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Takeaways from Miami Heat’s Victory over the Pelicans

Photo via Heat.com

The Miami Heat had their starters back together for the 15th time this season. They took on a shorthanded New Orleans Pelicans team missing their two all-star players. Still, it was business as usual. Miami dominated the game on both ends from start to finish. New Orleans tried to come back and was able to trim Miami’s lead to 14. However, Miami continued to push their lead before eventually sealing the victory. With the win, Miami moves to 25-21 for the season. Here are my takeaways from Wednesday’s victory.

All-NBA Bam

Bam Adebayo continues to show his improvement on the offensive end. He’s not only making a case for the all-star team he’s also making a strong case for the All-NBA team. Adebayo got going early in the game. His teammates kept finding him out of the pick and roll action. With the Pelicans bigs playing drop coverage, you knew the Heat were going to get opportunities in that action. Adebayo’s pull-up jumpers were falling at a high rate on Wednesday night. When those shots are falling, it’s usually a long night for teams. Defensively, Adebayo continued to wreak havoc on that end. In the end, Adebayo finished with 26 points and eight rebounds.

Gabe Back in Bench Role

With Kyle Lowry back, Gabe Vincent was back in a familiar role off the bench. And he played well on Wednesday. Vincent continued to shoot well off the ball. He even hit two buzzer beaters from the behind the arc. Miami has been getting a healthy dose of Vincent shooting the past couple of games. This is the Vincent the Heat needs the rest of the way. He’s currently trending in the right direction. Whenever the defenses are packing the paint, it certainly helps when Vincent is hitting those catch and shoot three-pointers. Vincent finished the night with 16 points.

Consistency! Consistency! Consistency!

Photo via Heat.com

Could the Heat finally be picking up momentum? It seems like we have been asking that question all season long. However, this is probably the first time they have been healthy all season. With a full roster, it allows players to revert back to their usual roles. Hopefully, this team can continue to trend forward. Throughout the year, we seen this team pick up huge wins and lose against lesser teams. Now, with a harder schedule, it’s time for them to push forward. It starts on Friday with Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks with Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics following behind them.

Trade Rumors

With the NBA trade deadline approaching, this is the time of the year where NBA rumors happened. And there was one pertaining to the Heat on Wednesday. According to Sean Deveney, the Heat reportedly discussed a deal with the Atlanta Hawks that would have sent Duncan Robinson, Caleb Martin and a protected first round pick to Atlanta in exchange for John Collins. Miami is looking to bolster their frontcourt alongside Adebayo. Collins is owed $25 million in each of the next two seasons with a player option in 2025-26 season. There’s also questions about the potential fit with the roster. But we’ll see what happens.

Next Up: The Dallas Mavericks. The game tips off at 7:30pm eastern.

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Takeaways from the Miami Heat’s Victory Over Bucks

Photo via Heat.com

Once again, both the Miami Heat and the Milwaukee Bucks were shorthanded. This time it was an early 1pm start for both teams. It was the Gabe Vincent show again, as Victor Oladipo got going in the fourth quarter. Miami had the lead throughout the whole game. Milwaukee made it interesting in the third quarter when they cut Miami’s double-digit lead in the third quarter. However, Miami blew the game away in the fourth period to seal the victory. With the win, Miami moves to 24-20 for the season. Here’s my takeaways from Saturday’s win over Milwaukee.

Vincent Leads the Way

Photo via Heat.com

Vincent really loves playing the Bucks. After scoring a career-high 28 points on Thursday, Vincent was scorching the Bucks again. Vincent had 21 points in the first half. He kept manipulating the Bucks defense in the pick and roll action. In the pick and roll action, Vincent was pin the Bucks’ defenders on his back before hitting his floater and step back jumpers. Most importantly, he was hitting his shots from beyond the arc. He hit a fadeaway three-pointer right in front of the Bucks bench. Vincent really had it going on Sunday. He finished the day with 27 points and five steals.

