Game preview for the Miami Heat at the Brooklyn Nets.
Heat (14-9) @ Nets (7-17)
Where: Barclays Center, New York City, New York
When: Wednesday, December 16, 6:30 PM EST
Watch: FS-SUN, NBA League Pass
The Miami Heat will seek their first three game winning streak of the season on Wednesday evening, as they head out to Brooklyn to take on the Nets. This likely represents the Heat’s best opportunity to extend their winning streak this season, as the team they’ll take on tonight are extremely bad.
Miami, coming off an impressive 100-88 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night, despite Dwyane Wade shooting 3-of-16 from the field on the second day of a back-to-back.
The Nets are coming off a 23-point blow out loss against the Orlando Magic and if it were not for the Philadelphia Sixers, they’d own the worst record in the Eastern Conference, much to the joy of the Boston Celtics.
Tonight’s matchup will be the first of four between the teams this season, which should allow the Heat a chance to pad their numbers against a lower tier team.
Matchup to Watch: Brook Lopez vs Hassan Whiteside
Tuesday was a day mired in rumors on Twitter about a potential Hassan Whiteside trade, fueled by the fact the young center has not seen a lot of fourth quarter action of late. But Whiteside has to ignore all that talk and get back to work on Wednesday, as his opponent will be geared to go.
Brook Lopez is having a fine season, averaging 19.o points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game in 33.5 minutes per game. Lopez, who has struggled with injuries in the past, has played all 24 games this season for the Nets. If the Nets have any chance of winning this game, Lopez is going to have to own this matchup and carry the Nets to a victory.
X-Factor: Dwyane Wade
Heat fans don’t want to hear this, but Dwyane Wade is rapidly declining in front of our eyes. He is averaging 18.0 points per game on 44% shooting, and getting to the free throw line just 4 times per game. The two things he used to do as well, if not better than anyone in the league, he has struggled with this season.
More concerning for the Heat offense, Wade has a career low true shooting percentage of 49 percent for the season, that coming from a 30.2 percent usage rate. The Heat offense efficiency has fallen all the way down to 19th in the NBA.
For the Heat, the efficiency will continue dropping until either Wade steps up his game (does not seem likely) or they decide to lessen his role on the team (the more doable, but unlikely solution).
The x-factor in this one, and likely for the rest of the season, will be the once great Dwyane Wade willing to take a step back and allowing Goran Dragic run the offense and improving the Heat offensive efficiency.
Key Stats:
Miami Heat offensive efficiency: 19th, 100.9 points per 100 possessions
Miami Heat defensive efficiency: 2nd, 96.5 points per 100 possessions
Brooklyn Nets offensive efficiency: 27th, 97.1 points allowed per 100 possessions
Brooklyn Nets defensive efficiency: 20th, 103.5 points allowed per 100 possessions