Mateo’s Hoop Diary: In Miami With Love

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Elvis sang about Burning Love. The Heat made it a reality.

After clearing waivers, Kevin Love found a new landing spot in Miami, followed by 10-year veteran Cody Zeller. The outfit desperately needed aid for the last 23 games on the calendar. Through the first three-quarters of the campaign, marksmen have lost their outside touch, and the group is the third worst of 30 teams in long-range efficiency. The backup center spot has been a problem too.

A season removed from being the runner-up to the sixth man of the year crown, Love’s playing time lessened after his comeback from a hairline fracture in the thumb of his shooting hand. He was inaccurate and a minus defender in man-to-man or zone coverage. The Cavaliers also had less use for him, with the focus of the frontcourt aimed at the development of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.

With a pen stroke, the last remnant of the 2016 championship team for the Land was gone.

Perhaps the Cleveland op was too swift to pass the executioner’s sword on his contract. Any player with street cred would be frustrated with a lack of minutes. But injuries happen, and someone stashed on the bench could be the right counter for a matchup or scheme.

The Heat wanted/needed another option at power forward. Caleb Martin is a serviceable player at that spot, but he’s a natural wing. Not that positions matter to coach Erik Spoelstra, but Love’s signing allows Martin to strengthen the second unit while staying in the instructor’s trusted eight.

Love is still a decent rebounder, plus an effective passer, but he doesn’t move well laterally on defense. At worst, he can call out screens and instructions from the backline of the zone. Open shots on the perimeter will be there on the other end for him as a result of Jimmy Butler’s dribble penetration and the extra attention on Bam Adebayo in the paint. Yet, where he could give the Heat an immediate jolt is with his hit-ahead dimes.

Miami is 28th in pace of 30 teams. One of Love’s signature plays in Minnesota and Cleveland was recovering a defensive rebound and outletting the rock to a cutter past midcourt with a defender on his back hip. In lineups with him and Kyle Lowry, Miami will have two weapons capable of executing that pass.

Love’s last game as a Cavalier came on Jan. 24, only logging 12 minutes and an assist in a two-point loss in New York. Clearly, he wasn’t himself. Distinguished sharpshooters don’t forget how to shoot from one season to the next. The near month he’s been off the court should have provided additional time for him to rediscover his range and for his thumb to feel better.

In the worst-case scenario, if Love is completely fried on offense, which is doubtable, it doesn’t hurt the Heat. He was a buyout signee. The only thing wasted in that event is time.

The Heat choosing to fill the hole at the backup five spot with Zeller signifies the front office wasn’t as worried about the point guard rotation, first reported by Five Reasons huncho Ethan Skolnick.

In the moments Adebayo sat, the Heatles would deploy Dewayne Dedmon (gone via trade) and Orlando Robinson. The highlight of D-Mac’s season was tossing a massage gun onto the floor. His favor among team supporters would likely be higher if he had sent the tool as a gift to Deshaun Watson in Cleveland on his way out instead.

Robinson is too raw and a weak defender against pick and roll as well. The Heat should not convert his two-way contract into a regular deal so that he can play in the postseason because he is not ready.

Zeller hasn’t logged a minute since Jan. 10, 2022. He is at least a nice insurance policy as a backup big man if Ömer Yurtseven doesn’t get his legs under him when he makes his season debut.

The starting point guard, Lowry, has been absent since Feb. 2, but there is optimism he could return before the month concludes.

Gabe Vincent has played well as the lead guard, recording 15.9 points per game, and making 43.9% of his field goals in his starts. Victor Oladipo is expected to be a solid contributor after missing the last seven games for the Heat, although he was reasonably close to suiting up for the All-Star break.

If the Heat hit on both new players, it may have temporarily solved its weaknesses around Adebayo, Butler and Tyler Herro.

 

 

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Miami Heat Fall to the Seventh Seed in Brooklyn

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The fans and the Miami Heat, except for Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, have eight days off courtesy of the All-Star festivities. It’s the break the outfit needs badly. The team’s closing performance over the last two games was as pathetic as an Amy Schumer stand-up special.

Some key cogs have performed below standards in areas where they once excelled too. And the head instructor is stubborn- he’s keeping Jimmy Butler at a minutes cap in the fourth quarter when the team is running on empty as he watches from the bench. Through 71% of the season, the squad is five games over .500 and a half-game behind the New York Knicks for sixth place.

Brooklyn’s Mikal Bridges sent them on a brief vacation by piecing them up for 45 points on Wednesday. At the start of the fourth quarter, he had 28 on the scorecard. When Butler came in, Bridges wasn’t fazed, hitting two shots matched up with him and seven out of nine times against Miami in the period.

As expected, the Heat’s snipers were neutered by the Nets’ length. After missing its first four attempts from deep, Max Strus and Gabe Vincent splashed three. The combustion was short-lived, however. The Heatles shot 24% from 3-point range the rest of the way. Seven of the misses were open-enough looks; the rest were well contested by Brooklyn, beating the screeners to the closeout and staying home on matchups.

Adebayo played all of the fourth quarter and logged 14 points on 67% efficiency, but it wasn’t enough. When he switched from the middle to guard the top and corners, Brooklyn attacked from the opposite sides for access to the lane and a runway on the baseline.

It’s a shame Butler left Adebayo hanging in the fourth quarter. JB finished the frame in seven minutes without recording a field goal attempt, but he did make two free throws. When he checked in, the Heat was down by one possession. Within 59 seconds, Brooklyn’s lead was at nine.

Butler looked as disinterested as the United States is with the poor. If only everyone got the memo that he’d started his recess after halftime.

From behind the arc, the Nets were as deadly as the White Feather sniper, Carlos Hathcock. Even on solid closeouts, the hosts were undaunted and launched over the defense. Cam Johnson buried a triple in Butler’s eye two minutes into the game. Bridges canned one with Caleb Martin’s hand in his space and another over the much smaller Vincent running by in the right corner.

