The Miami Heat dominated the first half of Friday night’s Play-in Tournament Game against the Chicago Bulls, leading 34-17 after a quarter and 47-37 at halftime. And while the Heat performance was a focal point of ESPN’s halftime show, the NBA Countdown hosts made another observation.
Miami’s Kaseya Center had plenty of seats — and good seats, at that — unfilled. Kendrick Perkins called that out.
“I’m just a little disappointed in the fanbase of the Miami Heat,” Perkins said. “There’s too many open seats.”
One of his co-hosts, Michael Wilbon, also called the Miami fans out, though his thoughts were more centered on the fans as a whole compared to his this game.
“That’s not a great fanbase at all,” Wilbon said, “It hasn’t been. They’re frontrunners. They’re frontrunners.”
The good news for the Heat is that the light crowd didn’t seem to be an issue. Miami handily defeated Chicago, winning 112-91. That sets up a matchup with the Boston Celtics in what will be a rematch of the last two Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics won a seven-game series in 2022 while the Heat returned the favor in 2023. Each team won Game 7 on the other’s home floor.
Fans in the Kaseya Center on Friday were anticipating that matchup.
The Heat will get at least two more home games this year. We can only assume that similar commentary will be there again if the house isn’t full.
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