2023 Heat Season Thread - Let me dream edition

[HeatFanDan]

Anyone else notice that ESPN's "BPI % chance to win" has been heavily slanted in our opponent's favor in every single one of our playoff games? That's just straight disrespectful.

[ShulaDon92]

Were the Heat playing 4d chess the whole time?

We have a sweet road to the finals now.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

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[AirP.]

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[AirP.]

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[AirP.]

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[3ballbomber]

My nightmare is the league pushing for a bubble 2.0 finals to help Lebron prove it was legit by winning his 5th ring at our expense. That would be so disgusting.

believe it or not that's a distant possibility. i would hate this team if it falls to cabron like that in the finals.


those gifs are on point too. i want the heat to face the warriors, its only fair that miami would denut them

right now we must enjoy whats in front of us though

It's an absolute possibility the way refs are favoring Lakers & Miami playing well enough to beat anybody in the East. You have the right approach....enjoy this moment & what ever bs that happens we shld be proud of this team.

[ShulaDon92]

Let's keep the vibes productive and positive.

The objectives are clear. Efficient possessions lead to wins. Wins lead to overall prosperity. Just a job well done is a great feeling.

Embrace winning while you can.

-SHULA

[3ballbomber]

Spoiler:

They tried to make other moves and didnt have the assets for their targets. So they held serve and picked up a couple of guys on the buyout market, who btw have helped the team. They had a greater belief in their guys than most of you and so far they look to be right.

I get supporting this FO up till 2015, they did an incredible job but since then it's been middle of the road for this team except for not paying Wade where he went to Miami and sold Butler on Miami's no tank environment. Butler was a gift to a franchise that he committed in his first 5 minutes of the meeting, he was sold by Wade before the meeting. You can try to lie to yourself that the FO has really tried to build around Butler, but they haven't and probably threw away 1-2 championships (after these playoffs) because of it.

Completely ignoring the carefully crafted, managed, and fostered environment that the front office and franchise has created which allows Butler to thrive is disingenuous at best (malicious at worst). Could they have done more and did they make mistakes? Absolutely. What org hasn't?

Are they one of the 3 best run front offices of the 21st century? Without question.

A lot of what Miami FO is dealing with is literally still hedging from never tanking after mortgaging the future to get the big 3, LeBron trying to burn the village on his way out, and prematurely losing Bosh.

Has the FO been too steadfast in holding out for the biggest possible fish? I think so. But, to act like it's a total failure when this franchise is literally one game away from being back in the conference finals for 3 of the past 4 years is naive. To act like the FO has tried to do nothing when they've been engaged on trying to net every possible big fish and falling short on assets in the inflated market is to actively want to take an antagonistic perspective IMO.

They tried to make other moves and didnt have the assets for their targets. So they held serve and picked up a couple of guys on the buyout market, who btw have helped the team. They had a greater belief in their guys than most of you and so far they look to be right.

[AirP.]

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[gom]

Truth right there.

Spoiler:

finally someone with sense

[3ballbomber]

Spoiler:

Completely ignoring the carefully crafted, managed, and fostered environment that the front office and franchise has created which allows Butler to thrive is disingenuous at best (malicious at worst).

Carefully crafted? Really? They carefully crafted in multiple years of going into the season and playoffs without legit starting PFs, the let Crowder go and didn't replace him (they did get over the hill Ariza) and Miami got swept in the playoffs. This year they let their starting PF once again walk without replacing him and they came in 7th in the East, only having a prayer answered in K.Love not only ask to be bought out and then sign with Miami has this worked. THEY LET STARTERS WALK WITHOUT REPLACING THEM. Nearly every other FO would have gotten someone. Not only did this FO have a good idea that Tucker would walk( or they should have known) they drafted a project PF with their 1st round pick. How is any of that helping Butler?

THEY WENT 7 GAMES IN THE ECF last year, watched their starting PF walk, their best player is 33 years old and said, no, we're good without a PF on the roster, luckily K.Love asked for a buyout to plug the huge hole in the Miami rotation at PF. Without that unexpected buyout, Miami wouldn't be playing now.

