In the first of two fill-in games in lieu of the first-ever In-Season Tournament, the Miami Heat bested the Toronto Raptors 112-103 Wednesday evening inside Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada.
Caleb Martin set the tone for Miami to open the game, knocking down three of Miami’s first five shots (all 3-pointers) and scoring 23 of his 24 points in the first 16:31 of the game. He added 12 rebounds, three assists and one block on 9-of-16 shooting with four triples. Though it was Duncan Robinson who popped the most. Despite an inefficient 3-point shooting performance, Robinson tallied 21 points, six rebounds, seven assists and one steal on 9-of-19 shooting. He showed promise on the defensive end of the floor while continuing to generate good offense without his shot.
The Heat, without Bam Adebayo for the second consecutive game, started Orlando Robinson in his presence. Robinson did an amicable job, posting 15 points with 12 boards on nine shots, in addition to four rebounds, three steals and one block. Kevin Love operated as Miami’s backup 5, finishing with eight points and four rebounds in 15 minutes. Jimmy Butler finished with 19 points on 7-of-16 shooting while Jaime Jaquez Jr., the reigning Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month, had 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting.
Pascal Siakam was Toronto’s best player, tallying 30 points with six assists on 9-of-13 shooting, including 11-of-11 from the free-throw line. O.G. Anunoby had 23 points, eight rebounds and six assists on 5-of-10 shooting from 3-point range while Scottie Barnes recorded a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double on 17 shots.
Thursday’s contest was both team’s first game since Saturday because of the In-Season Tournament; both teams will have another game on Friday. The Miami Heat advance to 12-9 while the Toronto Raptors dropped to 9-11.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates.
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More positives abt Dunc…
“In general, Miami’s lineups with Duncan have been a plus. The preferred starting lineup with Herro out (Lowry, Duncan, Butler, Highsmith and Adebayo) is out-scoring opponents by 11.7 points every 100 possessions. Duncan himself is averaging career highs in points (15), field-goal percentage (48.8%) and assists (2.9).”
– allucanheat
Here’s the articles I tried to post earlier regarding Duncan Robinson.
Goldberg: Duncan Robinson’s connection with Heat’s stars makes him irreplaceable
https://allucanheat.com/posts/duncan-robinson-connection-with-miami-heat-stars-irreplaceable?utm_campaign=FanSided+Daily&utm_source=FanSided+Daily&utm_medium=email&sc=e0273490fd355e2c28bdb25751d41af65a4dd80936ff00a80be9866c97887955
Power Ranking the NBA’s top 3-point shooters: Is Duncan Robinson among the elite?
https://allucanheat.com/posts/power-ranking-the-nba-top-3-point-shooters-miami-heat-duncan-robinson-among-the-elite?utm_campaign=FanSided+Daily&utm_source=FanSided+Daily&utm_medium=email&sc=e0273490fd355e2c28bdb25751d41af65a4dd80936ff00a80be9866c97887955
I tried to post twice earlier today and it indicated the posts were being reviewed by administrator. Nothing derogatory or disrespectful. They never got posted. WTF?
I wondered where your earlier post went. It was there, then it wasn’t. More info about Duncan, I believe.
There it is(n’t)
Has to be a glitch because, as you said, there was nothing derogatory.
Ever heard of cyberspace and blackholes?
It happened to me one time. I was on my laptop when I usually post using my phone. Comment wasn’t posted forgot abt it maybe a glitch in the matrix 😳
Another viewpoint. From Hoops Rumors conversation with Eric Koreen of The Athletic on Kyle Lowry:
”With Lowry set to turn 38 in March, Koreen suggests he may be one of the few NBA players ever to remain productive at age 40. A wave of injuries to teammates has resulted in Lowry playing the most minutes of anyone on Miami’s roster so far, Koreen adds, but coach Erik Spoelstra is being careful not to overextend him. Lowry is a valuable part of the offense — shooting 43.6% from three-point range and sporting an assist-to-turnover ratio of about 4-to-1 — and the Heat will need him fresh and healthy for the playoffs.”
Kyle is on the right team right now imo. Fits well enough to carry some load when Heat is handicapped by injuries as of the moment. Hope it continues.
Interestingly his effective field goal attempts has not dipped below his average of about 40% over his long colorful productive career.
