1993–94 Miami Heat season

Off-season

During the off-season, the Heat signed free agent 7' 7" center Manute Bol, but released him to free agency after only just eight games.^[2][3][4]

Regular season

The Heat got off to a slow start by losing six of their first nine games of the regular season, but then won 13 of their next 20 games, leading to a 16–13 start to the season. However, the team struggled posting a seven-game losing streak in January afterwards,^[5][6] and later on held a 23–24 record at the All-Star break.^[7] The Heat posted a seven-game winning streak between February and March, but then lost 13 of their final 18 games of the season, finishing in fourth place in the Atlantic Division with a 42–40 record, which was their first ever winning record above .500 in winning percentage; the team earned the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, and qualified for their second NBA playoff appearance.^[8]

Glen Rice averaged 21.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game, and also led the Heat with 132 three-point field goals, while Steve Smith averaged 17.3 points and 5.1 assists per game, and Rony Seikaly provided the team with 15.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. In addition, Grant Long averaged 11.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, while second-year guard Harold Miner contributed 10.5 points per game, but only played 63 games due to a knee injury,^[9][10][11] and Brian Shaw contributed 9.0 points and 5.0 assists per game. Meanwhile, John Salley averaged 7.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, while off the bench, Bimbo Coles contributed 7.7 points and 3.5 assists per game, and second-year center Matt Geiger provided with 7.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.^[12]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Miner was selected to participate in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, in which he won the previous year; however, he did not participate this year due to injury, and was replaced with Allan Houston of the Detroit Pistons.^[10][13] The Heat finished 16th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 617,242 at the Miami Arena during the regular season.^[12][14]

NBA playoffs

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1994 NBA playoffs, the Heat faced off against the top–seeded, and Central Division champion Atlanta Hawks, who were led by Kevin Willis, All-Star forward Danny Manning, and All-Star guard Mookie Blaylock. On April 28, 1994, the Heat won their first ever NBA playoff game in franchise history, defeating the Hawks in Game 1 on the road, 93–88 at the Omni Coliseum.^[15][16][17] With the series tied at 1–1, the Heat won Game 3 over the Hawks at home, 90–86 at the Miami Arena to take a 2–1 series lead.^[18][19][20] However, the Heat lost the next two games to the Hawks, losing Game 4 at home, 103–89, and then losing Game 5 at the Omni Coliseum, 102–91, thus losing in a hard-fought five-game series.^[21][22][23]

Notable incidents

One notable incident of the NBA playoffs occurred during Game 2 of the Eastern Conference First Round, against the Hawks at the Omni Coliseum. A brawl occurred in which Long choked Hawks forward Duane Ferrell after fouling him; Long was suspended for one game while Heat forward Keith Askins, and Hawks reserve and rookie small forward Doug Edwards, were also both suspended for their altercation off the bench; Askins was suspended for three games, and Edwards was suspended for two games. The Heat lost to the Hawks by a score of 104–86.^[24][25][26]

Aftermath

Following the season, Seikaly was traded to the Golden State Warriors after six seasons with the Heat,^[27][28][29] while Shaw signed as a free agent with the Orlando Magic,^[30][31][32] and Willie Burton signed with the Philadelphia 76ers during the next season.^[33][34]

Season standings

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Regular season

Ragular season

Playoffs