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The Miami Heat (7-14) are 21 games into the 2016-2017 season. The Southeast Division leaders from a year ago, now sits last. Fortunately for the Heat, they are only five games back from the division leaders, Charlotte Hornets (12-9).
Despite being only 21 games in; the Heat only have one player who has played in all of them. You can say the Heat are getting their money’s worth from Hassan Whiteside.
https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/806330254688210945
Whiteside leads the league in rebounds per game at 14.8, he’s third in blocks per game at 2.6 and he’s Miami’s top scorer at 18 points per game. Whiteside’s play alone though will not land the Heat a playoff seed if they keep dropping games at this pace. The Heat’s longest losing streak so far this season is six, which ended midway through November.
They Heat are currently on a two-game losing skid after dropping their latests games to the Portland Trailblazers (12-10) 99-92 Saturday and the New York Knicks (12-9) 114-103 Tuesday night.
Melo ties season high 35p, KP adds 14p & 12r, as @nyknicks beat @MiamiHEAT 114-103. Dragic: 29p and 7a.
The #Knicks have won 4 in a row pic.twitter.com/sJ8xKvBbkl
— NBA (@NBA) December 7, 2016
Goran Dragic has been consistent in the 16 games as he is first on the Heat roster in assists with 6.7 per game and second in scoring at 17.8 points per game. Dragic led the team with 29 points in Tuesday’s loss to the Knicks.
Erik Spoelstra on Dragic- “Intensity of play is a skill”
The Heat will continue to search for pieces to build around Whiteside’s and Dragic’s play.
https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/806286235039924229
If Miami plans on turning their season around, they can start with their next game. The Heat will be on the road to play the Atlanta Hawks (10-12) Wednesday. This will be game two of four on the season for these two teams. Atlanta took the first game at home 93-90.
The Hawks have been inconsistent so far this season, but still sit second in the Southeast Division.
The Game will tip off at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Atlanta.
