Winderman’s view: Heat letting go of the rope or at end of their rope?

TORONTO – Observations and other notes of interest from Thursday night’s 128-114 loss to the Toronto Raptors: – For the Heat to do anything in the play-in, it will require being in lockstep with their coach. – Less than one week out from that win-or-go-home play-in game, the Heat in the early stages on Thursday night hardly looked anything close in Toronto. – No, not necessarily a team letting go of the rope.

– But one seemingly at the end of its rope, as it stands overmatched, having to fight just to make it competitive in the second half. – Twice during his media sessions ahead of the game, Erik Spoelstra spoke of pride, as in the pride needed to overcome the humiliation of Tuesday night’s loss to the Raptors . – “We were embarrassed the other night,” Spoelstra said 90 minutes before tip-off.

– Fire lit? – Not quite. – Instead, down 69-50 at halftime.

– Then 26 early in the third quarter. – Spoelstra went in stressing the meaning of the moment, with his team entering 0-3 against the Raptors. – “We still have to forge ahead and focus on this challenge,” he said.