On the flip side, very few remember that Jimmy Butler started his career as a shooting guard and was the back up pg for Derrick Rose for several years until Jimmy converted to power forward in his later years. Heat has an additional pg in Jimmy if the push comes to the shove.
Jimmy has only played shooting guard and small forward since he came in the league.
https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/has-jimmy-butler-played-power-forward
Not true.
He has played shooting guard, small forward and power forward.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/butleji01.html
could indiana be the best team in east,not worried we got the robinson bros
I have had my eye on them since the 6th week of the season. I believe at one time they held the 4th position for a while. Teams then to collapse before the end of the season, so we shall see. They have been on my radar for awhile and with a good coach, they might be the surprise team in the East. I like our chances against them though.
Indiana is like our antithesis : they are tall, we are short. they are athletic, we not athletic. they are young, we are old. they like to score more, we like to defend more
…. and we have been there, they have not.
The light has finally gone on for everyone that Duncan has come all the way back and so much further. He has truly made himself irreplaceable. Whether he continues starting or coming off the bench, he is now a very vital part of the Heat’s rotation and chemistry.
I, personally, would like to see him continue to start when Herro returns and have Herro and his 20+PPG firepower come in off the bench against opponents’ inferior second units. Together with Jaquez, JRich, ORob and ?, the second unit would pose a pretty potent threat against any team in the league.
If you need more proof of Duncan’s value, per allyoucanheat:
“Robinson has started the last 11 games at shooting guard since Herro sustained his injury a month ago in Memphis. Robinson is averaging 17.6 points on 50.4% shooting, 3.6 assists and 3.2 rebounds in the games he’s started. The Heat are 8-3 in those games.”GO HEAT!!!
See article below.
https://allucanheat.com/posts/duncan-robinson-connection-with-miami-heat-stars-irreplaceable?utm_campaign=FanSided+Daily&utm_source=FanSided+Daily&utm_medium=email&sc=e0273490fd355e2c28bdb25751d41af65a4dd80936ff00a80be9866c97887955
I’m also attaching an article placing Duncan among top 3-point shooters in the NBA after Curry and Haliburton.
https://allucanheat.com/posts/power-ranking-the-nba-top-3-point-shooters-miami-heat-duncan-robinson-among-the-elite/3?utm_campaign=FanSided+Daily&utm_source=FanSided+Daily&utm_medium=email&sc=e0273490fd355e2c28bdb25751d41af65a4dd80936ff00a80be9866c97887955
a good eval after 20 games…
https://allucanheat.com/posts/20-miami-heat-observations-through-the-first-20-games?fbclid=IwAR3_XgEJKBMtlnw5SFqY-LpMaR9KHuGu3c_HwYzNdzx_UA3WUp_sdM4dPa0
my take…
#1 & 2 good to know!
#3 & 4 just wow! specially no. 4
#5 regarding allstars i simply dont care as long as we keep winning
#6 when healthy, best lineups in the league! yes! agree 100%
#7 & 8 Duncan evolution! yes i dig it! Dunc over Ty starting? hmmm…maybe
#9 Agree on Bam getting closer to the basket but need to work harder on his footwork
#10 Jimmy knows it but he tends to be a facilitator at times and even just cruising in regular season
#11 Butler-Love a good fit. yep.
#12 difficult one. HH needs to make those shots being given to him
#13 Pink! lol
#14 Heatlifer Caleb!
#15 PG concern not everyone here is gonna like that suggestion. im ok with it
#16 JJJ feel good story for all of us
#17 Patience is key to Jovic issue…agree
#18 ORob over Bryant…agree
#19 Bam injury hope not a big concern
#20 Good problem moving forward…see #6
GOOOO HEAT!! Fearless forecast: top 5-6 end of regular season and back to back conf finals 😁
Duncan is thriving as a starter. If Herro wants what’s best for the team, he will play wherever Spo thinks is best. If his ego gets in the way of that, I’ll lose a little respect for him.
I don’t have a problem with Bam shooting more from distance. I mean, he’s making them, so what’s the problem? In years past, it drove me crazy when opponents would leave him wide open and double elsewhere when he was doing dho from the top of the key. They can’t do that anymore.
