Chapter 130: Let Daddy Teach You.
The Miami Heat were not in a good state.
Back in December, they had won 15 out of 16 games, and then carried that momentum into January by making it 21 wins out of 22 games.
However, they hit a rough patch afterward, suffering four straight losses and losing five of their next six games.
During that slump, fans were praising their opponents, particularly because four of the five teams the Heat lost to were playoff contenders.
The Heat earned a reputation for playing well against weaker teams but faltering against strong competition—a concerning pattern for a supposed championship contender.
After that, the Heat bounced back with eight consecutive wins and managed to win 11 out of their next 12 games. This time, six of those victories were against playoff-bound teams.
Then came another dip: a five-game losing streak, followed by a quick three-game win streak.
The takeaway from these stats is that while the Heat were not a weak team, their biggest issue was inconsistency. At times, they looked like they had worked out their chemistry, but then they'd turn around and seem like they hadn't improved at all.
Still, in terms of overall performance, the Heat were a stronger team than the Grizzlies, sitting second in the Eastern Conference and riding a winning streak.
As the season neared its end, fan interest in the regular season was waning, and this rematch between the Heat and the Grizzlies became a prime focus for the league's marketing.
Could the Heat avenge their earlier loss and regain their dignity? Or would the Grizzlies complete a regular-season sweep and become the first team to knock down Miami's "Big Three" twice in one season?