If someone told you in January that the Miami HEAT would have the best record in the NBA for the last half of the season, I doubt anyone would agree. The HEAT started the season 11-30. It looked like the only logical thing to do would be to tank the season and look for a good pick in the lottery.
That’s exactly what didn’t happen. In fact, they finished the last 41 games 30-11, the exact opposite of how they started. Yet, the HEAT missed the playoffs. Despite having a 13-game win streak stacked in those 30 wins, which happens to the longest win streak of any team in the 2016-17 season, the HEAT still couldn’t muster up enough wins to make it to the playoffs.
HEAT backup center described their run at the end of the season to March Madness. He explained that having the must-win mentality is what gave it that feeling, but there was so much more.
This was a team consisting of 9 players who’ve experienced the D-league, but still they found ways to win against opponents with arguably more talent, more experience, more rings, more of everything.
Though they missed the playoffs, the NBA has been put on notice. The HEAT will put a scare throughout the NBA next season and is definitely an up and coming team to watch.