MIAMI -- The Miami Heat's seven-game homestand comes to an end Monday against the Orlando Magic, and though Miami lost four times during the nearly two-week stretch, the team has come together in ways that could soon pay dividends.
Aside from the shocking loss to the lowly Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, their play as a whole has been improving even while Chris Bosh rehabs from a calf strain that has sidelined him for eight consecutive games.
Gone are the long stretches of ineffective offense where the ball would stick too long, and in its place a more balanced scoring has emerged, as Luol Deng and Danny Granger look more comfortable within the system.
The frontcourt rotation has also seen improvement with the resurgent play of Chris Andersen -- who scored a season-high 13 points against the Memphis Grizzlies in his sixth consecutive start Saturday night -- as well as the blue-collar workload taken on by promising big man Hassan Whiteside.
The signs of progress are evident and have head coach Erik Spoelstra feeling optimistic despite his team's 103-95 setback against the Grizzlies.
"You have to keep on plugging away; you have to keep on forging ahead," he said. "We are getting closer, sometimes you can get so deep in the forest you can't see the trees, and I think that's how we feel right now. But if you can step back objectively without emotion you can see we are making some progress.
"It's a struggle, and when you can grow the most is when you embrace the struggle, learn from it and you get over that struggle. We are not quite there yet but guys are working to do the right thing."
Granger in particular has been solid off the bench in two consecutive games and set season highs in points in each. After contributing 12 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers, he scored 18 points against the Grizzlies on 7-of-10 shooting. He displayed quickness and confidence unseen in the early part of the season as he worked to get healthy while acclimating himself to his new team.
Though his minutes fluctuated early, Granger stayed patient and was ready to contribute when the time was right.
"I'm way more mobile from training camp to now," he said. "I've been working really, really hard. I changed my diet. I've decreased a lot of the inflammation that I had in my body. It's a tribute to not playing at the beginning of the year. I really had time to just focus on strengthening my leg. My body feels great. At times tonight, I felt like four years ago. It was easy to play. Just to go and not worry about your body, it's exciting."
With Bosh on the mend and getting closer to a return, the Heat's next task will be to string together a stretch of consistent basketball to climb up in the standings. To do that, they will need to incorporate their All-Star forward into what's been working in his absence.
"I think the biggest thing when CB comes back is that everyone continues to play the way that they have been and understand that he is going to find his way back in and we will make sure he finds the ball," Dwyane Wade said. "Everyone just has to stay aggressive the way they have been. It can be a positive. We still have to keep progressing the way we have been. (Andersen) has been playing very well. Danny (Granger), it is so great to see him having the confidence to do some of the things that he normally did in Indiana and that is great. Steps are being made."
Making progress and forging team chemistry is a valuable part of the process for a team continuing to deal with injuries and a rotation that remains in flux. Bosh will make this team stronger, and the continued development of their younger players should also pay off down the line. Until then, the team must continue to be patient and stay the course.
You can follow Surya Fernandez on Twitter @SuryaHeatNBA or email him at SuryaFoxSports@gmail.com.
