Giannis Antetokounmpo said the Miami Heat do not trust one another after a Monday loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Miami surrendered 138 points in the defeat, falling to 2-5. The Heat have since improved to 4-6, but their early struggles have exposed serious problems on defense. The five-time All-Star made the comment during a rough start where Miami has been outscored by 53 points through 10 games. It is a stark admission from a player who joined the team in July after a blockbuster trade with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Heat defense has been terrible despite having elite defenders on the roster. With six All-Defensive team selections to his credit, Center Bam Adebayo joins Antetokounmpo, a former Defensive Player of the Year. Yet the unit ranks 25th in the league. Klay Thompson, who played 13 minutes in the loss, told ESPN that the team needs to stay present. “It’s important for all of us to stay present and not look too far ahead in the season,” Thompson told ESPN. He added that the group must think week to week rather than focus on the postseason.
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Heat coach Erik Spoelstra dismissed the idea that the team just needs more time to gel. “It can’t just be on paper, and it can’t just be reputation,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. He insisted that the culture must be backed by real actions. Spoelstra scoffed at the suggestion that the team simply needed time to fix these issues when asked. “I don’t know, but we don’t want to use that as an excuse,” he said. “The league’s not waiting.”
Klay Thompson gave up millions in contract value to join Miami this summer. He left the Dallas Mavericks to play alongside Antetokounmpo, whom he believes can still lead a great team. Thompson said he loves the organization’s intensity and called the move a full-circle moment, since his dad played for Pat Riley. “That Heat culture is real,” Thompson said. However, the 4-6 record indicates the team must improve significantly before achieving greatness or securing a playoff spot.
