Miami Heat fans have reason to worry - MiamiHerald.com

Things were going entirely too smoothly for the Miami Heat.

Based on what happened last season â€" early mutiny rumors, the Crying Game, the cough-mocking of Dirk Nowitzki, the agony of LeBron James â€" it was just a question of when drama and doubt would again descend on the team expected to be the best in the NBA.

So now Heat watchers have what they need, the same way a neurotic person needs an object of worry. They have panic at one extreme and puzzlement at the other.

But they definitely have reason to be concerned. Something isn’t quite right for the Heat at the wrong time.

This post-All-Star Game funk can no longer be dismissed as midseason blahs or the wily conservation of energy.

Remember when coach Erik Spoelstra said in February that his players would tap higher levels of potential? Then why have they hit their ceiling in April?

The Heat needs to ace a major test Thursday in Chicago. It has fallen three games behind the Bulls in the race for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference with 10 regular-season games remaining. Home-court advantage in the playoffs isn’t essential for the Heat, which won the Chicago series last year without it, but Miami’s players have got to show some mettle, some sign that they are jelling as a group.

The Heat’s 115-107 home loss to Boston on Tuesday, on the heels of blowout losses at Boston and Oklahoma City and a hideous home loss to Memphis, indicate regression, especially on defense, which should be the Heat’s forte.

The Celtics made 60.6 percent of their shots at AmericanAirlines Arena. It was a remarkably red-hot performance, but to minimize it by declaring it a fluke puts a Band-Aid on systemic problems with Miami’s team.

“Those guys were locked in,” James said. “Not only did they make open shots, but they made all the contested shots. We tip our hat off to them.”

What James didn’t explain while he was tipping his hat to the team that has exploited the Heat twice in 10 days was why there were so many open shots. Boston scored a season-high 65 points in the first half â€" on the Heat’s previously formidable floor. The Heat’s defense, cornerstone of Pat Riley’s philosophy and trigger of the Heat’s offense, was in shambles. No cohesion. Little coordination. Poor communication.

Kevin Garnett nailed 11 of 14 shots, Rajon Rondo got 18 points, and Paul Pierce, doing his usual clutch act, accelerated past Chris Bosh for a critical layup. Bosh shouldn’t have been covering Pierce in that situation. When Heat players needed to rotate and help with their usual snap, they hesitated.

“We’re being made to feel uncomfortable right now,” Spoelstra said. “That’s the residual of the last three weeks or so. We all know we have to take a big step forward as a team.”

Uncomfortable is the right word. Spoelstra is making the type of lineup adjustments with the playoffs around the corner that Doc Rivers was making two months ago. Mike Miller missed 14 games because of an ankle injury. Norris Cole has hit the rookie wall. Terrel Harris is figuring out how to fit in. James Jones needs more minutes. Mario Chalmers needs more assists. Udonis Haslem needs to make a difference more often. Newly acquired Ronny Turiaf has replaced Joel Anthony as starting center. Shane Battier is showing his age. Dwyane Wade is showing his mileage.

While other teams seem to be finding their stride, the Heat is merely finding its footing. And the Heat was supposed to have the advantage of roster stability and health compared to other teams such as the Mavericks, Lakers, Knicks, Clippers and Spurs.

The Heat played the first half of the season at a torrid pace, rolling over opponents in such a way that it looked like it would dominate the league like the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls.

But maybe, in this abbreviated season that started with abbreviated preparation, it just took awhile for the rest of the elite teams to catch up. In the past 10 games, the Heat is 5-5 compared with 9-1 for San Antonio, 8-2 for Boston and 7-3 for Oklahoma City. Chicago has been holding its own without ailing MVP Derrick Rose.

Heat players knew, after the disappointment of losing to Dallas in the 2011 NBA Finals, that pressure would only ratchet up this season. Are they feeling it?

Rondo said the aging Celtics are “peaking at the right time.” It’s still a little early, but the Heat better be watching the calendar closely.