Miami Heat: 5 Reasons Why It's Time to Hit the Panic Button in South Beach

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past week, you're most likely aware that the Miami Heat are on a three-game losing streak.

The Heatles have lost those three games by an average of 8.0 points per game, and they've done so with an inability to close out games, an inability to hit free throws down the stretch and most importantly, a lack of legitimate defense.

Sure it's only 12 games into the young NBA season for the Heat, and it's only a three-game losing streak, but when you add all that together with Dwyane Wade's most recent ankle injury, it's certainly time to panic at least a little bit.

If Miami doesn't change things like their defensive focus, bench rotation and their offensive game plan down the stretch in close games, the Heat are setting themselves up for a repeat of last year. 

Ahead is a list of five reasons why it's time to panic in South Beach.

Dwyane Wade's Tendency to "Play Through" Injuries

I know the Heat won all three games this season without Wade in the starting lineup, and they've lost three straight since his return, but the fact that Wade continues to suffer from minor injuries is a major concern in South Beach.

It's not a major concern, based on the conventional wisdom that says Miami is a better team with Wade in the starting lineup, and if he's injured, he won't be able to do that.  

Miami's main concern with Wade's nagging injuries is that he just doesn't seem to understand that if he's not 100 percent, he shouldn't be in the starting lineup. 

The Miami Heat are undoubtedly a better team with a healthy Dwyane Wade in the lineup, but if he isn't 100 percent he shouldn't be on the court, he should be on the bench because he hurts the Heat more than he helps them when he's recovering from injuries.  

LeBron can carry the team if Wade is injured, as evidenced by dominating wins against the Pacers and Nets without Wade, and if the Heat want to return to their winning ways, the coaching staff, training staff and Wade himself need to see that.

The Heat Are Struggling to Run with the Young & Athletic Teams in the NBA

The Heat's three-game losing streak has come at the hands of the Golden State Warriors, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets.  Aside from all being part of the Western Conference, what do all three of those teams have in common?  

All three teams are among the youngest and most athletic teams in the NBA, all of which feature a fast-paced offense that focuses on facilitating their offense through pushing the fast break.

The average age of those three teams rosters are as follows; Nuggets (26), Clippers (25) and Warriors (25), which isn't an enormous difference when compared to the Heat's average of 28 years, but it goes without saying that the Heat are struggling against the youth of the NBA.

That's a reason for concern because there are a number of young teams, specifically in the eastern conference like the 76ers, Bulls, Pacers and Hawks, that are young and could pose a threat to the Heat over the span of a five- or seven-game playoff series.  

The Heat's athleticism and age isn't the problem here, it's the terrible coaching by Erik Spoelstra that doesn't utilize the talent on his bench to counter the speed and youth of the young teams the Heat have been playing.

If LeBron and the Heat want a ring this year, some things definitely need to change, and first and foremost is Erik Spoelstra's game plan when they play younger NBA teams.

The Heat's Inability to Win "Ugly," Close Games

Miami went 4-0 in their first four games of the season, and they did so by winning two close, ugly games against the Charlotte Bobcats and the Minnesota Timberwolves.  

There wasn't much said about those wins because they were early in the season, and no one really cares when the Heat beats bad teams, but those wins were reason to be excited because Miami was starting to finish games.

Fast forward to today, and the Heat are on a three-game losing streak, which includes two losses, to the Clippers and Warriors, that were both ugly and close.  

The Heat gave up a 17-point lead to the Golden State Warriors that led to an overtime loss, and the Heatles just couldn't seem to close out the Clippers, missing late-game free throws and committing late-game fouls.

The Heat's inability to win close games is a reason to worry because that is exactly the reason why Miami fell short last year against the Mavericks in the NBA finals.  

The Heat couldn't figure out how to hold on to their double-digit leads and they couldn't find a way to close out games down the stretch, ultimately losing two pivotal games in the finals by three points or fewer.

If the Heat want to make a legitimate run at the top spot in the Eastern conference playoffs and an NBA championship this year, they have to start winning close games.  If they can't figure out ways to do just that, then it's surely time to panic in South Beach.  

Miami Heat Are Forgetting How to Play Defense

Even though we're talking about the NBA, the only professional sports league where defense at times appears to be optional, but there's no getting around the fact that you can't win a championship without defense.  

The Miami Heat are proving just that by the way they are playing in losses as compared to wins so far this season.

Discounting the Heat's triple-overtime win against the Hawks, because it unrealistically skews the stats, the Heat give up an average point total of 94.4 points in games they win as compared to giving up 105.8 points in games that they lose.  

The Miami Heat struggle when they fail to play defense, mainly because it limits their ability to open up their transition and fast-break game that fuels the fast-paced style of offense the Heat need to run to win games.

The Heat need to go back to the drawing board defensively speaking, especially regarding the way they guard the high pick-and-roll, which has killed them in their last three games.  

If the Heat can't figure out how to start shutting down opponents on the defensive side of the ball, this three-game losing streak is simply going to be a sign of things to come, which is a major reason to panic in South Beach.

Just to put the importance of defense into perspective, it should be known that the Heat won each of their playoff games last year by never allowing 100 points, for an average of allowing only 86.2 ppg in their playoff wins.    

If History Tells Us Anything, Then the Last 7 Games Are a Reason to Worry

Remember what it was like last year, on June 12 when the Miami Heat fell to the Dallas Mavericks 105-95 in Game 6 of the NBA finals?  Well if the Heat don't switch things up, and do so relatively soon, history tells us that the Heat are setting themselves up for a repeat performance of last year's season, which could mean a similar post-season performance out of the Heatles.

In the 2010-11 season, the Heat started off 4-1, allowing only 84.0 points per game in those five matchups. Over the span of the next seven games, the Heatles went 4-3, allowing an increased points per game average to the tune of 99.4 ppg within those seven games.  

Fast forward to the 2011-12 season and we have the Heat starting off a sizzling 5-0, allowing 97.4 points per game.  Over the span of their next seven games, the Heat cooled off with a 3-4 overall record, allowing 100.7 points per game over that seven-game span.

Sure, it could be an overreaction to the Heat's first 12 games, but if history tells us anything it is that often the past dictates the future unless you decide to make changes, and that is something that the Miami Heat absolutely need to do, both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.

I'm sure the Heat will turn things around and earn a high seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, much like they did last year, but if they want to turn the corner and seriously contend for the NBA title this year, they need to learn from their recent three-game losing streak that they are too similar to last year's team.

The Heat need to make changes to their game-plan, and they need to do it fast.  If they don't, it's seriously time to panic in South Beach