While watching the Heat the other evening, I caught myself hoping they would not lose rather than cheering them on to a much-needed win. Trying to decipher my feelings, I realized that the team I was rooting for seemed to be without leadership on the floor and definitely lacked defense, certainly as the game wore on. Then, at the end of the third quarter, I thought I saw shadows of players, heads slumped, shuffling off the floor to the dressing room while their live-beings were left to endure the usual punishment of the fourth quarter.
Is this too harsh an assessment? Probably but it has not been exhilarating to follow this team the past year or so. As a team, they appear to have adequate talent to compete against anyone in their division, but too often the defense gives way to runaway offenses by the opponent and then the expected looks of frustration by the Heat players.
Perhaps what is needed is a spark, preferably from a guard or small forward who takes charge of the team and the game and forces a win in games where we would otherwise throw up our hands and concede a loss.
Photo courtesy of Miami Heat