Ira Winderman: Heat want out of play-in, but be careful what you wish for
MIAMI — Institutional arrogance is what has made and what has driven the Miami Heat during these three-plus decades of Riley/Arison oversight. It started with championship-or-bust in the form of Pat Riley’s “winning or misery. ” It continued with an organizational refusal to turn to the tank.
It has landed the Heat at this juncture of believing there could/should have been more this season and in recent seasons. So be it. Largely, it has worked.
Which brings the Heat to this moment of reflection on a season soured by the suddenness of Tuesday night’s overtime postseason exit in Charlotte. As coach and players on Thursday at Kaseya Center put to rest the season, the response was no more play-in, have to get out of the play-in, can’t keep placing the season in such a delicate one- or two-game balance. The institutional arrogance of that they are better than this.
The reality is that there very well may stand a pathway out of the play-in. A sobering pathway. Based on this season’s regular-season finish, it is apparent that the Eastern Conference’s top four seeds aren’t going anywhere any time soon.
Detroit has proven it’s for real. Boston’s staying power is undeniable. New York is all-in for this moment.
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