Oladipo’s 4th Quarter Takeover

It was the Vincent show in the first half, but in the second half it was Oladipo. Oladipo had a rough start in the first period. He was very loose with his ballhandling and got some early turnovers. When he’s the sole ball hander in the lineup, he often struggles. But when you put him alongside an extra ball handler, he tends to do well. And that was the case with Vincent. Oladipo really started to make his impact in the fourth period. In the first two minutes of the fourth period, Oladipo scored seven points. He was able to get to basket and get a couple of steals on the defensive end. His energy in the fourth quarter really changed the momentum of the game. Oladipo finished the game with 20 points.

Bam’s Uneven Start

Bam Adebayo scored 24 points against the Bucks. He was killing the Bucks drop coverages with his midrange game. But, in the second game against the Bucks, he started off slow. The shots were not falling, and he got into foul trouble early in the game. Additionally, he was unable to get calls on the other end even though there was contact. Still, it was encouraging to see Adebayo continue to attack the basket. In the past, he would be reluctant to shoot and sometimes even look at the basket. With the Heat guards playing well, it opened up the lane for Adebayo for easy buckets. He finished the day with 20 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks.

Robinson ahead of Dedmon

After serving his one game suspension on Thursday, Dewayne Dedmon was back with the Heat on the bench. But he didn’t play. The Heat kept Orlando Robinson as the primary back up big on Sunday. Robinson was able to provide solid minutes once again. He kept fighting on the boards, especially on the offensive end. Miami was able to get multiple second chance opportunities because of his activity on the glass. He’s still raw in some areas but he’s been solid enough to play ahead of Dedmon. Robinson has been really making the most of his opportunities. He didn’t score many points but overall, it was a promising day for him. Robinson finished with four points and eight rebounds.

Next up: The Atlanta Hawks. Game tips off at 3:30pm eastern time.

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Takeaways from Miami Heat’s Victory over the Bucks

Photo via Heat.com

The Miami Heat faced a shorthanded Milwaukee Bucks team on Thursday. The Bucks were without three starters. This should be an easy game, right? Well, that hasn’t been the case with Miami falling to shorthanded teams this season. Miami started the game off bad in the first quarter. But then, Miami got into a rhythm and forced Bucks into tough possessions. In the end, Miami was able to hold off the Bucks for the win. With the win, Miami moves to 23-20 for the season. Here are my takeaways from Thursday win over the Bucks.

Rough First Quarter

If you are a fan of high scoring, this wasn’t the game for you. Both teams, who struggle in the halfcourt, came out sluggish. The Heat scored only 14 points in the first period. Milwaukee played tough defense on the Heat early. Their guards kept hounding the ball handers on the Heat with Lopez protecting the paint. Miami had trouble getting into any offensive rhythm. On the other end, Milwaukee was jacking up a lot of three pointers. With their best player out, Milwaukee went with the boom or bust mentality when it came to three pointers. When they got a turnover, they immediately shot a three pointer on the other end.

Vincent’s Career Night

The Heat don’t win this game without Gabe Vincent, who had a career night. Miami struggled in the beginning of the game to get shots off. With the offensive struggling, it was Vincent who kept the Heat afloat. He knock down wide open triple and got it going from there. After a rough season, Vincent’s jumper was falling on Thursday. He took a step back jumper near the three-point line and drew the foul. With the jumpers going, it opened up the passing lanes a bit more. It forced the Bucks to turn their attention to Vincent. Now, Miami needs Vincent to be more consistent with his jumpers. Vincent finished with a career-high 28 points and six assists.

Bam vs Brook Lopez

Photo via Heat.com

All eyes were on the Bam Adebayo and Brook Lopez matchup. If you followed the Bucks and Heat matchups over the years, you would know how much Adebayo has struggled against him. The Bucks typically have Lopez playing a deep drop coverage against Adebayo leaving him open for jumpers. In the past, Adebayo was hesistant to take those shots. However, not this time around. Miami immediately went to Adebayo in the middle early in the game. Adebayo sunk down his first two jumpers against Lopez, which is a good sign. It even forced Lopez to play higher on the pick and rolls. Adebayo is no longer afraid of the deep drop coverages. He finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds.

