Category: Miami Heat Blog

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LeBron James shares insight on pivotal time with the Miami Heat

LeBron James chatted on social media yesterday and revealed some interesting insight on his days with the Miami Heat. Here’s ESPN.com‘s summary:

However, James did speak about his 2012 Game 6 performance for the Miami Heat against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals, which stands as one of his greatest games. Facing elimination on the road and a second consecutive season with no title for the heralded “Big 3” in Miami, James scored 45 points with 15 rebounds to turn the tide and begin a streak that led him to his first title.

James said if he’d lost the game, he believed the Heat could have traded him or teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

“My mentality was if we lose, [Heat president] Pat Riley may break us all up. And I [didn’t] want that,” James said. “It might be the quickest breakup in basketball history.”

Fortunately for LeBron and the Heat, things worked out.

Gabe Vincent rejoins the Heat after time in G League

As part of his two-way contract, Gabe Vincent has re-joined the Miami Heat.

Vincent, who was signed by Miami to a two-way contract on January 8, has appeared in 10 games with the HEAT’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, this season helping them to an 8-2 record over that span while averaging 16.7 points, 1.9 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 1.00 steals in 24.3 minutes of action. He has shot 40 percent from the field and a perfect 11-of-11 from the foul line. Earlier this season he appeared in 20 games (three starts) with the Stockton Kings and averaged 23.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.30 steals and 31.8 minutes while shooting 46.9 percent from the field, 42.1 percent from three-point range and 89.7 percent from the foul line. Additionally, Vincent has appeared in five games with the HEAT this season, totaling 12 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal in 41:04 minutes of action.

Heat took some unexpected losses recently

The Heat are having an outstanding season. But some of their recent losses are on the unexpected side of things. Here’s the Miami Herald reporting:

When asked to explain Monday’s ugly overtime loss to the Cavaliers, Heat guard Goran Dragic attempted to simplify a confusing result.

“They shut us down on offense, and we just didn’t play defense,” Dragic said.

Both things are true, with the Cavaliers rallying from a 22-point third-quarter deficit. But there’s only one side of the court that Heat coaches and players were pointing to as the reason for another road loss — defense.

“It looks and it sounds like a broken record,” coach Erik Spoelstra said, with the Heat returning to Miami to face the Timberwolves on Wednesday to begin a five-game homestand. “Either myself or Bam [Adebayo] or [Udonis Haslem] or whoever, Jimmy [Butler], you want to bring anybody in here and talk after one of these road games, we all sound the same. We have an idea every game on the road what it tends to be: When the shots go dry, do we have the ability to sustain defensively and get enough stops to change the momentum.” …

With Monday’s loss, the Heat fell to 13-18 on the road for the season. In its past 15 road games, Miami is 4-11 with losses to these sub-.500 teams: Wizards, Knicks, Kings, Hawks, and Cavaliers.

The Heat were without Jimmy Butler and some other key players, so it’s not a total surprise that they took a loss. Chalk it up to some minor bumps in the road over the course of a very successful season that should only get better once the team is fully healthy again and also learns to make the most of some impressive recent additions to the their bench.

Kendrick Nunn has a unique memory of the 2018 NBA draft

Here’s the Miami Herald reporting on Heat guard Kendrick Nunn’s unique memory of the 2018 draft:

Kendrick Nunn doesn’t have a physical, written-out list of all the guards taken in the 2018 NBA draft. He does feel confident, however, he can name everyone who was picked in the draft last year.

He remembers seeing names called while he waited at home to see if someone would take a flier on him. No one did, so Nunn spent almost all of his first season as a professional playing in the NBA G League before the Miami Heat signed him on the final day of the regular season last year. It’s easy for him to remember Collin Sexton was in the draft, taken No. 8 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. All he could do was laugh — then cackle — when asked whether he likes to go up against the guard.

