How come the Heat weren't as popular in the Alonzo Mourning days?

If there was ever a time I liked the Heat it would have been from 1997-2000. Back when the team consisted of Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, Thunder Dan, P.J Brown, Jamal Mashburn, Anthony Carter, Voshon leanord, and when Riley was their coach. They were always a top team in the east every single year and a contender. SO how come they weren't as popular, and talked about and didn't get as much attention as they have received in recent years? That heat team was sick! I honestly enjoyed watching that team much more than this one, and like I said they were always a 1 or 2 seed in the east. 2 seed in 97, 98, 00, 1 seed in 99.