Miami Heat: 3 reasons for the team’s rough start to the season
The Miami Heat are 3-4 heading into Saturday’s matchup with the Washington Wizards, causing some early panic among fans.
It’s safe to say all of Heat Nation will agree that the Miami Heat coming out of last season as Eastern Conference Champions, was one of 2020’s few bright spots; which undoubtedly makes their current 3-4 start, even harder to stomach.
While they earned a commanding 111-98 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Christmas Day, their most recent 107-105 loss to the Boston Celtics, more accurately describes their 2020-21 campaign thus far.
Related Story. Players Power Rankings: Steph Curry is back. light
Between having to reacclimate to life outside of the NBA Bubble, a starting lineup that has yet to be finalized and a few minor injuries creeping up, the Heat already have a handful of factors working against them continuing last year’s postseason success.
But of course, the same could be said for many teams. So, what exactly is causing Miami’s rocky beginning?
Let’s take a look at three reasons for this rough start.
1. A Meyers Mystery
This offseason, the Heat re-signed Meyers Leonard and at this point, many people are wondering why.
Although the team continues to hold him in high regard and he’s obviously fully committed to the organization’s success, it’s unclear just what he’ll bring to the table for Miami this year.
He’s competed in only two contests so far, averaging just 11.0 minutes a game, after similarly seeing time in three playoff matchups, period. And while he dealt with a foot injury last February, he’s supposedly rehabbed and healthy.
The Heat may already run deep, but the more bodies, the better.