Life at the top can be tough sometimes and the Miami Heat are experiencing that the hard way. After winning back-to-back NBA championship, the team starts their quest for a three-peat with a 2-2 record. Suddenly everyone is wondering what could be wrong with the team that is predicted to once again be in the hunt for a title. Reigning MVP LeBron James blames chemistry on the shaky start.
Both James and Dwyane Wade admitted something was off with the chemistry in the team. While neither star would directly name each other, they simply said everyone was getting comfortable and losing their edge.
"Let me give you an example," Wade said, via ESPN.com. "If you're in a relationship with a woman for a long time, you start getting comfortable. You stop doing the little things that you should do, that you did in the beginning. It's just like a relationship. We got a little comfortable. Now we have to get back on that edge a little bit."
Wade and James said conditioning was still an issue and no one was truly ready to begin the year yet. That became evident quickly. After dominating the Chicago Bulls in their season opener, the team lost to the Philadelphia 79ers and then to the Brooklyn Nets. They have given up 55 total turnovers in their first three games before beating the Washington Wizards to end the small skid.
"It's just getting back into it -- not taking what we have for granted," James said. "We've been together so long, you start to think we can go out and make it happen instead of talking through it. We lacked that the last few games. We got a handle on it today, and we know what the issue is."
Wade simply said the team needs to get back to communicating and talking. They need to re-build the connection that is lost during the offseason. James insists that no one is panicking to start the year. The struggles will not linger too long for the Heat.
"We're not in panic mode right now," James said. "The best thing about our team is (when) we see something that needs to be fixed, we fix it. We get right into it. We don't let things linger too much. We both sense it. We've all been together for a while, so we know."
Erik Spoelstra told reporters that the team is meeting more to discuss the sluggish play taking place to start the year. He believes that urgency is an issue, but the team will certainly bounce back sooner rather than later.