The differential from 3-point land was so vast, Brooklyn made 11 more than Miami in a match the visitors took six more field goal attempts, had five more rebounds and three fewer turnovers.

Following the game, coach Erik Spoelstra credited Brooklyn’s switching defenders on the perimeter as the tactic to limit attempts and efficiency, plus create over-dribbling.

“Throughout the course of the game, I thought there were windows that were open at the point of the pick against the switches,” Spo said. “But we just weren’t able to make the plays in order to keep them honest…”

 

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Gabe Vincent Should be Miami’s Starting Point Guard for the Rest of the Season

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On Saturday night, the undermanned Miami Heat completed its eighth set of back-to-back games for the season, winning both- at home versus Houston and on the road in Orlando, matched up with a group that had won 18 of its last 31 before tipoff.  

 

The Magic’s unorthodox, lengthy lineup swarmed the passing lanes, forcing six turnovers in the first quarter.  The Heat was also off-target on shots against drop coverage and inaccurate defended by the 2-3 zone.  Through the first half, the visitors could only pierce the lane and convert seven out of 13 times.  The hosts’ backline defenders forced Miami into taking most of the attempts from the outside.

 

Guarding the other end was problematic early too.  Miami was carved up by ball movement, resulting in late closeouts in transition and in the half-court with the occasional mismatch hunting.  Multiple times when the Magic’s bigs attacked the middle, the Heat collapsed too hard, giving up the baseline to Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs for various buckets.

 

With over a few minutes left in the second quarter, the Heatles went down by 17 points.  They cut the deficit to eight going into the intermission by drawing cheap fouls in the bonus, earning them six made free throws, Jimmy Butler using his size over Suggs in the post, an elbow jumper from Bam Adebayo, and Max Strus hitting a right-wing triple behind #13’s pin down.

 

Coming out of halftime, Kyle Lowry’s understudy, Gabe Vincent, had seven points on 40% efficiency.  Defensively, he forced Orlando’s Gary Harris to pick up his dribble from 21 feet out and take a well-contested shot. Against Markelle Fultz, Vincent got a hand up to bother an elbow fadeaway that missed.  In those 24 minutes, he also had two deflections and contested six shots.

 

In the third quarter, Vincent hit a left-wing 3-pointer off an offensive rebound by Caleb Martin.  Setting up Tyler Herro from the left corner, #2 broke into the paint and passed to his man.  The hard closeout by Fultz and screen assist by Adebayo allowed Herro to penetrate the interior for a floater over Carter.  

 

Gabe’s heat check occurred with under eight minutes left.  He sized up Franz Wagner in the left corner, breaking his defensive stance with a jab step.  Suddenly, he burst left and slit the lane for a reverse layup with his man on his back hip.

 

In the fourth, he scored seven points, but none greater than his pair of free throws with Miami down two and 12.9 seconds left. Without emotion, he tied the game.

 

Vincent then opened the extra period with a top of the key trifecta.  As he turned the corner of  Butler’s screen, he swiftly noticed Banchero didn’t switch as Carter got to JB. The rookie was too late.

 

The Heatles’ decision to defend the last possession while up three points instead of fouling to send the opponent to the line was a head-scratcher, but it didn’t hurt them.  The Magic was able to hoist off a look; Harris’ right corner 3-pointer was defended in textbook fashion by Strus.  Banchero recovered the miss, but on his way to the arc, he stepped out of bounds. 

 

Next, Herro subbed in for Martin and was take-fouled by Banchero for a freebie.  Miami won 107-103.

 

At the postgame presser, an elated Spo said his team is must-see TV “because it’s always going to be a close game.”

 

Adebayo, Strus and Vincent played all of the fourth quarter and overtime.  Spo said he knew his team wouldn’t feel great, but they needed to do whatever it took to win.  

 

“We burned the boats and figured we just have to go for it,” Spo said.

 

The dub pushed Miami to seven wins above .500 for the first time this season.  The Heat’s long-range bombardment cooled down as the game went on, but Vincent finished with four out 10 makes and 20 points in his fourth consecutive game starting for Lowry.  

 

It was his ninth start of the season.  In those games, Vincent is averaging 15.4 points on 47% efficiency, while Miami is 7-2.

 

This is no shot at Lowry.  He’s had a hall-of-fame career and has logged 37,769 minutes in the regular season and playoffs.  But the burst he had in his first step is gone.  The only way Lowry would get into the lane was with the help of a screen or when he was driving downhill on the break.  

 

In the half-court, if he wasn’t hitting trays off a pick, he’d turn exclusively into a passer.  It wouldn’t take long for the opponent to figure it out as Miami was playing four on five.  Father Time matured #7 into an outside-only guard that can’t stop the point of attack. 

 

Lowry is out indefinitely, but if he were to come back before the season is kaput, he should play behind Vincent.  The Heat needs to build on #2’s performances with the other four main guys or, at the very least, evaluate what is has with him.

  

 

The Miami Heat Are Still Worth Watching. Here’s Why….

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Let’s cut right to the chase. I’m frustrated. You are frustrated. The Miami Heat’s activity – or lack thereof – over the last two seasons has been perplexing. I’ve been a passionate fan since 2004 (I’m 28 years old), and I cannot remember a time when the fanbase felt this defeated. And that’s saying something because I was around for the Stephane Lasme days. (Shoutout to him).

 

As taxing of a season as this has been, it’s not where most of the disappointment lies. Actually, it’s quite the contrary. The frustration mostly lies with the front offices’ unwillingness (or inability) to maximize this build.

 

Since Jimmy Butler was traded to Miami back in 2019, we’ve enjoyed two trips to the Conference Finals and fell one shot short of a second NBA Finals appearance last Spring. Championship pedigree was evident with this core. And success in the postseason gave this city a glimpse of what was possible with the correct additions.

 

After Butler’s shot rimmed out in Game 7 of the Conference Finals, it’s felt that this franchise has gone backward.

