Trap games are nothing new in the NBA. They happen every time a team has a lackluster matchup perched in the middle of an important showdown that they have their eyes on. However, the race for playoff positioning at the end of the season should not be one of those moments that allows for a lull like the Miami Heat had on Wednesday night.
Call it the letdown of Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade‘s 20th matchup being reduced to a two-point, nine-minute outing from the Mamba or the spotlight being too much for the young trio of Josh Richardson, Justise Winslow and Hassan Whiteside that has been carrying the bench M.O.B. since the All-Star break. Regardless of the cause, it was a disastrous case of playing down to the competition and a wasted opportunity to get back to the coveted third place spot in the Eastern Conference after Atlanta’s loss, instead of being one bad game away from sixth place.
Now, more than ever, every game counts — especially with it looking less likely that Chris Bosh will be returning to the team this season after another bout with blood clots. This means that starting a playoff series on the road with three — potentially four — key players with no playoff experience will be even tougher. So at this point there should be no trap games. However, Friday night could set up to play out like a bad April Fools’ joke.
With DeMarcus Cousins‘ 27 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks off of the court for tonight’s game, it could be another instance where the Heat let up. But for the team’s sake, they have to stay focused enough to ignore the Sacramento Kings’ big man being suspended for picking up his 16th technical foul. If not, things could turn bad for Miami.
