“Next year, we will have enough and we’re gonna be right back in this same situation, and we’re gonna get it done.” That’s what Miami Heat superstar Jimmy Butler said after the Heat came up short against the Boston Celtics last year in the Eastern Conference Finals. It was a tough 100-96 defeat the Heat took into the off-season, but it planted the seeds for a Miami historical playoff run en route to their second Eastern Conference title in four years. On Monday night, that quote from Butler came to fruition, as Miami topped the Celtics in game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals 103-84.

This playoff run by the Heat has been nothing short of extraordinary considering what they’ve been through. But through it all, Heat Culture is the driving force that’s providing them the pulling power to overcome odds. It’s led them to an NBA Finals showdown against the Denver Nuggets, and they’re once again embracing the underdog role. However, don’t let that, along with the Heat’s historical run, fool you. They believe in everything they stand for, in each other, and in their ability to be the first eighth seed ever to win an NBA championship. Let’s break down their blueprint that’s helped them get here, and one that can help them against the Nuggets in the Finals.

Mental Toughness

You hear this phrase in sports all the time from coaches, commentators etc, but when it comes to the Heat, it’s spot on: Mental toughness. It’s a crucial ingredient Miami has and it’s helped them avoid facing a series deficit thus far. From being down against the Chicago Bulls 90-87 with 3:45 to go in the final play-in game and winning it, from being up 3-0 on the Celtics and stared at the possibility of losing four straight, which no NBA team has done in the playoffs, they never blinked.

Another example is being the first team ever out of the play-in tournament to make it to the NBA Finals. The Heat, during their historic run, are 6-4 on the road, which isn’t easy to accomplish. Despite starting each playoff series on the road, their Heat Culture identity traveled with them, winning game one of each series.

The Heat’s mental toughness is razor blade sharp, because the way they lost game six against Boston, it would’ve defeated most teams. But not Miami because they didn’t complain when things weren’t going their way. The Heat stared at each obstacle during this historical run and showed the mental fortitude to keep pushing. It’s helped them overcome Injuries, shooting slumps, and shaky games from time to time by Butler and Bam Adebayo. The toughness mentally will bode well for Heat in the Finals, as they’re a battle tested group that’s ready for anything the Nuggets present them with.

Next Man Up

Injuries, no doubt, have hit the Heat very hard, but it hasn’t slowed them down. They’ve been without Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo since the first round showdown against the Milwaukee Bucks. But it’s forced them to adopt the next man up mantra that’s paid dividends during their playoff run. Just about every night, a different player steps up for the Heat in some capacity, which has some wondering this- How is it possible Miami believes in their personnel and in what they’re doing, along with their ability to scout and evaluate talent that’s being slept on. It’s three players in particular, outside of Butler and Adebayo, who have stepped up since Herro and Oladipo been sidelined.

Caleb Martin

It was August 7^th, 2021 when the Charlotte Hornets cut Caleb Martin from their roster. A month later, the Heat signed Martin to a two-way deal and the rest is history. He’s been the one of Miami’s most reliable contributors in the playoffs this year, but Martin’s coming out party happened in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Celtics. After getting a DNP in game seven last year against Boston, he stayed ready for his moment this time around, averaging 19.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in seven games played. Martin shot 60% overall, 49% from three-point range, and 88% from the free throw line.

Martin’s series numbers against the Celtics now have the attention of so many people. He was arguably the best player on the floor for the Heat, and kept them afloat offensively through rough scoring droughts as well. In the final tally for the Eastern Conference Finals MVP Award, Martin received four first place votes, which was second by Butler’s five first place votes.

Gabe Vincent

The next huge contributor to the Heat’s success is Gabe Vincent, who like Martin, went undrafted. Vincent has stepped up big time during Miami’s improbable run to the Finals, averaging 13.1 points and 3.9 assists per game in 17 playoff games played. The numbers, however don’t tell the entire story for him. It’s how fearless Vincent is when he’s attacking the paint, or looking for his shot offensively. His confidence rarely dips, which bodes well for the Heat.

