The Jimmy Butler era in Miami may be over, but the problems persist for the Heat, whose 'inconsistency,' according to coach Erik Spoelstra, remains their biggest issue despite having a solid group of players.
These were the words of the veteran head coach following the team's 86-102 loss to the Brooklyn Nets — another team dealing with several challenges, including Ben Simmons' buyout the morning of the game against the Heat.
Simmons' absence, combined with Cam Thomas' injury (which has kept him sidelined since January 2 due to a left hamstring strain), did not affect the Nets' ability to secure their 18th win of the season. Five players scored in double digits on their way to the win, led by 18 points from Cam Johnson and 17 from D'Angelo Russell. Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez also gave minutes to 10 different players, all of whom got on the scoreboard.
Adebayo and A'ja
On the other hand, Bam Adebayo has stepped up as the leader of the team since Butler's first suspension last month. Adebayo, who caught attention for wearing his girlfriend A'ja Wilson's signature Nike shoes, finished the night with 18 points.
However, Bam wasn’t even the Heat's leading scorer. Terry Rozier led the bench with 20 points, while Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, and Kel'el Ware combined for a total of 35 points.
Inconsistency
When asked about the loss after the game, Erik Spoelstra confidently stated that his team will turn things around, but the inconsistency in their play remains the primary issue.
“We weren’t getting into decisive actions and working the offense to get the best available shots,” Spoelstra said. “An indication of that is getting our shots blocked 13 times, most of them at the rim. Right now, we are dealing with inconsistency, but we will overcome it. We will figure this out. That’s our challenge right now.”
The Heat have yet to see the additions of Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and Davion Mitchell, who are arriving after the five-team trade that sent Butler to the Golden State Warriors.
These new players will try to help turn things around for the Heat, who are currently the seventh-best team in the Eastern Conference.
