In a lot of ways the buzzword of "culture" within Miami's ecosystem can also work against Victor Oladipo if he fails in their system. That future max contract might prove to be elusive and slip from his grasp. Read more »

The reason Miami's almost-championship run was inspiring is because it felt like it was entirely a product of their institutional competence. They drafted well and coached guys up. They worked every advantage they had. Read more »

While the Heat hope to return to The Finals, the Wizards, Hawks, Hornets and Magic are in the crowded morass of teams from 7-12 hoping for a spot in the play-in tournament. Read more »

It's fitting that this season should end on a pro-forma note since these playoffs have at bottom been about satisfying sponsors and television partners, trying to keep rich folks off each other's necks. Read more »

The Heat make winning look like a matter of practical magic- nothing they do is that remarkable besides how they do it. They have manifested excellence by giving a damn. Read more »

LeBron is a winning enterprise unto himself and Miami has been consistently competing for titles since the 90s. These are two legibly very good teams, and now we find out which one deserves to be called great. Read more »

Ray Allen's ahead-of-its-time talent early in his career was one of the most dynamic players the league has ever seen, someone equally comfortable running off screens like Reggie Miller, pulling up like Kobe, or lunging at the rim like McGrady. Read more »

We look at the trajectory of every team in the NBA in terms of how they rank in the category. Read more »

Gone are Justise Winslow, Hassan Whiteside, Dion Waiters, and anyone else with a conspicuous gap between potential and performance. Remade in Jimmy Butler's self-maximizing fashion, rich with diamond-in-the-rough upstarts and over-achievers, this team would be a fitting sendoff crew for Pat Riley, if he were capable of quitting. Read more »

Dion Waiters has always been a scoring bench guard who thinks he's a star. Those types are pretty abundant, and most of them don't have Dion's baggage. Read more »

If you look at Pat Riley's first few years in Miami, you can resolve his contradictions pretty easily. The luxury is the ideal and the crushing work is the method. Read more »

Regardless of the mental machinations involved, South Beach Jimmy does seem a purer expression of Jimmy Butler's values. He wants to win, but he also wants status and credit and the ball. Read more »

With so much turnover this offseason, and another exciting draft class, teams had lots and lots to say. Read more »

With few free agents and only Ryan Anderson as a real roster decision, it could be a quiet start to the offseason for the Heat. Read more »

The Knicks, Clippers, Hawks, Kings and Lakers project to have the most cap space this offseason. Read more »

On the offseason moves by the Hawks, Wizards, Magic, Heat and Hornets. Read more »

Wayne Ellington is about as workaday as NBA players get, but there is, beneath his anonymity, a sort of hero's journey to track. Read more »