The Miami Heat are doomed. They are definitely, positively, temporarily, and ultimately doomed. And you know who doomed them? Eric Spoelestra. He has doomed this team into pure embarrassment and removed every last ounce of intimidation they may have had throughout the season. All it took was a brutal loss, a few choice words, and the stage is set. One of the cardinal rules of sports is that you don’t cry, not now, not ever---only exceptions being after the season is over or if a personal tragedy/major triumph has occurred. But while the season is still progressing? That should never happen. And now a coach in an interview mentioned how the team was in tears after a rough loss. You never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever do that. Especially not during a wimpy three-game (now 5) losing streak.
The Cavs lost nearly two-dozen losses in a row. Did you hear reports of their tears? Not sure how it rolls in other countries, but in my country, the coach would have been fired immediately, right after the comment was made. You just don't say stuff like that about your club--even if it might be true. Now, it’s not to sound manly, machoistic (Not a word, I know) or anything like that, but nothing removes all intimidation or fear quite like tears. Nothing removes the toughness factor like tears. And nothing brings the potential for more laughs, ridicule, and late night humor quite like picturing a basketball team full of grown men with tears. How am I going to fear taking on a team that shared tears? That’s like playing a football team that hates rain. Or like taking on a hockey team that hates fighting. You become so unafraid its laughable. This is what the opponents are doing, removing all previous notions of fear and treating them like just another basketball team. The Blazers dominated the Heat---IN MIAMI. And that was after barely beating a Dwight Howard-less Magic.
Now, did this actually happen? The crying? The chain of tears? No, perhaps it was slight exaggeration to prove that they are hurting. But those words were said, and I am sure Spoelstra wishes he never said that statement. Worst news for the Heat: the beginning of the end can potentially start right now. Look who is coming up: Lakers, Grizzlies, Spurs, Thunder, Hawks, and Nuggets--------all in that order. Even though we all know the Heat will make the playoffs (especially in the Eastern Conference) you can/should never go to the playoffs on a down note. Using a personal example, the Tampa Bay Rays late last year were so destroyed and tired from facing the Yankees and Red Sox in brutally close games to the very end (and plus some mild controversy about their lack of fans) they couldn’t get out of the first round against a much weaker Texas Rangers team (trust me, we were better than them…just didn’t prove it in October). The Heat will need all the help they can get leaving the second round at this rate.
Bottom Line: I now associate the Heat with grown men crying because things aren’t going their way. And now, although I still severely dislike them, I no longer fear them like I did the 96 Bulls, the 98 Yankees, the 2008 Patriots, and the 1998 Minnesota Vikings. I no longer fear them because the coach admitted their inability to face adversity without folding. This isn’t just a losing streak; its a streak that is revealing a lot about this Miami Heat team...more than what the Heat wanted us to know. What we have learned is that they can’t finish games, all the players are afraid of taking that last shot, they can’t beat the tougher teams, and that if you can contain one of the Big Three, then winning the game will follow.
Oh and that they cry.
And most important: The 29 other teams are no longer afraid of the Miami Heat.
P.S. Spoelestra's days are numbered if they lose the next couple games.
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