Miami Heat
The 2024-25 Miami Heat can be defined by the Jimmy Butler breakup and getting SMOKED by the Cavs in the first round.
What did we learn?
It was the most lopsided playoff series in NBA history.
Game 1: Cavs 121, Heat 100
Game 2: Cavs 121, Heat 112
Game 3: Cavs 124, Heat 87
Game 4: Cavs 138, Heat 83
Game 4’s 55-point margin of defeat was the worst in Heat playoff franchise history.
The Heat got blown out of the water and washed up on the shores of Biscayne Bay.
Jimmy Butler did it again. He saw the writing on the wall and got the fuck out of dodge just in time, leaving behind a garbage can on fire.
The Heat (Pat Riley) wouldn’t pay Jimmy his money and he knew this Heat team was toast without him. Hell, Jimmy probably didn’t even see a first round whoopin’ of his caliber coming.
Inside the NBA on TNT had the perfect segment on this:
“They live in Miami, they don’t even have to go to Cancun.”
Chuck: “You down by 50 at half time, you have to leave town!”
You can’t help but feel a little bit bad for Spo, Bam and Herro.
Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro are solid NBA players. But neither are suited to be a team’s true No. 1 option. We know they are better off in roles playing off an alpha like Jimmy.
Ka’lel Ware is a reason for optimism after a great rookie campaign once he started getting real minutes. Even then, Ware played more than 30 minutes just 16 times. But he has the tools and potential to be a homeless man’s Wemby, prowling the paint and capable of stepping out and hitting the 3.
Unfortunately, there are more reasons for pessimism.
The trade for Rozier, who has declined like a car that never once had an oil change, looks like a terrible oversight.
Jaime Jaiquez was once a draft night steal but had a severe sophomore slump.
Andrew Wiggins for Jimmy Butler is probably not nearly as funny to Heat fans now as it once was. Wiggins averaged 11.5 points per game in the first round.
Spo worked what magic he could, but the Heat finished 37-45, the worst record for Miami since 2014-15 in the first season after LeBron left.
History might forget that it took the Heat winning both Play-In games to even make the playoffs.
But history will not forget the historic beatdown they suffered in the first round to Cleveland.
Was it worth it? How exactly does Heat Culture revive itself this time?
It is the Heat, so we always have to wonder what Riles has up his sleeve.
But is there even anybody to drop the rings on the table for?
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Additional Notes
Davion Mitchell looked the part of Heat Culture once he made it to Miami, finding a home after Sacramento and Toronto.
Nikola Jovic, somehow already in his third season, had some games where you could see his ceiling, but then he would underwhelm greatly for multiple game stretches and missed a large chunk of the season once again due to injury.
Did Josh Richardson really play 8 games for the Heat this season?
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Did our preseason Over/Under prediction hit?
Spo + highly motivated Jimmy = Over 44.5 wins.
Heat 2024-25 record: (37-45)
NOPE. Jimmy was more motivated to jet out from South Beach.
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What’s Next?
The No. 20 pick in the draft (from the Warriors). They’ve said for years this is a loaded draft.
Per usual, ESPN’s Bobby Marks spells it out perfectly: The Heat have renewed financial flexibility: three tradeable firsts and $60 million in expiring contracts (Duncan Robinson, Kyle Anderson, Haywood Highsmith, Kevin Love, Terry Rozier).
Finding some consistent offensive production outside of Herro and Bam would be ideal.
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Favorite Heat Highlight of the 2024-25 Season:
A classic Heat slugfest with Bam calling game.
