It’s only the second game in the 2016-17 season, and the Miami HEAT have experienced their first loss. This isn’t something HEAT fans are used to. After all, this is a team that went to four consecutive NBA Finals and won two in a row. Since becoming a franchise in 1988, the team has gifted their followers 3 NBA championships.
But, let’s face it. There’s no need to panic after just two games with the team having a 1-1 record. After all, there are 82 games in the season. In addition, this is a new team. Almost half the team wasn’t even on the roster last season. With that being said, a loss, even when the team was up by almost 20 points at one point in the game, isn’t something to go crazy over.
Before tipoff, HEAT lifer, Udonis Haslem, came to center court to thank the fans for their continuous support and promised that the team would always play their hardest and do their best for everyone. After all that, no one would complain about a loss in the second game of the season, right. However, after the game, when questioned by reporters, Justise Winslow basically attributed the loss to the team “mentally checking out” of the game.
Strange that Winslow would use this as the reason. Let’s face it. Even if it were true, the team mentally checking out in just the second game of the season is a problem. While Hassan Whiteside continued to prove he is worth every dollar the HEAT chose to spend on him, foul trouble kept him off the court for a good portion of the game. Whiteside still finished the game with 20 points and 15 rebounds, but maybe not having their star on the court might’ve affected the psyche of the rest of the team.
Still, the entire team having a mental checkout because the star is missing for a few plays shouldn’t happen. Someone has to step up because there is a chance that Whiteside will have more games where he can’t be on the court. For head coach, Erik Spoelstra, this means that finding a way to keep a young team motivated for the full 48 minutes every game, regardless of whatever adversity is thrown their way.
