No contrition from Nets’ for capitulation that capsized Heat

Maybe not healthy, but easy. “So you want them guys to get out there and get that experience of that first game”.

March 31, 2017: NY 98, Miami 94.

“It’s still full of emotions”, Heat guard Goran Dragic said after the game.

“Before I got in, I didn’t know guys really cared about it that much”, Richardson said in an extremely somber locker room “I didn’t know that it meant that much”. I thought his timing was better in the last game, I thought he was moving pretty well. My stupid brain now makes this even worse because I think that the Bulls could actually steal a couple from the Celtics.

But this season has always been about more than just Dragic and Whiteside, the Heat’s two highest-paid, active players (don’t forget that Chris Bosh is still on the roster). Kristaps Porzingis led a rag-tag group that had 28 wins but jumped off to an 11-point lead early.

In order for the Bulls to win the series, one of the single biggest keys will be slowing down Celtics All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas.

December 20, 2016: Orlando 136, Miami 130 (double OT).

The Miami Heat, looking to sneak into the playoffs, entered the game fully loaded.

Heat shooting guard Josh Richardson, who was in the starting lineup for the last 13 games in Dion Waiters’ absence, had 15 points on 3-of-6 shooting from behind the arc, while power forward James Johnson almost notched a triple-double with 12 points, eight boards and eight assists.

Shabazz Napier scored 25 points, Pat Connaughton collected 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists and Noah Vonleh had 12 points and a career-high 19 boards for the Trail Blazers.

December 3, 2016: Portland 99, Miami 92.

Miami won the game 109-103, the first of what would be a 13-game win streak – the longest streak ever by a sub-.500 team.

The young coach who said earlier in the season that he “misses Dwyane Wade,” said later that he was “grateful and blessed” to coach the players now on the roster.

Archie Goodwin put up 20 points and K.J. McDaniels added 15 for Brooklyn, which committed 18 turnovers and was outscored 37-17 during the final 12 minutes.

October 28, 2016: Charlotte 97, Miami 91.

Home-court for the Clippers-Jazz series was the last remaining unknown part of the playoff schedule.

MVP candidate Russell Westbrook played only 18 minutes and had five points, eight assists and five rebounds for the Thunder. The Miami Heat are allowing 34.4 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 43.6 rebounds per game.

This loss, though, came in the middle of Miami’s second half run.

Spencer Hawes and Michael Beasley each had 15 points for the Bucks, who also rested most their starters after securing the sixth seed in the East on Tuesday.

The Heat capped off a historic season turnaround, finishing 41-41 after starting the year 11-30.

Chicago would continue to stretch the lead out deep into the second quarter. Towns also made National Basketball Association history by becoming the only player to have at least 2,000 points (2,061), 1,000 rebounds (1,007) and 100 3-pointers (101) in a season.

SLIM PICKINGS: What will be a top-four pick in the draft goes to Boston as continued payment for the Kevin Garnett-Paul Pierce trade, but the Nets still have two first-round picks.