Oladipo Overcomes Tough Start

It wasn’t a good start for Victor Oladipo. He was struggling on the offensive end and was unable to get into any rhythm. He entered the fourth quarter shooting 2 of 8 from the field. But then, Oladipo started to get going in the fourth quarter. After forcing a turnover on the other end, Oladipo scored off a fancy spin move and layup. The next possession, Oladipo ran a high pick and roll action with Adebayo and knocked down the triple at the top of the key. This forced the Bucks into a timeout. It was good seeing Oladipo keep battling as he worked to find his rhythm. Oladipo finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.

Next up: The Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday. Game tips off at 1pm eastern on ABC.

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Takeaways from Miami Heat’s Victory over the Thunder

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The Miami Heat‘s injury problems continued on Tuesday. Before their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Heat announced that four starters would be out on Tuesday. Of course, this wasn’t knew for the Heat. They’re been battling injuries all season. Despite being shorthanded, Miami still made it a game. The Thunder picked up their first lead in the third quarter. They also lead by five down the stretch. But in the end, Miami came through with the victory. With the win, Miami moves to 22-20 for the season. Here are my takeaways from Tuesday’s win over the Thunder.

Jimmy Butler at the Free Throw Line

The past few days, there was talk about the non-call on Jimmy Butler‘s potential game winning basket. Yesterday, the league came back and stated that was the correct call. On Tuesday, Butler was determined to get to the free-throw line, and he did. Butler had 23 of Miami’s 40 free throws on the night. He kept attacking and drawing fouls throughout the whole game. Butler was very active on the defensive end getting blocks and playing the passing lanes. His and-one basket at the end of the game sealed the Heat’s victory. Butler finished the night with 35 points, seven rebounds, four steals, and three blocks.

Clock Ticking On Dedmon?

This has not been Dewayne Dedmon‘s best season. At all. He hasn’t been good on the defensive end with teams attacking him in drop coverages. He kept getting beat on the Heat’s zone defense. A Thunder player kept getting open on the Heat’s baseline for a dunk or layup. It kept happening on consecutive possessions. After that, is where things got heated. Dedmon got in a heated discussion with Miami’s coaching staff and then stormed off to the locker-room. As he stormed off the court, he punched a therapy gun off a table in frustration, which led to his ejection. Dedmon will be trade eligible on January 15th. And it appears his time in Miami is coming to an end.

New NBA Record

Four starters were out for Miami. They needed to find a way to win the game. So, Miami decided to make history on Tuesday night. They became the first team to make 40 consecutive free throws without missing in a game. The previous record was 39 free throws. As mentioned earlier, 23 of those free throws came from Butler. Miami was rewarded with their aggressiveness for going to the basket. This wasn’t a pretty game. Miami had to get this win out the mud. But still, 40 consecutive made free throws is a nice feat.

Oladipo’s Performance

Photo Via Heat.com

Victor Oladipo continues to trend upward with his offense. He continued to attack the basket. Oladipo, however, does tend to make the wrong passes at times. Hopefully, the three-point shooting improves. His offense is still a work a progress. But you have to like what you’re seeing so far from. His defense was already elite and has arguably been Miami’s best perimeter defender. Oladipo has a knack for stripping the ball off of defenders. He doesn’t care who’s in front of him. It’s like he takes his matchups personal. Oladipo finished the night with 19 points.

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Takeaways from Miami Heat’s Victory over the Suns

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It was the final road game of the Miami Heat‘s five game road trip. The Heat took on a shorthanded Phoenix Suns team missing a couple of key players. When Wednesday’s loss in mind, Miami knew what had to be done. Despite being shorthanded, the Suns competed with the Heat. However, Miami was able to pull away and seal the victory. With the win, Miami moves to 21-19 for the season and finishes the road trip 3-2. Here are my takeaways from the game.

Victor Oladipo Leads the Way

Photo via Heat.com

With Tyler Herro out, all eyes were on both Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo to provide more scoring. But, it was Victor Oladipo who led the team in scoring. Oladipo continued to show his burst on the offensive end. He was able to provide plenty of rim pressure on Friday night for Miami. He got a couple of finishes in the paint and got to the free throw line. If he can provide consistent rim pressure and draw fouls, it’ll be a huge boost for the Heat’s offense. Defensively, he continued to be strong on that end. He’s been able to stay in front of his defenders and force turnovers. His defense has been very elite for a team that lacks many point of attack defenders. Overall, it was a great night for the Heat guard. Oladipo finished the night with 26 points.

