Jaylen Brown Drops 17, Exits with Hamstring Injury as Celtics Rout Jimmy Butler, Heat
Nov 5, 2021
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) sets up a play during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
The Boston Celtics reportedly held an emotional players-only meeting after a Monday loss to the Chicago Bulls. So Thursday's blowout win over the Miami Heat may have been particularly therapeutic.
Spurred on by a 33-9 advantage in the second quarter, the Celtics handed the Heat (6-2) their second loss of the season in a 95-78 drubbing at FTX Arena.
Heat with a 9-point second period. No, really. Down 51-33 at half.
The Celtics (4-5) have won two in a row in the aftermath of that Monday loss and Marcus Smart's critique of teammates Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Smart publicly called out the pair for their unwillingness to pass the ball late in games.
"I'm told it was emotional at times, but in the end, perhaps, not a terribly productive meeting and maybe not even beneficial," ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski said on NBA Countdown regarding the reported players-only meeting (h/t Nick Goss of NBC Sports). "Listen, these are issues with this team and this group that have been going on for a while."
All systems were a go Thursday night, however. Miami's struggles from the floor (34.6 percent) and 18 turnovers certainly helped.
Key Stats
Jaylen Brown, BOS: 17 points, five rebounds
Marcus Smart, BOS: Nine points, four rebounds
Jayson Tatum, BOS: 10 points, eight rebounds
Jimmy Butler, MIA: 20 points
Kyle Lowry, MIA: Six points, seven rebounds, five assists
Bam Adebayo, MIA: 13 points, seven rebounds
Boston's Bench Picked Up the Slack Amid Tatum's Struggles
While Jayson Tatum labored through the first three quarters—all of his points came in the fourth quarter—Aaron Nesmith (13 points), Dennis Schroder (14 points, six assists) and Romeo Langford (12 points) provided a nice spark off the bench.
It’s going to be very hard to keep Nesmith from getting consistent minutes off the bench! Carry on...
Among the issues I've had with Ime Udoka early has been his reluctance to play his younger guys. Payton Pritchard got some early minutes in Orlando, played well. Now Aaron Nesmith is getting hot. Right call to turn to them.
An 82-game season is a grind. Sometimes, teams need role players to shine. That Boston got such a solid night from its bench on the road, against a very good Miami team while Tatum struggled, made for quite the surprising result.
You don't expect your top scorer to go scoreless for three quarters and still come away with the victory. The Celtics will take it.
The Rim Must Have Looked Tiny for Miami's Shooters
The Heat shot an atrocious 20 percent (9-of-41) from three on Thursday night. It's tough to win when the shots aren't falling.
Duncan Robinson was 5-of-17 from deep. P.J. Tucker was 1-of-5. Lowry was 2-of-7. Butler didn't hit a single one of his four attempts from deep. It was ugly.
Miami is going to win this season behind its defense, and it was another solid effort on that end of the floor. But when there's a lid on the rim, well, it's hard to win.
What's Next?
The Celtics travel to Dallas to face the Mavericks on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET. Miami hosts the Utah Jazz that same day at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Kyle Lowry Ruled Out of Heat vs. Celtics After Suffering Ankle Injury
Nov 5, 2021
MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 15: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Miami Heat in action against the Boston Celtics during the first quarter of a preseason game at FTX Arena on October 15, 2021 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Miami Heat guard Kyle Lowry has been ruled out for the remainder of Thursday's matchup against the Boston Celtics after suffering a sprained ankle, the team announced.
Lowry rolled his ankle in a collision with teammate Duncan Robinson in the second half and fell to the court before limping to the bench.
Lowry previously missed time this season with an ankle injury after he accidentally stepped on Milwaukee Bucks forward Pat Connaughton’s right foot on Oct. 21.
Losing Lowry for any stretch isn't suitable for the Heat. He's Miami's starting point guard and has been one of the team's best players this season, averaging 10.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 7.5 assists in six games entering Thursday's contest.