“Yeah, I do — most definitely,” Nunn admitted. “I don’t have to say much about that. When I get a chance to go up against those guys, I’m going to show up and give it all I got.

“I don’t have a written list, but I remember because I was watching that and I just remembered from the top of my head.”

The Heat are 36-20 this season, and Nunn has started in all 53 games he’s played in this season, averaging an impressive 15.5 points and 3.5 assists per game.

Nunn is a cool success story. And a player we enjoy watching.

Heat center Bam Adebayo centerstage this season

The most high-profile member of this season’s Heat is Jimmy Butler, but do-it-all forward/center Bam Adebayo, who enjoyed this past weekend playing in the All-Star game Sunday and winning the Skills Challenge competition Friday, is on the national stage this season. Both he and the Heat are doing bigger things than expected. They’re a serious contender in the East.

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting:

It’s not as if Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo lacked confidence before All-Star Weekend after having a stellar first half of the season.

He’s averaging 15.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists — statistical benchmarks only three other players in the league have achieved this season.

The 22-year-old big man has received praise from legends and other top players for his impact on the Heat’s strong play before the All-Star break, with the team’s 35-19 record only four wins away from last year’s win total.

But being on center stage against the NBA’s best players has pushed Adebayo’s belief in himself to greater heights.

“My confidence is definitely through the roof right now,” Adebayo said after making his first All-Star appearance on Sunday.

The Bucks have been the East’s best squad this season, but the Heat are a serious contender in the conference, and they should only be better for the remainder of the season after bulking up their bench shortly before the trade deadline.

Heat sign Gabe Vincent, waive Daryl Macon

The Miami Heat today signed guard Gabe Vincent to a two-way contract, and waived guard Daryl Macon.

Vincent, who was originally signed by the Sacramento Kings on October 3, 2018, has spent the last two seasons with their G League affiliate, the Stockton Kings. He has appeared in 20 games (three starts) this season with Stockton averaging 23.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.30 steals and 31.8 minutes while shooting 46.9 percent from the field, 42.1 percent from three-point range and 89.7 percent from the foul line. He helped lead Stockton to a 13-8 record, which was third-best in the Western Conference, while leading the team in scoring average, points, field goals made, three-point field goals made and plus/minus. He played all four years at UC Santa Barbara, appearing in 113 collegiate games (105 starts), finishing as the school’s all-time leader in three-point field goals made (243) and among the Top 10 in points (1,441) and assists (116).

Macon appeared in 17 games (15 starts) this season with the HEAT’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, averaging 19.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 31.4 minutes. Additionally, Macon appeared in four games with Miami this season totaling three points and an assist in 14:06 minutes of action.

Heat beat Pacers, improve record to 23-8

Despite the Pacers missing point guard Malcolm Brogdon, while awaiting the eventual return of shooting guard Victor Oladipo, Friday’s matchup between the Pacers and Heat was still an anticipated battle worth watching. The game proved worthy of attention. Here’s the Miami Herald reporting:

In a game that included 20 lead changes and eight ties, the Heat (23-8) survived to defeat the Indiana Pacers 113-112 on Friday at AmericanAirlines Arena. Miami improved to 14-1 at home this season, and 23-8 marks its best 31-game start to a season since starting 24-7 in 2013-14.

With the Heat trailing by one with less than a minute to play, guard Goran Dragic made a 9-foot game-winning floater with 6.8 seconds remaining. Offensive rebounds from Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler kept Miami’s final offensive possession alive before Dragic hit the shot.

In the win, the Heat had six players put up double-digit points. They were led by Jimmy Butler’s 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists, Bam Adebayo’s 18 points, 15 rebounds and six assists, Duncan Robinson’s 18 points, and Kendrick Nunn’s 17 points.

The Pacers had seven players score double-digits, and put up a respectable effort.

Heat reportedly ready to move on from Dion Waiters

The Heat have suspended shooting guard Dion Waiters three times this season. They haven’t actually used his services as a basketball player. And the two sides may just call it a wrap and see about moving on.

Here’s the Miami Herald:

The Heat is actively exploring avenues to extricate itself of guard Dion Waiters, but Waiters – at this point – opposes giving up any of the money he’s owed to achieve that, according to a source briefed on the situation…

The Heat is open to a buyout of the final year-and-a-half of his contract, but Waiters at this point has been disinclined to accept anything less than $12.1 million he’s owed this year and the $12.7 million he’s due to make next season.

That $12.1 million salary for this season has been reduced by $1.4 million because of the three suspensions, which cover 17 games.

The Heat have been terrific this season. The addition of Jimmy Butler has been a complete success. It’s a shame to waste big salary money on a player that isn’t being utilized, but when a team has a winning situation, they need to protect it.

In battle of East contenders, Celtics beat Heat 112-93

In a must-watch game of upper Eastern conference teams Wednesday, the Boston Celtics handed the Miami Heat a loss.

The Boston Herald had this to say:

Miami came in with a homewrecking reputation. The Heat was the first road team to win in Milwaukee and Toronto this year — the latter on Tuesday night.

And when the Celtics fell behind by 11 points in the second quarter last night, the locals appeared headed down a familiar path. Ultimately, they remain undefeated at home.

By the time Jaylen Brown had hit his sixth 3-pointer with just under six minutes left last night, though, the threat was cleared away. The Celtics beat Miami, 112-93, with the wing forward scoring a season-high 31 points — one shy of tying his career high. Brown also spent most of his night chasing and being chased by Miami’s Jimmy Butler.

The latter, who has led the Heat’s hot start, led both sides with 37 points and six 3-pointers.

The best East teams early this season have been the Bucks, followed in no particular order by the Raptors, Celtics, Sixers and Heat. Anytime any of these teams play each other is must-watch. And once the Pacers have Victor Oladipo back in action, they’ll be in that mix as well. They’re almost there right now.

A must-watch NBA game tonight: Heat vs Celtics

The Miami Heat (15-5) visit the Boston Celtics (14-5) tonight in a game that definitely has our interest. Each team’s most recent game results are below.

THE MOST RECENT HEAT GAME

MIAMI HEAT 121, TORONTO RAPTORS 110 [OT] (12/3/19)

The Miami HEAT became the first team to get a win in Toronto this season after defeating the Raptors, 121-110, in overtime. Miami shot 54.2 percent from the field in the first as they took a nine-point, 32-23, lead after one. Toronto was able to cut the HEAT lead by four in the second as Miami held a five-point, 58-53, lead at the half. The Raptors shot 58.8 percent from the field in the third, again cutting the HEAT lead, this time to two, 83-81, entering the fourth quarter. Miami held their lead throughout the fourth until Toronto took a one-point, 108-107, lead with 43.2 seconds remaining. Jimmy Butler would hit 1-of-2 free throws on the HEAT’s next possession as each team missed their final shots, sending the game into overtime. Butler began overtime quickly scoring the first eight points as Miami went on to outscore the Raptors 13-2 in the quarter to take the, 121-100, victory. Butler finished with a 22-point, 13-rebound, 12-assist triple-double as Duncan Robinson scored 22 and Justise Winslow added 17 off the bench. Norman Powell led Toronto with 23.

THE MOST RECENT CELTICS GAME

BOSTON 113, NEW YORK 104 – Madison Square Garden, New York, NY (12/1/19)

The Celtics turned up the defense in the fourth quarter as they came from behind to beat the Knicks 113-104 at MSG…Jayson Tatum scored a game-high 30 points to go along with a career-high seven assists while Jaylen Brown added 28 points and five boards…Kemba Walker picked up his first double-double with 16 points and 10 assists while Enes Kanter also added a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds…The Knicks were led by Julius Randle and his 26 points and five rebounds while Dennis Smith Jr. added 17 points and seven assists off the bench.