After a week off for All-Star break, the Miami Heat were back in action on Friday. They faced off against a New York Knicks team that has been very disappointing all season. Miami got off to a rough start offensively. The Knicks scored the game’s first 10 points. Still, Miami stuck with it and was able to get going offensively with their second unit. After trailing by as much as 16 points, the Knicks were able to cut Miami’s lead to two points in the third period. However, Miami continued to build its lead and pulled away in the end. With the win, Miami moves to 39-21 for the season. Here are four takeaways from Friday’s win over the Knicks.
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Bam’s Defensive Dominance
How about Bam Adebayo? Yes, the offensive aggression is important. However, Adebayo’s defense was very impressive. Adebayo has the ability to defend any position on the court with his lateral quickness and length. This plays a key role in why Miami switches a lot and still is able to cover ground. Against the Knicks, he continued to show that versatility. He was everywhere on the passing lanes, he recovered well for big-time blocks, and he also help deter shots on the weak side. If he wasn’t sidelined early in the season, he would’ve been a defensive player of the year candidate. Adebayo ended the night with 16 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocks.
Herro is Back
The Heat’s best three-level scorer Tyler Herro was back on the court on Friday. His scoring prowess was definitely put on display early. With Miami struggling offensively, Herro kept the team afloat early in the first half. He took his time in the pick and rolls, waited for the defender to recover, and went into his floater game. He was also hitting from downtown on his catch-and-shoot opportunities. Herro also took advantage of the drop coverage and went into his pull-up game. Basically, he was scoring on all three levels with 15 points at halftime. He ended the night with 25 points and seven rebounds.
Butler in the Third Period
Jimmy Butler was the total opposite of Herro early on. His shots kept falling short and he was unable to finish around the rim. This was shaping up to be another grinding game for Butler, and that’s what it ended up being. Miami’s offense started getting stagnant in the third period as the Knicks were making their run. That’s when Miami decided to go to Butler in the post. Butler kept drawing fouls and scoring down low in the paint. He went on a personal 8-0 run to keep Miami ahead in the period. Even though there were a lot of Butler isolations, it allowed Miami to take advantage of certain lineups on the offensive side of the ball. Butler ended the night with 23 points.
Oladipo Update
Victor Oladipo‘s season debut appears to be drawing nearer. Before Friday’s game, ESPN posted news of Oladipo possibly returning the second week of March. After training with G-league affiliate Sioux Falls Skyforce, Oladipo traveled with the team. It’s going to be really interesting to see how he looks and what role he’ll play for Miami. The last time Oladipo played, he showed an ability to provide consistent rim pressure and defense. If he’s able to provide that consistently, it makes the Heat even more dangerous.
Next Up: The San Antonio Spurs on Saturday. The game tips off at 8 pm eastern time.
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