With Lowry sidelined, the Heat relied on Tyler Herro at point guard. Herro has been phenomenal off the bench this season, averaging 22.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game.
The Heat could have used Victor Oladipo with Lowry out of the lineup, but the former Indiana Pacer is still recovering from quadriceps surgery, which he had in May.
The Heat are hoping Lowry doesn't run into similar injury issues to the ones he had last season. He missed time during the 2020-21 campaign with lower back stiffness, a toe infection, right foot soreness and a sprained left thumb.
Despite Lowry's injuries early on, Miami entered Thursday's game against the C's with a 6-1 record and No. 1 in the Eastern Conference.
Lowry joined the Heat on a three-year, $85 million deal during the offseason. Miami acquired him in a sign-and-trade with the Toronto Raptors, who received Goran Dragic and Precious Achiuwa in return.
Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro Pace Heat in 125-110 Win over Luka Doncic, Mavericks
Nov 3, 2021
DALLAS, TX - NOVEMBER 2: Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat handles the ball as Willie Cauley-Stein #33 of the Dallas Mavericks defends in the first half at American Airlines Center on November 2, 2021 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
The Miami Heat won their fifth straight game Tuesday with a125-110 win over the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center to move to 6-1, matching their best start in franchise history.
Jimmy Butler continues to be a significant factor for the Heat early on this season, but big performances from Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo helped Miami overpower Luka Doncic and the Mavs.
The Heat trailed by as many as 11 points in the first quarter, but Butler and Co. chipped away at the deficit and closed out the frame down just 30-24.
Butler led all players in the first quarter with 12 points. However, he didn't get much production from Duncan Robinson, Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro. The trio combined for just seven points in the opening frame, which is uncharacteristic.
Miami was able to tie things up with 8:04 remaining in the second quarter and eventually took the lead thanks to better performances from Herro and Lowry. Herro entered halftime with 17 points, while Lowry finished with 11 as they took the scoring load off of Butler.
Herro, Lowry and Co. continued to turn up the heat in the third quarter as Miami took a 99-88 lead into the fourth. However, it was Bam Adebayo who began to shine just after halftime, finishing with 16 points and seven rebounds through three quarters.
Herro scored four points in the fourth quarter and finished the game shooting 3-of-6 from three.
The 21-year-old's standout performance is just one of many for the former 13th overall pick this season.
Herro entered Tuesday's contest averaging 22 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 39.5 percent from deep.
Tyler Herro leads the league with 157 points off the bench.
The points gap between him and the 2nd best player (40) is bigger than the 2nd and 10th player. pic.twitter.com/jk05R6tG0F
If Herro can stay consistent this season, Miami will undoubtedly be one of the toughest teams to compete against in the Eastern Conference.
Luka's Standout Showing Not Enough as Bench Falters
Doncic continued his hot start to the season against Miami on Tuesday night, and the Mavericks received equal production in the first from players like Tim Hardaway Jr. and Dorian Finney-Smith.
The Mavericks led by as many as 11 points in the opening frame before the Heat cut their lead to 30-24 entering the second quarter. While Doncic led Dallas with eight points in the quarter, Hardaway and Jalen Brunson finished with six points, while Finney-Smith tallied five.
Hardaway and Brunson continued scoring at an equal rate in the second quarter, combining for 12 points. However, Doncic cooled off a bit, allowing Miami to take a 70-62 lead entering halftime.
The Mavs' starting lineup of Doncic, Hardway, Finney-Smith, Brunson and Dwight Powell played well throughout the night. However, Dallas' bench scoring was an issue as Reggie Bullock, Sterling Brown, Frank Ntilikina, Willie Cauley-Stein and Boban Marjanovic combined for just 18 points.
Meanwhile, Miami's bench of Herro, Dewayne Dedmon, Caleb Martin and Markieff Morris combined for 46 points, which proved to be a difference-maker for the Heat.
Miami's three-point shooting was also far better than Dallas' accuracy from long range. The Heat made 13-of-25 shots (52 percent) from deep, while the Mavs were just 14-of-42 (33.3 percent).
