Nikola Jović lived through highs and lows during his sophomore year, but he’s made monumental strides since his first season. He got stronger by bulking up around 20 pounds, preventing opponents from overpowering him as often, and his 3-point percentage has nearly doubled.

 

He’s the likable young person who takes tips from players like Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, laughs with them, and works diligently with assistant coach Malik Allen.

 

He logged about 20 minutes of action between Oct.30- Dec. 6 and played in seven G-League games, but now he is the power forward.

 

Jović’s smarts, speed, size and strength make him the club’s top decision-maker in transition. In fact, when he plays power forward, the squad scores 152.9 points per 100 transition plays, good enough for the 86th percentile, per Cleaning the Glass. Furthermore, just 9.6% of his points came on the break in 2023-24, and 29% of his assists are in the open court.

 

But there are nights when coach Erik Spoelstra benches him early and others when he is unleashed. For example, in the Heat’s last game, he played 23 minutes, registering six points on 33% accuracy, with five rebounds and four assists; and in the outing before that, he tallied 23 marks on eight of 12 attempts, with eight boards and a dime in 39 minutes.

 

At age 20, he hasn’t evolved into a dependable half-court scorer, but that’s the next step. Currently, he’s mainly a catch-and-shoot option in this setting. The Heat need him to take extra shots at close range and finish more around the rim. He needs to tighten his handle, too, and he won’t be a dependable late-game option without it.

 

Down the line, he will likely turn into a high-caliber role player. A solid goal would be developing him into an athletic Boris Diaw- the French Magician was a creative passer and an average finisher at close range. The Heat should bring in former All-Star Goran Dragić (as our man at the network, Eternal Bast, suggested) to train with him and monitor his progress. Regarding elusive tricks and scoring, the Dragon is as fine a teacher as any.

 

A third-year leap relative to his improvements from his inaugural campaign until now would not only elevate the Heat, but extend Butler’s All-Star lifespan. On top of that, if Jović plays starter minutes next to Adebayo, the group doesn’t have a size issue in the back line. Jović is a decent rebounder, but the most used Heat lineup gave up an offensive rebound on 21.5% of opponents’ misses. This lineup included Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson, Butler, Adebayo and Jović.

 

Adebayo bolsters résumé with second Olympic gold medal

 

The Heat’s center is on track for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame following his second gold medal claim. He was the no.2 player for two Finals trips, has been arguably the league’s top defender for the last five years and is a top-shelf athlete. This span has included three All-Star selections plus five on the All-Defensive team.

 

Five more years producing at his rate should buy him a ticket into the honor’s club when he hangs his sneakers on a wire.

 

But who wants to depend on voter-determined accolades? Self-grabbed achievements instead of the elector awards (minus the MVP crown) would give his case extra credibility early. For example, leading the Playoffs in field goal percentage. He’d have to adjust his shot diet, but Jarrett Allen’s marks (67.6) in four games are reachable. Adebayo’s max in that category was 59.4% in 2021-22, but perhaps there will be expected Big Game Bam sightings as there were for Pat Riley’s former player, Big Game James Worthy.

 

His prime is starting and he has a final gear to get to on offense because he is taking more 3-point shots. If Adebayo becomes someone who isn’t just left open but eventually recklessly closed out to, he will have more chances to blow by rivals. Keep in mind, the captain was 11th (900) in paint points last season and second (1,098) the year before.

 

Following Team USA’s victorious run through the Olympics, Adebayo joins Dwyane Wade as the only player in Heat history with two Olympic medals. The former has two in gold and the latter one in gold and bronze.

 

Given his playstyle- an omnipresent defender with great leaping ability and a mid-range jumper- Team USA will probably target him for the 2028 Los Angeles campaign, too. And if Joel Embiid wasn’t pump-faking about competing for Cameroon, Adebayo’s experience and skills will be needed.

 

Last year’s Duncan Robinson (as a starter) is badly needed

 

Duncan Robinson is one of the best on the team at moving without the ball and was one of the league’s top snipers when starting. But he was a regular-shmegular as a reserve. As the former, he put up 14.4 points on 47% accuracy, including 42.1% from deep, with three rebounds, three assists and 1.4 turnovers. He logged 11.1 digits on 42.4% shooting, with 36.2% from 3-point range, plus two rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 turnovers per contest as the latter.

 

Additionally, when Robinson works with Rozier, Butler, Jović and Adebayo, the lineup feasts from the corners, making half its shots.

 

Playing more time with the group’s best players maximizes Robinson, who was one of the NBA’s most improved in 2023-24. He started scoring more inside the arc, upgraded his passing and elevated his defense.

 

He isn’t the on-ball threat Tyler Herro is, yet Robinson has gotten good at connecting with Adebayo when opponents trap the handoff.