 

The only moves – offseason or free agency – completed in Miami have been the re-signing of Victor Oladipo and the re-signing and trade of Dewayne Dedmon. The latter was just sent to the San Antonio Spurs with a second-round pick in exchange for cash considerations and a box of fig newtons.

 

To make matters worse, we’ve had to stand by and watch other contending Eastern Conference teams make additions that move their needle. The Boston Celtics added Malcolm Brogdon, Derrick White, and Mike Muscala. The Philadelphia 76ers added James Harden, De’Anthony Melton, P.J. Tucker, and Jalen McDaniels. The New York Knicks (man I hate the Knicks) added Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. The Milwaukee Bucks added Jae Crowder. You get the point.

 

This all culminated on Thursday at 3:01 PM ET. The trade deadline came and went. And just like that, Miami stood pat (pun very much intended).

 

So where do we go from here?

 

First, I’ll tell you where we’re not going to go. We’re not going to dwell on the past. This isn’t the Sixers franchise. I’m not going to sit here and revoke your right to disappointment because this roster has overachieved in two of the last three postseasons. I’m not going to type some overused “In Pat we trust” slogan and expect everyone to put on a happy face and accept the current circumstance.

 

On the same token, I’m not going to bash the front office either. As of the time of this writing (Friday afternoon), there are 27 games remaining. And this team deserves our full focus as they push for a top 5 seed.

 

Despite not acquiring another piece, here are a few notable things to watch for moving forward.

What Kind Of Spark Can Omer Yurtseven Provide?

 

Last season, Victor Oladipo made his return to the lineup shortly after the trade deadline. His presence gave a huge boost to Miami’s depth and ultimately paid large dividends during the postseason.

 

Can Yurtseven have the same impact?

 

Yurt hasn’t played a minute this season and underwent ankle surgery in November. When asked Thursday about the timeline to return to the court, Erik Spoelstra said, “I don’t have an answer, I just like the progress. Things in our center position are trending in a much better direction.”

 

Despite Spo not having a direct answer, by all accounts, his return to the lineup is drawing near. It was just last week that he was cleared for “high-impact work”.

 

The big question will be if/how he can coexist with Bam Adebayo. Looking at last season, the two big men only shared the court for a total of 34 possessions. It wasn’t pretty.

 

While a small sample, Miami was a minus 27.5 points per 100 possessions.

 

Interestingly enough, a quote from Yurtseven during the Heat’s media day is worth delving into. In explaining why he should play alongside Bam more, his response was this:

 

“I can put Bam in his more natural position… Which would also allow him to be more aggressive.”

 

 

 

Bam and aggressive. Those two words together will make every Heat fan perk up.

 

With Bam now a bonafide threat from midrange, opening him up to catch the ball outside the paint could unlock an entire brand of offense for Miami. Giving him room to attack his defender off the dribble will surely open things up along the perimeter.

 

Defensively, it could bring a whole new persona. If Yurt is down low manning the paint, Bam now has the freedom to stay up top and switch everything. Simply having a non-negative big on the court alongside Bam allows Miami to utilize Bam’s defensive versatility to their advantage.

 

At the very least, Yurtseven’s presence should bolster the Heat’s frontcourt depth. It was clear that Dedmon was just a walking talking negative every single time he stepped on the floor. Miami was getting obliterated in non Bam minutes as a result. The hope here is that Yurt can step in and be the bridge down low that keeps Miami afloat when Bam is on the bench.

 

Bam was asked earlier this season what it’s like playing alongside some of his teammates, and he specifically brought up playing with Yurt:

“But Big 77 [Yurtseven], I’ve got to be aware of where I’m at, just to keep the spacing and keep us in sync, to where if he’s spacing, I’m in the paint. Or if he’s in the dunker’s [spot], I’m in the corner.”

 

It remains to be seen how often Spoeltra will employ the two at the same time – especially with Yurt getting back into the swing of things. But simply having him available is a huge positive for Miami’s offensive and defensive versatility.

 

How Can Nikola Jovic Contribute This Season?

 

Miami’s only acquisition this season has been Nikola Jovic. While only 19 years old, he’s shown flashes of high-level play during Summer League and the preseason. He’s currently out with a back injury but should be re-evaluated any day.

 

The first question here is *can* Jovic be of value this season? After all, he’s young and his growing pains were on full display during the 15 games in which he saw the court.

 

One way I would like to see Miami utilize him when healthy is in a PnR scenario with Bam. Jovic is 6-foot-10 but has mostly guard skills. With him on the ball and Bam screening, it could create some mismatches for opposing defenses. The Denver Nuggets do a great job at this with Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon. The 4 screening for the 5 or vice versa is something that not a lot of teams like to deal with. And Jovic has a better jump shot than Gordon.

 

If Bam screens and defenses switch, Jovic can use his ball handling and speed to attack a bigger, slower defender. It also puts a smaller defender on Bam. If defenses play drop, Jovic has shown he is comfortable enough to take the shot. And if defenses fight through, Jovic could force a 2-on-1.

 

If the latter happens, Jovic has already proved himself to be a talented and willing passer. Especially on lobs. Just check out some of these passes from the preseason:

 

 

 

 

 

There will be growing pains. I’m not expecting Jovic to heal and become prime Kevin Durant overnight. But his playmaking skills and length could create some mismatches for opposing defenses.

 

Duncan Robinson’s Confidence Needs Rebuilding

 

In his heyday, Robinson was one of the deadliest sharpshooters in the league. Unfortunately, that heyday lasted only a season. Since then, it’s been a grind. Teams have caught on and when he’s not making threes, his shortcomings on defense make him a liability on the floor. As a result, his role has diminished and his confidence has noticeably declined.

 

With that said, Miami needs to be shining the proverbial batman symbol in the sky. Except instead of batman’s logo it looks like Sheen from Jimmy Neutron. Only real ones will get it.

