Which version of the Miami Heat will we see tonight? The exciting offense powerhouse led by a Hall-of-Fame player or the defensive wet paper towel that allows you to score at will?
You have to laugh at the discrepancy but it’s the new reality for this season’s Heat, as they continue to find an identity that is ever-changing. Miami started their 11th different lineup on Wednesday, giving Chris Andersen his first start with the team. That unit was mostly ineffective and Justin Hamilton, starting at power forward, was replaced at the start of the third quarter by Shawne Williams.
And while that lineup produced a mild spark, it was too late to overcome a large deficit against the Utah Jazz, a team that has only won seven games all season.
The Washington Wizards (18-6) are second in the Eastern Conference standings and have already beaten Miami by 21 in a December 1 meeting earlier this year. You might recall that as the “Rasual Butler” game, where the veteran player came off the bench and found new life, torching the Heat for 23 points. It was the peak of Butler’s season and yet it shows how much depth this Wizards team has. During that game, Paul Pierce (noted Heat nemesis) only scored four points, allowing Butler to do the bulk of the damage. Pierce is out again on Friday (sore toe) but Otto Porter, Jr. will start in his place.
Washington played a deadly inside-outside game, run to perfection by John Wall (a strong All-Star candidate at 17.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 10.6 assists per game) and Marcin Gortat. With Butler unexpectedly connecting from outside, Miami’s defense was scrambling all night allowing Wall, Bradley Beal and even Drew Gooden to shoot a combined 6-of-10 from 3-point range. Gortat was left to predictably feast inside, finishing with 15 points.
That game was an indicator of how much these teams have changed in the last few years, as the Wizards have struggled with mediocrity while Miami challenged for titles. But the tables of turned and the Heat must find a way to win, even with two core players (Chris Bosh and Josh McRoberts) out due to injury.
It begins with Dwyane Wade, the lone bright spot from Wednesday’s loss. His 42 points were a reminder that he’s still one of the top scorers in the league, even if how he gets his points has changed over the years. He was able to keep Miami’s hopes alive against Utah but simply had no help, with only Mario Chalmers as the other player to score in double figures. Inconsistency was the issue for Luol Deng, who rarely has consecutively-productive nights with the Heat. Deng must find a way to get active in the offense and his six shot attempts against the Jazz aren’t enough for a player expected to be the team’s third-leading scorer.
I’d expect head coach Erik Spoelstra to keep the same lineup. Andersen matches up with Gortat better than anyone on the roster, although the “Polish Hammer” might be able to overpower him in the low post. Miami’s reserves have to be more productive as well; their 17 combined points (aside from Chalmers’ 11-point outing) was a sad complement to Wade’s brilliant play.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST at the AmericanAirlines Arena. Check back with All U Can Heat for a recap, post-game grades and more.