Bam’s Double Double

To start the game, the Heat made sure to get Adebayo going early. Miami kept feeding the ball to Adebayo in the paint and on the short roll. Adebayo shot 6-of-9 from the field in the first half. Adebayo’s jumper continues to fall at a high clip. It’s at a point now where you expect him to hit the free throw line jumper every time. And the Heat are very aware of that. Seeing them continue to run isolation plays for Adebayo shows where he’s at as a scorer. It’s usually easier for Adebayo to score off the pocket when Herro is in. However, Adebayo was still able to do it without him. Adebayo finished the night with 21 points and 11 rebounds.

Dedmon Minutes

Before the game, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra hinted that the team would go with Orlando Robinson going forward. At least until Dewayne Dedmon gets healthy. Instead, the Heat stuck with Dedmon as the backup big. As been the case for the majority of the season, those minutes haven’t been as good. Dedmon’s drop coverage defense was immediately put to the test. The Suns kept taking advantage of that and went on big runs. You could also tell how reliant the Heat are on Adebayo by the minutes Dedmon played. He only played six minutes in the first half. Clearly, Miami needs to find more frontcourt depth to help Adebayo. With the trade deadline five weeks away, the clock is ticking.

Haywood Decision

Speaking of clocks, the clock is ticking on the Heat’s decision on Haywood Highsmith. On Saturday, the Heat must decide to either guarantee Highsmith’s contract or waive him. With so many players getting hurt, it’s likely Miami is still going to keep him around. He started Friday night’s game with Caleb Martin out. This season, Highsmith has emerged as one of the Heat’s better defenders. He’s able to hold his own on the perimeter and fight for loose balls. The three-point shooting has been iffy at times. But, Highsmith has been productive at times this season. We’ll see what happens.

Next Up: The Brooklyn Nets. Game tips off at 6pm eastern time.

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Takeaways from Miami Heat’s Victory over the Clippers

Photo By: Heat.com

For the first time this season, the Miami Heat are two games over .500. They started the first half strong, leading the Los Angeles Clippers by 18 points at halftime. And just like most Heat games, it was a rollercoaster. After a strong first half, Miami went through a rough third quarter. But still, Miami was able to overcome the Clippers comeback and win the game. With the win, Miami moves to 20-18 for the season. Here are my takeaways from Monday’s win.

Adebayo Sets the Tone

Coming into Monday’s game, Bam Adebayo clearly had the matchup advantage against Ivica Zubac. The last time these two teams faced each other, they doubled Adebayo all game. Adebayo still scored 31 points in that game. The adjustment the Clippers made this time was doubling Jimmy Butler instead. This allowed Adebayo to get his one-on-one matchup with Zubac. Adebayo has the quickness to get past Zubac and can knock down his midrange jumper. The midrange jumper was falling for Adebayo and he also got some buckets around the basket. He was clearly set on being assertive this game. And he was throughout. Adebayo finished the night with 31 points and 13 rebounds.

Miami Heat’s Turd Quarter Moves in the New Year

When the year turned 2023, the Heat hoped to leave their third quarter troubles behind them. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case on Monday. Despite a strong first half, Miami came back in the third quarter a totally different team. They couldn’t get consecutive defensive stops, as Paul George got his isolation game going. Offensively, the team was stagnant on that end. The ball stopped moving and players weren’t moving. It was all just isolation, which is not Heat basketball. It seems as if Miami gets too comfortable at times whenever they start off strong. They start to believe the game is out of reach and they can relax. Too often Miami settles with tough shots and going away from their ball movement. This is one of the things Miami needs to clean up starting this year.

Oladipo’s Offense Trending in the Right Direction

There appears to be a huge development coming from the Heat’s roster. And it’s coming from Victor Oladipo. Coming off his best performance of the season, Oladipo continued to excel on the offensive end on Monday. He provided consistent rim pressure, and his jumpers were falling as well. Defensively, he continued to make things tough on the Clippers guards. But most importantly, it’s his offense that has been the story of the past two games. Miami needs that offensive spark off the bench and Oladipo becoming more consistent certainly helps. However, Miami will continue to be cautious with the Heat guard. Oladipo has yet to play in back-to-back games this season. Oladipo finished the night with 15 points.

