5-on-5: Tanking, Miami’s Future and Hassan Whiteside’s Effort

We are a few months into the season. Our expert staff at Miami Heat Beat is here to tell you how to think! We’re borrowing on ESPN’s 5-on-5 idea where we take five of our staff writers and ask them all the same questions to hear their differentiating opinions on what’s going on with the HEAT.

The Great Fire: How LeBron James and Miami Shaped the New NBA

LeBron left his hometown team in the summer of 2010 in pursuit of championships by any means necessary. He formed a super team in Miami with one of the few people who might have been his equal and another perennial All-Star. This was when LeBron lit the match of his Great Fire. Since then the league has been chasing him.

94: Do You Know How I Became a Sports Fan? With Justin Rowan (Fear The Sword)

In this edition of The Heat Beat Podcast, we welcomed Justin Rowan (Fear TheSword) to join Giancarlo Navas, Jack Alfonso, Brian Goins and Nekias Duncan in discussions that involve:

• Justise Winslow and his future
• We make fun of Dion Waiters
• The LeBron water bottle controversy
• Most hated player of #HeatTwitter
• Miami’s rebuild plan
… and so much more

#NBAVote: Hassan Whiteside and the Case For His First All-Star Team

The (almost) 100 million dollar man, Hassan Whiteside, has been given the spotlight this year and he has taken a full advantage of it. Whiteside was left off the All-Star roster last year, but this should be his year to make his claim as one the NBA elites

93: Bleep You Grandpa! With Slim (790 The Ticket)

In this edition of The Heat Beat Podcast, we welcomed Slim of The Ticket Morning Show (790 The Ticket) to join Giancarlo Navas, Alf and Leif in discussions that involve:

• Alf and Slim can’t stop cursing
• Goran’s future in Miami
• Why Gianni cries for everything
• HEAT offense late in game
• Alf trashes Dion Waiters for a while
… and so much more

James Johnson: An Unlikely Savior?

Back-to-back games are never easy in the NBA especially for the Miami HEAT who had to play in Denver and in Utah on consecutive nights. Not only are those two places Miami has had trouble playing in historically, but the altitude on short rest can do a number on your body.

But when you have James Johnson then that’s a different story.

Report Card Vol.3: Grading Miami’s Rotation Players

It’s no secret that the Miami HEAT are in a transitional year. Internal growth from the young core is and should… Keep Reading

92: Most Handsome NBA Player with Amber Wilson (790 The Ticket/The Morning Show)

We welcomed Amber Wilson of The Ticket Morning Show (790 The Ticket) to join Giancarlo, Brian, and Alf (first-time hosting) in discussions that involve:
• Why can’t Miami HEAT fans have fun with this season?
• Trade Rumor Mill: Is it worth trading Goran Dragic, a draft pick, and a young piece for John Wall?
• We talk about Kanye West’s recent antics
• Gianni polls Amber on the hurdles and inclusion of women in sports media
• We end with who the most handsome in the NBA player is?

Report Card Vol. 2: Grading Miami’s Rotation Players

Nekias kicks off a series of posts grading each Miami HEAT rotation player in five-game increments to get an idea of how everyone is progressing as the season goes on.

Heat Control The Paint, Snap Six Game Skid (FINALLY)

With a horrific start for the HEAT, it seemed like comparisons to that 2007-08 team were inevitable. The HEAT were the verge of having a seven-game losing streak, longest since the 2007-08 season and Miami was down as many as 14 in the first quarter. Things looked bleak.

#TBT: Reflecting Back on 26 years of Being a Miami HEAT Fan — 1990-91

The first HEAT game I ever remember attending in person was on February 26th, 1991. I was nine years old, which now serves as a harsh reminder of how old (and #washed) I am today. The trip to the Miami Arena was a late birthday present from my uncle and I was as excited to attend as I had been to do anything up to that point in my life. Decked out in my Champion Brand size 36 Glen Rice HEAT jersey, I enjoyed my first Miami HEAT experience.

Riley Reloading: Possible HEAT Trade Scenarios

I don’t have #sauces, but I do have time to burn, a trade machine to abuse and an English paper to procrastinate on. With that said, let’s look at five potential Dragic and/or Whiteside deals that could work out.

