While it doesn’t look like it on the surface, the Miami Heat’s 15-point win over the Atlanta Hawks was a good win. Miami got back to its identity, without two of its players in Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, snapping a three-game skid.
Though it will have a quick turnaround on Saturday night, the second night of a back-to-back, facing the reeling, beleaguered Indiana Pacers inside Kaseya Center. Tip-off is expected to be at 8:00 p.m. EST.
The Pacers are also facing the second night of a back-to-back. Indiana was dealt a 140-122 loss at home to the Boston Celtics, its seventh-straight loss. Led by Jaylen Brown’s 30-point effort and Payton Pritchard’s 29-point effort, the Celtics shot 56.6 percent while burying 20 triples.
Dating back to Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles tear in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, they have been crushed by injury all season. The Pacers own the worst record in the East at 6-25; meanwhile, the Heat enter 16-15 with sole possession of the No. 8 seed.
Saturday’s contest between the two teams will be their first of three meetings this season — including the only one in Miami, Fla. They split the four contests last season. The Heat are 3-2 in games on the second night of a back-to-back, while the Pacers are 2-3.
Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):
Indiana Pacers:
NOT SUBMITTED AT TIME OF PUBLISHING.
Miami Heat:
NOT SUBMITTED AT TIME OF PUBLISHING.
Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):
Indiana Pacers:
- Andrew Nembhard, G
- Bennedict Mathurin, G
- Quenton Jackson, G
- Pascal Siakam, F
- Jay Huff, C
Miami Heat:
- Davion Mitchell, G
- Norman Powell, G
- Pelle Larsson, F
- Andrew Wiggins, F
- Kel’el Ware, C
Broadcast Info:
- Tipoff: 8:00 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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After watching last night’s game, it occurred to me that Miami’s second unit is good with the potential to be elite.
Smith, Larsson, and Jaquez are all hard-nosed aggressive players. Once Herro returns, I would have him come off the bench (as several of you have suggested). Together with Bam and Ware alternating at C, that makes a pretty impressive group. (Smith, Herro, Larsson, Jaquez, Bam/Ware).
That still leaves several reserves to compete for playing time:
JakucionisJovicJohnsonFontecchio
Spo can randomly insert them into the line-up as situations allow/permit, and let their play determine how much additional playing time they get. That could change from game to game or one of the four may demonstrate the ability to consistently play well enough to earn the 10th rotation spot.
Meanwhile, if the NBA allows Miami to use Rozier’s expiring contract in a trade, multiple alternatives for improving the team are possible.
After 10 games of misery I would wait a game or two to put forward that our bench is good.
I think Smith, Larsson and Jaquez plus either Bam or Ware is good. If you add Herro, I think it would be considered one of the best in the league.