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Butler Returns

After sitting out Saturday’s game, Butler was back in the lineup on Monday. It was a quiet game for the Heat’s star player. As mentioned earlier, the Clippers made adjustments to double Butler, mainly at the elbow. Butler also struggled from the field and from the free throw line. With Butler struggling, he deferred to Tyler Herro and Adebayo, who both had a good night. This wasn’t his night, and he didn’t try to force the action. When Miami needed to stop the Clippers run in the third quarter, he drew two fouls and got to the free throw line. Butler finished the night with nine points and six rebounds.

Next Up: The Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. Game tips off at 10:30pm eastern time.

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Takeaways from Miami Heat’s Victory Over the Lakers

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A familiar face was back in Miami on Wednesday night. Lebron James and the Los Angeles Lakers took on the Miami Heat. It was back and forth contest between both teams in the first half. Miami pushed their lead to as many as 22 points in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, the game started to get close again when the Lakers cut the Heat’s lead to nine points. However, a key three-pointer from Tyler Herro pushed the Heat ahead and they never looked back. With the win, Miami moves to 18-17 for the season. Here are my takeaways from the Heat’s win against the Lakers.

Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo Both Sharp in their Returns

Miami’s best two players Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler were back in action on Wednesday. Butler was very efficient in his first game back. Butler tormented the Lakers with his midrange game. He was very under control throughout the whole game. Whenever the Lakers made a run, Butler would knock down timely shots to keep the Heat ahead. Butler finished the night with 27 points on an efficient 11-of-18 shooting from the field. Adebayo was also strong in his return. He dominated his matchup with Lakers center Thomas Bryant. The Heat center had 11 points and eight rebounds in the first half. He then scored 10 points in the third quarter and finished the night with 23 points and 14 rebounds.

Miami Heat’s Strong Third Quarter

We all know about the Heat’s history with third quarters, often referred to as ” Turd Quarters” by Heat fans. Miami has had their struggles with the third period this season as well. Miami entered this week losing eight of their last nine third quarters. On Monday, they outscored the Minnesota Timberwolves by four in the third period and turned around and outscored the Lakers by eight. Miami entered the fourth quarter up 95-78. It certainly helps playing against a struggling team like the Lakers. Miami took advantage of that and held off a Lakers comeback in the fourth quarter.

Another Oladipo Defensive Masterclass

Yes, Victor Oladipo is still struggling offensively. He still has trouble finishing at the rim. He has yet to find an offensive rhythm. However, he’s really been putting his fingerprints on the defensive end. Oladipo has been very huge at the point of attack. He has the lateral quickness to stay in front of his defender and beating them to their spot. He has great defensive instincts on the defensive end. Oladipo has a good knack of swiping the ball away from a player and forcing a turnover. You can try dribbling in front of him if you want to. But he’s going to make it tough for you. He finished the night with four points, three steals, and two blocks.

Caleb’s Three-Point Shooting

Photo via Heat.com

If it wasn’t for Miami’s struggling start, we would be talking more about Caleb Martin‘s development. He’s been outstanding for Miami this season. Martin was solid against the Lakers on Wednesday, especially from downtown. Martin shot 3 of 4 from beyond the arc. He’s looking more comfortable shooting the ball than he has in the past. Martin can shoot off the catch and off the jab step. The funny thing is he probably would’ve had five triples hadn’t he stepped on the three-point line two times. Martin finished the night with 13 points.

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Takeaways from Miami Heat’s Victory over the Timberwolves

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The Miami Heat enter Monday’s game with a record of 16-17. They also were 9-8 at home. With that being said, this was going to be a huge game for the Heat. The task became even more daunting without Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. However, the Heat were still able to get the job done against the Minnesota Timberwolves. And it wasn’t pretty. A late fadeaway jumper by Tyler Herro put the team up five points and late sealed the victory for Miami. With the win, Miami moves to 16-16 for the season. Here are the takeaways from Monday’s win over the Timberwolves.

