The Miami HEAT blew a great opportunity to raise their record to above .500 for the first time since early in the season, and also put a stranglehold on obtaining a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Stretches of inconsistent defense, poor perimeter shooting, and bad free throw shooting eventually caught up and led to a 98-94 defeat versus the Knicks.
Tonight’s loss is extra disappointing for the HEAT, since the Knicks were without Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose. The absence of the pair of ball dominant players may have helped New York in the long run, as they moved the ball effectively against the HEAT leading to five New York players scoring in double figures.
The game still went down to the wire, but a Goran Dragic missed layup in the waning moments of the game, followed by a basket interference call against Hassan Whiteside, sealed the fate of the HEAT. In the locker room, a visibly frustrated Whiteside spoke passionately about how badly the HEAT wanted this game, and how hard his teammates are working to get into the playoffs. He also took a few jabs at NBA players that like to workout in front of cameras just for publicity.
Whiteside’s emotional display reveals how much he cares about winning and wanting to lead his team to the playoffs. He obviously cares about his teammates and felt compelled to stress the authentic work ethic that drives this version of the Miami HEAT. After this loss, the HEAT will need to work extra hard to secure a playoff spot, as their remaining schedule becomes much more difficult.