Observations and different notes of curiosity from Saturday night time’s 117-109 victory over the Atlanta Hawks:
– Considering the razor-thin margin the Heat are trying to string, this one meant, in some methods, double.
– But provided that the Heat can double up with one other dwelling win in opposition to the Hawks on Monday night time.
– Poorly positioned in nearly each head-to-head tiebreaker of their playoff vary, the Heat probably may have an escape clause.
– While head-to-head season collection is the primary playoff tiebreaker, the following tiebreaker goes to division champions.
– Finishing forward of the Hawks would give the Heat such an edge (barring some sort of late-season cost by the Wizards).
– With a Monday win over the Hawks placing the Heat up 3-1 on Atlanta to shut out the season collection.
– Yes, Friday’s loss to the Heat nonetheless stings.
– Saturday eliminated a few of it.
– Monday may take away much more.
– The Heat stayed with the lineup that entered the night time 1-4, once more opening with Bam Adebayo, Kevin Love, Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and Gabe Vincent.
– Love once more had his moments.
– Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller entered because the Heat’s first two reserves.
– The recreation was the five hundredth regular-season look of Zeller’s profession.
– He performed as if it was a significant night time.
– Max Strus and Caleb Martin then subsequent adopted collectively off the Heat bench,
– All with Duncan Robinson remaining out of the first combine.
– An alternative to change into much more restricted when/if Kyle Lowry returns.
– Heat coach Erik Spoelstra earlier than the sport was requested about Butler after Friday night time’s loss to the Knicks saying, “We really get bored with the process and I can’t tell you why. We play hard and sometimes we get back into the game like tonight and sometimes we don’t.”
– Of that remark, Spoelstra stated, “I’m good with all of that. I’m good with all of it. None of us should be happy right now. All of us will express different ways of our disappointment, frustration and anger about the season. It’s a matter of putting it all into action right now. We know what we need to do to win basketball games and we have to commit to that.”
– Spoelstra was non-committal when requested pregame about whether or not there’s a Heat expectation of Lowry returning throughout the common season from the knee soreness that has had him out since Feb. 2.
– “He’s not playing tonight,” Spoelstra stated. “Same process, the same protocol. He’s making progress, and that’s all I got for you today.”
– Spoelstra provided a novel perspective when requested about Quin Snyder this previous week taking up as Hawks coach.
– “He’s a great basketball coach and a really good guy,” Spoelstra stated. “I’ve actually known Quin since I was 14. We played on the same traveling AAU team. He was on the senior team, I was on the junior team. So he was actually like our chaperone at one of these tournaments. But I’ve been a big fan of his for a long time and it’s a great fit for him.”
– Butler’s second rebound moved him previous Kelly Olynyk for 18th on the Heat all-time listing.
– Butler’s first steal tied Byron Scott for 88th on the NBA all-time listing and moved him previous No. 89 Carmelo Anthony.
– Love’s second 3-pointer moved him previous former Heat guard Tim Hardaway for forty first on the NBA all-time listing.
– Adebayo’s third basket moved him previous Hardaway for ninth on the Heat all-time listing.
– Martin’s first defensive rebound was the five hundredth of his profession.
– Vincent’s third 3-pointer moved him previous Kendrick Nunn for twenty second on the Heat all-time listing.
– Chris Bosh was amongst these within the crowd, receiving a rousing ovation when launched within the first half.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com