Category: Miami Heat Blog

Heat blog – Miami Heat blog

The 2020-21 Miami Heat season was rocky from the start

The Miami Heat’s postseason ended in a hurry with a four-game sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks. Though, considering how the regular season went, it’s not a total surprise that the Heat fell short in the playoffs. Via the Miami Herald:

The Heat entered the season after a COVID-19 pandemic-shortened offseason that lasted 71 days, which is the fewest between the end of a season and the start of the next season in NBA, MLB, NHL and NFL history, according to Elias Sports. The Heat lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Oct. 11, and Miami began team practices in December before opening the regular season on Dec. 23.

But the Heat’s season ended abruptly on Saturday afternoon, as it was swept out of the first round of the playoffs, 4-0, by the Milwaukee Bucks. It marks just the second time in franchise history that the Heat has been swept in a best-of-seven series and the first time since Erik Spoelstra took over as head coach prior to the 2008-09 season…

It was a bumpy season from the start for the Heat following its magical bubble run to the Finals as the fifth seed. At one point this season, Miami stood at 7-14.

The Heat used 18 different starting lineups in the first 36 games because of injury and COVID-19 issues that kept various players out.

Massive free agency decisions must be made this summer. Potential franchise-changing decisions. We’ll post more about that as the offseason approaches.

Heat must step up in a big way vs. Bucks in Game 3

The Heat are in some trouble. Against a Bucks team that so far looks fully able to raise their game to a playoff level. Via the Miami Herald:

Toward the end of the second-most lopsided playoff loss in Miami Heat history, the crowd of about 9,000 in attendance at Fiserv Forum made its prediction for the outcome of the first-round series between the Heat and Milwaukee Bucks.

“Bucks in four,” the fans chanted in the final minutes of Game 2.

That seemed like an obvious prediction to make at the time, with third-seeded Milwaukee on its way to a 34-point win on Monday to take a 2-0 series lead over six-seeded Miami. But the Heat will look to change the narrative and bounce back as the series moves to AmericanAirlines Arena for Games 3 and 4.

Game 3 is Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (Bally Sports Sun and TNT).

Heat and Bucks to face off in first round of playoffs

The Heat and Bucks faced each other in the playoffs last year, and will do so again this year. Via the Miami Herald:

This year, the sixth-seeded Heat (40-32) will take on the third-seeded Bucks (46-26) in the first round of the playoffs. The best-of-7 series will begin either Saturday or Sunday at Fiserv Forum, with the schedule yet to be released.

“They’re a really good team, obviously. They’re much different than last year,” Heat second-year guard Tyler Herro said of the Bucks. “They added a bunch of guys with Jrue [Holiday] and Bobby Portis and some guys off the bench. So it’s going to be a great series. I feel like two great teams in the Eastern Conference going at it.”

At the surface, the Bucks don’t seem as dominant as they were last season when they entered the playoffs with the NBA’s top record and net rating.

The Bucks enter the playoffs this season with the league’s seventh-best record and fourth-best net rating.

While the numbers might not be as overwhelming as last season’s, the Bucks’ roster seems better suited for the playoffs this season after adding Holiday, Portis and reserve guard Bryn Forbes in free agency last offseason and trading for veteran three-and-D specialist P.J. Tucker in March.

And the Sun Sentinel:

Familiar competition, with the Heat having defeated the Bucks 4-1 in last season’s Eastern Conference semifinals.

But also dissimilar circumstances. Unlike like last year’s playoffs, there will not be the cocoon of the Disney World quarantine bubble, with Milwaukee this time receiving true homecourt advantage at Fiserv Forum. It also is a Bucks team bolstered by the offseason addition of Jrue Holiday. And this time, after a march to the 2020 NBA Finals, it is not a Heat team that will be taking anybody by surprise.

Miami Heat sign center Omer Yurtseven

The Miami Heat have signed center Omer Yurtseven.

Yurtseven appeared in 14 games (one start) with the Oklahoma City Blue of the G League this season and averaged 15.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.36 blocks and 21.1 minutes while shooting 62.6 percent from the field and 38.1 percent from three-point range. He scored in double-figures 11 times, including two 20-point games and one 30-point performance. He posted five double-doubles, including a season-high 34 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and three blocks against the Long Island Nets on March 1.

Yurtseven played two seasons at NC State before transferring to Georgetown. As a senior in 2019-20, he appeared in 26 games (25 starts) and averaged 15.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.46 blocks, 1.2 assists and 27.3 minutes while shooting 53.4 percent from the field.

