By: Matt Blue
Relax, I’m only kidding. But unfortunately the national media isn’t.
What this article is really about is the unprecedented and shameful media coverage being directed at the Miami HEAT coming off a Game 1 loss to Chicago. We are talking about confirmation bias, distortion, fear based tactics and unreasonable assessments coming from bloggers, reporters and attention seeking websites.
You would expect this kind of sensationalism from tabloid publications such as the New York Post or the New York Daily News, not from well-respected news outlets with decent reputations.
Apparently, this is a best of 1 series not a best of 7 series where the first team to 4 wins will advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
On this site we like to talk about the facts and we actually like to maintain perspective. After all, this is a HEAT team that had won their last 41 of 44 games and that not too long ago went on a 27 game winning streak.
It’s also not unusual for a defending champion to lose at home in the playoffs. Five of the last ten NBA champions have rapidly started a series with a playoff loss at home. Champions always overcome obstacles and battle through adversity. It happens to the very best. Remember when the HEAT had their backs against the wall last year when they trailed Indiana 2-1, fell 3-2 Boston, and lost the first game of the 2012 NBA Finals?
You can remember when everyone was writing them off by saying that “the formula wasn’t working. The HEAT didn’t have the right chemistry to win a championship.” You can easily recall those proclamations. What is going on right now is actually pretty similar.
The noise is absolutely exacerbating. However, that’s all it is. It’s all noise, noise and even more noise.
Therefore, it’s basically the HEAT and the city of Miami vs the world’s most illogical buffoons. NBA writers are trying to create an atmosphere of misery around the team. These are individuals that thrive on attention, drama and negativity.
The proper perspective on the HEAT’s game 1 performance would be this. The HEAT played a terrible game and still almost won. They were still able to give themselves a chance to win. Even LeBron admitted that they missed a myriad of uncontested shots and they were able to get good looks. Now are you really going to bank on Miami missing open threes and wide open layups in consecutive games?
The fact is they absorbed Chicago’s best punches and kept their poise. History and logic tells us that this will be the worst basketball Miami will play in the entire playoffs. You are talking about the deepest, most talented and the most prideful team in the NBA.
Now Chicago has Miami’s full and undivided attention. So this would be a reasonable analysis if you are covering the HEAT. I think they have done enough to warrant this kind of benefit of the doubt. They are the defending champions.
On the other hand, let’s give credit where credit’s due. Chicago played smart and efficient basketball. They were energized right from the start. They were ready to run through a brick wall. The HEAT is used to getting a team’s best effort. After all, it’s not too hard to get up to play Miami.
Chicago is a team that believes they can beat anybody. Head coach Tom Thibodeau always emphasizes that they have enough to win. He has established himself as one of the league’s best coaches. So it’s obvious that the HEAT has their work cut out for them. But they have been through this before. This is nothing new to them.
While this type of hyperbolic madness and hysteria is nothing new for the HEAT’s most belligerent critics.
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