When’s the last time the Miami Heat had a blowout win? It seemed like ages. The majority of the Heat’s games have been close ones. But on Wednesday night, it was a different story. Miami had control of the game from start to finish. They got strong performances from their top three players. Additionally, the Heat’s three-point shooting was great as well. With the win, Miami moves to 38-33 for the season. Here are my takeaways from Miami’s victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Butler Sets The Tone
During Monday’s postgame presser, when asked about shooting threes, Jimmy Butler told reporters that he welcomes physicality. With Dillon Brooks guarding him, we knew it was going to a physical game. It certainly was at the start of the game, but Butler used it to his advantage. Butler put up a quick 14 points in the first period. The majority of those points were from the free throw line. Since the All-Star break, Butler has been playing at another level. And it’s coming at an essential time for the Heat, as they compete for the playoffs. Butler ended the night with 23 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.
New Look Heat Rotation
Since Kyle Lowry’s return, there were questions about who Miami’s nine players were going to be. With the playoffs approaching, this is usually the time where Miami shortens their rotation to nine players. As a result, one Heat player had to be the odd man out. On Wednesday, the player was Victor Oladipo, who has struggled for the last couple of weeks. The only reason why Miami went 10 players early on was because of Omer Yurtseven being in foul trouble. Lowry and the Heat reserves certainly contributed off the bench. They provided energy, great ball movement, and defense. Overall, it was a productive night for the new-look Heat rotation.
Bam Steps Up
Bam Adebayo has been struggling a lot lately on both ends of the floor. He’s been standing around and often turning the ball over. Adebayo stepped up on both ends on Wednesday night. He looked like all-star Adebayo on both ends. He blocked shots and helped on the blitz coverages. There were a few miscues along the way with Adebayo opting to stick on the perimeter instead of recovering back when needed. This is the Adebayo the Heat needs for the playoff push. Often times, he’s going to have the matchup advantages with his athleticism and quickness. Hopefully, this performance means his slump is over. Adebayo finished with 26 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks.
We Got Shooters?
The Heat’s shooting seems to be trending in the right direction lately. There was a point in the first period where Miami was shooting 48 percent from downtown. Yes, 48 percent. All season long, Miami has struggled from downtown. The issue was never open looks, because the Heat generated a lot of those. However, they just never knock them down. On Wednesday, the Heat were certainly shooting at a high percentage. The ball was moving from side to side instead of sticking. Heat players, mainly Caleb Martin, moved well without the ball. That’s certainly the difference in this one. Overall, Miami ended the night shooting 44.8 percent from beyond the arc.
Next Up: The Chicago Bulls on Saturday. Game starts at 8:00pm eastern.
