15 Straight Losses

Nothing could be more illustrative of the Heat's season than tonight's loss.

The thing lost in this losing streak is that for the most part, the Heat have been competitive and in every game. Sure, there were a few blowouts, but for a team battling with injuries and just an overall bad fit of personnel, this team has not backed down and has not quit.

Losing to the Spurs tonight 90-89, the Heat grabbed another loss. Sure, it is 15 straight now (not including that Atlanta loss?) but the numbers really don't matter in a season that is just looking to end. Yet, this loss tonight was a perfect illustration of the Heat's season.

There was a moment during the game where everything was going Miami's way. They were shooting the ball very well (in the 50% range) and were playing defense (no, really - they were!). Yet it all slipped away in the end: Udonis Haslem and Dorell Wright, battling for a rebound, accidentally tipped the ball into their own basket. Bruce Bowen, who had shot the ball, missed but got credit for the "made" shot. The sad thing is, there was virtually no Spur around to challenge for the rebound.

It just slipped out of the Heat's hands. And that was the difference in the game.

Of course, there is also the snapshot of Wade, at the end of the game, losing the ball as it was stripped from him by Bruce Bowen who gambled and poked the ball away.

Or there was the Heat missing almost half of their free throws (they shot .569 13-23).

Or the calls Ginobili was getting while seemingly hitching a bus from Old Cutler Road to Biscayne for a few possessions. That's ok, the officials weren't charging him for the rides and a few key baskets were awarded to the desperate Spurs who, boo hoo, had to travel til 5am just for tonight's game. At 8pm.

Sorry, professional millionaire athletes. The rest of the world will not shed a tear for you getting on a plane and flying somewhere only to have to work for about 2.5 hours about 15 hours AFTER you arrive.

There is something different about tonight's loss for the Heat though. In a way, they seem to be able to hold their heads high tonight. They fought hard against the champs of last season, even if they themselves are the champs of two seasons ago. The fact that Shaq is out again and the Heat found a way to compete is admirable.

Here's to the Heat getting lucky like the Spurs did when their Admiral was not able to lead them but instead the proud franchise hit rock bottom. They ended up with the #1 pick in the draft. The pick was used on a guy named Tim Duncan. The rest is history.

Maybe Miami can have a change of fortune like that. After all, without that draft pick, the Spurs are not hailed as a dynasty. Maybe Miami can get such an opportunity.