Miami Heat: Why the upcoming stretch is huge for Andre Iguodala
Three Up, Three Down
The Heat’s following three games to close out the month are against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Brooklyn Nets, respectively. This is where that part about playing good quality competition that still shouldn’t defeat you comes into play.
The Minnesota Timberwolves traded away the guy that was supposed to be the savior and the greatest Canadian basketball player ever. Partly because the other guy they have and kept is better, more dependable, and has a skill set that one can more easily see translating to winning, any team philosophy, and longevity. They also just recently brought in star journeyman, if that makes any sense at all, D’Angelo Russell.
While the duo and their cohorts should be formidable, they shouldn’t be that daunting of a task, especially considering Jimmy Butler has a special place in his heart for the Minnesota Timberwolves and his former teammates there. Nevermind their pre-Russell record of around 16-37 and the fact that the Heat will be at home, where they are near flawless.
They face the Dallas Maverick next in Miami. This will be a tough matchup considering the collection of talent that they have over there in Mark Cuban’s toy chest. Luka Doncic is a future MVP, without a doubt, while Kristaps Porzingis still has perennial All-Star potential.
Whenever you face off against a team that has the magnitude of talent at multiple spots that the Mavericks do, you always have to be on guard and very fearful of defeat. Considering that this game is in Miami though, the fact that Miami have defeated them once this season (although Luka got hurt very early on and missed the rest of the contest), the Mavericks subsequent loss of Dwight Powell, and with the Heat’s newest additions, Miami should still win this game.
The last game of February is also a home game showdown for the Miami Heat against the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets have beaten the Heat once over their two matchups this season, but that was in Brooklyn and should serve as extra motivation this time around.
Plainly put, the Nets aren’t a better team than the Heat, as indicated by all factors including the eye test and their below .500 record of 25-28. They will also be without Kyrie Irving in the February 29th matchup, possibly even the remainder of the season and although this should once again free Spencer Dinwiddie to unleash himself again permanently, it still shouldn’t be enough to overcome the Heat in Miami. They, along with the Timberwolves and the Mavericks, will be good and challenging enough to help whip Andre Iguodala into the shape he needs to be in though.
Next. Here’s why you can’t be mad at LeBron’s take on the Astros. dark
This is why these next few games are massive for Andre Iguodala. They provide an optimal opportunity to do something that he hasn’t done a ton of this season at all, play real, competitive live-action, NBA basketball against pros for a sustained amount of time. We sure hope it clicks the way it needs to because we need him at his peak to accomplish the ultimate goal and it should be a fun stretch to watch for that reason and others as we close out Black History Month!