Heat guard Victor Oladipo undergoes surgery

Miami Heat guard Victor Oladipo underwent surgery yesterday on his right quadriceps tendon. The surgery was performed by Dr. Jonathan Glashow at the NYU Medical Center.

Oladipo, who was acquired by the HEAT in a trade on March 25, appeared in 33 games (all starts) this season averaging 19.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.39 steals and 32.7 minutes. He appeared in four games with Miami averaging 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.75 steals and 27.8 minutes, helping the HEAT to a 3-1 record over that span.

here is no timetable for his return at this time.

Heat guard Victor Oladipo to undergo season-ending surgery

Miami Heat guard Victor Oladipo has decided to undergo season-ending surgery on his right quadriceps tendon. The surgery will take place tomorrow, Thursday May 13, in New York. There is no timetable for his return at this time.

Oladipo, who was acquired by the HEAT in a trade on March 25, appeared in 33 games (all starts) this season averaging 19.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.39 steals and 32.7 minutes. He appeared in four games with Miami averaging 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.75 steals and 27.8 minutes, helping the HEAT to a 3-1 record over that span.

Upcoming Heat vs. Celtics games are huge for both teams

The NBA playoff race is coming down to the wire. As for the Heat, here’s the Sun Sentinel:

Despite not wanting to look too far ahead, the Heat (36-31) are well aware of the stakes in their upcoming matchups against the Celtics (35-32) on Sunday and Tuesday at TD Garden.

If the Heat win both games in Boston, they would win the season series against the Celtics, jump three games ahead of Boston in the standings and would give themselves the best chance at avoiding the play-in tournament for seeds seven through 10, with the tournament deciding which teams will occupy the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in the playoffs in both conferences.

If the Heat split the matchups in Boston, they would lose the tiebreaker in the standings against the Celtics and put themselves in a tough spot heading into their final three games of the season: versus Philadelphia on Thursday, at Milwaukee on May 15 and at Detroit on May 16.

And via Boston.com:

The Celtics are currently 35-32, as of Saturday, and sit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference – one full game behind the sixth-place Miami Heat. They finish the regular season with two pivotal matchups with the Heat and games against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and New York Knicks before finding out their fate.

If they beat the Heat twice, they’re suddenly looking at the six-seed, and potentially even the five or four if they keep winning. If they lose twice, they’re almost certainly guaranteed to end up in the play-in, which will take place from May 18-21.

The Knicks are currently 4th in the East, Hawks 4th, Heat 6th, Celtics 7th.

Jimmy Butler out tonight for Heat against Mavericks

The Heat will be without some key players as they face the Mavericks tonight. Via the Miami Herald:

The Miami Heat will be without Jimmy Butler for Tuesday night’s important game against the Dallas Mavericks at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Butler, a five-time All-Star, was ruled out for the contest just two hours before tip-off because of flu-like symptoms. The Heat will also be without Tyler Herro (right foot soreness) and Victor Oladipo against the Mavericks.

For the Mavericks, Kristaps Porzingis was listed as Doubtful this afternoon.

Heat still determining scope of Victor Oladipo’s injury

The Heat are still trying to determine how bad the injury is to their new shooting guard, Victor Oladipo. Via the Sun Sentinel:

Coach Erik Spoelstra offered a limited update upon the Miami Heat’s Saturday arrival in Portland, Ore., on where the team stands with sidelined guard Victor Oladipo.

Oladipo was the lone Heat player not to make the trip for four-game trip that opens Sunday night against the Trail Blazers, after injuring his right knee in Thursday night’s victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at AmericanAirlines Arena.

“We’re still in information-gathering stage right now, so I don’t have a new update for you,” Spoelstra said. “But he’s not with us on this trip, and he won’t be here [Sunday], and that is what we were focused on today, who’s available in the gym today.”

Heat sign center Dewayne Dedmon

The Miami Heat have signed center Dewayne Dedmon.

Dedmon, a seven-year NBA veteran, appeared in 44 games (18 starts) last season between the Sacramento Kings and Atlanta Hawks averaging 5.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 17.6 minutes while shooting 40 percent from the field and 83.3 percent from the foul line. He scored in double-figures 10 times, including a season-high 18 points at Philadelphia on November 27, 2019. He grabbed double-figure rebounds seven times while posting three double-doubles. Additionally, he posted 11 multi-block games and five multi-steal games.

Dedmon has appeared in 394 career NBA games (194 starts) and averaged 6.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 18.3 minutes while shooting 51.6 percent from the field. He holds single game career highs of 24 points (done twice), 17 rebounds (2/10/17), seven assists (1/11/19), four steals (done six times) and six blocks (done twice).

He will wear number 21.