What's Next?
The Mavericks will be on the road Wednesday to take on the San Antonio Spurs, while the Heat will be off before hosting the struggling Boston Celtics on Thursday.
Udonis Haslem Says Heat's Big 3 Wouldn't Have Won Any NBA Titles Without Him
Oct 27, 2021
Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Longtime Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem believes he played a significant role in the team's back-to-back NBA championships in 2012 and 2013.
In an interview with Tyler R. Tynes of GQ, Haslem discussed the "Big Three" era of the Heat with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Regarding how the Heat went to four consecutive NBA Finals and won two titles, Haslem said:
"I don't care what nobody say, I had my moments and we don't win none of those rings without me. I did my job and that's all you can do: Stay ready so you don't have to get ready. I had some critical moments where I had to step in and hold down the fort. Thank God [Wade] stood up and said, 'We need this motherf--ker.' Because sometimes people get caught up in dollar signs and what makes 'cents' doesn’t always make sense."
The 41-year-old Haslem has spent his entire NBA career in Miami and is in his 19th season.
While Haslem averaged a solid 10.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game during a five-season stretch from 2004-05 through 2008-09, his presence became less about stats when James and Bosh joined Wade in Miami in 2010.
During the four seasons of the Big Three (2010-11 to 2013-14), Haslem's averages were just 4.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest. He appeared in 198 regular-season games, started 87 and averaged 20.2 minutes.
He also played in 72 playoff games with 4.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
The numbers don't jump off the page compared to what LeBron, D-Wade and Bosh contributed, but Haslem was an important glue guy and leader who helped bridge the gap from the pre-Big Three days to the arrival of James and Bosh.
Haslem noted that James, Wade and Bosh recognized his value and took less money so the Heat could keep him:
"You can surround guys who drive the bus, who sit on the bus, but if you ain't got somebody who can change the tires and the oil, your bus ain't moving. You need a guy like me: who will do the dirty work, take that charge, do the things that won't show up on the stat sheet but it equals winning. [Wade] understood that, LeBron understood that, [Bosh] understood that. If they didn't, it's no way those guys take less money and cut off a piece of their pie for me to stay. They didn't know me. They didn't have to do that. But they understood what I brought to the table and I was able to deliver."
Haslem is a three-time NBA champion. He was also part of the Heat team that won it all in 2006 as Wade led the way.
Miami has not won a championship since the Big Three broke up, but it did reach the Finals two seasons ago, and Haslem was part of that team as well.
Haslem only sees the floor occasionally nowadays and is more like an extra coach than a player. He appeared in 45 games combined over the previous five seasons and hasn't played this year.
Still, he has a great deal of value because of his attention to detail and championship experience, as was the case during the Big Three days as well.
Haslem told Tynes he is still playing because he continues to chase championship rings for himself and his teammates, saying he wants to help get one for players like Jimmy Butler, just as he did for James, Wade and Bosh.
Kyle Lowry Out for Heat vs. Pacers Because of Ankle Injury
Oct 23, 2021
Miami Heat guard Kyle Lowry runs on the court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
The 35-year-old made his Heat debut Thursday, posting five points and six assists in 24 minutes as Miami beat the Milwaukee Bucks 137-95.
The six-time All-Star and 2018-19 NBA champion has played in the league for 16 seasons beginning in 2006 with the Memphis Grizzlies, who selected the former Villanova star at 24th in the NBA draft. He's played with the Grizz, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors and now Heat during his career, with his Toronto stint beginning in 2012.
Lowry joined Miami after the Heat acquired him in a sign-and-trade with the Raptors, who got Goran Dragic and Precious Achiuwa in return. The point guard inked a three-year, $85 million deal.
Lowry's NBA career will forever be best known for his time with the Raptors, who made the playoffs seven straight years with him running the show. They also made two Eastern Conference Finals and won the 2018-19 NBA title over the Golden State Warriors.
Unfortunately, Lowry has been sidelined again. Vincent will get the start, but expect Jimmy Butler to help run the offense more too. Tyler Herro could see some time at the point off the bench as well.
