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.”

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

On Wednesday, the Miami Heat had their best performance of the season. Forty-eight hours later, they were embarrassed by the Dallas Mavericks on national television.

 

That’s been the story of the 2022 Heat. Up and down. On and off. Hot and cold. If their season through 47 games were to be summed up using only one word, it’d be this: Volatile.

 

We can continue to pin this on health, but it’s way more significant than that. Something is broken. In reality, most of Miami’s wins during this ‘hot stretch’ have come against tanking teams or teams facing many injuries.

 

I know that hurts to hear, but it’s the truth. And in moments like this, truth is not the enemy. With 35 games remaining in the regular season and the trade deadline quickly approaching, it’s time to ditch the excuses.

 

So, where do we go from here? Well, before anything gets fixed, it must be addressed. I’m going to throw the ‘injuries’ excuse out with the trash and shine a light on a few issues the Heat must correct if they want to make another postseason run.

 

Three-Point Shooting (Or Lack thereof) 

 

Miami led the entire league in 3pt% last season (39.7%). A few games past the midway point, they are 26th (33.7%). This a problem. Especially considering Miami is among the slowest-paced teams in the league and relies heavily on their half-court efficiency.

 

It’s gotten so bad lately that Miami won’t even shoot them. Over the last two games, they’ve attempted only 28.4 threes – a number that would put them dead last in the league.

 

This was evident against Dallas on Friday, as Miami went into the half with two three-point makes compared to the Mavericks’ 11. Two. You can’t expect to win many games with a discrepancy like that. Fortunately for the Heat, Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo were aggressive offensively and kept the game *somewhat* close. This trend continued in the second half and Miami wound up being outscored 4-18 from three-point land.

 

It appears that Miami knows this is its Achilles heel. So much so, that there were few times when guys simply passed up a good look. This has resulted in oversharing and, ultimately, poor-quality looks with the shot clock winding down.

 

Take this example from Oladipo. Miami is down by 16 points midway through the third (turd) quarter. Kyle Lowry pump fakes, collapses the defense, and kicks out to Oladipo on the perimeter. Rather than taking the three in rhythm, Oladipo pump fakes and settles for a contested 19-foot jump shot.

 

https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2023/01/20/0022200686/376/08137b32-c927-1f0b-f95a-f3c4a4f690f4_1280×720.mp4

 

Situations like this must stop. If teams are going to double-team Jimmy Butler like the Mavericks did last night, guys have to be ready to shoot. It’s all fun and dandy to have talented mid-range assassins on your team in Bam Adebayo, Herro, and Oladipo, but when teams are taking double the amount of threes and making four times as much, you have a problem.

 

What is a Kyle Lowry?

 

Are you ready for Lowry’s numbers over his last 8 games?

 

6.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists on 35/20/75 shooting splits.

 

$30 million.

 

I’m not even going to mention any hypothetical trades or suggest that Gabe Vincent should start ahead of him. Put simply, the Heat have to get him going.

 

It’s clear that his impact has been diminished with Butler, Herro, and Adebayo handling the ball a bit more, but Lowry has also been a potato off the ball. If he’s not going to shoot, as evidenced by his eight total FG attempts over the last two games, it completely neutralizes Miami’s offense.

 

I will give Lowry his flowers for pushing the tempo and getting the Heat out and running after misses, makes, and turnovers. That was evident in his return against the Pelicans on Wednesday. But the role he is needed for at this point in his career requires him to be a threat offensively. If he won’t (can’t) do that, then I propose this question:

 

What do the Heat have to lose by starting Vincent?

 

Max Strus Needs To Get Loose

 

It’s been a long time since we’ve heard the catchphrase, “the Strus is loose”. Max is shooting less than 32% from long range over his last 10 games and a hair over 33% for the season. As Miami’s only true “sniper”, this can’t happen.

 

His lack of efficiency is even more troubling when you consider that he’s often being hunted on the defensive side of the ball. Pull up the tape from Friday’s loss to the Mavericks. Luka Doncic was going at him early and often and each time resulted in either a made basket or a foul.

You could say it’s up to Erik Spoelstra to get him going, but it simply comes down to Strus hitting shots. According to Synergy, Strus knocked down 47% of his unguarded catch-and-shoot threes last season.

 

That number has fallen to 42% this year.

 

For the crowd that says teams have scouted him and that’s led to his decreased efficiency – Strus has been left unguarded 1% less this season according to Synergy. A small decrease, but it goes to show nothing drastic has taken place from other teams.

 

It’s quite simple: Strus has to be more efficient from downtown.

 

Have Some Guts

 

Remember Game 5 of the 2022 Eastern Conference Semifinals? Heat vs. Sixers. Series tied 2-2.

 

Miami had just lost two straight after going up 2-0 and Philadelphia had all the momentum. Things looked bleak. Miami’s back was against the wall. How did they respond?

 

Miami won by 35 points.

 

How about a round later in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Celtics? Facing elimination in Game 6, Butler drops 47 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, and four steals to force a Game 7.

 

I bring that up because this organization thrives in these types of settings. At present day, it’s been an up-and-down roller coaster of a season. It’s tough to be optimistic about this team as currently constructed. I get that.

 

But one trade deadline and a few spots of positive regression later and this team are more than capable of rolling into the playoffs with home-court advantage. And we already know how teams feel about playing the Heat in the postseason.

 

In the words of fellow Five Reasons contributor Greg Sylvander, “Have some guts!”

We’re within striking distance and Pat Riley knows that.

 

Besides, winning feels so much better with a little adversity.

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