The Miami Heat’s dominant two-way performance fueled their 119-98 win over the Portland Trail Blazers Saturday evening inside Moda Center in Portland, Ore.
The Heat buried 19 3-pointers, shooting 47.8 percent from the floor (compared to Portland’s 37.9 percent) from the floor with a 124.0 offensive rating (82nd percentile), according to Cleaning The Glass. Portland, however, generated just 102.1 points per 100 possessions with a 45.2 effective field goal percentage, ranking in the 19th and 9th percentile, respectively.
Tyler Herro and third-year forward Nikola Jovic led the way for the Miami Heat. Herro tallied a game-high 32 points on 7-of-14 shooting from beyond the arc, dishing out five assists while hauling down five rebounds. Herro’s seven 3-pointers marks the 10th time this season he’s buried at least five; he’s made six triples six times and seven five times. It also marks his seventh 30-point outing of the season, with the Heat having gone 4-3 in those games.
Nikola Jovic, who’s playing arguably the most confident basketball of his life, was outstanding on both ends once again for Miami. The 6-foot-10 wing finished with 21 points, eight rebounds, five assists, one block and one steal. He nailed eight of his 12 shots and went 4-of-7 from 3-point range. Haywood Highsmith scored 14 points on 4-of-5 from 3-point range, adding five steals; Bam Adebayo had 13 points, 11 rebounds and six assists on 6-of-13 shooting; Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Terry Rozier had 11 points apiece.
Anfernee Simons had 28 points, accounting for seven of the Blazers’ 13 3-pointers. Shaedon Sharpe tallied 22 points while Donovan Clingan, Toumani Camara and Deni Avdija all hauled down double-digit rebounds.
Miami’s win against Portland marks their second three-game win streak of the season. Given the horrific and tragic Los Angeles fires, it’s still unknown if the Heat will play the Clippers or Lakers next week, as both teams have been postponing their recent home games.
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I wonder how Butler will be received by the players who have already moved on without him after knowing he quit on them? Talk about feeling out of place. It can’t possibly feel comfortable. Like children of divorce being told their daddy isn’t happy with family so he’s moving out with new girlfriend but has to wait until her divorce is final.
There is also the thing where the team looks way better without him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he spends the Denver game sitting on the bench. Personally, I don’t see any reason to bring him back, and I hope he gets traded before Friday.
ind beating cleve they are playing very well there in the mix with cleve ny bost
They beat Cleveland by 15, 108-93 and have won 6 straight. Now 22-18, 1/2 game behind 4th place Orlando. Sacramento, who we lost to in double overtime, has now won 7 straight. Were 13-19, now 20-19, 2 games behind 5th place Dallas.
current heat team i see 7th 8th seed
I see 5th-6th if they resolve Jimmy issue and get either a good starter (e.g. Porter, Ingram, or Bane) or two good rotation players (e.g., Middleton & Portis) in return. 6-8 if they don’t trade Jimmy and he underperforms the rest of the season.
Lest we forget, the Heat have been an 8th seed play-in team WITH Butler the last 2 seasons.
bost ny cleve milw ind orlando phily mia atl chi maybe as high as 6th or could be 10thdepending who we get for the quitter
i know beals making mucho dinero but id take a talented player like him and let rc iron out the apron
Again, h, the apron has nothing to do with that deal. Butler for Beal works just about straight up. The issue is that the Heat don’t want him and his contract. Will they change their mind? We’ll see.
he scores as well as the quitter.with his build his d gotta be adequate
lots players slack off on d to save their energy,dunc is not a slacker
benedict mathurin really playing well
How to handle the “Jimmy Butler Situation”
Riley should inform Butler that in anticipation of his stated intent to opt out of his contract at the end of the season, he has decided to proceed with a re-tooling process using the team’s younger players. Consequently, he (Butler) will now be coming off the bench. Furthermore, if he later changes his mind and decides to opt in, Heat management intends to trade him to the highest bidder over the summer. This conversation should occur in Riley’s office and include Riley, Spo, Butler and his agent.
