The game seemed to be in the Heat's control early with a 15-point lead with about 4:30 left to play in the first half. But the lead was soon squandered, with the Knicks rallying on a 16-0 run to go up 52-51 to end the second quarter.
After the game, Heat head coach Erick Spoelstra spoke about a team that has yet to play up to their true potential.
"We will have our breakthrough,” Spoelstra said. “As painful as it is right now, there will be a time when we break through, execute and win a game like this against a quality opponent going down the stretch. What you hope is that the pain of a game like this resonates enough to make a change.”
Spoelstra has shared this kind of sentiment throughout the season, especially after a disheartening loss such as the one Sunday.
He has stressed repeatedly throughout the season for the team to learn from their mistakes; to cutback on turnovers and to learn how to close out games.
And while this loss didn't come at the hands of one of the better teams in the league, it further fueled doubts about the Heat's championship hopes, with no signature wins coming this season outside of a road victory over the L.A. Lakers this past Christmas.
So far this season the Heat are 0-5 against the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls, the two biggest threats to the Heat in the Eastern Conference.
The next ten games will be telling for the Heat, with perhaps it's toughest stretch of the season with games against opponents all over 500, including the Orlando Magic, two against the San Antonio Spurs, Bulls, Lakers, and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Once these ten games are through, Heat fans should have a pretty good idea of how their team will fare once the playoffs begin. A couple of wins against solid teams like the Portland Trailblazers and Atlantic Hawks won't be enough.
This team needs to prove to themselves that they can beat the leagues best. Because without a hand full of wins against legitimate title contending teams, why should fans, or the players for that matter, have any confidence in terms of being a true contender?
The loss to the Knicks was horrible; maybe the worst of the year. But New York is the least of the Heat's problems. When we look back, this game will be remembered as nothing more than a tough loss in a rather meaningless game. Fans shouldn't look at the game as anything more than that.
Instead the game should serve as a reminder.
A reminder that no matter how talented three of your players are, THREE PLAYERS aren't enough.
It's going to take a team effort every night, and an understanding of how to finish your opponent.
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