 

Miami was the best three-point shooting team last season. They are 27th at the time of this writing. By all accounts, Robinson is needed now more than ever.

 

His game has always seemed mental and Ethan Skolnick brought up a good point on Thursday’s show. Duncan actually played better last season after the trade deadline. It’s been no secret that he’s been mentioned in every trade rumor for the past two seasons and that has to mess with you – simply on a human level.

 

With the trade deadline behind us and Robinson on the roster at least until the offseason, could that alleviate some pressure when he’s healthy? Could it also take some of the 3pt weight off of Max Strus’s shoulders? Possibly.

 

At the very least, having a career 40% 3pt shooter on high volume available has to be a good thing for the Heat simply by the law of averages, right?

 

Gabe Vincent Should Start Regardless Of Kyle Lowry’s Health

 

This has been debated ad nauseum for much of the last month, but the answer is quite simple. Miami’s starting core is better with Vincent than with Lowry. With Vincent, they are putting up 132.5 points per 100 possessions. Good enough for the 90th percentile. With Lowry, that number dips all the way down to 111.0 points per 100 possessions. That’s the 33rd percentile for those wondering.

 

Lowry’s presence also affects Tyler Herro. His numbers and efficiency from three improve with Lowry off the court. My theory is that they each feel more comfortable with the ball in their hands. After Herro was inserted into the starting lineup this season, there were one too many ball handlers on the floor. With Vincent in over Lowry, this frees up Herro to play make while also letting Vincent function off the ball – a role he plays well.

 

But the main reason why Vincent needs to start is that the Heat need to know what they have. This offseason brings with it a very interesting dilemma for the front office. With Strus and Vincent up for extensions, it’s unlikely they’ll be able to afford both. Giving Vincent ample time with this starting unit can help them when it comes time to decide their route.

 

Do Any Buyout Options Move The Needle This Season?

 

This is tough to say at the time of this writing, as there will surely be more names bought out over the next two weeks. But looking at the current slate of guys, there are a few options who could help the Heat.

 

Russell Westbrook

 

My mom could have told you that Westbrook wasn’t a good fit in Los Angeles. If Miami can get him at a cheap number, he could offer some much-needed juice to Miami’s offense. The turnovers will be there, but the rim pressure he provides could open things up.

 

Terrance Ross

 

Ross is my favorite buyout candidate for Miami should he become available. Outside of the fact that he’s been a #RandomHeatKiller more often than not, his offensive game is what Miami needs. He’s only a few years removed from putting up 15.6 points and two threes a game in less than 30 minutes. I would expect him to provide a “Joe Johnson-esque” scoring boost to Miami, which could come up big during postseason dry spells.

 

Danny Green

 

This is a risk, given he’s only played three games this season. But the reward could be huge. Green has championship DNA. He can defend and knock down threes at a 40% clip. Those are things Strus and Robinson cannot do simultaneously. It’s likely that Green prefers a squad with better title odds, but he’s an intriguing target.

 

Ultimately, the Heat is in this pickle due to past mistakes. Bloated contracts and an over-reliance on developing undrafted players with low ceilings will catch up to you sooner than later. Hindsight is 2020. It’s easy to clown moves now when you know the outcome.

 

The reality is this:

 

Jimmy Butler will be 34 years old before next season. It feels like Miami’s window to win a ring with him is closing fast. It’s clear that this team cannot keep relying on his Herculean efforts every postseason. It’s unsustainable.

 

Miami finds itself at a fork in the road this offseason. The direction they go will determine the future of this build. If Miami finds itself watching from home in May, I wouldn’t be surprised to see something drastic take place. After all, it’s becoming clearer and clearer that the future of this team belongs to Bam.

*****
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Mateo’s Hoop Diary: LeBron James Surpasses Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Regular Season Scoring Record

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Even before tipoff, supporting and rival fans sat in their seats, powerless to contain their excitement as impending history was moments away. The Thunder, the team LeBron James and the Miami Heat beat in the 2012 Finals for his first of four chips, was in Los Angeles. So were the King’s family and teammates from St. Vincent St. Mary’s High School.

James didn’t get on the scoreboard until his third attempt of the game. He isolated OKC’s Jaylin Williams in the left corner, then hit a step-back 3-pointer. Against the Thunder’s 2-3 zone, LBJ gashed the middle on a rim roll assisted by Russell Westbrook for a four-foot layup.

His second steal of the quarter sparked the break. This time near the rim, he didn’t pass, as he did a minute into the period, losing the ball. He effortlessly spun past Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams for the soft finish.

Through 12 minutes, James had eight points and two dimes, aside from his pair of steals. Judging by his body language, it seemed as if he made up his mind about doing whatever it took to break the levee. In the second quarter, he logged three out of four field goals and five out of six free throws, putting him at 20 points at the intermission.

As he dribbled up court in transition, he zipped past the nonexistent trailing defense to get to the cup for two more. In the half court, he ran pick and roll with Thomas Bryant, buying him the opening to carve up the paint on a left-handed finish. To stop the bleeding of a 10-0 Thunder run, James maneuvered to the top of the key, hitting a triple as his defender, Kenrich Williams, went under Bryant’s screen.

Despite James’ contributions in the first half, the Lakers were inept in stopping the ball. On innumerable possessions, Los Angeles was late to close out to the perimeter or didn’t try. As a result, the Thunder had converted 12 out of 19 deep shots, pushing them to a 10-point lead, in spite of being outrebounded, having more turnovers and fewer trips to the line.

In the third quarter, James was unrelenting in his pursuit of history. After missing a pull-up jumper on the baseline, he hit his next three shots: two triples and a layup on a four-on-two break.

With 10.9 seconds left in the period, James posted up K. Williams at the nail and hit a fadeaway jumper to snatch the all-time regular season scoring record.

