
Teams that are filled with older stars tend to play conservative minutes in the beginning, increasing their playing time as the year goes on.
However, as other fans have pointed out, this strategy might not be in their best interest, if it is the path the Heat are trying to take.
Some fans think that this downward trend will continue for the Heat, given their lack of added talent throughout the offseason.
This team looks very similar to their NBA Finals squad last season, and the players might be exhausted after another grind through the postseason.
The fan reaction is currently split when looking at the Heat’s start.
It will be interesting to see how opinions change based on their record at the halfway point in the season.
NEXT: Heat Star Shares Picture With Damian Lillard After Bucks Duel
