Miami Heat: Limiting secondary scoring paramount to beating Clippers

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As the Miami Heat get set to take on the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday night, there is something they have to be mindful of. The secondary scoring Los Angeles produced was a major issue the last time these two teams played. It cost Miami the game.

Kawhi Leonard is going to get his points.  If Miami wants to win on Wednesday they need to focus on limiting what the others do offensively.

Landry Shamet scored 22 points on eight-of-15 shooting. He went six-of-12 from beyond the arc and contributed six assists as well. He certainly made his 43 minutes count. It was a bit unexpected for a player averaging 8.1 points per contest. Nevertheless, that’s what makes the NBA so great. Anybody can play well on any given night.

Normally, one of the biggest goals for Miami Heat would be to stop Leonard. That is still definitely a goal. However, the Heat have to be wary of secondary scoring in this matchup. Shamet for example has been playing well lately. He averaged 11.5 points in the month of January. That includes the last game against Miami. He has done well primarily coming off the bench.

Paul George is another player that can go off at any moment. In his last game against San Antonio on Monday, he scored 19 points. He is off to a great start in the month of February, averaging 21 points in the first two games of the month.

The Miami Heat will have to be on their toes

The Clippers will attack the Miami Heat. They will not be afraid to use any of the weapons at their disposal. Against teams like Boston, the Miami Heat have been exposed defensively. Miami will need to do everything they can to make sure they eliminate as many weaknesses as possible. If they don’t, it could be a long evening. A stellar defensive game will be needed. Strong rotations on defense will be critical for success.

A win for the Miami Heat would go a long way. This would certainly be a critical victory for them as the All-Star break nears. Especially against one of the elite teams in a stacked Western Conference, winning this game would give them momentum.

Miami Heat: Duncan Robinson invited to Three Point Contest

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The Miami Heat will have yet another representative at All Star Weekend. Duncan Robinson will participate in the Three-Point Contest. Robinson has begun to establish himself as one of the top three-point shooters in the game.

On the season, he has a 43.8% three-point conversion percentage. He has proven himself to be quite the marksman for Miami.

Take the December 10 game against the Atlanta Hawks. He went 10-of-14 from beyond the arc, shooting at a 71.4% clip. In total, he scored 34 points on the evening.

The first game that he really began to come into his own was on November 20 against Cleveland. He went nine-of-15 from beyond the arc. We really began to see what type of shooter he was from distance.

Robinson has the third-highest three-point shooting percentage on the team. As it relates to this contest, he should be able to do pretty well. When he can get on a roll, it seems like he won’t miss. Robinson becomes the sixth Miami Heat player at All-Star Weekend.

Miami Heat have been here before

The last time a Miami Heat player participated in this was Mario Chalmers. He competed in the 2011-12 season.

It will be great to see Robinson compete on a national stage. In what is set to be a big weekend for the organization, he should be able to put up a fight. The full list of participants has not been announced yet, but there are sure to be some of the best shooters in the league.

It will be a fun weekend for everybody, and this will give Robinson more national exposure. He is certainly deserving of it given how much he has contributed so far this season. He is proving to be a key cog in the Miami Heat offensive attack. It will be imperative for him to keep it going as we inch closer the postseason.

Miami Heat: Tyler Herro, Kendrick Nunn selected for Rising Stars Game

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Two more members of the Miami Heat are set to take part in All-Star weekend. Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn will be participating in the NBA Rising Stars Game.

Both Herro and Nunn will be on the USA team. Herro is averaging 13.1 points per game to go along with two assists and 4.2 rebounds. Nunn has recorded 16.2 points per game, 3.5 assists, and 2.8 rebounds.

Both players have been a huge part of the young foundation the Miami Heat are trying to build. Together they have shown promise as the season has progressed, and it will be imperative that they build off their progress in the second half.

For the Miami Heat, this will be a star-studded affair. The addition of Herro and Nunn now makes it four representatives for the Miami Heat in Chicago. This will give people a chance to see exactly what has made the Miami Heat so effective during the first half of the season.

Nunn was extremely excited about being selected to the game, posting his feelings on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7_qvfnARe3/

Miami Heat have been here before.

