“This time it’s the belief that journeymen like Max Strus and Duncan Robinson (along with the free agency loss of gritty power forward P.J. Tucker) could retain the magic they brought to the squad last season… they knew it was risky to hope average guys could duplicate career years… the Heat thought otherwise and stood Pat.”
Oops. Well, there’s an old saying that insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over again and hoping for a different result. That is not happening because, as of this writing, Miami just finished off another higher seed, this time taking down the hated Knicks in six games, and now face their old rival the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals for the third time in the last four years. So what happened?
Well, a couple of things actually, starting with the superhuman effort put forth by the unquestioned leader of the team, Jimmy Butler. Recently named All-NBA Second Team, Jimmy Buckets has elevated his game to Jordanian levels, dumping 56 against the Bucks in one game, and averaging 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists while dispatching the New Yorkers. Then there’s Bam Adebayo (whose offensive inconsistency has been the bane of head coach Erik Spoelstra’s existence at times), who flipped a switch and found offense which, at times, carried the team throughout the series. Add the better and more consistent contributions from role players Gabe Vincent, Max Strus and especially Kyle Lowry, and all of a sudden you have a squad quite capable of beating anyone left in the NBA’s postseason tournament. Will it happen? Who knows? The smart money says no – but the smart money also said the Heat had no chance against Milwaukee or New York either, so tread lightly if you disfavor Miami.
While we’re at it, we’d be remiss not to mention the other winter franchise that often toils in obscurity, supported by a core group of diehard fans, that would be your NHL Florida Panthers. Like their neighbors in Miami, the Panthers, lead by newly acquired forward Matthew Tkachuk and the hot goaltending of Sergei Bobrovsky, eliminated the top seeded Boston Bruins and the higher seeded Toronto Maple Leafs (sound familiar?) en route to the Eastern Conference finals versus the Carolina Hurricanes. Will they continue their magic carpet ride?
Again, only Ouija board and crystal ball enthusiasts can tell us, but you’d be foolish to bet against them.
So South Florida, enjoy the ride, as it happens once in a proverbial blue moon… and even if either or both teams end up falling short of their ultimate goal, are you going to doubt them? Not me.
One serving of crow is just fine, thanks.