The Miami Heat were mercifully swept by the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, suffering their eighth-straight home playoff loss on Monday night. For more on that tumultuous defeat, click here!
I have good news and bad news. The good news is they made history! The bad news is that it is in all the wrong ways.
As a result of the Cavaliers’ 55-point Game 4 thrashing (to put it lightly), they set the record for the biggest margin-of-victory for a single season in NBA History, outscoring the Heat by 122 points, according to Associated Press’ Tim Reynolds.
It was one more point than the Denver Nuggets’ 2008-09 first-round sweep over the New Orleans Hornets. No other team in NBA History has outscored a team by more than 101 points in a single series in any other round, per Stathead.
- 2024-25: Cavaliers 4-0 sweep over Heat (122 PTS)
- 2008-09: Nuggets 4-1 series win over Hornets (121)
- 2009-10: Magic 4-0 sweep over Hawks (101)
- 2016-17: Cavaliers 4-1 win over Celtics (100)
- 2018-19: Bucks 4-0 sweep over Pistons (95)
- 2015-16: Warriors 4-1 win over Rockets (94)
- 2015-16: Cavaliers 4-2 win over Raptors (93)
The Miami Heat were also the first team in NBA History to lose back-to-back playoff games by 30-plus points, according to Keerthika Uthayakumar.
Both were at home.
Miami becomes the third team ever to have a home playoff losing streak of eight games or more. The Philadelphia 76ers had a streak of nine from 1967-1971; the Detroit Pistons also own a nine-game skid after two airtight losses to the New York Knicks over the weekend.
Seven of those eight losses were by at least 13 points; five by at least 15 points and three by at least 20, including Monday’s 55-point disasterclass. They aren’t just losing at home, they’re getting clobbered.
Cleveland was missing star guard Darius Garland for half the series. Ironically enough, those were the two blowout wins. This came after one of the best seasons in franchise history, where it won 64 games with a plus-9.2 NET. They deserve all the credit in the world.
Though this was also a fitting end for the Miami Heat, who have plenty of questions to answer next season after the current and future state of this current roster. It was a dreadful season from the start, only to be mired by drama, inconsistency and a lack of all-around fortitude.
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The Butler did it!
Grateful for an injury free ending season.
We have come to the end of the bridge to nowhere.
Some notable quotes from the HHH community.
Disclaimer: The selection of quotes is not based on the number of likes on a given quote The quotes are not in any order of importance, except for the last quote which is my favorite by my good friend Heat for life., because it shows empathy for the fan base. No edits were made to correct either the grammatical structure or reconstruct the true intent of the person to whom the quote is attributed to. Some quotes may contain more than two sentences, this is intentionally done to give the context in which the quote was made.
“We want to compete and were not going out 4-0” –Tyler Herro.
“That game was disgusting! If it doesn’t send Riley a loud and clear message that “running it back” again and again is a sure sign of insanity, I don’t know what will. In a way, I’m glad he pissed Butler off and prompted him to leave.If he hadn’t, the Heat would still have lost the series to Cleveland (maybe in 5 games instead of 4). However, I don’t hink it would be as clear as it is now that the team needs to be overhauled and fully rebuilt. Regarding Riley, I think “The Godfather” needs to retire this summer. Thanks for the memories Pat. -SumManFromDogbone (Season ending game for the Heat.)
“Teams have their cycles. Right now. Miami is in the spin cycle” –SunManDogBone.
“Please just mercy kill this season next game. We really didn’t belong in the playoffs as many have stated.’” – Reality Czech, after the Cavs went up 3-0.
“Hate to say it—but we don’t have any business whatsoever being in the playoffs.” -Manila Heat.
” I was at the game and they had a shameful, pathetic, lethargic performance”- Big-guy30s
“This was shy I didn’t want us to make the playoffs. Could have had two draft picks, instead we might get swept”-Big-guy30s (End of game 3)
“I couldn’t find anything positive in this game. What went wrong” –Vagibugi (after the Heat lost by a margin of 21 to the Cavs in game 3.)-
“My tv must need an adjustment. I’m also seeing our athletic brothers getting touched just as much as those other guys. Gott call the repair guy” – Reality Czeck.( after Game 3 loss to the Cavs.
“What are you smoking”- Iknowtoomuch ( this is not a direct response to the preceeding quote).
“One glorious day day we shall once again rule the NBA” –Insuranceman.
“No heat games. What’s a Miami Sports fan got to do?” – Heat for life.
The answer on last one should be: Something meaningful.
