Miami Heat: NBA 2K predicts they survive 2nd half Atlanta Hawks comeback
The Miami Heat head to Atlanta for their 1st post-all-star break game, a Southeast division battle. Of course, we looked in NBA 2K20’s crystal ball.
As KOT4Q likes to say, “And we back!” The Miami Heat have returned from Chicago in what turned out to be a very festive all-star weekend for Skills Contest winner Bam Adebayo, Slam Dunk Contest winner Derrick Jones Jr, 3-point Contest participant Duncan Robinson, and All-Star game participants Jimmy Butler and Adebayo.
These guys re-joined their teammates and are ready to continue the 2019-20 campaign. First stop? Atlanta, but they’ll have to do it without Meyers Leonard (ankle) and Tyler Herro (foot).
The Heat have faced off against the Hawks two times so far this season and have come out victorious both times. In each of their matchups, the Hawks have been missing big guns like All-Star guard Trae Young due to injury and this time is no different.
While Young is healthy and available to play, newly acquired center Clint Capela is being held out for the foreseeable future while suffering from plantar fasciitis in his right foot. For now, fantasy stud Dewayne Dedmon will get the start.
I’ve made some adjustments to the attributes and tendencies of the Heat’s All-Star participants to take into account their achievements so far this season. Robinson received a boost in 3-point shooting, while Adebayo received increases in his finishing ability, steal rate, block rating, and last but not least, his 3-point rating.
That rating was previously a 56 due to his low percentage on his lowly 11 attempts, but after showcasing his ability to hit the pull up three in the Skills Contest, it deserved a boost. It at least deserved to be a 70, matching lower-ranked teammates like Chris Silva and Derrick Jones Jr.’s 3-point shooting ratings.
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
Atlanta Hawks
Point guard, Trae Young
Shooting guard, Kevin Huerter
Small forward, De’Andre Hunter
Power forward, John Collins
Center Dewayne Dedmon
Outcome
Miami Heat 98, Atlanta Hawks 88
The Heat came out red hot, looking to take care of the lowly ranked Hawks early and send them even closer to the no. 1 pick in this upcoming draft. Running out to a 17 point halftime lead on the back of Jimmy Butler’s 17 points and seven assists, the Heat were poised for a snooze fest in their first post-all-star break game. The team shot a blistering 56-percent from beyond the arc led by Jae Crowder, who was perfect from that range, hitting all three of his attempts.
But you know the Heat don’t like a boring game. The second half was about to get a lot more interesting.
If I told you the Heat went on to lose both the third and the fourth quarters, would you believe me? Well, that’s exactly what happened during this simulation.
The Hawks pulled out a 46 point second half, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap for good. Did the Heat let off the gas a bit too soon?
Of course! But they still move on with a ten-point victory and that’s all that matters.
Player stats
Miami Heat
Jimmy Butler – 28 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals
Duncan Robinson – 19 points (3-11 from deep), 2 rebounds, 2 assists
Jae Crowder – 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block
Kendrick Nunn – 12 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal
Bam Adebayo – 11 points, 19 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 3 blocks
Atlanta Hawks
Trae Young – 21 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists
De’Andre Hunter – 16 points, 5 rebounds
Deandre Bembry – 12 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists
Cam Reddish – 11 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
John Collins – 10 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks
The Miami Heat survive the valiant comeback effort of the Hawks on the road. Jae Crowder continues to give the team big minutes in the absence of starting center Meyers Leonard and NBA Rising Star team member Tyler Herro.
Perhaps he’s borrowing the hammer for now. Whatever it is, he’s got to keep it going for the team to have success. Luckily, the Heat still have time to get the roster healthy as their next four games are against below .500 teams.
Next. Here’s why you can’t be mad at LeBron’s take on the Astros. dark
Three of them even, are in the race to the bottom of the draft lottery. So yea, there’s that. The Miami Heat still can’t take them lightly though, no matter the record and that starts tonight, in Atlanta with a defeat of the Atlanta Hawks.