The Heat were down 20, shot 10-for-40 from three, and still found a way to beat the Clippers 117-116 in overtime. After the way Miami defended against the Lakers, I wanted to see a better effort on that end. The second quarter was brutal, but the defense made some of the biggest plays of the night when Miami needed them.
1. Bam had his best offensive game of the season
This was the best Bam has looked all season offensively. He got going early and finished with a season-high 35 points on 14/20 shooting, plus 10 rebounds and four assists.
Miami was down 15 at halftime, but Bam gave them somewhere to go when the threes weren’t falling. The Heat finished with 54 points in the paint, and there were stretches where I felt like they could’ve gone to him even more. If Bam is scoring that efficiently inside, keep feeding him.
2. Klay is still on a heater
Klay finished with 30 points and made eight of Miami’s 10 threes. He got hot again in the third quarter, then hit a huge three in overtime after Giannis’ recovery block.
There were stretches where I was begging Miami to stop shooting threes. Everyone besides Klay went 2/23 from deep, and the Heat were having more success inside. If Klay has a look, though, I want him taking it.
3. Davion’s hands changed the fourth quarter
Davion Mitchell had four steals, and three of them came in the fourth. One of those late steals might have been my play of the game. He also had 10 assists, but the timing of those steals is what stood out to me.
Giannis, Bam, Klay and Pelle look like four guys Spo trusts to close, and all four had active hands tonight. Even with Brook Lopez making some tough shots, Miami kept getting hands on the ball and disrupting possessions. The Heat scored 23 points off Clippers turnovers, and that activity late helped give them a chance to win.
4. Spo went to eight guys in the second half
Spo’s second-half rotation was Davion Mitchell, Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Klay Thompson, Pelle Larsson, Ryan Conwell, Bobby Portis and Andrew Wiggins.
Conwell got early minutes again and brought good energy when he came back in the third. He went scoreless in 17 minutes, but I liked his aggression and defensive effort. We got one possession with Conwell, Davion, Pelle, Bam and Giannis together, and I’d like to see more of that group.
Tim Hardaway Jr. played just seven minutes. Right now, I’d rather see what Conwell can give Miami in that spot, especially when the team needs more defensive energy.
Next stop
Miami moves to 3-5 and heads to Golden State. I want to see the Heat sustain the defensive effort we saw in the fourth. They spent most of this game playing from behind, and those late stops and steals gave Bam and Klay a chance to finish the comeback
The Heat were down 20, shot 10-for-40 from three, and still found a way to beat the Clippers 117-116 in overtime. After the way Miami defended against the Lakers, I wanted to see a better effort on that end. The second quarter was brutal, but the defense made some of the biggest plays of the night when Miami needed them.
1. Bam had his best offensive game of the season
This was the best Bam has looked all season offensively. He got going early and finished with a season-high 35 points on 14/20 shooting, plus 10 rebounds and four assists.
Miami was down 15 at halftime, but Bam gave them somewhere to go when the threes weren’t falling. The Heat finished with 54 points in the paint, and there were stretches where I felt like they could’ve gone to him even more. If Bam is scoring that efficiently inside, keep feeding him.
2. Klay is still on a heater
Klay finished with 30 points and made eight of Miami’s 10 threes. He got hot again in the third quarter, then hit a huge three in overtime after Giannis’ recovery block.
There were stretches where I was begging Miami to stop shooting threes. Everyone besides Klay went 2/23 from deep, and the Heat were having more success inside. If Klay has a look, though, I want him taking it.
3. Davion’s hands changed the fourth quarter
Davion Mitchell had four steals, and three of them came in the fourth. One of those late steals might have been my play of the game. He also had 10 assists, but the timing of those steals is what stood out to me.
Giannis, Bam, Klay and Pelle look like four guys Spo trusts to close, and all four had active hands tonight. Even with Brook Lopez making some tough shots, Miami kept getting hands on the ball and disrupting possessions. The Heat scored 23 points off Clippers turnovers, and that activity late helped give them a chance to win.
4. Spo went to eight guys in the second half
Spo’s second-half rotation was Davion Mitchell, Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Klay Thompson, Pelle Larsson, Ryan Conwell, Bobby Portis and Andrew Wiggins.
Conwell got early minutes again and brought good energy when he came back in the third. He went scoreless in 17 minutes, but I liked his aggression and defensive effort. We got one possession with Conwell, Davion, Pelle, Bam and Giannis together, and I’d like to see more of that group.
Tim Hardaway Jr. played just seven minutes. Right now, I’d rather see what Conwell can give Miami in that spot, especially when the team needs more defensive energy.
Next stop
Miami moves to 3-5 and heads to Golden State. I want to see the Heat sustain the defensive effort we saw in the fourth. They spent most of this game playing from behind, and those late stops and steals gave Bam and Klay a chance to finish the comeback
