Miami Folds On Road Trip Before Break
The Miami Heat faced a difficult five game road trip prior to the All-Star break. They departed West for their longest road trip of the season. Finishing 1-4 during their five-game trip left the Heat slumping before All-Star Weekend, currently at 35-19. The Eastern Conference standings remain tight from the 2nd through the 6th seed. The arduous trip to the West Coast put the Heat back a few games, settling them into the fourth seed. Five games over eight days while traveling on the road was a challenging test for the young Miami Heat.
Miami’s newest additions — Jae Crowder, Andre Iguodala, and Solomon Hill — have showed what they can bring to the Heat moving forward. A positive conclusion to the road trip would have been advantageous for the Heat, but Miami unfortunately won only 1/5 games. Miami’s schedule post all-star break, however, will become more favorable.
Miami’s Success In Chicago
Miami sent a league-high six players to Chicago for NBA All-Star weekend. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo represented Miami in the All-Star game. Bam also won the NBA Skills Competition despite having the lowest odds at +1100. Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn were both selected for Team USA in the Rising Stars Challenge. Herro was held out due to a recent ankle injury, but Nunn shined for Team USA with 16 points, helping lead the team to a win. High-flyer Derrick Jones Jr. defeated Aaron Gordon, Pat Connaughton and Dwight Howard in the Slam Dunk Contest, capped off with a DJJ vs. Gordon dunk-off to settle the final. Duncan Robinson came up short in the Three-Point Shooutout, ending Miami’s potential chance at sweeping the events in Chicago.
During a weekend where most teams were able to rest their core players, most of Miami’s rotation was representing the Heat in Chicago. It was a beneficial experience for the younger players to be recognized among some of the league’s best. However, they were not able to get much rest. Between their five-game road trip and extended weekend in Chicago, players were away from their Miami homes for two weeks, giving them less time to prepare for the final portion of the season. Fortunately for the Heat, they should benefit from a heavy home schedule over their final 28 games.
https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1228904286077227008?s=20
Favorable Stretch After All-Star Weekend
Although there is no such thing as an “easy” NBA game, Miami’s schedule becomes more favorable after the break. Only 10 of Miami’s 28 remaining games will be against teams currently above .500. The below-.500 games include two games each against the Knicks, Hornets and Cavs, who hold three of the four worst records in the Eastern Conference. Miami will also be playing 16 of these 28 games at home — an advantage that has been on display all season. They hold the third-best home record in the NBA, bettered only by the Bucks and the Sixers.
The additions of Andre Iguodala and Jae Crowder bring an added intensity and defensive presence which will benefit the Heat tremendously. The Heat have added depth to their rotation and parted ways with pieces that haven’t done much for the Heat this season. Miami will benefit from the entire unit playing together for the remainder of the season. With a healthy roster, Miami improves its chances of staying atop the Eastern Conference standings. Currently, only six games separate the 2nd-place Raptors from the 5th-place Sixers.
Home-court advantage in the playoffs is crucial for Miami. They are much better team at home than they are on the road. Clinching a second or third seed would almost certainly mean avoiding Milwaukee until a potential Eastern Conference Finals showdown. The Heat will be a formidable foe for any Eastern Conference team. A strong finish to the season would put Miami into a position in which they can play on their home court and potentially make a deep playoff run.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @TLSportsMedia for the latest NBA news and insight.