Heat's Tyler Herro Believes He's on Same Level as Luka Doncic, Trae Young, Ja Morant
Oct 13, 2021
Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) I sin action during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro believes that he should be in the same conversation as young superstars Luka Doncic, Trae Young and Ja Morant.
Herro provided that remark to Jeremy Tache of Bally Sports Florida, who asked him about his career projections and what his goals were long-term.
"The young guys in the league who can be All-Stars, superstars one day...𝙇𝙪𝙠𝙖, 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙚, 𝙅𝙖...I feel like my name should be in that category, too."
— HEAT on FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSN_Heat) October 12, 2021
"I feel like I'm in the same conversion as those guys. The young guys coming up in the league who can be All-Stars, superstars one day—Luka, Trae, Ja—those guys like that, I feel like my name should be in that category, too.
"I put the work in, and I'm just continuing to get better every single day. I've got a lot of goals in mind to be an All-Star one day and continue to chase my dream, so I'm really excited to see where I can go."
Doncic is an All-NBA first-team player. Young averaged 25.3 points per game en route to leading his Atlanta Hawks to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals. Morant posted 19.1 points and 7.4 assists and guided the Memphis Grizzlies to the playoffs. All three figure to be perennial All-Stars for the next decade-plus.
The 21-year-old Herro is a solid player in his own right, averaging 15.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists last year. He shined in the 2020 playoffs en route to helping the Heat to an NBA Finals appearance.
Herro is not in the same class as Doncic, Young and Morant, at least not yet.
That being said, Herro is a professional athlete who is striving to be the best he can be. Having a confident mindset, lofty goals and a strong belief in himself can only help as he progresses in the early stages of his career.
"Like everything Tyler does or says people will likely criticize his comment, but I love the confidence," Will Manso of WPLG Local 10 News tweeted.
"You rather he’d say he wants to be seen as a young, mediocre player?"
Herro and the Heat begin their 2021-22 regular season against the defending NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 21.
Heat's Jimmy Butler Launches Bigface Coffee Brand in Partnership with Shopify
Oct 1, 2021
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler smiles as he talks to members of the media after practice during NBA Camp, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler's coffee shop that debuted in the bubble during the 2019-20 NBA season is getting a formal public release.
Speaking to CNBC's Jabari Young, Butler announced the launch of Bigface coffee on Friday in partnership with Shopify.
“I wake up in the morning excited to train and go work out,” Butler said. “Then I want to hurry up and get home so I can practice my bartending,
According to Young, Butler's deal with Shopify is structured so that he doesn't have to split revenues from the coffee brand with the e-commerce platform.
As the Heat were making their way to the 2020 NBA Finals after the league set up shop in Orlando amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Butler took on a second job as a barista.
Butler told Rachel Nichols in August 2020 he started selling coffee to people at $20 a pop made with specialty beans he purchased from El Salvador to make up for the lack of caffeine options in the bubble.
"You can't get coffee nowhere here," Butler said. "So I might bump it up to 30 bucks a cup. People here can afford it."
So apparently Jimmy Butler wasn't kidding about the up-charge for the use of his French Press at Disney. (From Meyers Leonard's Twitter): pic.twitter.com/1s1em6flRG
Young attempted to gauge how much money Butler might earn from his new business venture, but the five-time All-Star didn't provide any specifics.
“It’s not about that for me," he said. "I think basketball has been a great source of income for me and my family.”
While Butler has been busy getting his coffee business off the ground, he's also preparing for the start of the 2021-22 season.
Miami will open preseason play Monday against the Atlanta Hawks. The regular-season opener is scheduled for Oct. 21 against the reigning NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks.
NBA Rumors: Avery Bradley 'Was Very Much Open' to Heat Contract; Miami Not Interested
Sep 21, 2021
ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 18: Avery Bradley #9 of the Houston Rockets controls the ball against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on April 18, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
Free-agent guard Avery Bradley is still in search of a new home, but it looks as though he already had a landing spot in mind that didn't come to fruition.
