Category: Miami Heat Blog

MIAMI – Observations and other notes of interest from Monday night’s 147-123 victory over the Denver Nuggets: – Why can’t the Heat have good things? – For that matter, why can’t the NBA? – With Monday night’s game a prime example. – No Nikola Jokic in the second half for Denver due to a knee injury, after a typical, MVP-level first half. – And then at the start of the fourth quarter, the Heat’s Pelle Larsson limping back to the locker room with a sprained right ankle. – Just three games after returning from a significant sprain of his left ankle. – Obviously no comparison between Jokic and...

ATLANTA – Observations and other notes of interest from Friday night’s 126-111 victory over the Atlanta Hawks: – The night started with Heat coach Erik Spoelstra asked pregame how he would handle a team that preferred to play at pace as much as his own. – The response was something along the lines of f-that. – That he wanted his team to get back to its game, regardless of the preferences and predilections of the opposition. – So 12 Hawks turnovers in the first half. – And 14 Heat fastbreak points in the second period. – Suddenly it again felt like off-to-the-races October and November for...

NEW YORK — Observations and other notes of interest from Sunday night’s 132-125 loss to the New York Knicks: – At one point early in Sunday night’s fourth quarter, all four of the Heat’s other starters had more points than Bam Adebayo. – As did three of the Heat’s reserves. – With every Heat player seeing action with at least as many points as Adebayo with the exception of rookie Kasparas Jakucionis. – No, Adebayo does not have to score to be effective. – He still does plenty on the defensive end and the boards. – But he can’t be a non-factor on offense. – Because that ups the ante...

BOSTON — Observations and other notes of interest from Friday night’s 129-116 loss to the Boston Celtics: – Yes, a loss. – But not a lost night. – Not after seeing this Kasparas Jakucionis. – For real, even in defeat. – Another first-round find? – Yes, just one night, but able to do it on both ends in his first NBA start. – In only his second career rotation action, a night after his first. – The 3-point shooting? His shots consistently true. – For this team, that helps. A lot. – But also the defensive tenacity to stand up to all Celtics’ challenges. – The Heat’s crowded backcourt rotation...

NEW YORK – Observations and other notes of interest from Thursday night’s 106-95 victory over the Brooklyn Nets: – Even with a needed win, the math problem continues. – The Heat simply don’t take enough 3-pointers. – With the other part of the equation is they don’t have many to make 3-pointers. – This time 9 of 28. – Nine. – With Tyler Herro out, it’s basically Norman Powell or bust. – Because it’s not Simone Fontecchio and hasn’t been for a while. – Yes, the occasional Jaime Jaquez Jr. 3-pointer is heartening. – As is a 41-footer from Powell at the halftime buzzer. – Or even the now...

MIAMI – Observations and other notes of interest from Monday night’s 106-96 loss to the Toronto Raptors: – Tyler Herro was away. – Or at least out of view. – But the debate doesn’t go anywhere. – On one hand, with Herro unavailable because of a return of his toe issue, Norman Powell again got to somewhat play as leading man. – On the other, the offense in this one sure looked like it could have used some of Herro’s help. – The bottom line: The Heat need to see more Herro. – Because the Heat need to see more of how/if this works. – The Heat waited nearly two months for Herro to get back from...

ORLANDO — Observations and other notes of interest from Tuesday night’s 117-108 NBA Cup loss to the Orlando Magic: – Yes, this was a different look for the NBA Cup. – That’s because the Magic’s Cup court was damaged in storage, so the regular-season court was utilized. – But in his pregame comments, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said the Cup matters very much within the NBA, no matter any outside skepticism. – “The guys want to win, they want to get to Vegas, they want the money,” he said of the cash bonus for players that crests at over $500,000 per player for winning the title. “They want to...

ORLANDO — Observations and other notes of interest from Friday night’s 106-105 loss to the Orlando Magic: – This time there were no questions about the Heat shot diet. – With Tyler Herro not in position to ask any questions. – So Norman Powell got his shots. – And Bam Adebayo got his. – By now, the Heat have shown the ability to feature Powell and Adebayo. – Working in Herro remains a work in progress. – Progress that couldn’t come Friday with Herro sidelined with a toe injury that could keep him out awhile, depending on Saturday’s MRI. – After Wednesday night’s loss in Dallas, Herro made...

MIAMI – Observations and other notes of interest from Monday night’s 140-123 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers: – Bam Adebayo helped set the tone. – On a night the tone was all about the 3 for the Heat. – An Adebayo 3-pointer opened the game’s scoring. – An Adebayo 3-pointer opened the second-half scoring. – In the end, a career high five 3-pointers for Adebayo. – Closing with 27 points and 14 rebounds. – But the 3-pointers were the thing. – Because if Adebayo from the arc is a thing, spacing concerns are alleviated. – And pick your poison against the threat of Tyler Herro and Norman...

MIAMI – Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 106-103  NBA Cup victory over the Milwaukee Bucks: – So who drew up the Heat’s starting lineup now that the rotation is whole? – An answer, at least for this one night, might have been the Bucks. – Because With Giannis Antetokounmpo out, the Heat took advantage of the opportunity to play smaller, with an opening lineup of Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, Norman Powell, Tyler Herro and Davion Mitchell. – That had Kel’el Ware as a reserve for the fifth time this season. – Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said pregame he appreciates...