At the preceding meeting, Butler should also be informed that if he is disruptive, intentionally underperforms or displays conduct that is in any way detrimental to the team, he will be suspended in a progressive disciplinary manner.
We had a few shakey games immediately following the suspension, but it looks like the team collectively has its head on its shoulder now, and things are increasingly looking good.
What if the lesson from all of this is that Jimmy was the reason we were stuck just north of .500 all season? What if we’re better without him?
That’s yet to be seen, to be clear. And either Bam or Tyler is going to need to *really* step up, even more than they have done, if we want a deep playoff run. But maybe everyone who thought the team would be lost without Jimmy, including Jimmy himself, needed a bit of a reality check.
(no shade on Reality Czech)
We can’t allow ourselves to set unreasonably high expectations, just yet. Our recent wins have been against mostly sub-500 teams. The road will be bumpier ahead.
I agree with you that Bam is going to need to step up, as is Rozier. In addition, Jovic, Jaquez, Ware and a few of our other young players are beginning to show their true potential and need additional playing time so they can continue developing.
What would be great is if the Heat can trade Butler for a player or players who can bring something to the rotation. There are a few out there, e.g., Porter, Ingram, Wiggins/Kuminga, Fox, Bane/Clarke, VanVleet and others.
To be clear, I’m not saying a deep playoff run is something to be expected. But I get the feeling that Jimmy was banking on the team barely contending for a play-in spot without him, and I don’t think that’s in the cards anymore.
I agree. Jimmy misplayed his hand on a few issues. I think he is quickly learning that what worked elsewhere won’t work in Miami. In Miami, the inmates don’t run the asylum, “The Godfather” does.
Riley definitely learned his lesson from the Incredible Edible Neon Dion.
Too early to say. that the ship has stabilized. Are things looking promising, Yes. From the emotional part of it, it seems the team is getting used to playing without Jimmy. Which is good for the locker room and usually transcends to the floor. If Jovic, JJJ can be consistent with 15+ points each night, during this regular season, I see them being more productive next season if they stay healthy. Hope Larsson and Ware also will thrown into the mix on a more regular basis down the stretch.
Too bad “Not Heat Fan” isn’t around to tell us that even though Portaland lost, they still had more game thread posts. lol
Jovic is slowly becoming the unicorn the team envisioned when he was drafted.
Oh yeah, that’s the guy!
Yup. They sure were cocky at Blazer’s Edge last year about how Cronin was going to clean up on the Lillard trade. Not very happy campers over there today.” Be careful what you wish for…you might get it.”
Thats maybe the sweetest win of the season, to show that bunch of idiot in Portland what they missed in that trade.
I wonder what they got for Lillard. Aside Avdija there is not a player I would like to have in Heat team. Bunch of bums.
Hahahaha! Cronin showed us who’s boss lol
Cronin is an idiot and a loser. Poor judge of talent. He traded for Ayton? Really? As bad as Phoenix taking Ayton with first pick in 2018 draft over Luka, Trae, SGA and others. What a joke! The owner, Allen, is a joke too. That team needs a new owner and GM!
Another win against a bad team they were supposed to beat. Another game where we can see the incremental improvement of our young players. I don’t expect this group to be giant killers, but I do expect them to come out and give 100% every night, win or lose. As long as they are playing hard, taking pride in their defense and gradually learning from their mistakes, I’m good with that.
Now if they can just get a good player (or two) for Butler before the trade deadline, they will be set.
Worse case scenario, if Spo has Jimmy coming off the bench with Burks, Duncan, Jovic and Ware, they will immediately become the best second unit in the NBA.
The reserves of Stevens, Richardson, Larsson, Johnson and Love aren’t too bad either.
GO HEAT!!!
I was going to write some stuff but you said pretty much it all.
I’ve been a little surprised at how well the Heat has done during probably the post Jimmy period. They should all be proud of themselves as it has truly been a collective, collaborative effort. HH has had some nice contributions as has Jovic and of course, Bam and especially Ty. They are growing as players before our eyes, not just the ones mentioned, but everyone.
