The Minnesota Timberwolves took care of business against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat in their season opener with a 131-106 win. What were a few key numbers highlighting why the Heat struggled? Let’s examine!
14 – Combined 3-point makes from Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball
On a night headlined by Antetokounmpo’s debut with the Miami Heat, it was the new Timberwolves backcourt of LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards who stole the show.
Edwards scored 45 points on 16-of-29 shooting and 9-of-17 from 3-point range, joining Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan as the only three players ever with multiple 40-point openers. LaMelo Ball followed suit with 21 on 5-of-13 from distance.
The two combined to make 14 threes — six more than the Heat had as a team. Only Klay Thompson had multiple made threes, knocking down seven. In today’s NBA, you’re not going to win with that big of a difference, unless you completely overwhelm your opponent on the glass, in transition and in the paint. Evidently, that wasn’t the case for the Heat.
18 – Rebound margin in Timberwolves’ favor
Miami’s effort on the glass tonight was subpar. Part of the discrepancy resulted from the aforementioned duo lighting the Heat up from deep. But Miami pulled down just 35 rebounds with a minus-18 rebound differential, including a minus-17 disparity over the final three quarters. Better yet, the Heat had a 39.7 total rebound percentage and a 59.1 defensive rebound percentage over that span. Those are unacceptable marks, regardless of the single-game sample size.
128.2 – Defensive rating with Bam Adebayo + Giannis Antetokounmpo on floor:
All of these numbers tie into one another. Miami’s defense was well below average, especially with their two-best defenders sharing the floor together.
In the 25-point loss, Adebayo and Antetokounmpo sported a 128.2 defensive rating to just a 102.6 offensive rating. Both players were oftentimes playing drop a little below the level of screen, which gave Edwards, Ball and Co. a few free looks from 3-point range. Erik Spoelstra eventually adjusted, but it was too late; in a perfect world, they’re switching unless they’re playing at the level with the other as the low man.
It’s Game 1. They aren’t cohesive right now. This is the first hiccup since the start of preseason, so I am not worried long-term. That doesn’t make Wednesday’s showing any less frustrating, though.
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This is game1 but, if every other player not called Giannis do not show up or match his efforts, I see a frustrated Greek down the road.
wiggy took up alot $$ prob better he went somewhere else use that $$ on better player or players.hes ok wiggy not really a diff maker.
That still leaves SG if Thompson and Hardaway don’t demonstrate consistent productivity.
didnt like the signing of hardaway 36.5%3s 42 overall not good enough.i think klays in great shape top 5 shooter all time my $$ on klay being good.
Sixers were down 69-45 at half to Cleveland and outscored the Cavs 69-37 in the second half to win 114-106. I thought what was most interesting about the game was that 9 of the 10 starters played over 30 minutes and one player (Maxey) played 42. Meanwhile, Cleveland’s bench scored 16 points and the Sixers bench scored only 9.
That tells me just one injury to a starter could pose a big problem for either team.
our bench pretty much blows ars all those bench type guys on milw.whos good off our bench maybe bobby p but hes lil old.pelle is gritty but his offense needs to pick up.id really like to see the gardner or conwell.lil more
You knew there would be tradeoffs when Riley went after Giannis. Its no secret that the price you pay to obtain a superstar is to gut your team by giving away your promising young players and most of your draft picks.
Gardner needs to learn how to keep his mouth shut and let his play do the talking. He was talkin smack to Ant from the bench. Ant got pissed and went off for 45. I like Gardner’s energy and aggressiveness, but his behavior and play are a little too ghIetto. If his behavior doesn’t change soon, Heat can always send his booty to Sioux Falls for the winter for an attitude adjustment. I hear its real nice there from November-February…real nice.
Keshad is like Jovic. He needs to be more aggressive, physical and assertive. If he doesn’t make a big stride this year, I don’t see him being around very long. Unlike Jovic, he doesn’t have a $62M ball and chain strapped to his ankle.
Spo must establish clear offensive snd defensive systems/schemes. The players can’t just stand around (on offense and defense) admiring Giannis killing himself doing all the work. Bam is the captain. He needs to begin behaving like an alpha leader and take control of the reins and the team. Otherwise, Riley needs to recruit someone else to fill the role of team leader.
bam as your second best player is not the ideal sit u want.gardener demeanor on the ct is hurting himself for pt,hes got nba athleticism toughness skills u want but his professionalism is that of a kid.keshad has great athleticism but something just not there for him to never see the ct.niko has little of anything nba wise but sees the ct way to much imo.just compare his game to jaimes made for ready nba game.i just dont see it in niko.id rather have fonzi on the ct than niko.fonz can shoot it lil bit and is italian tough.again erics rotations and use of personnel as usual sub standardthats the way i see it and i want the heat to win every game .just trying to keep it real.
Wassa matta you? Don’t you realize one game in so far and our bench blows ass, Spo sucks, we used to be doing backflips of joy but no more – all after ONE game? Went from let’s see where we are in 20 games, back to let’s make judgments after 1 game, 1 half, even 1 quarter. But, we calls em as we seez em.
Poor coaching by Spo. He did not have his team ready to play.
He spent the entire preseason preaching offense while taking the team’s true identity (rebounding and defense) for granted and it showed.
its an adjustment for bam playing with greek.but his effort last night sukd.rest of guys are gonna have good games and some off nights.greek is pretty much great every night.bam is good most nights.gave up 2 good scorers to get greek ,imo jj jr would be our 3rd best player gonna miss the highway man.hes a 2 way player herro could score but no d and hurt alot.
Yikes! THAT was certainly hard on the eyes. Greek was fantastic while everyone else looked totally overmatched. Minny’s youth & quickness dominated everywhere as the major pundits concerns for Heat jumped out. Know it’s one game and perhaps a one-off…but without some better chemistry and Spo not taking all season to figure it out…last night resembled Milwaukee South.
minn very good wont see to many minns on sched.we’re not champ level team pretty obvious.maybe try a gardner on antman eric get in his grill lil bit ya think eric thinking outside the lines .gardner is one pain in ars on ct like his fight. tenacity athleticism need to see him more than certain guys
That rebound differential was inexcusable
they got some quick jumpers and rudy pushes off alot. top team in nba no worries.if we look bad versus det in the same way which i dont think we will then concerns start to creep up lil bit.
The game was lost from starters. Starters were behind in first half, but bench fixed the gap. In second half the game was basically over 5 minutes in, just before Klay was swapped by Pelle. The bench didnt have it to bring game back.
Giannis was very good, Bam has his minutes, but it was obvious that injury took something. The same with Pelle.
From the rest, I m worried about Klay. He took 6 shots, and got his 10 points. Looks good on the paper, but he was terrible. He cant guard any more, thats one of the reason, that Edwards went that hot.
I agree that in the first half the starters (with the exception of Giannis) were worse than the bench. Klay had an ugly game. I had concerns regarding him before and unfortunately the last night’s game just validated them.
Three point shooting was poor overall and I have to admit I expected more in this department since we have solid three point shooters in Klay, Portis, Niko, THJ.
And the worst part was our defense and rebounding. I don’t understand why we wouldn’t switch on screens. Ball and Edwards scored countless threes after simple screens.
Mitchell had a bad game with 5 turnovers.
Its just one game, i am not gonna make any conclusions yet, but I didn’t like the way we played yesterday. Hope they will improve over time.
All true.
If nothing else, everyone knows what they did wrong and what they need to correct. I expect to see better focus, intensity and communication. They also need to find their pace as a team.
Players need to quit pressing, relax and play their games. It’s going to take a while. It won’t happen overnight.
I can see more playing time for Conwell and Gardner in the not too distant future.
minn a top 4 team imo spurs okc 76ers.against an athletic team like that dont see a role for niko to succede.gard is a roughen with skills that can play against guys like dosummu kuminga shannon mcdaniels niko just to slow for cats like these.id like to see conwell to but spobot doesnt play rooks to much.athleticism of team below average imo .bc below average those two have to change for my 4th.we have the best or 2nd best player in nba.its like a franchise qb in football hes our mahomes josh allen get him little more help pat
Its the first game of a season. Relax.
klay was terrible relax hes an all timer
He was terrible last night. Thats why he went on the bench after 4 minutes in second half. And he should be substituted 4 minutes before.
Nothing but respect for his career.
i think klays on a pitch count. whos better pelle hardaway jr.im riding the klay bandwagon still think hes got good ball left in him.hes reinvigorated being here with a great great player.time will tell im betting on klay giving us 15 pts on 40% 3s and playing decent d.im a klay believer unlike u vagi.we shall see hope im right on that one bro
I hope you are right too, but its not likely.
Pretty sure he went to the bench because he picked up his 4th foul. Much like he picked up 2 early in the first, he picked up his 4th early in the 3rd.
Could be wrong, but I suspect that’s why his minutes were low.
Heat couldn’t defend perimeter and Ant, that was the reason. Pelle replaced Klay, not THJ. The problem was defense, with Klay being to slow.
Ant scored on Klay, Wiggins, Dav, Pelle, Bam, and pretty much anyone the Heat tried to guard him with. The whole team couldn’t stop them.
Not saying Klay played well, but I really think it was the four fouls that caused him to get glued to the bench, not the defensive effort, otherwise Bam woulda needed a seat too.
I watched that part of the game again. At 10.30, ant scored 3p over Klay, at 10.10 Ball scored 3p over Bam, at 9.46 Ant scored over Wigg.
After that, Klay got 2 missed shots and 4th, but play more then a minute after getting 4th foul.
So I was wrong about Klays defense was the only reason to sit him. It was probably more about a combination of need for a better defender (Pelle enters)/nothing from him in offense/4th foul.
Thanks for correction.
true he was in foul trouble .he looks in great shape klay could always guard he is older now but think hes got alot left in his tank.
You do know the Knicks won last season, right?
brunson was superman.kat unexpectedly played well at the end i dont see that happening again.both got on a great run played lot bball shorter off season.id be surprised if knicks made it to finals.
Huh?
ie – not considering the Knicks as a top 4 team.
You think Minnesota better than NYK?