Starting 1-1 on the season, the Miami Heat are gearing up to continue their home stand against the Atlanta Hawks.
The Miami Heat, who started the season on the road in a loss to the Orlando Magic, are now preparing themselves for their second game of the current six-game home stand.
Last season, the Heat posted a 23-18 record inside the AmericanAirlines Arena, a place where the team always seems to seek comfort. The majority of those wins came in the second half of the season, when Miami went 30-11. After the new year, the Heat went 19-6 at home, setting up head coach Erik Spoelstra’s squad to start the new season off well.
However, things may start off with a few bumps this year, even though Miami edged out an 112-108 win over the Indiana Pacers in the home opener, without Hassan Whiteside. They’ll face the same situation tonight, against the Atlanta Hawks, as Whiteside is still out with a knee bruise.
Things looked promising for the 7-footer, as he recorded 26 points and 22 rebounds easily against Orlando. But now, Whiteside has been listed as day-to-day, and will be re-evaluated before Miami’s home game Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs.
In the Heat’s first win of the season against the Pacers (and first game without Whiteside), they were still able to hold the Indiana to 108 points. A team who posted 140 points the game before.
Spoelstra has noted the way other teams are scoring, and has made it clear that this new trend won’t dictate his defense.
"“I’m not going to start setting our standards lower just because other teams are scoring. We can still impose and dictate what we want to or we believe is right, and continue on the other side of the ball to make our offense more impressive.”"
The defense did not have a good showing against Orlando, allowing the Magic 56 points in the paint. Last season, Miami allowed just 44.5 points in the paint.
The Hawks are facing a similar situation as the Heat tonight. They will be without their star Dennis Schroder, who is out with a bruised left foot. The point guard suffered the injury in Sunday’s loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
Schroder averaged 23.3 points and 6.7 assists in his first three games this season. So his absence could set up Goran Dragic for a big game. Dragic, who is coming off of a 23 point performance against Indiana, could do a lot of damage against a backup point guard.
Miami is not only facing a hurt Hawks team, but most likely a tired one. It’s the second night of a back-to-back for Atlanta after last night’s game in Brooklyn. And although it’s early in the season, fatigue can always be a factor.
Ironically, Atlanta may be able to find some energy tonight via the return of former Heat starter Luke Babbitt.
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The Heat will host the Hawks at 7:30 ET.