This is the first time a Heat player has been selected to this game since Norris Cole in 2012. Cole recorded 18 points on seven-of-15 shooting in the event and 4-11 from beyond the arc. He also made plays for others, recording six assists and four steals.

Both Nunn and Herro will be heavily relied upon in the second half of the season as the Heat look to make a playoff run. Given the track record of most first-year players, it will be interesting to see if they hit the “rookie wall.” Alternatively, both are talented enough for sustained production the rest of the way. The Heat are going to need them to continue to play at a high level.

Miami Heat: Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo selected to All-Star Game

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The Miami Heat will be sending two representatives to the All Star Game in Chicago. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo will both be there, as the reserves were announced Thursday night.

For Butler, this will be his fifth All-Star appearance. Adebayo will be appearing in the game for the first time.

Butler is having a great year for Miami. Many thought he was snubbed for not being a starter, with the selections taking place last week. On the season, Butler is  averaging 20.2 points per contest to go along with 6.9 rebounds per game and 6.4 assists per game.

Both are thriving for Miami Heat

Butler’s impact goes beyond the statistics sheet however. He is a veteran on a youthful basketball team. While the team itself may have flaws, Butler has helped carry this group and masked those deficiencies. By all accounts, it seems like he is embracing the role of being a leader. His guidance is allowing Miami to stay in the hunt for a top spot in the Eastern Conference standings. In what has been an overachieving year for the team, he has led the way.

Adebayo is having a tremendous year himself. He is averaging 16 points per game on the season to go along with 10.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists per contest. The rebounds, assists, and points are all career-highs for him. He has established himself as a dependable player for Miami. Miami has been waiting for him to have this type of year ever since he came into the league in 2017.

Now, it appears he is delivering. Not only that, Adebayo looks extremely comfortable within the offense.

With two Miami representatives in the game, there will certainly be something for Heat fans to watch. In what should be a fun weekend overall, these selections give the game a little extra meaning for players and fans alike.

The Kobe-Wade connection was always strong

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They shared a trainer, Tim Grover, and sometimes quarreled over his time.

They shared a position, shooting guard, though Kobe Bryant was at least three inches taller.

They shared a legacy, of championships, glamour, travails and more.

They shared a willingness to explore the globe, especially China, to expand their brands.

They shared an intense love of their children.

But mostly, Bryant — who passed away Sunday in a helicopter crash — and Dwyane Wade shared respect.

I wrote about their mutual admiration in 2016, during Bryant’s last season, via an lengthy interview with Wade for CBSSports.com. 

This was the passage I found most interesting:

You’ve talked about Kobe being the ‘bar’ for you. In what ways do you feel like you’ve reached it?

DW: I don’t know. I mean, how I look at it is this: when I came into the league, obviously [Michael] Jordan was my idol, and he was gone. But Kobe was that bar for me, to say, OK, he’s the ultimate two-guard in this league, and I need to get there. And I felt at some point in my career, I reached that, where I was battling him. Any given night, I could be the best two-guard in the league, or he could be the best two-guard in the league, but we were going at it. And from the standpoint of his success and what he did before I came in, and winning all the championships, etc., he had me on that. But season to season, I felt like I was looking at him eye to eye some nights, and some years. And so I don’t know at the end of the day how it shakes out from that standpoint. Obviously, to me, and I haven’t seen all the players play live — but biased, I think he’s the second-best two-guard to ever play. And I think I’ve been in conversations to be from three to five. And to me, I’ve reached my bar from that standpoint, of trying to get to where he is, as one of the all-time greats at that position.

Whatever anyone else thought of Kobe — for whom petulance could be part of the package — his peers thought he was an all-timer, someone to emulate. Wade never, ever put himself above Bryant in the rankings, even though he outplayed Bryant in many of their encounters, including the breakout Christmas Day game in 2005, after Shaquille O’Neal had pushed himself away from Bryant to Wade.

That is Bryant’s basketball legacy, even if the family legacy is more important.

The basketball legacy is the way those in the game reacted to him.

Even those who weren’t in the game yet, like Wade’s heir apparent at two-guard in Miami, Tyler Herro::

Here are some tweets that brought back memories:

And here’s a tribute from South Florida, which is supposed to be celebrating Super Bowl LIV:

Sports world reacts to death of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant

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Basketball legend Kobe Bryant has died.