Strus Leads the Way

Without two of their top scorers, Miami needed others to step up. And Max Strus answered the call. Strus stepped up to lead the team in scoring with 19 points. Most importantly, the three-point shooting was back for Strus. After struggling for most of the month, Strus made five three-pointers on Monday. He also got a couple of baskets off of run outs and cuts to the basket. As a team, Miami mostly struggled from downtown. But it was nice seeing the Heat sharpshooter get going from beyond the arc. Hopefully, he can continue to shoot well from outside.

Attacking the Paint

Usually when Adebayo and Butler are out, the strategy usually involves putting up more three-point shots. But yet, Miami was able to create plenty of opportunities in the paint. Kyle Lowry led the attack with his drives to the basket off the pick and roll. Gabe Vincent and Victor Oladipo also attacked the paint as well. It was the first time both Oladipo and Vincent played together in the backcourt. Oladipo’s finishes at the paint haven’t always been pretty. However, it’s going to be important in the long run as he gets back in offensive rhythm. At one point, Miami had 22 points in the paint in the first half. Overall, Miami finished the night with 64 points in the paint.

Has Miami found their Backup Five?

Photo via Heat.com

The Heat were thin at the center spot without Adebayo, Dewayne Dedmon, and Omer Yurtseven. But, they did have one true center left in Orlando Robinson. While Nikola Jovic started for spacing purposes, Robinson provided huge minutes at the center spot. He was active on the boards, particularly on the offensive end. Robinson’s activity around the basket provided multiple second chance opportunities for Miami. He didn’t force anything on the offensive end. Robinson set good screens and dove to the basket in a timely manner. There’s still room for improvement but overall, it was a solid night for the Heat rookie big man. Robinson finished with 15 points and nine rebounds.

Robinson closing in on Franchise Record

Now, let’s talk about the other Robinson. Duncan Robinson, who has been in and out of the rotation, got minutes on Monday. Even though he’s shooting 32 percent from downtown, Robinson is still a threat from beyond the arc. Especially when he’s shooting 40 percent for his career. On Monday, Robinson and Strus were the main Heat players shooting well from outside. Robinson shot 3 of 5 from beyond the arc. His first three of the night put him at 800 three-pointers for his career, making him the fastest player to reach that mark. He’s now five three-pointers away from passing Tim Hardaway for the most in franchise history. Robinson finished the night with nine points in 14 minutes of action.

Next up: The Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. Game tips off at 7:30pm eastern time.

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Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade is headed to the Hall of Fame

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In case you missed it, Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade is officially a candidate for the 2023 Basketball Hall of Fame. Wade was among several former NBA stars selected as candidates. The Heat legend delivered Miami’s first championship in 2006, and later went on to win two more in 2012 and 2013. He has been a key part in each championship run and is arguably considered the greatest Heat player. The accolades that Wade has throughout his career speak for themselves. He’s a 13-time NBA-AllStar, Three-time NBA Champion, 2006 Finals MVP, Eight-time All-NBA Player, and Olympic Gold Medalist.

The Beginning

When discussing the top three shooting guards of all-time, you have to put Wade in after Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Without Wade, Miami wouldn’t have won their first championship in 2006. Trailing 0-2 in the series, Wade led a huge turnaround to win the series 4-2. It was arguably one of the greatest finals performances in the NBA history. The Dallas Mavericks had no answer for him. Wade constantly attacked the paint and drew fouls. When the Mavericks forced him into jumpers, Wade may them pay.

The following couple of years were filled with underachieving seasons for Miami. However, Wade still put up great individual performances. Every year, he was an All-Star player, All-NBA talent, and was in the conversation for league MVP in 2009. In that same year, Wade was also the league’s leading scorer, averaging 30.2 points per game. He was still one of, if not the best shot blocking guard in history. Despite the years without championships, Wade still kept the Heat relevant during those few years.