Could they have done more and did they make mistakes? Absolutely. What org hasn't?

Nearly every other franchise would have replaced their starting PF, not Miami, they're hoarding assets for that next big trade, they went to the finals and the ECF and was 100% fine letting their starting PF walk and not replace him.

Are they one of the 3 best run front offices of the 21st century? Without question.

Up till LeBron left maybe, since then Miami's only had real success because the FO refused to pay their franchise player D.Wade who went elsewhere and talked Butler into wanting to play in Miami and their environment, it had little to do with the FO other than not paying Wade to make him leave Miami.

They maxed Whiteside, gave sizable contracts to Waiters, J.Johnson, Robinson, Herro and soon to be Vincent, they matched T.Johnson and yet you think this has been a top organization since 2015... no sir, it's why you included the years before LeBron left to try to justify yourself.

A lot of what Miami FO is dealing with is literally still hedging from never tanking after mortgaging the future to get the big 3, LeBron trying to burn the village on his way out, and prematurely losing Bosh.

Noted but handing out horrible contracts isn't the way to fix the situation, nor is trying to undercut your franchise player and forcing him to sign elsewhere. How about quit sending out assets to fix bad contracts you handed out?

Has the FO been too steadfast in holding out for the biggest possible fish? I think so. But, to act like it's a total failure when this franchise is literally one game away from being back in the conference finals for 3 of the past 4 years is naive. To act like the FO has tried to do nothing when they've been engaged on trying to net every possible big fish and falling short on assets in the inflated market is to actively want to take an antagonistic perspective IMO.

The franchise is having success because of the player D.Wade sold on how Spoelstra runs the team, nothing more than that. Had Thibodeau been able to make the moves he wanted AND max out Butler he would have stayed in Minnesota with Thibs. Butler wanted a strucutred and tough team and Miami was one of the few ones left.


I am good with saying this FO may have done the best job in basketball for a 15 to 20 year stretch that ended around 2015, but since then it's not been good and have been lucky to have gifts drop into their lap. Just living in Miami is a huge bonus that a lot of team's can't offer and that has nothing to do with the FO.

I was lifelong Bulls fan, but finally recognized that wow, only because MJ dropped to Chicago in the draft and even going from #9 pick to #1 to get Rose was the only reason they could put together a good team. It's why I'm so critical of front offices now which is just an extension of the owner and what they want. Chicago fans actually paid money to put up advertisements to get rid of GarPax. Gar Foreman was just a bad person... someone should ask Butler about him and find out why betting on himself was so important to him.

I think expanding the perspective of the assessment can be beneficial. I'd bet Jimmy himself sees things differently than you. But, it's all good. Everyone can have their opinions and perspectives.

I'm enjoying the product that this organization has put forth. I hope for continued improvements this offseason. I don't want to dedicate my time to crying over things that maybe should have been done (maybe not) while my team is beating organizations that did those things. Time and place, my man. Time and place. I'm pumped as to what is currently happening with this team. The fans of 22 franchises and counting are fully focused on what offseason moves need to be made rn. It's looking like my Miami Heat will be one of the 4 teams that will be able to continue worrying about how to win the next game for the next few weeks. I'll worry about this offseason when it is the offseason.

Warning: this next question may trigger you. Where has Jimmy found more success over his 12 year career?

I've said this numerous times before....Much has been said how lucky we are to have Butler, how we need to get him a title & even talks about trading him to another team so he can win a ring.

It's completely understated how being here in Miami has helped Jimmy thrive & be put in a position to not only be successful but redeem his character which has been largely misunderstood.

He's had the most success here because of the very culture that has allowed him comfort to be himself, to be appreciated & to be put into opportunities to succeed in spite of not necessarily having a legit contending team around him.

