Miami Heat start off slow in 2006

The Miami Heat completed the previous season with .634% (52 wins versus only 30 losses), which is rather a high index. After having defeated the Detroit Pistons, the Heat advanced to their first NBA Finals, where they had to meet with the Dallas Mavericks. Miami was outplayed by Dallas. However, later in Game 6, Miami still managed to take the NBA title in Dallas, winning the series 4 games to 2, becoming only the third NBA team in history, which won the finals after being down 0–2. The victory in the championship marked the 7th win for the team’s head coach Pat Riley and the 4th title to Shaquille O'Neal.

However, the team got off to a poor start at the beginning of the 2007 season, having lost to the Chicago Bulls by 42 points (66-108). This is the worst margin of defeat for a defending champion in the history of NBA. This can be partly explained by the fact that the team is currently without their best player Shaquille O'Neal, as he is sitting out with an injury. The key players of the Miami Heat's championship run last season, Antoine Walker and Gary Payton, are on the bench more often now at the expense of the new astonishing young duo of Jason Kapono and Dorrell Wright.

On January 3, 2007, the Miami Heat lost to the Los Angeles Clippers (110-95). Elton Brand added 28 points and Chris Kaman scored 20 as the Clippers rolled past the Miami Heat. In fact, it was their fourth straight loss in the season. Before the match, the team’s head coach Pat Riley announced that he would take an indefinite leave of absence because of some health problems.

On January 5, Miami played with the Phoenix Suns, and on Sunday they will meet with the Portland Trail Blazers. The tickets to the Miami Heat starting with the January 18 game with the Indiana Pacers are still available. Do not miss your chance to see the star figures at play and buy your best tickets from Vivid Seats now.