Heat Twitter President’s “Manifesto,” A Guide For Disengaged HEAT Fans

Alf, our Heat Twitter President, put together a quick guide—a few bullet points to keep in mind—as you pour yourself another cocktail while bracing for the inevitable third quarter meltdown.

6 Reasons to Smile Through Pains of 6-Game Losing Streak

The Atlanta Hawks came into Miami and took the game with a final score of 93-90. The game also drops Miami to 1-5 in the American Airlines Arena (2-8 overall), the worst start for a HEAT team since they began the 2007-08 season with a whopping 0-6 record at home. Yet somehow, HEAT fans are smiling after the game, and after the sixth straight loss, it is fitting to have six reasons to smile through the pain.

Report: Miami HEAT Places Goran Dragic On Trade Block Ahead of Trade Deadline

According to sources, the HEAT are willing to trade Dragic and would prefer to do so in advance of the NBA Trade Deadline. Rumblings also persist that Miami will dangle Whiteside in an effort to explore all options to acquire a franchise centerpiece.

Heat Shows Guts In San Antonio, Fall Short 94-90 for Fifth-Straight Loss

Five game losing streaks are no fun, but for this HEAT team they just might be necessary to the process. Earlier this week, Pat Riley said Justise Winslow “needs more and more failure” and tonight in San Antonio, Winslow and the HEAT got another dose of failure as they fell to the Spurs 94-90.

90: Tanking With Roy Bellamy (ESPN/LeBatard Show)

In this edition of The Heat Beat Podcast, we welcomed Roy Bellamy of the Dan LeBatard Show (ESPN) to join Giancarlo Navas, Brian Goins, Christian Hernandez, Alf and Leif.

Turd Quarter Strikes Again: Jazz Pummel Miami 101-92

Some things never change. The third (otherwise know as the turd) quarter once again proved to be the difference for… Keep Reading

89: The Day After (Escapism) with Anthony Chiang (Palm Beach Post)

In this edition of The Heat Beat Podcast, we welcomed Anthony Chiang of the Palm Beach Post to join Giancarlo Navas, Brian Goins and Harrison Cytryn in discussions that involve:

• James Johnson sitting on a toilette during an earthquake
• Discussion on Justise Winslow’s increased role in the offense
• Gianni addresses his Tyler Johnson slander
• The guys debut a new segment
… and so much more

First Bad Loss of the Season: Now What?

Ugh. That was ugly. The HEAT had their first bad loss of the season last night and I’ve never seen a fan base morph into lowly (Pre-Embiid) Philadelphia 76ers fans so effortlessly. It’s almost like we knew this team wouldn’t reach our expectations.

Report Card (Vol. 1): Grading Miami’s Rotation Players

I’ll be kicking off a series of posts, grading each rotation player in five-game increments just to get an idea of how everyone is progressing as the season goes on.

5-on-5: Early Season Surprises, HEAT Offense, Hassan Whiteside

We are a few weeks into the season. Our expert staff at Miami Heat Beat is here to tell you how to think! Exciting right? We’re borrowing on ESPN’s 5-on-5 idea where we take five of our staff writers (against their will) and ask them all the same questions to hear their differentiating opinions (hot takes) on what’s going on with the HEAT. So without further adieu, let’s get started.

HEAT Notebook: Life Comes At You Fast, Miami-Toronto

Since then Miami lost [against the Raptors] spectacularly in game seven and have started the season under .500. Life comes at you fast. It all happened so quick too, almost from one week to the next. Miami lost two starters and their most beloved sports figure.

The Josh’s are back: Implications of McBobs and J-Rich Returning

The news of the day is that Josh Richardson will make his season debut tonight and Josh McRoberts is getting closer to an on court return. Giancarlo Navas (@gnavas103) and Alex Toledo (@TropicalBlanket) give us their their breakdown of what to expect out of the two Josh’s.

88: Dion Waiters Drives Us Crazy with Chris Cochran (790 the Ticket)

In this edition of The Heat Beat Podcast, we welcomed Chris Cochran of 790 the Tickets to join Giancarlo Navas, Jack Alfonso and Leif

Interested In Joining Miami Heat Beat? Apply Here To Contribute

We are looking to add writers and anyone with multimedia or graphic and web design skills to join our Miami Heat Beat staff.