Category: Miami Heat Blog

MIAMI – Observations and other notes of interest from Tuesday night’s 121-95 victory over the Orlando Magic: – This is where the talk of a Heat Big Three largely should be reserved as a lower-case description. – Because for all that (regular-season) Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro provide, it is a trio that also requires ample support. – In this one, they got it. – Because at least during the regular season, an ensemble is what best suits the mix. – It keeps everyone engaged on offense. – Which also makes it easier to keep everyone engaged on defense. – So at the end of the third period,...

MIAMI – Observations and other notes of interest from Sunday night’s 103-95 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers: –  There were times when Josh Richardson appeared he was going to be shuffled out of the Heat mix. – And for one game, against the Knicks in New York, he was. – Then Duncan Robinson banged his head on the court at Madison Square Garden, with NBA concussion protocol following. – Then Kyle Lowry was traded. – And Sunday, there was no Tyler Herro, whose headache could have been a Heat headache when Herro was ruled out. – To his credit, after a shaky, injury-marred start to the season, Richardson...

WASHINGTON – Observations and other notes of interest from Friday night’s 110-102 victory over the Washington Wizards: – It was just over a year ago when the Heat added Kevin Love on the 2023 buyout market. – It was a move that continues to pay dividends. – With that again the case on Friday night, Love with a double-double within his first 20 minutes on the floor. – Again providing quality relief for Bam Adebayo. – Something the Heat continue to look for when Jimmy Butler dares take a rest. – Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said pregame that keeping Love in a stable minutes range has provided tangible...

MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 115-106 victory over the Sacramento Kings: – This was about the little things. – Which, to a degree, is what this superstar-less Miami Heat team is about. – (With all due respect to playoff Jimmy Butler.) – To be at their best, the Heat have to be at their collective best. – Which means Jaime Jaquez Jr. again bringing the energy. – Caleb Martin playing with a fast twitch. – Kevin Love adding the subtleties. – Josh Richardson getting back to his Rook 2 form from a previous Heat era. – Those all were there Wednesday night. –...

MIAMI – Observations and other notes of interest from Monday night’s 118-105 loss to the Phoenix Suns: – Monday’s Exhibit of A of The Heat Still Being Too Small? – Drew Eubanks had 11 first-quarter points for the Suns. – Drew. – Eubanks. – Which can happen when there is no semblance of a combination of size and ambulatory beyond Bam Adebayo. – Where have you gone Cody Zeller? – Heat Nation turns its lonely eyes to you. – Then, at halftime, Eric Gordon stood tied with Eubanks for the Suns’ scoring lead, when Phoenix led by 13. – As in 35-year-old Eric Gordon. – Because a 35-year-old can do that...

MIAMI – Observations and other notes of interest from Thursday night’s 143-110 loss to the Boston Celtics: – The gap between the Heat and the top of the East? – It was never more apparent than Thursday night. – As if the Celtics are in another league. – Yes, the playoffs are a different animal. – But these Celtics are not last season’s Celtics. – Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday have changed that calculus. – And Derrick White is even better this time around. – While the Heat certainly looked better than recent games, they didn’t look Celtics good. – Sure, coaching yet could matter in a playoff...

MIAMI – Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 105-96 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies: – The Terry Rozier acquisition was an interesting move. – But also an ancillary move. – It still does not address getting Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo on the same page. – Unless those three play effectively and efficiently, this doesn’t go anywhere. – So say all you want about the Heat having four 20-point scorers. – It still doesn’t mean they can score. – Because they can’t. – This time it was 42 points at halftime. – Forty. Two. – 4. 2. – Even more than Rozier, what this...

ORLANDO — Observations and other notes of interest from Sunday night’s 105-87 loss to the Orlando Magic: – In a meritocracy, what now with Nikola Jovic? – Sunday was the 10th consecutive start. – With diminishing returns. – Yes, more size than Caleb Martin or Haywood Highsmith at the four. – But also with zero attention from opposing defenses. – For some teams, the reasoning would be as simple as allowing for growing pains. – But this is not a lottery team. – Or a team in the midst of a long-term plan. – This is  a win-now team. – Amid a closing Jimmy Butler window. – Developmental program? –...

TORONTO – Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 121-97 loss to the Toronto Raptors: – Instead of these past two games with Jimmy Butler’s return answering questions, it only seems to have furthered the issue of Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro together. – The start on Monday night in Brooklyn was awful. – This one was awful-er. – Butler passive, Herro launching and Adebayo trying to find a middle ground has merely provided deficits. – That’s not to say that it can’t work. – It’s just not at the moment. – At least at the outset. – It’s not an indictment on any of...

MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Sunday night’s 104-87 victory over the Charlotte Hornets: – The Heat gave Dwyane Wade another night on Sunday, honoring his induction this past August in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. – And then revealed that there will be another night for Wade next season. – With Heat President Pat Riley announcing at halftime that the team next fall will unveil a Wade statue in front of Kaseya Center. – It was an announcement that caught Wade off guard and moved him to tears. – “I’m so grateful,” Wade said at center court. – “When we retired...