ESPN Analyst Says Miami Heat Have Little "Regret" Over Losing Out On Damian Lillard

The fans reacted angrily when the Miami Heat were unable to sign Damian Lillard last offseason.

Many criticized team president Pat Riley, saying he was past his prime as an executive. Others were upset with the team remaining with the same roster that has yet to win a championship despite two recent NBA Finals appearances.

Those same fans are likely thrilled with the Heat failing to get Lillard. The streaking team is ahead of last year's pace. Rookie Jamie Jaquez has emerged as the steal of the draft while the midseason addition of Terry Rozier from the Charlotte Hornets brings another scorer.

The Heat are so comfortable that ESPN analyst Zach Lowe recently said they are past the Lillard situation.

"They didn't get Damian Lillard," Lowe said. "And there was a lot of panic about, `Oh my God, they missed the boat on Damian Lillard. What is this team going to do?' They weren't panicking. They wanted Damian Lillard at a certain cost. Portland didn't meet their cost. They [the Heat] said, `You know what, we like this team. We like this rookie. We like our players and I don't think they feel much regret about it."'

The Heat are the second-hottest team in the league behind the Boston Celtics, who have won nine straight. The Heat go for their sixth consecutive victory Thursday against the Denver Nuggets in a rematch of last year's Finals.

A Heat win almost certainly create a frenzy, bringing them closer to the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference.

"Never doubt the Heat, never ever doubt the Heat," Lowe said. "They're always lurking and now they're doing more than lurking. They have the second-easiest schedule in the NBA left. We could wake up at the end of the season, they could be the four seed ... They're not scared of anybody."

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Shandel Richardson covers the Miami Heat for Inside The Heat, a Fan Nation channel for Sports Illustrated. He has covered the NBA since 2010.

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