Is fatigue finally catching up to the Heat?

[j804]

I don't know if you guys watched the Heat the past handful of games but they look completely out of it, old and spent. I always wondered if they'd be able to keep up their high flying running up and down pace throughout the season and playoffs that they set out to do more of this year. Is all that and big minutes they play finally catching up to them?


via sun-sentinel.com

LeBron James, following Monday's loss to the Indiana Pacers, "It's not like we're the youngest team in the league. We didn't have as much energy."

Dwyane Wade, after the Heat yielded a season-high 54 rebounds 11 days ago in Philadelphia, "We're not the most athletic team. We've got a few athletic players, but we've got a lot of other guys who aren't as athletic."

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/blogs/miami-heat/sfl-miami-heat-lebron-james-s032712,0,2135136.story

[Finkelskyhook]

In a word....No.

Even young teams his a mental wall. 

[2short]

just wait come playoffs we'll be healthy and roll through

quick drink more of this green glass of magic liquid 

[Marcus13]

Sure possible.  I don't think it will effect anything come playoff time though, they're young enough they're going to catch that second wind when the games start meaning something

[Who]

In a word....No.

Even young teams his a mental wall. 

Yeah, it seems more mental fatigue than physical fatigue.

[Donoghus]

Late March/early April doldrums.

You see it every year with a handful of team.  Teams just waiting for the playoffs to start and you end up seeing some boring/uninspired play on the court.  Most often with teams that have things secured (playoff spot or lottery pick) one way or another.

It's mostly a mental thing, IMO.

[LB3533]

Shaq and Kobe Lakers used to sleep walk through the late months of the regular season too. Sure they would win games, but they would lose quite a few they "weren't supposed to".

However, if anything, it's Lebron's recent injuries that have really been the most glaring factor for the Heat's recent uneven play.

[Fafnir]

In a word....No.

Even young teams his a mental wall. 

Yeah, it seems more mental fatigue than physical fatigue.

Plus LeBron has gotten banged up a bit with his elbow, head, etc.

Mental fatigue plus a few nagging injuries to the guy who had been playing at a career high level will do that to you.

Oh and Bosh has been rebounding like Brandon Bass and Glen Davis recently.

[pearljammer10]

They did it for 82 games last year, I dont think they are physically tired after 50 games this year... Mental fatigue and maybe some midseason slump/chemistry issues. Thats about all I see.

[CelticG1]

Why are people acting like mental fatigue isn't a bad thing? Imo its def worse than physical fatigue.

Its all about mental toughness in the playoffs

[hpantazo]

well, they aren't a young team, he's right. There was an excellent article recently about how NBA players who come out of school early don't usually player more years, their bodies just get run down at an earlier age. Basically, you have at best about 10-12 excellent years in you as an NBA player. Wade, Lebron, and Bosh are all in year 9 of their NBA careers. By these standards they are not young.

[SHAQATTACK]

Maybe...I did think LBJ looked a little out sorts past two games as I was watching. He seemed sort of distant and not focused on winning the battle of each pocession.

They may be in for a short lapse and loose a couple games they shouldn't . But they'll wake up soon don't worry.  

I dread us playing the HEAT.  The HEat can be beat with "BIGs " clogging up the paint and lane and contesting the MILLION drives and dunks that make the HEAT go.  Take away the paint from LBJ and WADE and they are very beatable. Make em win from the outside, which they can do, but not as easy or often as when they are allowed to run crazy and dunk in the paint. Lakers showed how to beat the Heat.

  

[MBunge]

The problems with the Heat are the same as they always were.  Riley did an atrocious job filling out the roster after the Not Yet Big 3.  Compare the starting 5 to the Celtics championship year.  KG then was clearly better than Bosh but you'd have to give the nod to Wade and LeBron over Ray and Pierce.  Now look at the other two.

Rondo 07-08
10.6 points, 5.1 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 49% from the field

Mario Chalmers this season
9.9 points, 3.4 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 46% from the field

Perk 07-08
6.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 61% from the field

Joel Anthony this season
3.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 53% from the field.

Chalmers is clearly a step below what Rondo was that year and Anthony is at least two steps below 07-08 Perk.  Then consider that Miami's best three bench players are two unathletic wings and a severely undersized power forward. As good as the Heat can look, this is a team with massive weaknesses.

Mike

[manl_lui]

the shortened season is hitting everybody, not just the old team...

but injury is also hitting a lot of people hard, I know Billups is out for the season, Wade and his ankle, Kobe and his wrist and ankle

some are fighting through it while some are less fortunate and are out for the season

[manl_lui]

The problems with the Heat are the same as they always were.  Riley did an atrocious job filling out the roster after the Not Yet Big 3.  Compare the starting 5 to the Celtics championship year.  KG then was clearly better than Bosh but you'd have to give the nod to Wade and LeBron over Ray and Pierce.  Now look at the other two.

Rondo 07-08
10.6 points, 5.1 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 49% from the field

Mario Chalmers this season
9.9 points, 3.4 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 46% from the field

Perk 07-08
6.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 61% from the field

Joel Anthony this season
3.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 53% from the field.

Chalmers is clearly a step below what Rondo was that year and Anthony is at least two steps below 07-08 Perk.  Then consider that Miami's best three bench players are two unathletic wings and a severely undersized power forward. As good as the Heat can look, this is a team with massive weaknesses.

Mike

and btw, TP for the good comparison, we had a great bench that year, then came Cassell and PJ Brown which helped the team even more