Category: Miami Heat Blog

PHILADELPHIA – Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 105-104 NBA play-in loss to the Philadelphia 76ers: – The zone defense was energizing and effective. – The effort on that end of the floor was undeniable. – Could not have been much better. – But you also have to score. – Which made this much like the Heat’s season. – Heart and hustle will get you to places such as the play-in. – Points will put you over the top. – This is why the Heat got Terry Rozier. – And this is why the Heat badly missed Rozier in this one. – Tyler Herro couldn’t make a shot until late. – Jimmy...

MIAMI -– Observations and other notes of interest from Friday night’s 125-103 victory over the Toronto Raptors: – Don’t believe the hype. – Yes, the Heat can move to No. 6 in the East and out of the play-in with a Sunday victory and a Sunday loss by the Magic, as well as a loss by the 76ers or Pacers. – The Heat assuredly will be playing to win, with potential homecome in the play-in at stake. – But the Bucks, the Magic’s opponent Sunday, have shown little desire to finish second in the East. – Damian Lillard sat on Friday night for the Bucks and more could sit Sunday, beyond injured Giannis...

MIAMI -– Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 111-92 loss to the Dallas Mavericks: – At one point, the way this one was playing out, a running clock might have been the way to go. – Now the question is whether time is running out for the Heat. – A week from Friday, this could be over. – Because how, after nights such as this, could anyone have confidence against Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and the 76ers in a Tuesday play-in opener, especially in Philadelphia? – And if a loss then, it comes down to a winner-take-all game at Kaseya Center against the winner of Chicago-Atlanta...

ATLANTA — Observations and other notes of interest from Tuesday night’s 117-111 double-overtime victory over the Atlanta Hawks: – That Tyler Herro continues to step up is encouraging. – As is Jimmy Butler playing more in attack mode. – Bam Adebayo hitting threes. – And Nikola Jovic continues to emerge. – But on the other end of the spectrum, the Heat’s role players continue to show their limitations. – Jaime Jaquez Jr. appears to be hitting a wall. – Caleb Martin couldn’t hit a shot in this one. – Kevin Love has ceded minutes at backup center to Jovic. – Which only confirms the obvious: It will...

INDIANAPOLIS — Observations and other notes of interest from Sunday night’s 117-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers: – So a play-in opener against Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and the 76ers? – Or a play-in opener against Tyrese Haliburton, Heat killer T.J. McConnell and the Pacers? – Either possibly on the road. – No, Sunday did not produce the type of clarity the Heat wanted and needed. – Even while fighting the good fight to the finish. – Instead, Erik Spoelstra’s unit is looking like a team that even might require a second play-in game to make the playoffs. – Which would be either against DeMar DeRozan...

MIAMI – Observations and other notes of interest from Thursday night’s 109-105 loss to  the Philadelphia 76ers: – Ahead of the game, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra spoke about how it already felt like the playoffs. – That it did. – What it didn’t feel like was enough from Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. – While the 76ers got plenty from their leading men, the same could not be said for the Heat. – Essentially, Butler and Adebayo did not measure up to Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. – So for all the contributions elsewhere for the Heat, it wasn’t enough. – Yes, Butler came on late. – But wasn’t strong...

MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Tuesday night’s 109-99 victory over the New York Knicks: – In a vacuum, Terry Rozier getting on a heater would appear totally apropos. – At the moment, it seems just that. – With Tyler Herro still out. – Which only adds to the drama of what happens when/if Herro returns from the foot tendinitis that has had him out for more than a month. – Because we have yet to get to the point of knowing whether side-by-side Rozier and Herro works. – Or, for that matter, whether either can maximize his game if cast, instead, in an either/or alignment. –...

WASHINGTON — Observations and other notes of interest from Sunday night’s 119-107 victory over the Washington Wizards: – If Jimmy Butler Week is about to follow, then everything else is a non-issue. – Including the passive start Sunday, before late and needed on-demand scoring. – And the lack of a breakout game in two weeks. – Perhaps it’s the lingering remnants of his illness. – Perhaps it’s allowing others to thrive, as Terry Rozier did Sunday. – Perhaps it’s merely waiting for this moment at hand. – With huge games now following against the Knicks, 76ers, Rockets and Pacers. – And that’s...

MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Friday night’s 152-82 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers: – This wing thing is getting interesting. – For reasons beyond the question of what happens when Tyler Herro returns. – Because Haywood Highsmith is on the rise. – As Jamie Jaquez Jr. levels off. – And as Caleb Martin remains somewhat uneven amid a variety of ailments. – The suggestion of Highsmith over Jaquez in the playoff rotation would have seemed folly earlier this season. – But Highsmith continues to change that calculus. – Yes, he’s more limited than Jaquez. – More of a...

MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Tuesday night’s 113-92 loss to the Golden State Warriors: – Basically this simple: The Warriors had weapons, the Heat didn’t. – Or at least not enough available. – It’s not that the Heat don’t, just that they weren’t in uniform. – Which kind of matters. – Not only again without Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson and Kevin Love. – But this time without Jimmy Butler, as well, due to illness. – Not exactly how you want to go into it against Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and the rest of the Warriors who showed up. – Patty...