Observations and different notes of curiosity from Tuesday evening’s 106-92 loss to the Toronto Raptors:
– At nearly each flip, the Miami Heat have averted the following huge factor.
– Jae Crowder at energy ahead labored.
– Trevor Ariza didn’t.
– P.J. Tucker on the 4 labored.
– Caleb Martin solely nominally so.
– Kevin Love was introduced in, however he actually doesn’t play huge.
– Omer Yurtseven returned, then was benched.
– Haywood Highsmith received an opportunity.
– Now Cody Zeller is again, however solely in token minutes.
– And then you definitely look on the stats monitor because the Raptors opened their third-quarter lead and the numbers have been stark.
– Points within the paint on the finish of the third interval: Raptors 54, Heat 24.
– Granted loads of that was dribble penetration.
– But the Heat are small, and opponents are attacking.
– With no again line of protection.
– Bam Adebayo as on-ball defender? Darn good.
– As rim protector? Not a lot.
– Granted, with out Jimmy Butler it’s unfair to make rash assessments.
– But maybe one thing greater going ahead?
– With Butler unable to play attributable to neck soreness, the Heat inserted Victor Oladipo into the beginning combine.
– It was Oladipo’s second begin of the season, first since a Dec. 20 dwelling loss to the Bulls.
– Oladipo had been held out of the earlier three video games attributable to coach’s resolution, in addition to 4 of the earlier 5 for that purpose.
– He probably will stay within the rotation Wednesday in New York, with Kyle Lowry anticipated to be given the evening off for knee administration.
– The different 4 starters Tuesday evening have been Adebayo, Love, Tyler Herro and Gabe Vincent.
– Vincent was listed as questionable simply previous to recreation time attributable to again spasms.
– In addition to Butler, additionally listed as inactive have been Nikola Jovic, Orlando Robinson and Jamal Cain, with the latter two enjoying Tuesday evening within the G League playoffs for the Heat affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
– Max Strus was first off the Heat bench, getting into for Herro.
– Martin then adopted, getting into for Love.
– Lowry and Zeller then adopted on the high of the second interval for 9 deep.
– With Duncan Robinson getting a take a look at the highest of the fourth quarter.
– With the looks, Lowry handed Charles Barkley and Byron Scott for 97th on the NBA all-time regular-season video games checklist.
– Lowry’s first help moved him previous Muggsy Bogues for twenty fourth on the NBA all-time checklist.
– Lowry’s second steal moved him previous Randy Smith and Clifford Robinson for sixtieth on the NBA all-time checklist.
– Love’s fifth rebound moved him previous Elton Brand for 54th on the NBA all-time checklist.
– Strus’ first shot was the 1,five hundredth of his profession.
– Herro’s fourth 3-pointer tied Goran Dragic for sixth on the Heat all-time checklist.
– Heat coach Erik Spoelstra stated video games resembling Tuesday evening’s are about embracing the second.
– “It’s for competitors only,” he stated. “That’s what our focus is right now. You can’t hide from the competition. Nothing is going to be gifted to not only us, but any of the teams right in this [seeding] vicinity.”
– He added, “This is what you want out of this league. Even when it doesn’t necessarily go your way. You want the competition. You want to prove yourself under pressure.”
– With Lowry making one other Toronto return, his third since he left the staff in 2021 free company, Spoelstra was requested pregame about their relationship.
– “I’ve really enjoyed spending time with him,” Spoelstra stated. “He’s just a super likable, high-quality guy. I got to know him originally coaching in the Africa Games and that’s how we started to develop a relationship.”
– Spoelstra added, “I just feel grateful that we’ve been able to continue that relationship through this beautiful game of basketball.”
– With Miami-Toronto a doable play-in preview, Raptors coach Nick Nurse was requested in regards to the rivalry.
– “What I do know is every game we play them is usually super-intense, super-physical, just very hotly contested, very hard play start to finish,” he stated. “Little bit of everything in ‘em: We’ll press, they’ll press; they’ll zone, we’ll zone. We’re really fighting each other out there.”
– He added, “I think that the ability to keep fighting and playing no matter what the score is, is certainly a characteristic of both teams.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com