Go to NBA Trade Machine and research about 500 possible trade scenarios until the draft or until you drive yourself batshit crazy.
That game was disgusting! If it doesn’t send Riley a loud and clear message that “running it back” again and again is a sure sign of insanity, I don’t know what will. In a way, I’m glad he pissed Butler off and prompted him to leave. If he hadn’t, the Heat would still have lost the series to Cleveland (maybe in 5 games instead of 4). However, I don’t think it would be as clear as it is now that the team needs to be overhauled and fully rebuilt. Regarding Riley, I think “The Godfather” needs to retire this summer. Thanks for the memories Pat.
I don’t know what has caused the changes in Spo’s effectiveness, but he’s not the same coach as he was in the past. It seems as though his mojo got up and left. Part of it has to do with the caliber of the team Riley assembled, part has to do with the “Butler situation” and it’s effect on team chemistry and I believe part may have to do with his personal life. Whatever the causes, it has resulted in inconsistent coaching decisions and questionable personnel deployment. It is very clear he has not been at his best for over a year. He needs to get his act together. If not, maybe Arison will bump him up once Riley retires (or is forced to retire).
Following is my assessment of the current roster.
VETERANS
ROOKIES AND PLAYERS ON ROOKIE CONTRACTS
Some of this stuff – I don’t know.
Who thought Wiggins was going to be a good player for Miami? He was one of the worst players for the GSW this year. The Warriors we’re -55 with Wiggins on the court, and he continued that trend in Miami.
Kyle Anderson and Dennis Schroder were also terrible for the Warriors, who they gave away. Jimmy needed to go, but Pat botched this left and right and ended up with a terrible haul.
Robinson is untradable, as he has been the past two years, but Miami can get out of his deal and save $10M. They’d eat some cost, but I don’t see the downside. He shouldn’t be getting minutes for Miami next year, as they should be rebuilding.
You’ve criticized HH’s offensive ability, and I’m not saying he’s a player Miami needs to play more, he’s also part of the problem, but he’s become a competent three point shooter. He’s hit 38 and 39% of his threes the last two seasons. Not a volume guy, and streaky as hell. Also had no handle. But he’s effectively shooting the same rate on three’s as Duncan, just not with the volume, but he can play some defense.
Rozier was a volume scorer on a bad team. He wasn’t a good player. His defense was never good, and his offensive game is predicated on taking a lot of shots. You can’t have him and Tyler on the court at the same time. This is another untradable contract, that we’re just waiting to expire, but unlike Duncan, there is no savings for waiving him.
We’re stuck with Kyle’s contract for another year at least.
And how have we seen enough of Keshad to say he has the potential to be anything? He played a total of 98 minutes. Over hyping our guys, is part of the reason fans thought this team was going to make noise in the playoffs.
Look Keshad has some interesting traits, but we certainly haven’t seen anywhere near enough of him, to assume he could be a starter, let alone a good rotation player.
Better get Playoff Jimmy back.
Heat look like beach bums.
Well, we do have a relative of one of The Beach Boys. And, btw, quitter isn’t coming back. He doesn’t want to be here and most of us don’t want him back.
Miami is like the old girlfriend who gets used and abused then thrown in the trash out like an old funky douche rag. (Or something like that…jus sayin)
We dont want Jimmy back.
But “beach bums” expression describes the current team quite well.
This team had no business being In the playoffs smh. Back to back franchise record beatdowns is crazy work especially when this game was worst then the last. I thought after getting demolished last Game, that they would come out with some fire….boy did they prove me wrong ughh. Everyone in the heat organization taking L’s especially Riley, spo, and the players. They gotta come together and figure out a new plan moving forward cuz this isn’t it. No running this Back… Riley you on clock ⏰️
more important ? did u work at the game
Yes I did and it was brutal, I almost didn’t comment, but was frustrated, so had to air out some stuff.
I almost threw up in my mouth more than once. Thought I was watching the Harlem Globetrotters vs the Washington Corporals (because the Washington Generals, Colonels, Majors, Captains and First Lieutenants weren’t available).
Players aren’t good enough.
Coaches aren’t good enough.
And the front office isn’t good enough.
It’s two seasons past when it should have been blown up. After the Nuggets dispatched the over achieving Heat. Since that point this team has continued its mediocrity with a passion.
End of the day this franchise is headed in the wrong direction and it starts with Pat (if Micky won’t fix that problem).
Trade Bam, trade Tyler. Sell off anyone who isn’t on a rookie deal and start to build the draft capital and cap space you need to right the ship.