Category: Miami Heat Blog

CHICAGO — Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 109-90 NBA play-in victory over the Chicago Bulls: – This was even before win-or-go home. – It also was before the fate of the season hung in the balance. – This was during his pregame media session when Heat coach Erik Spoelstra paused to make one thing clear about those he was about to move forward with. – They had earned his respect. – On a night when emotion would be elevated and stakes would be extreme, Spoelstra took a moment before fate would determine what was next to look back at the tumult that had delivered...

NEW ORLEANS — Observations and other notes of interest from Friday night’s 153-104 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans: – If the reason for going with the regulars Friday night was one last-ditch attempt at continuity, then when it comes to Andrew Wiggins, that remains an abstract. – Back for a second game after missing six with a hamstring issue, Wiggins hardly looked playoff-ready. – Again as little more than an ancillary element of the rotation. – As he was in Wednesday night’s loss in Chicago. – Hamstrings certainly can be tricky. – And it’s not as if Wiggins didn’t leave Wednesday...

CHICAGO — Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 119-111 loss to the Chicago Bulls: – First the perspective: All that was at stake in this one was the presumptive right to host a play-in game. – And even then, it was the right to host a play-in game that doesn’t even assure a playoff berth, but rather just the right to go on the road for another play-in game. – So, sort of like playing for a playoff booby prize. – But a prize nonetheless. – But it still beat the alternative. – With a loss meaning only road games in the play-in round. – A reality the Heat now face,...

MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Monday night’s 117-105 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. – So what to make of this? – What, indeed. – Until Andrew Wiggins is on the court with Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo for an extended period, the possibilities will remain largely unknown. – And at this point, the only way they can be on the court together for a long stretch would be in an extended playoff run. – Which, at this stage, appears highly unlikely. – This time no Wiggins or Adebayo. – So maybe it comes together Wednesday night in Chicago. – Maybe it gets Erik Spoelstra...

MIAMI — While you were watching college basketball, the Miami Heat were playing a game Monday night that no one should have had to watch. No Bam Adebayo or Andrew Wiggins for the Heat, no anyone and everyone for the Philadelphia 76ers, with Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey out of the mix amid yet another tankathon from the City of Brotherly Lottery. Against that backdrop, in arguably the worst of basketball counterprogramming against the NCAA Final Four championship game, the Heat did enough to move forward with a 117-105 victory that made it seven wins in the past nine games for...

MIAMI – Observations and other notes of interest from Saturday night’s 121-115 overtime loss to the Milwaukee Bucks: – For a team that only recently snapped a 10-game losing streak, this might come off as wishful or even hubris. – But the Heat cannot lose another game the balance of their regular season. – Not if they want to make a statement in the play-in round. – Not if they want to maximize their positioning in that round. – Granted, only four regular-season games remain. – But then consider those games. – A 76ers team desperate to lose. – A Bulls team the Heat need to beat for...

MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Thursday night’s 110-108 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies: – A stinging night for sure. – Locked now into a losing record for the first time since 2018-19. – With the Bucks winning on Thursday, locked into the play-in round for a third consecutive season. – And the six-game winning streak over. –  This one very much for the Heat had the look of a team not only completing a back-to-back set, but also returning from a week on the road. – Who the heck schedules that? – But there also was constant pushback when Grizzlies made their runs. –...

BOSTON — Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 124-103 victory over the Boston Celtics: – Yes, the goal is greater than learning experiences. – And, yes, victories are paramount at this stage. – But it sure helps going forward to know what you have going forward. – That’s what made this one matter regardless of result. – Pelle Larsson? Willing to stand up defensively to the likes of Jayson Tatum. – Kyle Anderson? Still can slow play his way to meaningful scoring. – Davion Mitchell? Won’t back down (even if that can be to his detriment). – Bit players in the bigger...

PHILADELPHIA – Observations and other notes of interest from Saturday night’s 118-95 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers: – These are the traps that need to be avoided to maximize the possibility of a home play-in game. – Which basically is the only reality that remains for the Heat to chase over their final eight games of the regular season. – Especially with the Magic on Saturday defeating the Kings, to further secure their grasp on No. 8 in the East (they also hold the tiebreaker). – So if the Heat at least want to host the Nos. 9-10 play-in against the Bulls (a matchup where this...

MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Tuesday night’s 112-86 victory over the Golden State Warriors: – This was a reminder. – No, not of a certain forward who once played here. – Fortunately, we appear to be over the Jimmy Butler overkill. – Instead it was a reminder of what the Heat can be defensively at their locked-in best. – We’ve seen it over the years before, the Jeremy Lin singlemindedness. – When the Heat decide a specific player and his team will face 48 minutes of torment. – This was another of those nights. – Granted, the results likely would have been far...