The game stopped momentarily as the King received his flowers; his loved ones embraced him as the Lakers recognized the achievement with a video presentation. Then, at center court, Kareem Abdul-Jabar handed him over the ball, signifying the passing of the torch to the new keeper of the grail.

The game was stopped for James, as it was for Abdul-Jabbar when he hit the milestone with nine minutes left against Utah in Las Vegas on Apr. 5, 1984. Then everyone had to get back to work.

The fourth quarter started with the Lakers down five points. The hosts managed to tie with over nine minutes left, but OKC countered with Isaiah Joe splashing a left-wing triple against man-to-man coverage. Both teams, in turn, would trade buckets scoring 24 points the rest of the way, but the primary issue for the Lakers was guarding and completing possessions. Point-of-attack defenders were going under OKC’s screens, allowing openings inside.  The Lakers lost 133-130.

Postgame, coach Darvin Ham committed the cardinal sin- talking too much. He said, “A lot of times, the focus was more about trying to get ‘Bron to the record as opposed to just playing natural basketball…”

I appreciate his honesty. But it’s doubtful his players will be enthused with how candidly Ham spoke.

It wasn’t a fairy tale ending to a historic night. The closing was as grim as The Song of Ice and Fire and all its lore, written by George R.R. Martin. But that shouldn’t discredit James’ accomplishment.

Abdul-Jabbar held on to that mark for two months shy of 39 years. Like Russell Westbrook’s triple-double record that formerly belonged to Oscar Robertson, this milestone seemed impossible to grasp for a long time. When LeBron finished year 17, and there were still no signs of slowing down offensively, surpassing Kareem became inevitable.

Before #33, Wilt Chamberlain, the NBA’s most dominant presence and gifted athlete owned the record for 12 years. Prior to him, it was Bob Pettit for three, and so the list goes on. In the age of load management, the new threshold is probably beyond reach for everyone when James hangs up his sneakers.

The NBA has been around since 1949. Countless trailblazers have left an indelible mark on the league. Out of the thousands of players who have competed on the hardwood, only 10 of them have recorded at least 20 seasons of action. James is one of those guys, and he’s still got so much more to give.

When Kareem passed Wilt, Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn said, “The new king of scoring has ascended his throne.” It was a long reign. This feat is a testament to the unrivaled skill and longevity of Abdul-Jabar and James.

Compliments aimed at the King’s direction are well deserved. In fairness to him, he eclipsed Abdul-Jabbar in scoring back in February of 2022, when you count playoffs + the regular season for both players.

Following the game, James said reality hadn’t settled in yet. That’s not surprising. Everyone who witnessed the moment on Tuesday night probably feels the same way. After two tours in Cleveland, one with Miami in between those, and his latest in Los Angeles, the book is not finished.

Before leaving the court, James was asked through the TNT headset if he could play two-to-three more years. Confidently, he said he could.

“The way I’m feeling, and the way my body has been reacting throughout the course of the season, I know I can play a couple more years. It’s all about my mind. If my mind is still into it… then I can continue to play this game.”

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Miami Heat Must Fix Some Issues in Last Third of the Season

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The Heat’s loss on Saturday gives the team its first set of consecutive defeats since December.  Miami has performed a 180 since its putrid start to the season, but some areas still need adjusting if the fourth or fifth seed is to be captured.

There are 28 games left on the team’s calendar. They’d need to finish 24-4 to earn the exact win total as last season. Getting there isn’t happening, and the slate for the eight remaining games in February is brutal. There are nine days off courtesy of the All-Star break that should give this outfit the rest it craves.

But if the Heat wants to avoid a first-round exit or, worse, a play-in spot, it will need at least a few solid win streaks until mid-April. Miami must outdo itself in the last third of the season to avoid a disaster scenario, which would be, Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro playing their best minutes of Heat basketball ever and the team folding early.

Eight games is a minuscule sample size. Yet, in that stretch, Miami has to host the reigning back-to-back MVP and the first-seeded Nuggets on Feb. 13. The following four are on the road. First in Brooklyn. The pendulum could swing either way since Kyrie Irving is holding the team hostage, and it’s unclear if the Nets will move the malcontent before the trade deadline.

Then Miami visits the Bucks and former two-time MVP and champ Giannis Antetokounmpo. He just waxed the Heat for 35 points on 68% efficiency on Saturday. The next two are in Charlotte and Philadelphia.

The Hornets stung the Heat at home on Jan. 29. The opportunity for revenge is there, but if the Heat concedes the point of attack again, the backline defenders can’t save them.

The 76ers are not a good matchup either because it has too many weapons to break Miami’s zone coverage.

An issue that’s bedeviled the Heat all year long is its lamentable deep shooting. Max Strus was canning 41% of his triples last season. This campaign, he’s down to 34.3%.

Duncan Robinson, who has been out since Jan. 4 following finger surgery, hit 33% of his 3-point tries through 28 games. His minutes have dwindled to 17.9 a night.

Kyle Lowry is also down to 33% from long-range, and those are 63.2% of his total attempts.

With shooters playing below standards, it gives Miami’s opponents the liberty to sag off or gamble more often. If they were on target, the other team wouldn’t be able to double Jimmy Butler in the mid-post to get the ball out of his hands.

The other problem that needs to get fixed immediately is Butler’s fourth-quarter minutes management. Coach Erik Spoelstra is trying to buy JB as much rest as possible ahead of the playoffs. On many nights, the Heat can’t afford it. In losses, he’s averaging 7.7 minutes in the final period.

In defeats, Butler is logging over 10 minutes in the third frame. It makes sense. On many occasions, the Heat stumbled coming out of the intermission and were outscored in 29 third quarters. Keeping the best player on the floor is necessary to climb out of the turd period. But sometimes, the inescapable truth is that Butler will have to play at least 40 minutes for Miami to win against some rivals.

Until Miami’s sharpshooters find their touch, the group is dry on other options. Giving Butler an extra workload is a double-edged blade, however. The Heat have found themselves in 27 games decided by five points or fewer. The record in those games is 16-11.

