(Photo via Getty Images)
Following a few days off for the Christmas holiday, the struggling Miami Heat are back in action to face the Atlanta Hawks on the road Friday.
In addition to Miami’s recent losing stretch, in which they have lost a rough eight of their last nine games, they will have a hefty injury report ahead of the matchup in Atlanta. They could be without the services of both their All-Star’s in Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. Adebayo is listed as doubtful with sudden back soreness in the midst of his recent struggles offensively. As for Herro, he is set to miss his 25th game out of 31 total for the Heat this season while he still deals with his toe injury.
However, Miami is expected to have Pelle Larsson and Nikola Jovic back from their own injuries tonight. With Adebayo likely sidelined, expect Larsson to resume his starting duties from earlier this season.
Miami will enter the night at a .500 record of 15-15, as the Hawks are currently 15-16. This matchup will have immediate implications on the tight East standings.
Trae Young and Jalen Johnson will assuredly have to be contained to fend off Atlanta. Johnson is having a career year with averages of 23.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 8.3 assists on 1.5 steals on elite 52.3% shooting per game.
Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):
Atlanta Hawks:
- Mouhamed Gueye (shoulder) — QUESTIONABLE
- Malik Williams (g-league) — QUESTIONABLE
- Caleb Houstan (g-league) — QUESTIONABLE
- Nikola Djurisic (g-league) — QUESTIONABLE
- John Nidaye (g-league) — OUT
- Dante N’Faly (ACL) — OUT
- Kristaps Porzingis (illness) — OUT
Miami Heat:
- Bam Adebayo (back) — DOUBTFUL
- Keshad Johnson (illness) — PROBABLE
- Pelle Larsson (ankle) — PROBABLE
- Nikola Jovic (elbow) — PROBABLE
- Tyler Herro (toe) — OUT
- Vlad Goldin (g-league) — OUT
- Jahmir Young (g-league) — OUT
- Terry Rozier (not with team) — OUT
Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):
Atlanta Hawks:
- Trae Young, G
- Nickelodeon Alexander-Walker, G
- Jalen Johnson, F
- Zaccharie Risacher, F
- Onyeka Okongwu, C
Miami Heat:
- Davion Mitchell, G
- Norman Powell, G
- Pelle Larsson, F
- Andrew Wiggins, F
- Kel’el Ware, C
Broadcast Info:
- Tipoff: 7:00 PM EST
- TV: FanDuel Sports Network Sun (Eric Reid & John Crotty)
- Radio: AM 560 Sports WQAM & The HEAT Radio Network (Jason Jackson)
- Spanish Radio: WAQI 710 AM & The HEAT Spanish Radio Network (José Pañeda)
Come back to Hot Hot Hoops at game time to join our GameThread and chat about the game live with other Heat fans!
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To start the season, Miami went to a fast paced run & gun offense. It was very effective through November, until teams began adjusting their defenses (including use of zone defenses) to take away the pace, the paint and uncontested shots. In addition, the team has not been getting the same quality 3 point shots as before nor are they hitting open 3’s at their former clip.
What Miami got away from was pick and rolls and dribble handoffs. Norm Powell thinks the team needs to loosen up defenses by incorporating the use of both pick & rolls and dribble hand offs into the run & gun offense. This is what Powell had to say:
I believe Powell is right. Hopefully, Spo will modify the offense to counter other teams’ defensive adjustments, increase open 3’s and open up driving lanes. I would also like to see continued efforts to increase offense rebounding. Maybe that is what Miami needs in order to get its mojo back.
bam and dunc were the king of pick n rolls they both helped each other out.loss of dunc i think hurt us even though his d suks.fonzis a major bust.just dont have the talent sun need a ss to stop runs and win games on his own (greek)
Short of getting Giannis or another ss, Heat needs to make adjustments. This is something that makes sense meanwhile. Powell and Herro are both big fans of pick and roll also.