Miami Heat: Can the team improve to six straight wins over the Raptors?

After the Christmas break, the Miami Heat return to action against the Toronto Raptors. What will it take to improve to six straight wins?

As the sun begins to set on the 2018 calendar year, the Miami Heat are gearing up for a sunset of their own.

It’s time for Sunset Vice.

Tonight’s matchup against the Toronto Raptors, the second of four this season, will showcase the first live look at Miami’s earned edition jersey. Designated by Nike for the teams that made the playoffs, the pink uniforms are the perfect present to both commemorate the holiday season, as well as Miami’s five-game win streak.

The change of pace accompanying the new uniforms is mirrored by Miami’s on-court refresh. Head coach Erik Spoelstra has shifted to incorporate zone defense into the Heat’s nightly plans, and it has been extremely effective.

Over the last five games, Miami is allowing their opponents just 50 percent shooting within the restricted area, a mark that rates as first in the league over that stretch. That translates into just 33.6 points in the paint also a league-topping rank.

Though Hassan Whiteside has been integral to Miami’s efforts—the Heat also rate first in the NBA in rebounding over the last five games (52.6)—the entire team has picked up the defensive intensity.

For example, Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson are averaging a steal and a half per game over the last five nights.

What’s more is that Miami hasn’t been playing pitch perfect defense. Despite hunkering down to interrupt passing lanes, the Heat have still gambled for the occasional steal.

The difference maker is being able to recover from those steals with stellar help defense, which creates new opportunities to disrupt their opponents. Richardson did as much against the Memphis Grizzlies, coordinating with James Johnson after the gamble, to produce a Miami possession.

Against the Raptors, this defensive spirit will have to hold fast, as Toronto is undisputedly the best team in the NBA at 25-10.

The last time these teams met, Miami played from behind all night, though the night was bookmarked by Bam Adebayo’s break out off the bench. In Toronto on November 25, Adebayo posted his second 15 point and 15 rebound game of his career.

Coincidentally, his first came against the Raptors in January of his rookie year.

With Toronto’s Jonas Valanciunas out with a broken hand, Adebayo sits as Miami’s preferred option for tonight’s game. The former Kentucky Wildcat sizes up perfectly against Serge Ibaka, a similarly versatile center who would easily draw Whiteside to the 3-point line and beyond.

According to NBA.com’s matchup data, in 33 possessions against Toronto this season, Adebayo has picked up Ibaka and limited him to just six points. Adebayo guarded those attempts as well as he could, funneling Ibaka towards contested mid-range jumpers, rather than finishing over Miami’s defense at the rim.

And on the off chance Ibaka did break through, Adebayo was ready to hustle back to prevent an easy bucket.

Similarly, Winslow’s continued point guard play will be crucial to toppling All-NBA, and frankly, MVP candidate Kawhi Leonard. Often compared to the former San Antonio Spur, Winslow boasts the right mix of length and size to disrupt Leonard’s usual rhythm.

The Raptors also have Pascal Siakam, who has grown into one of the NBA’s most versatile players, while the back court tandem of Kyle Lowry and VanVleet provide Toronto with constant scoring and passing threats.

Sealing win number six won’t be easy, but Miami has more than enough momentum to keep the win streak rolling.