Miami Heat-Boston Celtics: Still Searching for a Complete Game From Miami
Note: I began writing this halfway through the third quarter. This is my feelings at that point. Don't worry, I wrapped this up later.
So what should they do?
LeBron asks that question in the Nike commercial that everyone has seen at least 150 times, but I'm asking it of the team.
What should they do?
Are Heat fans overreacting to what is construed as a dismal start? Maybe we are.
And I know because of this article I'll receive a lot of nastiness from my fellow Heat fans.
Meanwhile, the Haters are probably taking great pleasure in these games. Honestly, it's sickening sometimes how much the negativity spills out and how much people enjoy it, in some cases I think more than their favorite teams' success (if they have them).
But nowhere near as sickening as this team's play over the course of the last six quarters.
Good teams win at home. This team is expected to be great, but lost two in a row at home.
The only player who looks like he's hustling out there right now is LeBron. Halfway through the second quarter, it started to look like Miami was resigned to losing this game to the Celtics. Hey good idea, look forward to winning by 20 against the Raptors on Saturday night, right?
They started to roar back in the third quarter, only thing is a run is only good when you're STOPPING the opposing team from scoring points.
So, that went well, how's that stifling defense now?
Millsap goes for 46 on Tuesday, Ray Allen hits everything, Rondo can find anyone.
Yes I know, it's game number nine, but honestly, I'm getting sick of the "be patient" shtick. Please.
The time for excuses on this team has to end, bottom line.
I'm tired of ice cold shooters who all of a sudden get hot against the Heat's defense.
I'm tired of the inability to close out games.
I'm tired of a lot of things with this Heat team, but the fans, oh boy, don't get me started on them.
This "Wine and Cheese" scene at the Triple A has to come to a stop.
The Heat are asking their fans to Fan Up, and they were great against the Magic.
What the hell has happened since then?
That's the problem with this city, a city I love. Everything is all about "trends." How shallow and vapid can we be? Do you know how to be a real basketball crowd?
Watch the Lakers' home crowds. They share many of the same qualities with this city, but they at least know how to be basketball fans.
What's it going to take? The real fans are up high, never focused on.
We know how to be a sports city. Look at the Orange Bowl in the 70s and 80s. That was with 70,000 in a cavernous building. We're talking about a more intimate venue with only 19,600.
Things are going to have to change, heads are going to have to roll.
The Light At The End of the Tunnel: Miami still only lost by five
We still only lost by five, with Dwyane Wade again putting up a subpar performance against the Celtics. This team is still scary, and if you deny that, you're a fool.
Sure, I don't have them winning the East, not this year at least, and while I do hate the excuses of "they still have to learn how to play together," there is still a nugget of truth in that.
Just how much is what's uncertain. Will the Heat be better with a few moves? Of course. We'll just have to wait and see.
But for now, disappointment is still the mood around the Heat. You can see it as Riley takes his notes, you could see it in LeBron, and especially Wade, who I'm sure is tired of being owned by the Celtics the way he has been the last three years. You could see it in Bosh, who has improved the last three games.
You could see it in the fans as well. Sure you won't be able to see it in the "Wine and Cheese" scene in the bottom row of the arena, but take the Metrorail after the game. Everyone sitting in the 400 section rides it after the game. The collective silence of a packed train can be deafening. Sure the more "elite" probably just went off to the clubs after the game and forgot about it 20 minutes later, but the true die hard Heat fans, who do exist despite what you may think, don't forget.
There's still 73 games left to be played. Will there be improvement? Just based off the number of games and the talent on this team, there has to be.
Plus there's the fact that this team has still only played one complete game, and was able to turn on halfway through the third quarter. If they hadn't fallen behind so much in the first half, who knows what would've happened.
But again, they still lost, and wins and losses are the only tangible evidence you have as to how good a team truly is.
Thomas Galicia is a Miami Dolphins Featured Columnist who also writes about the Miami Heat, Miami Hurricanes and Chicago Cubs from time to time. If he were at the Heat game, this would've been posted on Friday Morning, not Thursday Night at 11:50 when it wound up being posted. For more of his takes on the Heat, Dolphins, Cubs and Canes in 140 character hits, follow him on twitter, @thomasgalicia.