“…he will play wherever Spo thinks is best.” Hope he does. I’d like to see the time they can share the court for long stretches and not worry abt getting hunted in defense coz they can already hold their own.
I agree with you with Bam shooting from the distance. I personally think that Bam is using these games as practice sessions for a playoff scenario to shoot from the distance. Like you correctly pointed out, in the past taller players like Lopez, Davis, Embiid have been used by teams to fence Bam from the rim and paint area, and intentionally left him open at the distance, daring him to shoot from the distance. So he is working on that in these past games by shooting from the distance and has done quite well. I don’t think he will go away from attacking the rim, because the times he has attacked the rim, he has done it with ferociousness and afterwards shows off by flexing his biceps.
Exceeding thanks to ManilaHeat for posting the link.
This is a brilliant most down to earth observation from a brilliant mind, not guessing or projecting into the future.
I cannot agree more on #15: ” Miami has had enough at point guide.” This is a statement of affirmation and not denial for anyone who cares.
Some players fade away under the limelight while others thrive…I hope that won’t be the case for Duncan as a starter.
My concerns in this league is health, hope everyone stays healthy and we shall see a Heat team, no team in the East wants to tangle with.
Go Heat, Go!
Robinsons won us this one, with a little help of Martin.
I m worried with Butler. He is blocked a lot this year.
Want to see more playing time for Orlando Robinson …iron sharpens iron…. can only happen with more playing time….difficult problem for Spo with many players wanting mire playing time…
It feels good to be back in the win colum. Martin was balling tonight at his eastern conference finals version. Love when he plays like that. Also both the Robinson’s was great tonight, especially Orlando. He made a career high two 3’s, and clutch buckets in the 4th , also his first ever double double. I can see him starting next to bam in a year or two. Duncan D has improved so much, i’m proud of the work he put in, and closes from time to time. Also very solid games from Juan wick and Jimmy buckets, GO HEAT!
I’m super glad that a solid contribution from JJJ is just a regular thing now. Mirrors ‘The Undrafteds’ from last playoffs in a way for me. Jovic still holds a lot of promise of a lanky gun slinging 3 one day. Stick to the plan and stay ready, youngster! Dunc can’t be slept on anywhere. Jimbo, buddy. Hit your shots, bro! Won’t be long before teams start letting jimmy into the paint and letting him seek contact and fling a bad layups cause the whistles just won’t sing on demand anymore. Caleb is back, and JRich is really here now. We’re starting to look like a team that doesn’t struggle as much to find and make a good shot in the half court! Yay!!
Get well soon, Bam and Ty. GO HEAT!
Always a sigh-of-relief win vs these Raptors. Can we get Siakam next season? If trend holds up, we will be winning the next 5 games before big tests starting with Wolves. But one game at a time. Props to Dunc and ORob. Jovic needs to keep it going in practice sessions that’s why he has limited pt Spo and his staff ain’t seeing enough perhaps.
The “Brothers Johnson” have been replaced by the “Brothers Robinson.”
Other observations:
Once Bam and Herro are healthy and Riley does his magic in the way of a trade or two, the Heat will begin resembling a playoff ready team. Meanwhile, I’ll hang on for the upcoming roller coaster ride and will enjoy seeing the development of our younger players. Onward and upward! Next man up!
GO HEAT!!!
A lot of good performances in this game. The Robinson boys were great individually and together. If there’s anyone who still doesn’t understand how much Duncan has improved defensively, please watch this game again and educate thyself. It wasn’t a one game anomaly, he’s shown improvement all season. A great defender? No, but holding his own.
Martin, Butler, and Jaquez all had nice contributions.
Dunc was the best heat defender in this game, it seems that he was always at the right place. and I think he has a potential to get a triple double one day.
He was my favourite heat player last year. And still is.
You and 2qbn have been 2 of his most loyal supporters even when he wasn’t doing well. I’m super happy for him and very impressed with how hard he’s worked to become a complete player.
Super happy is about right for me too. Never imagined that he will be that good.
Always been on Team Duncan. 🙂
For Duncan this is true of the adage ” when you work hard privately, the result will be admired publicly”. This is what I tell teens when it comes to any endevour in life be it academics, sports, the time will come to sit back and take a vacation but not before the work is done.
Sage advice for sure