Miami (30-28) dropped seven of its last eight games entering the All-Star break, and has fallen from fourth place in the Eastern Conference to eighth.  The Heat have 24 regular-season games remaining, with 15 coming at home and nine coming on the road. 

The Heat return to practice Wednesday before resuming their schedule Friday against the Pelicans in New Orleans.  But with the week-long break upon us, we reflected on the Heat’s season up to this point and bring you our awards through the first 58 games. 

Most Valuable Player

Anthony: Erik Spoelstra — I’m going off the board.  You need a star to win in the NBA, and the Heat’s roster doesn’t have one.  It just has a lot of good players who play well together in part because the Heat have a star on their bench … who wears a suit.  Spoelstra finished as the runner-up to Houston’s Mike D’Antoni in the NBA’s Coach of the Year voting last season.  If Miami wins more games than it loses the rest of the way, expect Spoelstra to be one of the top candidates this year, too.  Earlier this season, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said: “Spoelstra should be on the All-Star team.”  Carlisle is right.  Spoelstra has been the Heat’s All-Star this season. 

Tom: Goran Dragic — If you are going with a player – unlike my cohort who is stretching the rules a bit – this is easy.  How can the only All-Star on the roster not be the MVP?  Granted, Dragic’s numbers are down this season but so aren’t most players in an offense that has been inconsistent and has had some inexplicable droughts.  But Dwyane Wade got it right when he told me that Dragic “is the engine that makes this whole thing go.” 

Most Improved Player

Anthony: Josh Richardson — This one seems obvious.  One could make the argument Richardson has been the Heat’s best two-way player this season.  Since Dec. 1, the 24-year-old is averaging 15.8 points on 49.0 percent shooting from the field and 46.2 percent shooting from 3-point range, 3.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks in 37 games.  Richardson is also limiting players he’s defending to 39.5 percent shooting this season (5.4 percent under their normal shooting percentage).  He’s averaging career highs in points (13.2), rebounds (3.3), assists (2.9), steals (1.3) and blocks (0.9). 

Tom: Wayne Ellington — Josh Richardson is the first player who comes to mind – and a solid pick – but I expected Richardson to continue on the path he was on after seeing him his rookie season and knowing last season was interrupted by injuries.  But I did not expect Ellington to become the weapon he has become.  Ellington could fit a couple of categories here but I’ll go with most improved.  He is averaging a career-high 11.2 points, which is not a drastic uptick from his 10.5 points per game last season, but his 3-point percentage has improved to .387.  And it’s not just the threes, but when they come.  Many of his 168 threes (which is fifth most in the league) have been impactful, defining shots.  And Ellington has gone to the basket more as teams load up to stop the three. 

Biggest disappointment

Anthony: Offense — The Heat’s offense has taken a huge step back this season.  Miami is ranked 25th out of 30 teams in offensive rating, scoring 103.1 points per 100 possessions.  Only five losing teams (Kings, Suns, Bulls, Grizzlies and Lakers) have been worse than the Heat in this department.  During Miami’s incredible 30-11 run to close last season, it posted the NBA’s eighth-best offensive rating.  But the Heat have not been able to replicate that success this season.  Not even close. 

Tom: Record vs. inferior opponents — A few players – James Johnson, Hassan Whiteside, Justise Winslow – are candidates for this category.  But as a team it remains disappointing the Heat have not learned the lesson from last season when three losses to the Magic and being embarrassed at home late in the season by New York played a big role in keeping them out of the playoffs.  So far this year, Miami has lost six games to the five worst teams in the East and blew a late lead at home to Sacramento, which entered the game with the worst record in the league. 

Biggest surprise

Anthony: Bam Adebayo — This is the correct answer to this question.  Every other answer is wrong.  Before the season, some thought Adebayo would need to be sent to the G League in order to get consistent playing time.  Fast-forward a few months later, the 20-year-old rookie has played his way to a consistent role in the Heat’s rotation.  Adebayo has flashed offensive potential and has already proven he’s a versatile enough defender to switch onto perimeter stars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry.  Over Adebayo’s past 15 games, he’s averaging 8.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists. 

Tom: Bam Adebayo — This is an easy choice.  The Heat are beyond pleased with Adebayo’s progress on both ends of the court and off the court.  Spoelstra called him a sponge and Dwyane Wade is impressed with his knowledge of the game.  Adebayo’s numbers don’t tell the story.  He continues to take steps in the right direction, whether it’s putting himself in position to catch the lob pass or his ability to guard smaller, quicker players on the perimeter. 

Defining Moment

Anthony: Dwyane Wade’s return —No matter what the Heat do the rest of the season, this year will be remembered for Wade’s return.  Well, maybe a championship would trump that.  But you get the point.  The Heat re-acquired the greatest player in franchise history on Feb. 8 by sending a protected 2024 second-round pick to the Cavaliers.  Miami has posted a 1-2 record since bringing back Wade, but there’s hope that he can help the Heat as a spark off the bench who’s known for his late-game heroics. 

Tom: Seven-game win streak — As it turned out, this stretch may have saved the season.  Miami took advantage of a favorable portion of the schedule by not only winning seven in a row, but 15-of-20 and had the league looking at it as a legitimate playoff contender.  That stretch allowed the Heat to build up enough equity to withstand their recent bump in the road, losing 7-of-8 before the break, and remain a part of the playoff picture.​