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Steph Curry’s output and shooting tricks, plus Joel Embiid’s late surge, saved Team USA, preventing humiliation and a trip to the bronze medal game. Team USA has a date on Saturday with France to compete for the gold medal.

 

The first five minutes were an unyielding fireworks display, but the Serbs’ switching defense prevailed first, closing the quarter ahead by eight digits. Then they raced off to a 17-point advantage as six minutes remained at the half. 

 

The cause? Wack 3-point protection, Jokić‘s passing carved up doubles, and the Americans went soft on the glass.

 

Subsequently, the Americans countered with Curry Embiid and James’ deep shooting, slicing the deficit to 43-54 heading into intermission. 

 

At that point, Curry had 20 marks on 70% accuracy. The rest of Team USA logged eight of 21 shots. 

 

The Serbians followed up, converting seven of 16 attempts in the third quarter, finding success running the offense through Jokić on post ups and two-man actions. 

 

Midway through the frame, the Americans cut the score to 59-65 on Jrue Holiday’s 3-pointer set up by Curry. Yet, their counterparts retaliated with a 10-4 run to end the period. 

 

Team USA didn’t step up until the fourth quarter. There, Embiid scored seven straight points via jumpers in transition, plus at mid and close range in the half-court to cut the deficit to two. Next, James tied the match on a transition layup.

 

On the next possession, Jokić connected with Filip Petrušev, cutting on the baseline for a dunk as he was doubled by Kevin Durant and James in the middle.

 

Team USA closed the match with Curry flaring to the top of the key for a rattling trifecta plus scoring on the break. James finished a transition layup. And as Bogdan Bogdanović dribbled up court, Durant guarded him and forced a backcourt violation. 

 

Defensively, Team USA’s defense permitted zero of nine 3-pointers in the fourth quarter as its help defense cranked up. Serbia had made 15 of 30 triples through three quarters.

 

Team USA won 95-91, making 57.4% of field goals, including half from deep. Twenty-eight points were scored in the paint.

 

Additionally, LeBron James had 16 points on six of nine looks, with 12 rebounds and 10 dimes. Curry had 36 marks on 63% accuracy, with eight rebounds and two assists. And Embiid had 19 points on eight of 11 attempts, with four rebounds and two assists.

 

The players celebrated at mid-court and embraced for a postgame huddle led by James. 

 

James handled the on-court interview. When asked about starting the fourth quarter down 13 points, he said, “Gotta get it the hard way…Kudos to Serbia, but we came through. Chef Curry [had] a vintage Chef Curry game. Joel [Embiid] was big-time for us. We needed it.”

 

 

Kevin Durant and Bam Adebayo applied the pressure on offense. Jayson Tatum started over Joel Embiid and played an impactful 17 minutes after being a benchwarmer against Serbia. And Team USA strangled its rivals, conceding 42.1% of field goal attempts.

 

Early, LeBron James dictated matters, cutting up the baseline for a dunk, nailing a fallaway jumper through traffic, and scoring in the open court.

 

Defensively, Team USA gave the South Sudanese fits after allowing a seven-point burst. Devin Booker and Jrue Holiday slowed down the ball. Anthony Davis and Derrick White had denials in the backline, plus the latter stole the ball in the open court. Adebayo stripped the ball inside the key. And Anthony Edwards looted the rock in South Sudanese territory, resulting in a baseline floater for Adebayo. 

 

Through 10 minutes, the Americans led 26-14. The onslaught continued through the second frame as Tyrese Halliburton sprayed multiple trays, and Adebayo canned two-3-pointers and logged three dunks. They shot 54.3% from the field, including 43.8% from deep, with 40 digits coming from the reserves, and had 17 assists to five turnovers. Additionally, one trip for South Sudan to the line was authorized.

 

The South Sudanese converted 36.6% of attempts, 35.7% from long distance and totaled five bench points in the first half. 

 

Out of the break, South Sudan went on a 10-5 run to cut their deficit to 14 in the first few minutes, causing coach Steve Kerr to call a timeout and sub out five players. He inserted  White, Adebayo, Holiday, Edwards and Durant. Then White got screened from his blindside on the next play, putting him face first on the ground as Team USA gave up another tray.

 

Subsequently, the offense shot itself out of the mud with a new group. Edwards connected on a 3-pointer and buried three freebies. Adebayo slammed a lob through the middle on a pick-and-roll set. And White swished his third trifecta. 

 

The fourth quarter began with Team USA up 73-57.

 

Team USA suffered an 8-0 South Sudan run, cutting their advantage to nine marks partly because Anthony Davis was called for a suspect foul. But the Americans responded with a score by Stephen Curry, a catch-and-shoot bomb from Durant, an and-one layup by Booker, and a Davis rim roll to push the lead back to 19 marks.