Miami Herald reporter Barry Jackson reported Monday that Bradley was "very much open" to returning to the Miami Heat, but the feeling wasn't mutual. According to Jackson, the Heat were "not interested in that, at this time."
Bradley signed with the Heat in November 2020 before being traded to the Houston Rockets in March 2021 as part of a deal that brought Victor Oladipo to Miami. Bradley played only 10 games with the Heat, averaging 8.5 points.
Bradley was hobbled last season by a calf strain and also missed time due to health and safety protocols after testing positive for COVID-19 in January.
Despite his recent injury history, Bradley is still regarded as one of the best backcourt defenders in the NBA and a valued locker room presence.
While the Heat may not have been interested in his return, Marc J. Spears of ESPN's The Undefeated reported Monday that Bradley is among a group of free agents set to attend a workout for the Golden State Warriors. Former All-Star Isaiah Thomas and ex-Warrior Quinn Cook are reportedly also among the free agents Golden State wants to look at.
If healthy, Bradley might find a home with the Warriors. According to Spears, Golden State is hoping to sign "a big man and two guards for camp."
With former two-time MVP Stephen Curry entering his 13th season and Klay Thompson coming off a torn ACL and an Achilles tear that caused him to miss all of the last two seasons, the Warriors could use some backcourt depth. Curry averaged a career-high 32.0 points last year, while carrying most of the scoring load with Thompson out of the lineup.
Tyler Herro's $5.7M Contract Option for 2022-23 Picked Up by Heat
Sep 3, 2021
Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro plays during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, May 16, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Miami Heat exercised the team option in guard Tyler Herro's contract for 2022-23 on Friday, according to Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel.
That decision locks in Herro at a salary of just over $5.7 million for the 2022-23 season, per Spotrac.
Herro, 21, was selected 13th overall in the 2019 NBA draft out of Kentucky by the Heat. He is eligible to become a restricted free agent after the 2022-23 campaign.
The 6'5" guard is preparing to enter his third NBA season after being a key offensive contributor primarily off the bench in each of his first two years with the Heat.
As a rookie in 2019-20, Herro appeared in 55 regular-season games, making only eight starts. He averaged 13.5 points, 4.1 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 2.1 three-pointers made, while shooting 42.8 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from beyond the arc.
Herro truly flashed star potential during the playoffs that season, as the Heat went all the way to the NBA Finals where they fell to the Los Angeles Lakers.
In 21 playoff games, Herro averaged 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.3 trifectas made.
Herro followed that up with a productive 2020-21 season in which he played in 54 games and made 15 starts. He averaged 15.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists, all of which were new career highs. He also made 2.0 three-pointers per game, shot 43.9 percent from the floor and 36.0 percent from deep.
The Heat did some roster shuffling this offseason, as they brought in point guard Kyle Lowry and forward P.J. Tucker, while parting ways with guards Kendrick Nunn and Goran Dragic.
With Nunn and Dragic no longer in the picture, it stands to reason that Herro will see a bump in minutes and perhaps even start more often.
If Herro's upward trajectory continues over the next two seasons, he could be in line for a significant raise when he becomes a restricted free agent in 2023.
Heat 2021-22 Schedule: Top Games, Championship Odds and Record Predictions
Aug 20, 2021
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) reacts after making a basket against the Dallas Mavericks along with Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Saturday, Dec 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Coming off a busy offseason designed to get them back to the top of the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat will open the 2021-22 regular season on Oct. 21 against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Expectations were high for the Heat at the start of the 2020-21 campaign after reaching the NBA Finals in the bubble. Things didn't go as planned, though, due in large part to an offense that ranked in the bottom half of the league in points per game and offensive rating.
After being swept out of the playoffs in the first round by the Milwaukee Bucks, Miami's front office went to work. Kyle Lowry was added in a sign-and-trade deal with the Toronto Raptors. P.J. Tucker left the NBA champions to join the Heat.