Butler turned 33 on Sept. 14. It’s not fair to him that at his age that more is needed. But since he’s got $146 million guaranteed over the next three seasons, there isn’t a more suitable candidate for sacrificing his body.

In Miami’s last two games, losses in New York and Milwaukee, Butler combined for 13.8 fourth-quarter minutes and didn’t take a free throw in that span. When he checked in for the last time at Madison Square Garden, the Heat was down 10 points with seven minutes and change left. On Saturday, when Butler came in for Strus, the squad was down six with over six minutes left. Miami had converted only 36% of its attempts before Butler was inserted in Milwaukee.

He is the closer and best playmaker on the team. Butler has the highest assist percentage at 23.6%. This would put him in the 96th percentile for his position, per Cleaning the Glass. Even above the NBA’s second-leading paint scorer, Bam Adebayo, Butler is still the Heat’s best option to get to the line or draw a double team and hit the open man.

It’s not true that regular-season games don’t matter. If a group doesn’t lock up home court and stay above .500 on the road, it shouldn’t be taken seriously. Without #22, Miami’s record is 8-7, but with him in the lineup, it has lost 18 games.

One of the reasons the Heat had a deep playoff run last season run is because it was the east’s first seed. Round one was against the Atlanta Hawks, a team with more holes than a sponge. In the conference semifinals, the matchup was the 76ers without Embiid for the first two games. The Heatles were then taken out in round three by the Celtics, a group two wins away from a title.

What good will all this rest do if Miami is instantly faced with a bad matchup on the road after the regular season?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Heat’s Late Game Rally Not Enough In Madison Square Garden

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The playoffs are supposed to start in April, but the New York Knicks and Miami Heat didn’t get the message. In the season’s first encounter, both squads, only two games apart in the standings before the match, broke the other’s schemes.

The Knicks went to man-to-man coverage and switched defenders against screens initially. Facing pick and roll, Knicks center Jericho Sims dropped, allowing Bam Adebayo breathing room at the nail after the dive. But the hosts’ active hands and doubling Jimmy Butler after the catch in the lane forced five turnovers too.

New York ran its pick-and-pop action with RJ Barrett and Julius Randle. The Knicks’ big man swished two jumpers from the corners and splashed one more catch-and-release shot from the left wing. Randle was also mismatch-hunting and commanding the extra help of another defender when Kyle Lowry or Tyler Herro switched on him. This breakdown allowed him to hit Quentin Grimes, the open man in the right corner, for a triple.

New York started by making its first six out of eight shots. Barrett attacked Herro off the dribble every chance he could, converting seven out of nine baskets defended by #14 through four quarters. Additionally, he made a wide-open bucket in the lane after Randle was doubled in the post, plus blowing by Caleb Martin and Lowry for three field goals.

Midway through the first quarter, New York got on a three-on-two fastbreak. It looked like an easy basket as Herro and Martin swarmed in on Barrett, and he dished it to Randle, who had no one in front of him at the cup. But Martin hit an extra gear and came away with a rejection from the blindside of the left-handed Randle. Butler also had two takeaways, and Gabe Vincent had one in the first half.

On the other side, Adebayo showed why he was recognized as a second-time All-Star, awarded minutes before the game. On the baseline, #13 faced up Isaiah Hartenstein, maneuvered into the paint, hesitated, then canned a well-contested fade away. Next, he faked a handoff to Herro at the top of the key and zoomed by Hartenstein for a destructive slam over Evan Fournier. For his penultimate field goal of the period, the Knicks (somehow) lost sight of him in transition as the rock pinballed back from the wing to Adebayo, running his lane for an unbothered jam.

The closing of the first half was a disaster for the visitors. Miami suffered a seven-point gashing in the last minute, only countering with an Adebayo midrange pullup over Sims.

In the third quarter, Miami lived up to its name, raining fire from deep. Herro hit a catch-and-shoot triple and two more, assisted by Adebayo’s screens versus the on-ball defender, while seeing Sims in drop coverage at the top. Lowry, Strus and Martin each hit a 3-pointer in the third quarter, raising Miami’s output in that department to six out of 12.

But Miami’s defense wasn’t as sharp in the second half as it had been through most of the first, and they rarely got to the line. In the last 24 minutes, Grimes and Barrett combined for 12 out of 16 field goals. Since the Heat couldn’t stop the ball handlers at the perimeter, the 2-3 zone was ineffective, and the interior was exposed and clobbered for 56 points.

With over seven minutes left, Miami was down 11 points but managed to cut the deficit to two in crunch time on an Adebayo baseline jump shot over Hartenstein. As the clock ticked down, the Heat over-helped on Barrett’s drive, leaving Grimes open in the corner for a 3-pointer. Herro and Barrett then proceeded to trade baskets. Subsequently, Adebayo intercepted a sideline inbound and was fouled hard on the break by Randle. At the charity stripe, he buried both. Miami was down a point.

When Herro and Butler blitzed Barrett on the left wing, he passed the rock to Grimes, cutting down the middle. It’s a pity the refs didn’t see him travel after the catch, but Grimes then dished to Hartenstein cutting on the baseline as Strus, the low man, came forward to contest.

With a chance to tie, Herro missed from the right wing. The Heat stole New York’s recovery but lost it right back off a bad pass by Strus. Hartenstein started the break, ending with a Randle dunk to take a five-point lead.

Strus made up for his error by splashing a SLOB triple up top. Afterward, New York turned it over on the inbound because Randle slipped, and Miami got the ball. At first, it was called a foul on Adebayo, but coach Erik Spoelstra challenged the call, getting it overturned.

The Heat had 2.1 seconds left for a shot. The Knicks defended well, denying an open pass to everyone but Herro, who curled to the left corner. He took an off-balance jumper over Randle and Barrett. He missed.

