Humiliating loss should lead Heat to question everything

While the Cavaliers (64-18) certainly deserve appreciation for handling their business and looking like the best in the conference, no team has any business being manhandled the way the Heat (37-45) were over the final two games.

Per Keerthika Uthayakumar, Miami became the first team to lose consecutive playoff games by 30 points after losing Game 3 by 37, 124-87. To make matters worse, both games were at home.

Monday's 55-point loss was the worst for a team in an Eastern Conference playoff game and only trailed New Orleans' 58-point loss to the Nuggets in 2009 for the largest in the last 50 years.

The way the Heat's season ended, team president Pat Riley could have tough decisions to make this offseason. Anything should be on the table.

Head coach Erik Spoelstra has been in his role for 17 seasons, dating back to 2008-09. After suffering back-to-back humiliating losses, it's fair to wonder if there's a disconnect between the players and staff.

If Miami doesn't have a viable path back to contention, center Bam Adebayo could net the team a substantial return in a trade. Guard Tyler Herro had a career-best season in 2024-25 and might be more attractive on the market than when the Heat tried to make him the crown jewel in trade proposals with the Trail Blazers for Damian Lillard in 2023.

While it's too soon to say how much change will occur in South Beach, it's coming. Teams don't lose by 50 in their final game and have things stay the same. 

The Heat's Monday loss was arguably the most mortifying in franchise history. Depending on the offseason, it could also be the most consequential.