The Miami Heat’s four-game road trip got off to a horrible start with a 122-117 loss to a Charlotte Hornets team that is 21 games below .500. Although Miami has some bad performances this season — home losses to the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs come to mind — this one ranks up there.
Tomorrow night, the Heat face the team right above them in the standings — the Cleveland Cavaliers. Yes, holding the sixth seed guarantees Miami a playoff spot. But that’s not a position for a team with championship aspirations to shoot for.