When JRich comes back, which may be soon, it will give us a few more options, looks, and depth. And, like three point shooters, we will have a bit of redundancy in that area which could be used in trade if necessary to further upgrade other weaknesses.
I know Portland, like Utah, ain’t too much, but I thought they would give us more trouble than they did. We will learn more from the next two teams. I expect these games to be postponed, as the enormity of the tragedy out there is beyond belief.
And, in another note about this difficult, sometimes horrible world that is our new reality, nice to see Denny Avjida playing quite well and being treated somewhat normally. That is all we can ask and yet it is so often not happening that way. That is my one silver lining of solace with the upcoming regime change. Like Bill Maher said recently, when wokism becomes tolerance for intolerance, that’s when we go off the rails. If everything is okay, then nothing is ok.
That was pretty heavy 30. I’m glad to see the guys working together, developing as a cohesive unit. I enjoy seeing them having their moments of fun, even if we all know they are going to hit rough spots. I don’t look so much at where they are today, at the very beginning of the post-Butler era. I think more about where they will be collectively, as a team, a month from now, at the end of the season, during the playoffs (if it happens) and next season. They just need to pick up a player or two to strengthen the rotation. That can be through a Butler trade and/or by trading the redundant players to acquire others of greater need.
I have a lot of thoughts about the state of our society, our country and our world. One view is to respect the rights and tolerate the views of all people and another is to respect the rights and accept the views of only those people who we agree with. I feel people should be allowed to be who they are and believe what they want, as long it is not at the expense of others. I’ve evolved past racism, bigotry, sexism and homophobia. Unfortunately, I don’t believe a large segment of our society has. We still have a long way to go.
P.S. Tyler is really coming into his own. Portland sure screwed up not trading for him, Jovic, Jaquez, etc. for Lillard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKSVWq_dVrE
Let me join in. I have to admit that I am getting my joy back from watching the Heat play basketball, to see them stepping up and coming together as a team.
And on the other more serious note, I would like to add that it’s always good to have people around us with whom we share common values, and I feel that such a community exists among Heat fans here on Hhh.The whole world is sick and we as individuals must look for and build on what unites us and not on what divides us.
Thanks. I took a chance, maybe because we are such a community. Thanks for your input and wise words.
Testify, Sharkey!
Amen Sharkey!
Thanks. I took a chance. Glad you responded with the same intelligence and clarity you do when analyzing basketball.
Thank you. I try.
Heck yeah, Sunman.
Thanks 2.
A world about Avdija.
His father Zufer Avdija was well known player in former Yugoslavia, of Serbian nationality. I m not sure how he finished in Israel.
Thanks for info. I didn’t know he had Yugoslavian/Serbian roots.
Some very nice, encouraging thoughts. And let us not forget that, in the end, Captain Picard and company DID overcome the Borg, proving resistance is NOT futile!! 😀
I often refer to “assimilation by the Borg” regarding the state of politics in America these days.
I prefer to watch how captain Janeway and Seven of nine handle the Borg. If not better it was prettier.
Oh my goodness, seven of nine and the costume she wore!!
Unforgettable,
7 of 9’s outfit left nothing to imagination.
But it was effective. 🙂
weird comment. I’m really uneasy with the Emirates NBA sponsorship–I’m old enough to remember Jamal Khashoggi.
Guess what I’m saying is the NBA, like the USA, ain’t about anything but their money.
An oligarchy wrapped in a flag carrying a bible. I’ve noticed that large sums of money are being injected by Middle Eastern countries into various sports, Golf, NBA, MMA, Boxing and others. In today’s world, money buys everything, including souls.
robert williams brogdon or ty and jjj or jovic lol.which package u like now portland u loser org.although dame is still putting up his usual #s.rather have young ty would never have said that til this year .tys been amazing.joker jr and highway keep showing their skill level every night hats off to pat he still knows hoops 30 .as u have mentioned sunman we need another all star type player to challenge the elite. im looking at that pg position its bare sunman.i think frontcourt set for next decade and 2 g also.