Miami Heat Struggling to Match Early Season Hype

Team falls back to expected record after hot start, but defense remains strong

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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The Miami Heat started the 2025-26 NBA season on fire, shocking the league with a strong start and leading to predictions of a fantastic regular season. However, the team's offense has since cooled off, and they have fallen back to a record just above .500, currently sitting 8th in the Eastern Conference. While their defense has remained a top-5 unit in the NBA, the Heat's overall performance has lowered expectations, with projections now having them finishing the season at 44-38, a far cry from the 49-33 record predicted earlier in the year.

Why it matters

The Heat's early season success had raised hopes that they could challenge the top teams in the East, but their recent struggles have tempered those expectations. The team's ability to rebound and reach their full potential will be crucial as they try to avoid the play-in tournament and secure a higher playoff seed.

The details

After a blistering start to the season, the Heat's offense has regressed to below the league average. However, the team's defense has remained a strength, ranking in the top 5 in the NBA. Star center Bam Adebayo has stepped up his individual production, but the rest of the roster has fallen back closer to preseason expectations.

  • The Heat started the 2025-26 season on fire, shocking the NBA world.
  • Since their hot start, the Heat's offense has cooled off significantly.
  • The Heat currently sit at 29-27, good for 8th in the Eastern Conference.

The players

Bam Adebayo

The Heat's star center has stepped up his offensive production as the team has struggled.

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What they’re saying

“The Heat are still hanging around .500, but they're not doing it with offense. After that eye-opening start, they're scoring at a clip below the league average. Fortunately, the trend of Miami posting a defensive rating inside the top 10 continues. The Heat are actually narrowly within the top five on that end and should be expected to stick there.”

— Grant Hughes, Bleacher Report Writer (Bleacher Report)

What’s next

The Heat will hope to get the best out of their entire roster as the playoffs approach, with Bam Adebayo's continued strong play being crucial to their success.

The takeaway

The Heat's early season surge raised expectations, but their recent struggles have lowered projections for the team. However, their strong defensive play and the potential for a resurgent offense could still see them exceed preseason predictions and secure a higher playoff seed.