Klay Thompson gets embarrassing comparison as Miami Heat struggles continue

Klay Thompson and the Miami Heat find themselves in a rough and highly disappointing position to start the new NBA season.

Amid their struggles to perform and secure wins, Thompson has become the subject of a brutal jab from a league source. According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, Thompson and teammate Tim Hardaway Jr. were described as "fire hydrants" when it comes to their defensive presence for Miami.

"Now, the fact that Klay Thompson, at this age, is starting the [shooting guard spot] is awfully problematic. Again, I had a scout recently refer to Klay and one of their key reserves, Tim Hardaway Jr., as fire hydrants on that end of the floor," MacMahon said on The Hoop Collective podcast.

"I don't know if you've seen a fire hydrant slide his feet very often."

Miami Heat struggling defensively amid hype with Giannis Antetokounmpo

The hype was off the charts for the Miami Heat when they landed Giannis Antetokounmpo in last offseason's blockbuster trade. With the Greek superstar anchoring the middle along with Bam Adebayo, the majority viewed the Heat as a terrifying defensive force against opposing teams.

However, as they played their first couple of games so far this new NBA season, the Heat have yet to meet those lofty expectations. Miami looked like a disjointed team, and their defense is beyond disappointing.

The Heat have allowed opponents to average 123.9 points per game while shooting 48.8 percent from the field, placing them among the league's worst defensive teams. They have also given up an average of 17.3 three-pointers per game, the highest mark in the NBA.

With a 2-5 record entering Wednesday's game against the LA Clippers, the Heat have been struggling to keep up against teams on both ends. As Antetokounmpo constantly steps up, Adebayo and the rest of the group are particularly inconsistent in their production.

Through his first seven games with the Heat this regular season, Klay Thompson is averaging 11.9 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 21.9 minutes per game and shooting 41.1% from three-point range. While he managed to shoot well recently after a slow start, the former NBA star has also been a key defensive liability for Miami.

Fortunately for the Heat, the season is still in its early stages with barely a month gone by. However, amid their glaring inefficiencies and defensive struggles, the urgency is mounting for them to address their issues and start living up to the billing as a title contender.

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