A breakdown of the Miami Heat’s recent form slump in the NBA

This season could be the Heat’s toughest title campaign of the Big 3 era

Miami Heat, the two-time defending champions, are all set to try and defend their title heading into the Playoffs as the second seed. But unlike the year they beat Oklahoma City Thunder in the Finals – their first season in the Big 3 era where they finished second in the East – this year’s regular season performance has raised lots of doubts regarding their chances to repeat.

Although quite commendable, this year’s 54-26 record is the worst registered by the Heat since LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade in South Beach. This season the Heat have faced much less pressure than they did in the first season with the Big 3, but their campaign this time around most definitely seems tougher mentally and physically.

On the list of issues to deal with, injuries and fatigue were right at the top at the start of the season, which had various side-effects on the team’s play, initially leading to a slow start, then a bumpy month of January followed by the current struggles late in the regular season.

Here’s why the Heat have struggled this season, with particular reference to their recent slump in form:

Fatigue and injuries to multiple players

Wade’s injury has left a huge question mark on the Heat’s title defence this season

While Head Coach Erik Spoelstra had to monitor the health and playing time of multiple players coming down with injuries, the flu and so on, Wade required specific ground rules to be laid down for his playing time this season.

He has been dealing with back spasms, weak knees, the flu, sore ankle and right ankle injuries, but it is the knees that have forced him to miss one game of every back-to-back header the Heat have faced this season. His absence has been felt in all those games, on both ends of the floor, as no bench player has been able to consistently step up and average the kind of points or impact the game like we expect from a superstar like Wade.

Starting point guard Mario Chalmers was out for about two months of the new calendar year with right Achilles tendinitis. The heavily taxed bodies of Ray Allen and Shane Battier have got occasional rest, but only on grounds of the flu. Michael Beasley has been of no impact whether on the court with the team or in a suit on the bench.

With most of Speostra’s primary rotation players out the heavy burden has fallen on King James, and for most part of the season he has handled it just like a four-time MVP would. But as the business end of the season has approached, fatigue has started to show a little on the King too.

The following week after his career-high 61-point game against the Charlotte Bobcats he looked tired and struggled to shoot efficiently from the field, which is quite unlike his game has been this season.

Not to suggest that the team members have failed to be on the same page or anything, but the same starting five playing night in and night out tend to develop an understanding about one another. The Heat have failed to establish that, having used over 15 different starting line-ups this season.

Lack of motivated effort on the floor

Probably barring the Chicago Bulls of the 90′s and the Boston Celtics of the 60′s, there has been no team in the history of the NBA that hasn’t been doubted on its route to a three-peat. The quest for a three-peat brings along more problems than one expects, on the team and individuals. A team known for its defence is not even in the top 10 of defensive efficiency this season, but that was bound to happen.

Until March the Heat looked like any other team en route to defending its title twice in a row, with only the occasional hiccups during the course of the season. But their recent struggles have necessitated closer inspection, which has revealed that the Heat’s performance has been worryingly inconsistent this season.

Last week, for example, they made a huge statement by beating rivals Indiana Pacers, snatching the top seed, only to hand it back by losing their next two games to the Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards.

Being on course for their fourth Finals, motivating players must be tough. But that is where the Heat will be tested in their ability to retain the throne. As a contender your effort and motivation on the floor cannot vary from game to game, and that is precisely the vulnerability that the Heat have shown the other teams in the East.

Disappointing bench

Key players of the Heat bench

Most times the team with the better bench wins a Playoff series in the post-season, and the bench was one of the Heat’s strongholds until last season. This season, however, the story for the Heat in terms of their reserves has been quite the opposite.

Rashard Lewis spends more time on the court than he did last season, but he has been nothing but a shadow of the player he was with the Orlando Magic four years ago. Beasley has failed to keep his performances consistent and Norris Cole of late has struggled with turnovers and a low shooting percentage.

Battier was only an occasional offensive threat but his defence never dropped till last season. This season though, opponents have not had to work hard to get the better of him on both ends of the floor. With Wade most probably facing a minute’s crisis, the bench woes are going to take a lot more minutes out of the King.

A three-day break between the regular season and the Playoffs should be enough time for the champs to work on their weaknesses. However, as seen above, those weaknesses are not small in number, so it’s not going any easy task getting back to the level they were at the last two seasons.