The Miami Heat are limping towards the break, with only one win to show through 4 of a 5 game road trip. What does NBA 2K say about game 5 in Utah?
Alas, Jimmy Butler has returned to the lineup to help the Miami Heat parent a four-game losing streak on the road. It was nice to have that calming yet intense demeanor on the floor, and it was apparent his teammates were glad to have him back.
In other news, the following day, it was announced that rookie guard Tyler Herro would not be participating in the Rising Stars Challenge this weekend in Chicago. This would, in turn, rule him out for the game against the Utah Jazz as well.
Reading the sentiments left in the replies to his tweet, I’m on their side. Most of the players in that game, besides stating point guard Kendrick Nunn, won’t have anything to play for come late April. His goal should be to rest up and come back healthy for the second half of the season.
😐
— Tyler Herro (@raf_tyler) February 11, 2020
The Utah Jazz have been coming on strong as of late, going on a three-game win streak and getting themselves up to within a game and a half of the third-seeded Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference. Once again, the Utah Jazz are the number one ranked 3-point shooting team while also holding down the fourth spot in field goal percentage.
This is a big and wildly efficient squad with a near-genius of a coach on the sidelines in Quin Snyder. This certainly will be a test for the Heat as Meyers Leonard is still out and stuck in Miami until after the all-star break.
Coach Spo sent me this. Man, I miss my brothers!! Well, except @JimmyButler .. Next chance I get, I’m stealing another rebound 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/n7D9SjJpWV
— Meyers Leonard (@MeyersLeonard) February 9, 2020
The Miami Heat rotation got some quick edits today as Jimmy Butler makes his way back into the lineup. The rest of the rotation is not ideal, but without Meyers Leonard and with Bam Adebayo being our most rugged big man, he drew the initial matchup against All-Star center Rudy Gobert, while Derrick Jones Jr. continues to start at power forward.
There are plenty of minutes available for Heat newcomers Andre Iguodala and Jae Crowder, but for some reason, Solomon Hill has yet to play. Is he the next victim of the Coach Erik Spoelstra time crunch?
If you want to see the simulation for yourself, the latest video on my YouTube channel will have the footage uninterrupted. There you’ll be able to see the adjustments I made.
Starting Lineup
Miami Heat
Point guard, Kendrick Nunn
Shooting guard, Duncan Robinson
Small forward, Jimmy Butler
Power forward, Derrick Jones Jr.
Center, Bam Adebayo
Utah Jazz
Point guard, Mike Conley
Shooting guard, Donovan Mitchell
Small forward, Joe Ingles
Power forward, Bojan Bogdanovic
Center, Rudy Gobert
Outcome
Miami Heat 108, Utah Jazz 113
Welp, the road trip from hell has finally come to a close. Stat sheet stuffer supreme Jimmy Butler made sure to do his thing, affecting the game in every way possible while others (Duncan Robinson) left a lot to be desired.
The first half was tightly contested with a few lead changes here and there. The Heat ended the first quarter with a one-point lead while the Jazz went into halftime with a one-point lead of their own.
Butler and Adebayo were having great games up to this point. All they needed was one quick run in the second half to put this team away.
That run never materialized for the Heat as the Utah Jazz started the third period with 15-7 run of their own and that was about all she wrote after that. The Jazz entered the fourth with a four-point lead and never looked back.
Maybe I messed up by putting Bam Adebayo at the center as he fouled out of the game, but even if he remained in the game, he wouldn’t have done anything against Rudy Gobert’s near career-high 24 rebounds.
Duncan Robinson’s attributes and tendencies will be the first thing I address during the All-Star break. Even though I moved him to the first scoring option, he shot an abysmal 1-for-10 from the 3-point line.
He’s tied for sixth with Hornets guard Devonte Graham in 3-pointers made per game and top 10 in 3-point percentage. I’ve got to figure it out.
Player stats
Miami Heat
Goran Dragic – 23 points, 2 rebounds,1 steal
Jimmy Butler – 19 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals, 1 block
Bam Adebayo – 17 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 6 fouls
Duncan Robinson – 16 points (1-of-10 from deep), 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal
Kelly Olynyk – 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks
Utah Jazz
Mike Conley – 24 points, 3 rebounds, 8 points, 1 steal
Bojan Bogdanovic – 20 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Rudy Gobert – 19 points, 24 points, 3 assists, 3 blocks
Donovan Mitchell – 17 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Royce O’Neale – 11 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist
This west coast road trip comes to a close for the Miami Heat and as far as the simulation goes, it has been on point predicting four losses and only one win. Heat nation is still waiting patiently to see what forward Solomon Hill can do as well as what rim protection options are available on the buyout market.
No decisions have to be made right now, but time’s ticking. We trust Pat Riley to do what’s best.