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3 things the Miami Heat need to focus on to break out of their funk

By Ivan Mora

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 25: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Miami Heat with Bam Adebayo #13, Duncan Robinson #55 and P.J. Tucker #17 after a foul was called during the second half against the New York Knicks at FTX Arena on March 25, 2022 in Miami, Florida.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 25: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Miami Heat with Bam Adebayo #13, Duncan Robinson #55 and P.J. Tucker #17 after a foul was called during the second half against the New York Knicks at FTX Arena on March 25, 2022 in Miami, Florida.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /
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Miami Heat
MIAMI, FLORIDA – MARCH 25: P.J. Tucker #17 of the Miami Heat talks with Max Strus #31 and Jimmy Butler #22 after a timeout during the second half against the New York Knicks at FTX Arena on March 25, 2022 in Miami, Florida.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /

The final 10 games of the season are here and the Miami Heat are now second in the East, slipping fast, and now being haunted by a very narrow margin that is somewhat concerning. History has shown us that most top teams, including Miami, will take it relatively easy cruising in this last stretch. But after their horrible 0-4 week, is it wise for them to take it easy regardless of how low they fall in the standings?

The answer is a resounding no. They are completely lost right now and it is driven by their mentality to cruise by until the playoffs. If anything, this last week was a blessing in disguise to wake this team up regarding some issues they really need to focus on before the playoffs come around.

3 things the Miami Heat need to focus on to break out of their funk: Do not rest

Now, this is a major issue and key component moving forward. For obvious reasons, it makes sense since Miami has revamped its roster for title contention now, but after what seems like a longer season than usual, this Heat team has been a roller coaster, with the positives outweighing the negatives.

Well, that was true up until this past week when Miami went 0-4 for the week, stringing their longest losing streak of the season. They are now tied for first with a barrage of Eastern title contenders squirming neck and neck for the top spot.

If they had secured a better record in what was a very winnable week, with the majority of their opponent’s All-Stars out for those games, these next two weeks would’ve been standard protocol, with the bench upping their minutes and the starters limiting theirs prepping for playoffs. Now, with the standings up in the air, Miami has a tough decision to make – whether the rankings really matter or not.

They should take these last two weeks seriously, especially when they know what East teams have them beat in regular-season matchups. To a certain degree, yes, manage starter minutes, but don’t let go of the reins, and especially don’t cruise in what could potentially be a slip down to even 5th or 6th in a packed East.

Jimmy Butler needs to be a tad bit more aggressive and the team just needs that offensive boost off the bench from Tyler Herro and company. Whether it’s not full force at 100 percent, it should definitely not be a staggering 50 or below.

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