A: I've touched on this several times in this space, and while results-only Heat fans may not want to accept it, there has been an appreciation from coaches, scouts and opposing players (and I've even had one agent mention it to me), about how hard the Heat continue to play in a situation where the won-loss record is so hopelessly below .500. This is not your typical tank-o-rama, where a team goes through the motion for weeks on end, players looking to escape the locker room and the stench of the losing as soon as the games and practices end. While there is no such thing as Losing Coach of the Year, that truly is where sideline leadership is ultimately tested. Erik Spoelstra has his team, for the most part, playing hard. If you tune into Heat games, you see flashes and cohesion and possibilities. And if you go to the games in person, you see a coach working to maximize each moment (the anguish and disgust on Spoelstra's face was tangible when the Warriors managed to get a scoring opportunity off a Heat free throw with 1.3 seconds left in Tuesday's first half). James Johnson did not dunk over Steph Curry in the final second of Tuesday's first quarter like a player going through the motions. I remember what it was like during the 2007-08 season, when even Pat Riley appeared to be fed up. There still is energy emanating from the Heat locker room. And while that in no way is as important as winning, it is significant nonetheless.