Category: Miami Heat Blog

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...

MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Sunday night’s 121-84 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers: – This is how the Heat can be both inspiring and infuriating at the same time. – Inspiring because of the bounceback after Friday night’s no-show against the Pelicans. – Infuriating because of losses like that game against New Orleans, when it seemed as if they simply could not be bothered. – A little more of what the Heat offered Sunday, and a little less of what was on display on Friday night, and there wouldn’t be this desperate scramble in the play-in bracket. – No excuses this...

MIAMI – Observations and other notes of interest from Friday night’s 111-88 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans: – Considering the way the Heat shot 3-pointers in this one — or more to the point did not — the biggest news of the night came arguably before the game, with Heat guard Duncan Robinson expressing optimism about a rapid return, even as he missed his second game with a back issue diagnosed as left facet syndrome. – “Thankful that it’s not too serious,” Robinson said pregame. “A big thing is making sure that just kind of calm it down. So I’m going to try to play as soon as I possibly can....

CLEVELAND — Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 107-104 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers: – All the perspective you need on what the Heat had available is this: – Lineup A: Bam Adebayo, Kevin Love, Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro, Josh Richardson. – Lineup B: Thomas Bryant, Nikola Jovic, Jimmy Butler, Terry Rozier, Patty Mills. – Lineup A was who was not available for the Heat against the Cavaliers. – Lineup B was who started. – It of course doesn’t matter which was preferred. – For Heat coach Erik Spoelstra the injury report dictated the decision. – So Lineup B...

PHILADELPHIA — Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s  109-104 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers: – That oversized Duncan Robinson contract that was the source of much consternation? – Those trade rumors that reduced Robinson to mere salary-cap ledger entry? – The notion that with Cole Swider being developed, Robinson was expendable? – Never mind. – Never mind. – And never mind. – The essential Duncan Robinson has resurfaced when needed. – Picking up Wednesday night where he left off Tuesday night in Milwaukee. – Is there still time for an addition to the 3-point contest...

MILWAUKEE – Observations and other notes of interest from Tuesday night’s 123-97 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks: – As he awaited his turn for pregame shooting, Nikola Jovic smiled at the irony. – “It’s like I either start or don’t play,” he said. – Tuesday night he started. – And converted his first four 3-point shots, establishing a career high before the intermission. – Later with a career high in points. – Including 10 in the third period. – With his ballhandling particularly useful with Terry Rozier and Josh Richardson sidelined. – In this one, the options were limited for Erik Spoelstra,...

MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 116-104 victory over the San Antonio Spurs: – It was a game that crystallized the Jimmy Butler experience. – Doing enough most of the way to keep it competitive. – Then take charge as needed. – Sort of like his approach with the regular season and playoffs. – So this time, no rest at the start of the fourth quarter. – Not necessarily because of Erik Spoelstra’s new rotation. – But because there only was a one-point lead at that stage over a 10-win team. – Butler at his most energetic remains, by far, the Heat’s most significant...