That Miami Heat winning streak

[Small Town Guy]

In honor of 21, the Heat's 24-game winning streak really needs its own thread instead of being on the running one.

I didn't see the game tonight but was checking my phone. Was playing old man hoops and I announced Heat were down 22 at one point in the third. No one in the gym thought Cleveland would win, which has a lot to do with their ineptitude (injuries of course killing them) but also a lot to do with how people view the Heat at this point.

As a Lakers groupie I don't want them beating it but this is incredibly fun to watch. Who would remember Gail Goodrich if it falls? I see them getting to 29 -- Pistons, Bobcats, Magic, Bulls, Hornets -- and then they travel to San Antonio. Pop probably sits Duncan, Manu and Parker. (Could also see the Bulls maybe pulling it off, it's in Chicago).

Never thought anyone would approach 33 and it says something that as crazy as Miami's streak is...they still need nine -- a great streak itself -- just to tie it. So...do they get it?

 

[dreunc1542]

They've gone on impressive runs in a few games during this streak, and it seems to be happening more in the latter half of the streak, to win games late. I think they'll go to the well for a run and just not have it in them one of these times. I feel they're more likely to get tripped up by someone that we wouldn't expect to beat them. When they're "up" for a whole game, like I would assume they will be against San Antonio, they're nearly unbeatable. Hell, as they've shown, they're nearly unbeatable now even when they don't play that well most of the game. The only team to take close to their best shot during the streak, and almost beat them, was Memphis.

And just looking at their schedule during the streak, they apparently don't like playing on Wednesdays. They almost lost to Philly and Orlando the past two Wednesdays and then Cleveland tonight. So maybe Chicago next week is the pick.

 

[champ_kind]

i realize they were playing an already bad team without its three top scorers, but it took NINE minutes to erase a 27-point deficit.

 

[Double J]

How did they fall behind 27 in the first place, though? Or did they spot the Cadavers a 25-point lead plus possession?

 

[21]

In honor of 21, the Heat's 24-game winning streak really needs its own thread instead of being on the running one.

I am so honored.

Really amazed by the lack of interest in the NBA on this board. Why is that?

 

[RickStain]

In honor of 21, the Heat's 24-game winning streak really needs its own thread instead of being on the running one.

I am so honored.

Really amazed by the lack of interest in the NBA on this board. Why is that?

Because it's not the WNBA.

 

[Dick Whitman]

(Could also see the Bulls maybe pulling it off, it's in Chicago).

Not even if they were permitted to use six players on the court at a time.

 

[Songbird]

This has become exciting. Never really thought a team would approach the 33-game streak.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

I think last night suggests that after beating Boston, the Heat really began to think about the record. That of course makes it harder to break. The '71-'72 Lakers broke the old record (which was 19) so relatively early in their streak it was almost like starting over.
It'll be tough, great as they're playing. A 10-game streak is a big deal in the NBA, and that's what Miami has left to do.

 

[Cosmo]

How did they fall behind 27 in the first place, though? Or did they spot the Cadavers a 25-point lead plus possession?

Probably a little drained after the Boston game. They had a day in between, yes, but that's one of the few regular-season games the Heat really get up for (@Boston). Tough to channel that same sort of energy for Cleveland.

The Basketball Jones podcast is so damn entertaining that it's gotten me back into the NBA this year, even if my team (PHX) sucks donkey balls.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I must admit I've become interested in the streak over the last week or so.

It's nice to see them come back from a deficit like that, because most teams would have pulled its starters and figured that they could focus on the playoffs and not the streak. I was quite pleased that wasn't the case.

As far as the lack of interest in the NBA, when the biggest story this season, and really since November has been the Lakers, it's easy to understand why people can't get worked up over a team that isn't likely to be anything better than a No. 7 or No. 8 seed.

I don't think people hate LeBron as much as they did a year ago, but I don't get the sense that a ton of people outside of Florida are rooting for him either. When it starts to seem like it's a foregone conclusion that the Heat will repeat, people will lose interest. The streak can change that a bit.

I think it will be funny if the Heat break the win streak record and then lose in the playoffs in part because they got tired trying to make sure the streak continued.

 

[Dick Whitman]

I think that the general viewing public will start to take serious notice if and when it gets into the high 20s and, in particular, past 30.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I think that the general viewing public will start to take serious notice if and when it gets into the high 20s and, in particular, past 30.

I like that they care about the streak. Because if that streak wasn't going, I'm guessing there is no way we see a comeback like we did last night...

 

[Dick Whitman]

The last time a sports streak reached this long, they made a movie about it.

 

[Cosmo]

No one can argue this streak isn't good for the NBA ... the TBJ guys made the point the other day that everyone but the most die hards of die hards lose interest in the mid-March lull with the NCAA tournament starting and the playoffs still a month away. Heat have people talking, so that's a good thing.

 

[Small Town Guy]

Here's the end of the Lakers' streak against the Bucks.



We know the other lengthy streaks -- that Houston one is still crazy and incredibly impressive -- but there are some other teams that put together two long streaks interrupted by one loss.

The 2000 Lakers had a seven-game streak, lost, then won 16 in a row. Later that year, they won 19 in a row, lost and then won 11 in a row.

And the '96 Bulls won 13 in a row, lost, and then won the next 18. I think dreu's right that the loss will come when they fall behind by double-digits, make a bit of a run but finally run out of gas.

 

[dreunc1542]

Also, along with the Heat, the Nuggets have a pretty impressive streak going at 13 in a row. My hope is they get the 3rd seed, beat Golden State or Houston in an entertaining first round series, and play OKC in the second round. The OKC-Denver games have been great fun the past couple years. The East playoffs are basically a done deal, but the West playoffs should be really good throughout.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Heat plays in San Antonio on March 31 to end a four-game, seven-night trip. You figure Spoelstra has already scheduled LeBron, Wade and Bosh to head home and skip that game to rest up.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Heat plays in San Antonio on March 31 to end a four-game, seven-night trip. You figure Spoelstra has already scheduled LeBron, Wade and Bosh to head home and skip that game to rest up.

I could see the streak ending in Chicago. I hope it doesn't because that would be a great matchup in San Antonio.

 

[terrier]

Miami will have to get a little more bench production to beat the Laker record. The Heat got nothing from its bench Monday (the Celts built a 17-point lead in the second quarter, the starters caught up and the bench put Miami 13 down with nine minutes left). Twice in three nights, it's been pedal to the metal on the road. It may catch up at an inopportune time.