At the postgame presser, Spo said his team’s fight to get back into the match was part of its DNA as they’ve been in the most close games of 30 teams. “There were some key swing moments, particularly in the beginning of the fourth quarter where they were able to take control a little bit and get it to almost 10 points. We had to dig our way back…”

 

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Bam Adebayo Deserves to be an All-Star

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Ten of the 24 All-Star slots have been chosen. Fans, media and players each had a say in who got picked. It’s now on the league’s coaches to fill out the remaining spots. Snubs are expected, as they are every year, but some are sure to ruffle feathers.

The All-Star Game is an undignified popularity contest. I’d love to say I couldn’t care less who participates, but enough selections, or lack thereof, could make the difference on a potential hall of fame ballot.

For example, champion Jrue Holiday of the Milwaukee Bucks is one of the league’s best two-way guards. He’s been a pro for 14 years and was an All-Star once, along with four defensive team selections. Holiday’s squads have won seven playoff series. If he retired today, I fear voters five years from now wouldn’t show his career the respect it deserves because he wasn’t a regular at the game when he should have been. Never mind his pro averages of 16 points with six assists and four rebounds per game.

The Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo is another stud who has gone unrecognized. He earned an All-Star bid in year three, the season Miami finished two wins shy of its fourth championship. In that campaign, he logged 15.9 points on 55.7% efficiency, along with 10.2 rebounds and 5.1 dimes a night. As a third-year player, 71.5% of his field goals were assisted.

Adebayo is much more polished offensively and a prolific scorer in the box. When he recognizes drop coverage with the ball, he takes a couple of dribbles and pulls up in the lane. After a pick, he’s waiting for the rock back to inflict severe damage on the rim. Through 46 games this season, Adebayo leads the NBA in points scored in the interior with 728.

A few years ago, Bam depended on teammates to help him score. This year, sixty percent of his field goals are assisted. He is now capable of creating his own shot.

He’s a legit 21 and 10 guy, plus a top-five defender in the league. In my book, those dudes are perennial All-Stars. In Adebayo’s case, he may not get in, and he’s been the best player on the team this year. He didn’t even get enough votes to show up on the first 10 names of the fans’ returns. That’s an indictment on Miami supporters for not voting enough for their guy. Leaving it up to the coaches is a coin flip.

The coaches who pick, of course, know more than the people covering the game for their careers or those watching for pleasure. But instructors watch film on the opponents the team is preparing for. Beat writers miss a lot of the action, too, when covering their team as a few games are going on.

The reason for making it or not might come down to the coaches watching enough film on Adebayo. Hopefully, in his case, they have because the tape is evidence of a big man who defends smaller forwards and guards at the perimeter. It shows a center that is the brain and backbone of Miami’s 2-3 zone.

The Heat’s best defenders next to Adebayo are Jimmy Butler, Victor Oladipo and Caleb Martin. Each of them has missed more time than #13. Butler has logged 36 of Miami’s 51 games. Oladipo has participated in 25 and Martin in 41. Adebayo has missed five games this year, but he’s been the most crucial reason the Heat have the best paint protection of 30 teams. His ability to stop the ball outside and bother a shot inside blows up opposing offenses.

Following Miami’s win at home over Boston on Jan.24, uncharacteristically, coach Erik Spoelstra said Adebayo should have been an All-Star last year and that he deserved it this season. “He missed five weeks. So what? He was playing at an All-Star level. There’s been other guys who have missed a month or five weeks and still got in…”

With the 14 remaining reserve spots set to be selected on Feb. 2, Adebayo has one more opportunity to show he belongs in the star-studded festivities. That will come on tour in Cleveland on Tuesday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bam Adebayo disrespect only helps Miami

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Every time I open up my Twitter app it’s filled with casuals comparing him to whoever scored more points than him that night.

 

I’ve had enough.

 

As if that’s not aggravating enough, it appears that ‘points per game’ Twitter is a microcosm of how (too) many NBA fans actually think. It’s the sole reason why Adebayo can’t be seen inside the top 10 for frontcourt All-Star votes. Kyle (Pink Sweater) Kuzma and Paolo (18-29) Banchero have more votes than him for crying out loud.

 

This sickness doesn’t stop with points either. The same argument can be applied to any other stat.

 

Take the Defensive Player of the Year race for example. Bam is the anchor for a top 5 defense and is the most versatile defender in the league. He makes guarding 1-5 look effortless at times.

 

Apparently, that doesn’t matter. Outside of Heat fans and media, you won’t hear anyone make the case for Bam. Those finalists are awarded to the players who average the most blocks per game.

 

(While we’re on the topic: ‘Points per game’ Twitter or “*insert stat* per game’ Twitter is reserved for only the most casual of casual NBA fans. It is the holy grail of casual. If you ever want to tell someone you don’t watch NBA games without telling them, just start your argument with per-game averages.)

 

End of rant.

 

Whichever way you slice it, Bam is often overlooked. And as frustrating as it is, it’s exactly what the Miami Heat need.

 

Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely want Bam to be celebrated for his elite on-court play. As a matter of fact, his lack of recognition and accolades is the inspiration behind this piece.

 

But among all of the disrespect, a new Bam is unlocked. It’s a Bam with a chip on his shoulder. And it’s dangerous for the rest of the league. The disrespect fuels him. It ignites a fire on the court that can’t be contained.

 

That’s exactly what happened in Tuesday’s win over the Celtics. With Miami’s offense continuing to struggle from three (and every spot on the court for that matter), Bam took things into his own hands.

 

He dropped 30 points and 14 rebounds on 12-22 shooting (21 points and 12 rebounds in the second half) and willed Miami to a win without Jimmy Butler.

 

Possession after possession, he carried Miami’s offense while anchoring their defense. Elite.

 

In his post-game press conference, he was asked if making an All-Star statement on national television was on his mind: “No, not really. It was the rivalry. They booted us from the Eastern Conference Finals last year”, Adebayo said.

