Miami Heat Brace For Golden State Warriors
By David Ramil
Without Dwyane Wade for the past six games, the Miami Heat have managed to break even, winning three and losing the same number. Two consecutive victories have been a boost for the Heat (at 8-6) but they face a much tougher challenge when the Golden State Warriors (10-2) come in to town on Tuesday.
Both teams will be juggling lineups all night, with Wade expected to sit out (as yet unconfirmed) to enjoy the long layoff before Miami plays again on Sunday after the Thanksgiving holiday. Norris Cole (dislocated finger) and Chris Andersen (sprained ankle) will probably be unavailable against the Warriors, who will be without David Lee and possibly Andrew Bogut.
Lee’s absence hasn’t been a problem for Golden State, who have inserted Draymond Green in his place. Green has been solid (12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game) but Bogut is the linchpin of a tough defense. His rebounding and rim protection will be sorely missed if he is indeed out against Miami. But the Warriors will likely start Marreese Speights, who turned in a 28-point performance in a win over the OKC Thunder on Sunday.
Of course, the Warriors are a dangerous team on offense with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson both averaging over 22 points per game. Curry is considered the better shooter of the two but Thompson’s 43 percent rate from beyond the arc is among the best in the NBA. Golden State also bring Harrison Barnes and Andre Iguodala off the bench, making this team deep as well as talented. First-year head coach Steve Kerr has been able to get his players to buy in to his rotations and it’s paid off well for a team with the fewest losses in the league.
Miami has been unable to develop much consistency with injuries affecting them on a nightly basis. Among the bright spots has been the continued excellence of Mario Chalmers, who is excelling as a scorer. Dropping 44 points in the last two games, Chalmers has gotten to the rim with increased ease, either drawing a foul (he shot 10 free throws against the Magic on Sunday) or opening up the perimeter game for Miami. Luol Deng was a beneficiary of several passes, providing 28 points against Orlando. Shabazz Napier is growing more comfortable as a professional and his outside shot has been a legitimate threat against opponents (he’s shooting 41 percent). Keeping all three players out of foul trouble will be a major challenge against the quick, active Warriors backcourt.
Chris Bosh should be able to score effectively against either Bogut or Speights and using his quickness and array of low-post moves to complement his mid-range game will be crucial. With Andersen out, expect Josh McRoberts and Udonis Haslem to play more than expected and a Justin Hamilton sighting should be in store, as well.
But be warned: this Golden State team is a far cry from a rebuilding Magic team or a struggling Hornets squad. This is a team that is a serious title contender and Miami will have to find a way to get the most out of its players in order to grab a win. They can’t afford a shooting slump and both starters and reserves will have to produce and defend with intensity to have any chance.
The game will be broadcast on NBA TV and locally on Sun Sports, with tip off scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Check back with All U Can Heat for a recap, analysis and post game grades.