Time to Panic in South Beach?

Miami lost their fifth in-a-row Tuesday
night. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

The Miami Heat lost their fifth straight game Tuesday and their sixth in eight games since the All-Star break.

Miami has had trouble closing games out all season against quality opponents, continuing the trend against the Portland Trailblazers.

When LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh all teamed up to make a so called 'Super Team' in Miami they knew what they were getting themselves into. South Beach has reason to be concerned with their inability to beat teams above .500. After tonight's loss at home against Portland, the Heat have dropped to 15-19 against teams with a winning record.

It has been well documented that Miami looks confused down the stretch in a tight ball game and unsure who will take the final shot. With three superstars on one team that each is used to having the ball in their hands in crunch time, it has become a problem along with their inability to knock the shot down. In the final 10 seconds of regulation, James, Wade and Bosh are a combined 1-for-16 from the field.

Now, with the addition of veteran Mike Bibby, it forces the Heat to incorporate a new point guard, a position that has been an issue all season long. Although, Bibby is shooting a career-high in three-point percentage which should help Miami spread the floor.

The Heat have seen themselves drop to the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference and now four and a half games behind the conference leading Boston Celtics. There is no question with the talent Miami possesses that they will be a threat to be reckoned with in the postseason, they just might not be a legitimate NBA Finals contender this season. Miami has lost nine out of 10 against the top five teams in the NBA, that lone win coming against their opponent this Thursday night.

With the Heat taking on the Los Angeles Lakers in South Beach and Los Angeles on a current eight-game winning streak and Miami on their five-game skid, something has to give.