 

While some of that may be true, I’m not buying it as the sole reason for his aggressiveness.

 

To get a real glimpse of Bam’s mentality on Tuesday, we need to shift our focus to seconds after the final buzzer sounded. With sweat dripping off his face, TNT’s Jared Greenberg closed the post-game interview by saying “hopefully we’ll see you in Salt Lake in just about a month.”

 

Bam responded by saying, “I should be in Salt Lake”. A direct contrast to his mentality and comments when asked by the media.

 

He wasn’t done.

 

Shortly after, he spoke to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. Bam didn’t hold back:

 

“There are guys that shouldn’t even be on that list”, he stated.

 

“But it’s fan voting. That’s what it is and you got to live with that. I mean, right now I’m in a position where it’s based off the coaches in the East. Now that, I’m going to be [upset] about if they tell me somebody else has played better than me this year considering I’m leading the NBA in paint points and I’m one of the reasons why we’re winning. So for me, it’s just that fan voting is fan voting. I’ll let that be. But when it comes to coaches voting, that’s when I feel like I deserve to be in it.”

 

Go off, Bam! Call them out. This isn’t passive. This is cut-throat talk from a max player.

 

Regardless of how many times he plays it cool, Adebayo cares. He feels the disrespect. And when he feels disrespected, you get Tuesday night’s stat line.

 

That’s exactly what this team needs; an aggressive Bam.

 

Miami is 20-10 in games where he shoots at least 15 shots.

 

To all the casual fans, coaches, and players – continue to fade Bam all you want. It only makes the Miami Heat dangerously potent.

******

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Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Heat Leave Celtics Green With Envy

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True to form, the Heatles found themselves in their 22nd game, decided by five points or fewer. Despite any shortcomings this outfit has had this season, supporters, the press and team personnel are almost always guaranteed to be biting nails or sitting at the edge of their seats witnessing a dub or tumble.

On Tuesday, for TNT’s primetime matchup of Celtics @ Heat, both squads were undermanned in this fourth encounter of the year. Boston won the first two on Oct. 21 in Miami and Nov. 30 at home. On Dec. 2, the Heat won in overtime on the road.

The first quarter moved along at a snail’s pace because of 16 fouls committed by both teams and 21 free throws taken. Almost five minutes into the game, Boston had the luxury of the bonus. Then, on one possession, the Celtics committed four penalties in 28 seconds. Not even disgraced house rep of New York’s third district George Santos perpetrated that many and so quickly.

Through 12 minutes, Max Strus’ sharp shooting carried his group offensively. He splashed a catch-and-release triple on each wing, then dribbled once after pump-faking Grant Williams out of bounds for a trifecta in the corner. Attacking the drop, he turned the corner of Bam Adebayo’s screen and got into the lane for a nine-foot jumper in front of Robert Williams, protecting the rim.

As the half continued, Bam Adebayo scored his first basket following his spike against Derrick White’s floater that sparked the fast break. Catching a feed from Gabe Vincent in the restricted area, #13 only had the 6-foot-1 Payton Pritchard in front. He converted an easy hook shot.

Aside from Strus’ early contributions and Adebayo’s second-quarter scoring, no one else was reliable. The Heat’s guards missed all 11 3-point attempts in the period. From the field, the hosts logged 32.7% efficiency and 33.3% from behind the arc while down eight points and getting gashed on an 11-0 run by Boston to close the quarter.

On the other side, in that stretch, Jayson Tatum mercilessly got into the lane, driving by and shooting over Tyler Herro for three baskets. At the top of the key, when Adebayo switched on to him, JT stopped on a dime for a step-back 3-pointer.

In the third quarter, Adebayo recorded five of his 12 field goals. He slashed into the paint for a driving hook, plus a layup, dunked once and hit a pair of pick-and-pop jumpers at the nail.

Victor Oladipo was the only other Heatle to make multiple buckets in this span. Picking up a miss from Tatum, Vic sped off on the break and hit a floater over Pritchard. Off a miss from Oladipo from deep, Lowry picked up the long rebound and hit him again for a shot from the corner. For the next one, Lowry turned past Vic’s screen on Tatum to attack Luke Kornet in drop coverage. The pick forced JT’s switch on Lowry, who found his man open on the left wing for a triple.

At the start of the fourth, the Heat was down nine, but it saved its best for last. Miami’s aggressive 2-3 zone held Boston to 13 points on 23.8% shooting by primarily making them operate from the outside.

Haywood Highsmith was the Heat’s difference maker off the bench. Coach Erik Spoelstra rolled with him, playing him all 12 minutes of the fourth. Caleb Martin was a nonfactor, having picked up five fouls in 11 minutes through three quarters.

When Adebayo dashed into the middle of the paint, he was met by three defenders. Highsmith intelligently saw the breakdown on the baseline, cut and finished under the hoop. Then, he hit a shot in each corner. On the first, he got open after the dribble handoff to Tyler Herro that Boston blitzed on. On his last, the Celtics ran a 1-2-2 zone. With R. Williams at the low post, he had too much ground to cover after Highsmith caught it 24 feet away from the cup.

In the final period, Adebayo logged nine points and eight rebounds. With the score tied at 95 with 23 seconds left, Adebayo caught the ball at the nail, faced up Pritchard, then raised for a jumper over him, plus G. Williams coming in as the help side shot blocker.

With Miami up two, Boston’s coach Joe Mazzulla didn’t call a timeout. Next, Tatum wasted 14 seconds before making up his mind to pass to the corner, but it was intercepted by Herro. The visitors immediately fouled with .9 seconds left. They committed another on Highsmith with .2 left. He made one out of two. Boston managed to get a shot off after its timeout, but it air-balled.

After the game, when Spo was asked about Bam potentially playing in the All-Star Game, he said, “Certainly, I am rooting for it. I thought he should have been an All-Star last year…”

On the team’s performance, Spo praised their coherency and confidence in understanding how Boston would attack late in the game.