The Miami Heat looked like a rude team throughout their first round matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
They showed little or no sign of a fight, even in Game 4, as they faced the dangers of a sweep, but in the end the fashion that happened was shocking.
The Cleveland Cavaliers passed the Miami Heat to a 138-83 loss in Game 4, completing the sweep and advanced to the next round.
This was the Heat’s second consecutive first round exit, and Dwyane Wade believes it was because Jimmy Butler was not there.
Bam Adebayo even made some interesting comments about Pat Rile, who has to make a big move to bring his team back in the offseason.
But former NBA player Paul Pierce believes resolve may require more than a few moves.
Pierce represented the Boston Celtics during his tenure in the NBA, and went toe-toe with Riley’s heat team several times.
He knows what it’s like to play against heat culture and states what it takes to change to get better.
Pierce said:
“If you want people to come to Miami, you had to get that new update, and if you want to get it back, you’re now updating the culture.
“I was watching Bam and “I’m sure there’s going to be a change from the (gray-haired) guy,” he said. It looks like the fever culture is dead, they started pressing the reset button on it, you know what I’m saying, change the rules. ”
Fans have all said about Riley, who could potentially leave the heat after the franchise after the par season.
The 2024-25 campaign was packed with controversy, mainly surrounding Butler. He wanted a maximum expansion, but was rejected by Riley.
Butler and Riley both locked up the corner, but in the end the former moves to the Golden State Warriors, and they’re in the franchise that loves him while the heat fights.
When Butler was on the team, they were always playing in the playoffs. I was sometimes weighed, especially during my run to the 2023 NBA Finals.
After all that happens, the heat is left without a primary star, but what makes it a little better is that they have many pieces that they can use to run the trade.
What Riley is doing is up to him, but if he doesn’t move, the fans will not be happy as they leave the team to compete again next year.