Miami kept Duncan Robinson on a record contract for an undrafted free agent. It also signed Jimmy Butler to a max extension that will pay him $184 million over the next four seasons.
All of these moves mean the Heat are locked in with this nucleus for the foreseeable future.
With their roster set, here's a look at the notable takeaways from the schedule that the team will face in its quest to get back to the postseason.
2021-22 Heat Regular Season Schedule
Season Opener: vs. Milwaukee Bucks, Oct. 21 at 8 p.m. ET
The Bucks and Heat have met in the playoffs each of the past two seasons. Miami dominated the Bucks in the 2020 Eastern Conference semifinals in five games, which prompted Milwaukee's front office to make the aggressive trade to acquire Jrue Holiday from the New Orleans Pelicans.
The deal paid off, with the Bucks winning their first NBA title in 50 years. The Heat were their first hurdle in the playoffs, though the final result from that series suggests they were more of a speed bump.
Milwaukee won all four games by an average of 20.5 points. Game 1 was the only matchup decided by fewer than 17 points (109-107).
The main difference between the two teams last season was on the offensive end of the floor. The Bucks led the NBA in points per game (120.1) andrankedsixth in rating (117.2). The Heat were18thin rating (111.2) and 25th in points per game (108.1).
Just as the Bucks reacted to their loss by making changes to the roster, so did the Heat this offseason. Lowry was brought in to run the offense and boost the defense.
If you combine their three regular-season meetings, the Heat went 1-6 against Milwaukee in 2020-21. The Bucks are, in some ways, the idealized version of what Miami would like to be. They have dominant big men capable of taking over at any moment with All-Stars at the guard and forward spots.
at Brooklyn Nets (First game: Oct. 27)
Even though the Bucks are the reigning NBA champions, the Brooklyn Nets are the standard by which all other teams in the Eastern Conference will be measured.
The Nets are going to have a full season with Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving. That trio only appeared in 13 games together between the regular season and playoffs.
There's a strong argument that Brooklyn would have defeated the Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Nets were up 2-0 in the series, with Harden getting injured in the first minute of Game 1. Kyrie Irving injured his ankle in Game 4 and missed the final three games.
Brooklyn also got better in the offseason with the addition of Patty Mills to the bench.
All of that talent suggests the Nets should be a force in the east. At the very least, they should have the best offensive team in the NBA.
The Heat could have the best defensive team in the NBA, led by Butler, Lowry, Tucker and Bam Adebayo. Tucker did an excellent job of containing Durant in their head-to-head matchups in the postseason.
It seems unlikely anyone will stop Brooklyn from scoring, but if any team can contain that collection of talent, it's the Heat. Their matchups during the regular season should be knockdown, drag-out affairs.
Season Forecast
There's little doubt, assuming their key players are healthy for most of the year, that the Heat are a playoff team.
How high they climb in the standings is the question mark. Heat president Pat Riley clearly believes in this group as a title contender, based on them carrying the seventh-highest payroll in the NBA.
The addition of Lowry certainly makes them a better team than if they had run things back with Goran Dragic as their point guard. The six-time All-Star should help improve Miami's three-point shooting after the team ranked 19th in three-point percentage (35.8) last season.
Lowry shot 39.6 percent from behind the arc for the Toronto Raptors. The Heat will also be counting on Tyler Herro playing closer to the form he showed as a rookie (38.9 percent from three) than in 2020-21 (36.0 percent).
Another way that Lowry helps the offense is in his passing ability. Dragic has always been more of a shoot-first guard throughout his career. Lowry has averaged at least 6.4 assists in each of the past 11 seasons. His skill as a facilitator will lead to more open looks for Robinson and Herro.
It speaks to how deep the Eastern Conference is right now that the Heat will be a very good team but may not be able to crack the top three in the final standings. They are going to be a difficult opponent every night because of their toughness and how Erik Spoelstra coaches them up.
Record Prediction: 48-34
Must be 21+ and present inNew Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois,Indiana, Iowa, West Virginia, Colorado, or Tennessee.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Seesportsbook.fanduel.comfor details.