He has the coach that has gained his trust & respect enough to buy into our system & how we do things which correlates w/ his work ethic. Butler simply fits into our culture, our system that has helped him be who is that he hasn't had in other organizations he's played for.

In spite of coming up short the last 3 seasons does Butler look disgruntled & unhappy!? Nope, instead he seems to love it here, has stated his appreciation here & having himself a ball while he's at it.

[Grumpy Heat Fan]

sixers up 3-2

nice

[3ballbomber]

My nightmare is the league pushing for a bubble 2.0 finals to help Lebron prove it was legit by winning his 5th ring at our expense. That would be so disgusting.

The only issue is that their FO worked on making the Laker roster strong as possible for LeBron and AD, Miami's FO didn't do anything but got a gift in Love forcing his way out. Who knows what would have happened last playoffs had the FO added a solid PF behind Tucker just in case.... which they needed. Had this FO really went all in after being gifted Butler in 2019 it's quite possible after this season Miami could have had 1 if not 2 championships with Butler and Bam the 2 top players.

Cool it baby. Enjoy the ride.

[3ballbomber]

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[RexBoyWonder]

Just heads up - Knicks board is PURE GOLD right now.

If you need a good laugh...a must see

I ain’t even mad at Mitch, it’s not his fault and I 100% give him a free pass for this one. He’s just being dominated by an elite 2x all-star center who is on another tier. Just not the same caliber player. He’s trying his best. There is a reason bam has been taking teams to the finals and conference finals. Some players put in the work to get ripped chiseled and jacked like a Greek god and can make free throws and midrange shots and some players take pictures of their truck all summer and shoot 20% at the line and hobble around the court awkwardly like they just got a painful exam at the proctologists office and can’t catch a basketball.

[RexBoyWonder]

Somebody gotta tell this rockhead to stop tweeting

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?s=20

wow

[Kobewade11]

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Joy ate them up

[MartyConlonJr]

If you haven't seen Jimmy interview with Redick from a couple years ago - go do it. On youtube.

Watch on YouTube

It speaks to some of the stuff above about Miami enabling Jimmy to be better. From his own mouth. It is a great interview and worth the watch.

Separate note - Heat (assuming they finish off the Knicks):
- won season series with Phoenix (2-0). But pre Durant..
- won season series with Philly (2-1). Only lost the non- Embiid game...
- tied season series with Boston (2-2). One of those losses was no Butler (though 1 win too!)
- tied season series with Lakers (1-1). Lost to the Lakers WITHOUT Lebron and AD. Won the other game vs Lebron (AD didn't play either game this season)
- tied season series with Warriors (1-1)
- lost season series with Denver (0-2)

[AirP.]

Spoiler:

If you haven't seen Jimmy interview with Redick from a couple years ago - go do it. On youtube.

Watch on YouTube

It speaks to some of the stuff above about Miami enabling Jimmy to be better. From his own mouth. It is a great interview and worth the watch.

He just got done in Philly with Reddick and he was utilized like Robert Covington was (who was in the Butler trade), it was absolutely insane how Brett Brown used him then completely changed how they played in the 2nd round which Butler mentions in I think in this interview with Reddick.

Yes, it's a great basketball environment fit in Miami for Butler; it's why he forced his way to Miami. There are probably only a few franchises that would be what Butler is looking for. Had Thibodeau been hired by NY in 2020 Butler probably would have gone there. Butler's always has enough, it's what he grew up in with the NBA with Thibodeau. But if you think he's completely good with the FO moves, I'd like to point towards D.Robinson being paid and in his first year of that extension Spoelstra moving him to the bench citing some of starters wanted to see a change.

Yeah, Butler nor Wade respected Hoiberg, he ran the team like it was like a daycare for NBA players. Although this video doesn't show everything, Wade ignores Hoiberg and asks Butler should they call a time out. The way that franchise had been ran was a joke so I quit being a lifelong fan. All franchises have their faults, but Miami has way less than most. You should be happy; you have a great franchise. Without MJ that franchise wouldn't have done anything in its existence.

Spoiler:

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