 

The rest of the match was a formality. Team USA won 103-86, recording 52.9% of tries, 43.3% from 3-point range and 66 bench points.

 

Adebayo had 18 points on eight of 10 looks, with seven rebounds, one dime, one steal, two denials and two turnovers. Durant put up 14 marks on 40% shooting, making eight of nine freebies and registering two rebounds, three assists, three steals and a turnover. The other double-digit scorers were Edwards (13), James (12), Booker (10) and White (10).

 

For South Sudan, Nuni Omot logged 24 points on eight of 12 ventures, with two rebounds, two assists and two steals. Carlik Jones had 18 points on 42.1% accuracy, with three rebounds, seven assists, two steals and four turnovers. The other double-digit scorers were Bul Kuol (16) and Marial Shayok (12).

Adebayo handled the on-court interview. He said, “I’m not here to get 20 shots up. But when I’m open, shoot it.”

The United States is 2-0 in Group C.

 

Further comment:

 

The outrage regarding Tatum’s benching against Serbia was a non-story that was pushed as “disrespectful” by half-wits. James and Durant are the heavies on Team USA, and everyone else falls in line. Someone important will be left out each game, and against South Sudan, it was the former MVP, Embiid, for matchup reasons.

 

Assistant coach Erik Spoelstra must’ve been salivating as Adebayo drained two open threes. If that shot is a part of his arsenal, Miami’s center will take a significant leap next season (2024-25) on offense.

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The Stars and Stripes dismantled Serbia after a shaky start. Nikola Jokić was the heartbeat of his country and outplayed every American big man. But Kevin Durant erupted off the bench for 23 points, and LeBron James nearly had a triple-double, leading Team USA to its first victory in the group stage. 

Yet, early, the Serbians opened the match on a 10-2 run, capitalizing off multiple turnovers for quick baskets, cutting on the left side, successfully posting up Jrue Holiday, and attacking Joel Embiid in drop coverage. Defensively, the Serbians hedged the pick-and-roll and deployed a full-court press in spurts. 

Team USA coach Steve Kerr called a stoppage, subbed out Embiid for Anthony Davis, and the group responded with its 12-point flurry.

Jokic took a break for his country after eight-and-a-half minutes, while they were up four points. As he walked to the bench, Durant checked in for the Americans. The latter instantly discharged six digits from the wings before the quarter expired. 

Then Durant kept burning, curling into the lane for a pull-up jumper, isolating his man at the top for a trifecta, swishing a corner banger and canning another bomb off the dribble.

Jokić checked back in with eight minutes left in the first half as Serbia was down nine marks. Immediately, the squad’s intensity elevated as its engine roared. The NBA’s reigning MVP scored twice at close range and buried a right-wing catch-and-shoot 3-pointer in Embiid’s face.

The closest the Serbians got was within two points in the last two minutes of the half. Next, the Stars and Stripes were up 58-49 at intermission.

Subsequently, Team USA took over the match in the third quarter with its unforgiving defense, permitting 16 points. On the other side, James and Co. proceeded to carve up their rivals, outscoring them by 10 marks. 

The fourth quarter began with Team USA ahead 84-65. From that point, Devin Booker, Holiday, Curry and James carried the Americans to the finish line. 

Team USA won 110-84. Durant had 23 points on eight of nine looks, with two rebounds and a turnover. James provided 21 marks on 69% accuracy, with nine assists, eight rebounds and six turnovers. The rest of the double-digit scorers were Holiday (15), Booker (12), Curry (11) and Anthony Edwards (11).

For the Serbians, Jokić supplied 20 points on eight of 15 attempts, with five rebounds, eight assists and four turnovers. The other double-digit scorers were Bogdan Bogdanović (14), Ognjen Dobrić (13), Vasilije Micić (11) and Aleksa Avramović (10).

Durant handled the on-court interview and was asked about meshing with James and Curry. He said, “We had to build that camaraderie and that trust pretty quickly. Everyone is playing for one another, moving the ball, defensively talking to each other. It’s the pinnacle of basketball when you do that.”

 

Other notable stuff:

 

Dwyane Wade was on the NBC broadcast, providing fun and notable analysis. As he’s transitioned well into another business, his old pal and teammate, the timeless James, is still squashing opponents. 

The Heat’s Nikola Jović still has lots of work to do as a half-court scorer. He needs to be more than a release valve on the kickout. 

It’s special to have Durant and  Curry as teammates again in important games. These mobile snipers were one of the top partnerships in NBA history, winning back-to-back titles. 

James’ connection with Edwards for a lob from mid-court was one of the game’s best plays. 

Embiid barking at an opponent while his loaded team was up 10 points was a disgrace.