Miami Heat Big Three Era

Next came the Big Three era, when Lebron James and Chris Bosh decided to join Wade in Miami. Wade played a huge role in recruiting to two stars to join him in Miami. The Big Three spent four seasons together, winning two NBA championships. The following years, we began to see a decline in Wade’s athleticism. Wade also was dealing with multiple of injuries as well. Still, the Heat guard was productive. Even though the athleticism was declining, Wade used his basketball IQ and craftiness to his advantage. He still provided clutch moments for Miami and many memorable memories. Remember the “Purple Shirt Guy Game?”

One Last Dance

Yes, Wade had some short stints with the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers. If you’re a longtime Heat fan or Wade fan, those are memories you would rather forget. But Wade found his way back to Miami in 2018. He was back in the place where it all started. A place that meant the most to him. The following season was his final NBA season, which was labeled as “One Last Dance.” Now, Wade can finally close his career, with a lock in the 2023 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He will join other greats like Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, and coach Gregg Popovich.

As always, Thank You for Everything D-Wade!

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Takeaways from the Miami Heat’s Victory over the Spurs

Photo by: Heat.com

For the first time this season, the Miami Heat have reached above the .500 mark. Playing in Mexico City, Miami was missing a few key role players. After losing to the San Antonio Spurs a week ago, Miami needed to get their revenge on Saturday. And that’s exactly what happened. Miami didn’t play well on both ends in the first half. The offense was clunky at times, and they were slow on their defensive rotations. But in the end, Miami picked up their defensive intensity and was able to seal the victory. With the win, Miami moves to 16-15 for the season. Here are my takeaways from Saturday’s victory over the Spurs.

Butler leads the Way

The last time these two teams played each other, Jimmy Butler put up 30 points against the Spurs. In that game, Miami was trailing and relied heavily on Butler’s isolation scoring. On Saturday, it was another back-and-forth game between the two times. With Miami trailing at halftime, they needed their best player to take control of the game. Butler did that in the third period to keep the Heat afloat. Butler kept attacking the paint and drawing fouls on the Spurs defenders. His ability to provide rim pressure and draw fouls was very essential for Miami at that point. It kept Miami in good position to win. Butler ended the night with 26 points, five rebounds, and four assists.

The Non-Bam Minutes

When Bam Adebayo first exited the game in the first quarter, Miami had a 20-12 lead over the Spurs. Guess what happened when he returned to the game? Well, Miami trailed 25-20. The Spurs continued to involve Dewayne Dedmon in their offensive attack. They kept attacking Dedmon in the drop coverage forcing him to play 2-on-1s. It hasn’t been a good year for Dedmon on both ends. He’s been inconsistent in his minutes and also has been dealing with a lingering foot injury. As has been the case throughout the season, the non-Bam minutes continues to be a problem. They’ll need to find a frontcourt piece through trade at some point this season.

Duncan Robinson Provides Shooting Boost

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Duncan Robinson provided some quality minutes off the bench for the Heat on Saturday. He shot the ball well from the beyond the arc. Robinson was 3-for-6 from downtown. In addition to his shooting, Miami was also running their offensive sets for him again. On one play, Tyler Herro drew two defenders and threw a skip pass over to Robinson for the open shot. Robinson made it. In the first possession of the fourth period, Robinson caught the ball off a flare screen, drew the double, and found a rolling Adebayo for an easy dunk. He later scored an and-1 bucket off a dribble handoff involving Adebayo. When Robinson is rolling offensively, it creates plenty of opportunities for Miami’s offense. The problem is he hasn’t been consistent as much this season. Robinson finished the night with 12 points.

Victor Oladipo’s Elite Defense

After sitting out the last game for rest, Victor Oladipo was back on the floor on Saturday. He was the first reserve off the bench. It was still a quiet game offensively for him. He’s still trying to find his offensive rhythm as he gets his reps. However, his defense has been elite and huge for Miami. On Saturday, he was very active on the defensive end getting deflections and five steals. Yes, I said five steals. Oladipo’s defense played a key role in the Heat’s victory over the Spurs. In the fourth period, Oladipo picked up three steals in a span of three minutes. The offensive game remains a work in progress, but his defense has been on another level. Oladipo finished the night with seven points.

Next up: The Chicago Bulls on Tuesday. Game tips off at 7:30pm eastern.

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