Vincent has taken the pressure off of Kyle Lowry, who has had some rough performances. It’s kept the Heat afloat when they’ve had games, especially in the Eastern Conference Finals, in which both Butler and Adebayo had rough offensive shooting nights. Vincent’s best playoff game in particular was in game 3 against the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, when he scored 29 points on 11-14 shooting (6-9 from 3-point range).

Duncan Robinson

The final contributor who has paid huge dividends for the Heat is guard Duncan Robinson. Robinson, like, Vincent, has stepped up when the injuries occurred and when their stars struggled. In the Eastern Conference Finals against the Celtics, he averaged 11.4 points in 18.4 minutes per game played. Robinson’s bread and butter, though, is his 3-point shot, which showed up to the party, shooting 48.4% from the field.

Robinson would have times in which he wouldn’t see the floor in playoff games because his defense not being a strong suit. But during this playoff run, he’s competed on the defensive end on the floor, hasn’t complained, stayed ready, and made an offensive adjustment. The adjustment is attacking the rim more to either facilitate to a teammate for an easy buckets, or to score. Teams want to take his perimeter shooting away in which they extend their defense 25-30 feet out, so Robinson is making defenses pay for it, which gives the Heat another dimension to their offense.

Erik Spoelstra

For the Heat, strong leadership is something they truly have, and it’s something quite a few rave about. Butler is one of the leaders and the best player on the Heat, but Head Coach Erik Spoelstra is the architect behind Miami’s run. Spoelstra instills confidence in his players, allowing them to play freely in a sense without looking over their shoulder at the bench if they mess up. He has a laid back demeanor, but don’t let it fool you. He can be fiery when his team needs it most, especially after game six when the Heat lost in heartbreaking fashion, wanting game seven to be tipped off immediately.

In today’s NBA, you don’t see many coaches going old school when it comes to defensive schemes, but Spoelstra does. He mixes in the very tough zone defense (3-2 zone), along with man to man defense, that causes teams out of sorts. It allows the Heat’s best defenders to guard the perimeter while protecting the two defenders teams want to exploit. The zone also forces teams to be perimeter oriented and takes away their aggressiveness.

With the Heat clinching another ticket to the NBA Finals, Spoelstra will be appearing in his sixth NBA Finals. His sixth finals appearance is tied for fourth most all time behind Phil Jackson (13) Red Auerbach (11), and Pat Riley (10). This finals appearance is without a doubt Spoelstra’s most impressive yet, as he’s guided a team of players so many didn’t believe in and has them four wins away from history.

Pat Riley

The final and most important leader and face of the Miami Heat is “The Godfather” himself Pat Riley. As stated above, Riley has nine NBA Finals appearances as a head coach, but nowadays, he’s creating more magic. He’s still in the front office rolling strong and still in his own way has his fingerprints on this team.

With the Heat returning to the Finals, Riley has now been linked in 25% of the NBA Finals in league history. He’s been in three finals as player, ten as a head coach, and six as an executive. Make no mistake about it, Riley has a competitive fire that’s a positive effect on Spolestra and the rest of the roster, especially the undrafted players so many doubted.

There’s no Heat culture with Riley and his willingness to stick with Spolestra when some were calling for his job during his 15 year tenure. The hard work, belief, and loyalty are without a doubt are being rewarded, and that’s something that can’t be ignored.

The Heat Look To Defy The Odds One More Time

The Heat are the second eighth seed in the NBA history to make it to NBA Finals. The New York Knicks did it first in 1999. Miami is also a team that plays at their pace and doesn’t let their opponents speed them up. They pretty much play the same way on the road as they do at home, but they’re very good in South Beach. In the playoffs, they’re 6-2 at home.

According to ESPN analytics, the Heat have 11% odds of defeating the Nuggets in the NBA Finals to capture the franchise’s fourth NBA championship. But for Miami, those odds are just fine with them, as they see it as another obstacle they look to slay. If anyone can get it done, it’s the Heat. Don’t dismiss them, along with Heat Culture because they aren’t going to go away quietly.

-Allan Wright

*Photo Courtesy of The New York Times*