In order to qualify for the playoffs, Erik Spoelstra and the Heat are taking a “painful” dip back.
Spoelstra discusses moving backward in order to go ahead more.
Although Miami has always had ups and downs in its seasons, this losing run has been concerning because of their unusual performance and, ironically, the absence of the “Heat Culture” they so proudly claim.
But according to Spoelstra, there comes a time in every season when a brick wall is put in your face, and the question is how they will overcome it. He compares it to them taking a “painful” step backward in order to help a “hopeful” couple go forward.
Spoelstra stated, “There are times during the season when it can be frustrating and all you have to do is pour into the work, pour into each other, and pour into the process.” We’ve simply reached a moment when, for whatever reason, taking a painful step back would have been necessary in order to achieve those optimistic two leaps forward.
Furthermore, we cannot ignore the events that have occurred. We must take that as a lesson. Thus, today’s shoot was a working shoot in which we viewed some film and some New York-produced film.
“A few of the things we could have done better, with the intention of beginning to tick these boxes. Additionally, we needed to be ready for Phoenix, a club that has been playing really well, said Spoelstra. “We really want to improve and maintain our defensive mindset to where it has to be on a regular basis.
There were many positive aspects of the game the other night, but our failure to continue was what I found to be most noteworthy. Tonight will be a significant test, one that we eagerly anticipate.
“Sometimes you get into some of these funks,” claims Spoelstra.
In their most recent defeat to the New York Knicks, they appeared to have revived their offense after a lackluster few weeks. They ended the game with a strong start. But the Knicks would rally and take care of business because of a few runs that occurred in the early and second halves, as Spoelstra mentioned. Spoelstra claimed that these kinds of “funks” occur on teams in “reality.”
“The truth is that everyone has these funks from time to time, and just because you experience them doesn’t mean you’re a horrible person. It all depends on how you react to that. These are typical human competing emotions, and it’s acceptable to feel disheartened, upset, or furious. We’ve certainly experienced all of those feelings quite frequently over the past two weeks or ten, according to Spoelstra.
“How do we react, though? Are those items teaching us anything? Are we supporting one another to go to the next level? Although it doesn’t guarantee anything, today’s morning session was excellent. You just have to keep piling the positives until you get your desired outcome.
Spoelstra discusses the next Heat vs. Suns game.
The next stretch doesn’t get much easier when they play the Suns on Monday, who have a formidable lineup that includes the healthy and very hot Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. After a slow start of their own, Spoelstra told ClutchPoints that the three players’ massive amount of combined playing experience has been a huge assistance.
“I don’t think they really have their health earlier on, I guess, when they’re supposedly trying to figure it out and struggling,” Spoelstra remarked. “So, at the times when those players were available, they had some prolonged play. Indeed, you can see the firepower.
The Heat are currently 24-22 as the second half of the season approaches, ranking them sixth in the Eastern Conference going into their matchup with Phoenix on Monday. It’s reasonable to say that a breakthrough for Miami has to occur sooner rather than later. They have two games at home, including the Suns game, starting on Wednesday night against the Sacramento Kings.