The basketball world is mourning the passing of a legend. Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant has died in a helicopter crash according to multiple media reports. According to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski, he was on his way to a travel basketball game with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna. Nine people were killed in total per a report from the Associated Press.

Bryant was just 41 years of age.

Several NBA players and personalities reacted upon hearing the news.

 

 

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Speechless..💔

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Heroes come and go LEGENDS live forever‼️#8 #24

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Kobe Bryant had numbers to match incredible play

Kobe Bryant was a player that transcended the game of basketball. He truly embraced the “Mamba Mentality” and worked hard for everything he had on the court. He was the ultimate competitor, and a clutch playoff performer.  A five-time champion and two-time NBA Finals MVP were just some of the things on his resume. He also won an MVP award in 2008. That year, he was a huge reason why the Lakers went on a strong postseason run that culminated in a championship.

An eight-time All-Star, Bryant had both No. 8 and 24 retired by the team. A six-time NBA champion, he embodied what it means to be a competitor. This is a very sad day for not only the entire NBA, but all of sports. He will most certainly be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and will forever go down as one of the greatest players ever to play the game of basketball. Even in his final NBA game on April 13, 2016, he competed until the very end. Scoring 60 points in his finale, it was one of the most impressive feats in the history of the NBA.

As you can see from the tweets above, this is a gigantic loss for the sports world. He will forever be a player that others inspire to be. He will always be remembered as a fearless and tough competitor. Bryant leaves behind a wife and four daughters. This is a historic day and one that will be forever remembered throughout the sports world.

Miami Heat need to be ready for balance of Clippers

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As the Miami Heat get ready to take on the Los Angeles Clippers Friday night, they have to be ready for the multi-faceted attack Los Angeles brings to the table. They are a balanced team, and succeed well in all areas.

Take for example Kawhi Leonard. He is third in the league in steals per game with an average of two per contest. He also has 27.1 points per contest. That is seventh in the entire league. He brings to the table a multi—faceted  game that has suited Los Angeles well. With an average of 9.6 field goals made per game, that puts him sixth in the entire league in that category. His 20.6 average field goal attempts per game ranks him fifth in all of basketball.

Montrezl Harrell is a tough defender, but he can also shoot the basketball really well. He ranks 11th in the entire league in field goal percentage. Shooting at a 57.2% clip, he brings both toughness and efficiency to the table.

Paul George brings a multi-level offensive game to the table. He is apt at shooting the basketball . He can also get to the free-throw line and make his chances. With a 90.9 free-throw conversion percentage, George certainly makes the most of his opportunities when he is at the line. The best thing the Miami Heat can do is not foul him. Otherwise, it’s essentially guaranteed free points.

Miami Heat have challenge ahead of them.

With this balance Los Angeles possesses, the Miami Heat certainly have a tough challenge ahead of them. The biggest thing that they should do Friday night is move the basketball offensively. Keeping the Clippers on their toes defensively could be a key to victory.

Defensively, it will be hard to combat the likes of George and Leonard without allowing at least a few baskets. Rotating defensively and not allowing the Clippers to get comfortable will be key. Staying in front of their man will help eliminate drive to the basket. Making Los Angeles work offensively will slow them down. They are going to get their points, it’s just a matter of limiting the damage.

The Miami Heat will be challenged on Friday night. This will  be a good test to see where they stand against the Western Conference. They will certainly have a lot to think about on both sides of the ball. Slowing down the Clippers will certainly not be an easy task. It may be a question of allowing the Clippers to succeed in some areas if it means taking away others.

 

Heat lineups

Miami Heat: Jimmy Butler Snubbed as All-Star Game starter

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The Miami Heat star will not be a starter for the All-Star Game.

Jimmy Butler will almost certainly represent the Miami Heat in the 69th edition of the All-Star Game. Held at the United Center in Chicago Illinois, this will be a homecoming of sorts for him.

However, he will not be a starter. Instead, unless Joel Embiid’s injury keeps him out of the contest — opening a spot in the frontcourt — he will be a reserve.

