ESPN's Stephen A. Smith Says Miami Heat Lack Leadership From Top Players

Last year the Miami Heat were the darlings of the Eastern Conference and never heard much criticism.

It's been totally different this season.

After Tuesday's loss to the Atlanta Hawks, it was ESPN's Stephen A. Smith's turn to unload on the Heat. Smith took aim at the Heat's top players Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo for their lack of leadership in the locker room.

He blamed the three for the struggles more than coach Erik Spoelstra.

"He's a great coach that's incredibly committed," Smith said on "First Take." "You have never ever looked nor talked to Erik Spoelstra and got the indication he was drifting that he had other interests, that he just wasn't there any more, that it's time to move. No, he's all in. The problem is the players."

Smith said the Heat's problems are evident because Herro, Adebayo and Butler all had great regular seasons yet still finished No. 7 in the standings. This was just a year after making Game 7 of the conference finals.

"You don't see any leadership from the players on the Miami Heat, from the key players," Smith said. "You see a bunch of guys wearing the same uniform and they go out there and it's, `let me make sure I do my job so I can't be blamed and I can get my paycheck and I can live my life."'

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Shandel Richardson covers the Miami Heat for Inside The Heat.

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