I'm actually kind of surprised that any Kings fans are rooting for the Heat, if only because I'd expect a lot of y'all to be lowkey jealous of them. Fans of small market teams spend an inordinate amount of time bemoaning their inability to acquire high-level free agents and have lengthy discussions on platforms like this about how they "need" to tank in order to get good through the draft, or how they "need" to go all-in on big name free agents via trade, and all of the inherent disadvantages they have by being in a small market. And meanwhile here are the Miami Heat, of all teams, making a dollar out of fifteen cents: one guy with Top 10 talent, but a reputation for wearing out his welcome everywhere he goes, one guy with Top 30 talent, and a bunch of guys who could have been had for a turkey sandwich. And they're a game away from The Finals; I honestly can't believe that that isn't burning Kings fans up inside. Like, how come the dudes we pick up off the street never turn into good player?
Without looking it up, can anyone tell me, with Oladipo and Love injured, who the highest-drafted player on the Heat's active roster is? Because if you don't know, you're going to make the Wee-Bey face when I tell you.
I have no reason to hate on the Heat. I did back when they formed their overhyped “super team”. I think most non-Heat fans hated that team.
But as far as this Heat team goes, they really don’t have any players I dislike nor do they have a history like BOS or LAL.
I think they are drastically overachieving beyond their talent and skill, which kinda makes it fun to see. Like, they could make the Finals, maybe even win it in a couple weeks, but then I could then see them back as a 7th or 8th seed next season and out in the 1st round.
They’re just doing most things right and hitting clutch shots when they need them. And getting contributions from different players each game. That kinda thing doesn’t happen consistently most the time, but is magical when it does.
Assuming both MIA and DEN finish off their 3-0 leads to reach the Finals, DEN should win it all. They are much more talented and the better team. But so was MIL and so is BOS. However it happened, this HEAT team is just so in synch and have so much confidence right now that it’s gonna be tough for anyone to beat them — unless they start to somehow lose their mojo.
The Heat, to me, are like that middling NBA player that just gets on fire for whatever reason and just can’t miss often. Think Tony Delk scoring 53 against our KINGS. Except they are doing for an entire playoff run, like Nick Van Exel did back in like 2004 or whatever year it was. Just playing beyond themselves and who knows how long it will last.
Let’s not forget, MIA almost played their way out of the play-in. They lost their first game to ATL by double-digits, then had to overcome CHI in Q4 to avoid elimination. That Q4 is the moment this all started for MIA. And it’s been crazy to see them take off since.