He played at the United Center frequently as a member of the Chicago Bulls from 2011-2017. Drafted by the Bulls with the 30th overall pick in 2011, he had great success while there.

Butler has been having a career year, and it has shown with how well the Miami Heat have played. In 38 games, he has averaged 20.3 points per game. Averaging seven rebounds and 6.5 assists per contest, he is bringing a multifaceted game to the table.

He is also bringing veteran leadership to a roster full of youth. The Miami Heat have several young players that that could turn out to be cornerstones for the franchise. Right now, it is all about development. Butler has been instrumental in helping the team succeed on the court. The fact that he is not a starter for the All-Star Game is surprising. Charles Barkley was surprised with how voting went.

More Barkley here.

It’s strange to hear him stand up for anyone on the Heat, considering the constant jabs he always took at Dwyane Wade.

For Butler, once he’s selected, it will be his fifth All-Star game. He was selected to be a part of the 2018 All-Star Game while with Philadelphia. However, he elected to rest instead as he was battling with injuries.

The Miami Heat are sitting pretty in the Eastern Conference. They are second in the conference, only to the Milwaukee Bucks. With a 27-12 record they have been one of the biggest surprises in the NBA this season. The fact that he was sixth in player voting was surprising as well. However, Barkley offered a reason for why that occurred.

Butler should have been a starter for this game, in light of the Heat’s success and his role in it. Nevertheless, the fact that that he will be a reserve is at least some sort of silver lining. It’s certainly unfortunate, but Butler could use this as more motivation.

And what about Bam Adebayo joining Butler as a reserve, as he should?

We’ll find out next week.

Miami Heat: Tyler Herro wins duel with Bradley Beal in Heat victory

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Wednesday night was a battle between the Miami Heat and Washington Wizards. The Miami Heat and Washington Wizards took the game to overtime where the Heat won 134-129.

Perhaps the biggest subplot in this game was the battle between Bradley Beal and Tyler Herro. It was perhaps one of the best back-and-forth battles of the season. Both players went toe-to-toe, and it made for some great basketball.

Beal played in 38 minutes, going 16-of-24 from the field. He didn’t perform well shooting from beyond the arc, going two-of-eight. However, he made all four of his to free throws and also contributed nine rebounds. In total, he scored 38 points.

Herro puts on a show for Miami Heat

Herro was extremely successful from beyond the arc. In 33 minutes of play, he went seven-of-nine from three-point range. He also shot two free throws and contributed three rebounds. Herro was a +11 when he was on the floor. He certainly provided a spark coming off the bench. In total, he scored 25 points. He looked comfortable, and he was a major part of the offense.

It was a great night for Herro who has seen his minutes increase steadily. After playing in 17 minutes on Monday against Sacramento, he played in 33 minutes Wednesday night. He had been battling knee issues last week, but those appear to be much better. This  was the Tyler Herro that we have seen throughout the course of the season.

The rookie and the veteran put on a show, and it was a contrast between the present and the future.

For Beal, it was the type of game one would expect from him. He has been on a hot streak as of late, and that continued. Washington is resilient and relentless in their efforts to try and score. That showed on Wednesday night. Beal has been a leader for the Wizards in the scoring department this season, and he certainly assumed that role for Washington on Wednesday.

With Miami moving to 8-0 on the season in overtime games, Tyler Herro won this battle. Seeing him perform this well is just a reaffirmation that the youth movement has a ton of potential for the team moving forward. This team will be a lot of fun to watch come playoff time.

Derrick Jones Jr will participate in All-Star Dunking Contest

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Derrick Jones Jr. will finally be at the All-Star Game.

As our Greg Sylvander reported earlier this month, the Miami Heat will have a representative in one of the most exciting features of the NBA All-Star Weekend.

Today, the news were confirmed by Shams Charania, from The Athletic.

With Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo still trying to earn their spot in the roster, Derrick Jones Jr. assures, the Heat, one of the best teams in the league this year, will have a representative in most of the activities that will take place that weekend in Chicago.

Enjoy some of the best Airplane Mode takes and exhibitions this season:

Support Derrick Jones Jr for the All-Star Dunking Contest buying his Airplane Mode Tee here: