You could argue that the Toronto Raptors’ three-point win over the Miami Heat was a top-5 offensive performance from them this season. And it came without two of their best offensive engines in ascending point guard Immanuel Quickley and sharpshooter Gradey Dick, who is having an excellent start to his sophomore campaign.
Meanwhile, for a Heat defense that hasn’t consistently strung together good defensive outings despite being a fringe top-10 unit, it was par for the course. Sunday marked the 10th time the Heat allowed a team to score 116 points per 100 possessions, including the 6th time it reached 119 points per 100, according to Cleaning The Glass.
RJ Barrett led the Raptors with 37 points on 15-of-20 shooting with seven rebounds and five assists, routinely generating paint touches and getting his spot on the floor no matter what.
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra was discouraged by the team’s defensive effort and disposition after the game, stating the Heat were not deserving of winning the tightly-contested affair.
“We definitely didn’t offer any kind of resistance–certainly not the kind of resistance you would need on the road to put yourself in a legitimate chance to win,” Spoelstra told reporters after Sunday’s 119-116 loss. “It didn’t matter what lineup, what scheme, who was on who, we just were not able to contain the ball in transition or in any kind of one-on-one situation.
“It was more of a surprise that it was close at the end. We didn’t put ourselves in a position to deserve to win. So often in this league, you have to be worthy to win, and you don’t necessarily win even on those nights when you’re worthy to win. We were not worthy to win tonight.”
Sunday’s loss drops the Heat back to .500 at 9-9, their 5th loss on the road and fourth loss against a team with a .500 or below record. They have not won three straight all season nor were they ever at least two games above .500.
Typically, Miami’s emphasized defending the paint as much as any other team in the league. Though that was nonexistent Sunday night, surrendering 68 points in the paint and 40 inside the restricted area. Even though it’s prevented paint touches, the Heat have struggled defensively when teams have generated those paint touches–putting extra strain on the back-line defenders.
The road doesn’t get any easier from now, as it will travel to Boston to take on the reigning champion Celtics Monday night inside TD Garden.
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On different topic, did any of you guys have any problems with accessing this site with mobile phone? Loading this site on computer also takes a lot of time. Anyone experiencing something like that?
I would like to wait next 4 games to see what is there. four loses would kill all hope for sure, and trigger the trade, 2:2 with all games competitive would extend the hope, what is more is a good sign.
Still, I dont know what to do with Butler. He is moonwalking through half of the game.
I think 1 W is possible, but I don’t expect more. Tough opponents and we mostly lose to those. Still, mediocrity will continue. I don’t see how we could turn it around with the current roster.
The effort is there, the coaching is there, the roster is where the problems are. All the coaching in the world can’t overcome that. Jovic is apparently not working out, Love and Robinson are too inconsistent to help much. JJJ may be good enough to be a rotation player but higher projections seem optimistic now. JRich and Burks, again too inconsistent, HH, not enough offense. All those players are role players at best. Pelle and Ware still have a chance someday, but it’s not right now. So, that is nine of our twelve. Of our top three, Bam has been clearly off, and Jimmy is almost always on the verge of getting hurt. Only Ty is performing and that’s not enough.
Get real Pat, time to blow it up as we are going nowhere. Get what you can for Jimmy before he goes down with something long term. It’s over for this team. Face facts.
Well summed up. And I think something will happen this season. Something has to happen. It is clear that with this setup we will never exceed mediocrity.