The Miami Heat are currently sitting at a record of 33 wins and 41 losses. This has them sitting 10th in the Eastern Conference and they could very well go as high as the eighth seed once the postseason starts. There were key changes to the rotation and who they were fielding in situations that Coach Erik Spoelstra made. But, they still need a battle cry moving forward.
The Heat seem to have found their rhythm with dominant wins over the Philadelphia 76ers and Atlanta Hawks. What made the flip switch in their heads?
Coach Erik Spoelstra posits that it's how they have been treating and just enjoying games without much pressure, via Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.
"Our guys love to compete. I said this while we were losing games: We all felt alive. Our locker room felt alive. We felt alive from the competition, from the challenge, and how frustrating it was. If you're in those circumstances, that can also make you feel dead; that was not the case with this group," he declared.
Since Jimmy Butler left the Heat, Spoelstra took some time to step back and analyze what types of lineups would work for them. As of the moment, their starting five seem to be set in stone and functioning well.
Tyler Herro, Alec Burks, Bam Adebayo, Pelle Larsson, and Kel'el Ware have all brought the energy to help the Heat. Guys like Haywood Highsmith, Davion Mitchell, and Kyle Anderson have also been great spark plugs off the bench.
"There is a competitive character in this group. It's a group that wants to figure it out, play well for each other, and get to another level. Guys are having fun with the competition and having these games means something. We feel like we're playing for something. It's not like whatever those narratives are out there. There is something to play for and that's exciting," Spoelstra added.
Heat culture is very much alive in this squad. Finding their identity heading into the NBA Play-In Tournament will surely do wonders for them.
Related: Erik Spoelstra Names Heat's Biggest Weapon During Playoff Push
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This story was originally published March 31, 2025 at 6:30 AM.