The Miami Heat are back at it against Detroit on Monday. They need a good response to Saturday’s defeat.
The Miami Heat will play in one of nine MLK Day NBA matchups. In the second of a duo of back to back games against the Detroit Pistons, the Miami Heat have the opportunity to come out and atone for what can only be described as an embarrassing loss.
To this Pistons team, a team with the worst record in the Eastern Conference and one of the worst records in the NBA, the Miami Heat came out and allowed them to simply have their way. On top of them going nuclear as an entire team from three, something the Miami Heat aren’t unfamiliar with at all this season, they allowed Jerami Grant to put on a show as an individual offensive force.
The Miami Heat were out hustled, the team with less effort, and simply outplayed by a Pistons team that wanted it more, no matter what the records say. The wonderful thing about it all though is the fact that they have a chance to make up for it a bit on Monday.
The Miami Heat were manhandled on Saturday by Detroit. Can they bounce back on MLK Day?
In a 3:00 PM matchup, the Miami Heat will take on that very same Pistons team. They will still be without Jimmy Butler, Avery Bradley, and Meyers Leonard.
Heat injury report for Monday vs. Pistons:
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) January 17, 2021
Jimmy Butler, health and safety protocols, out
Avery Bradley, health and safety protocols, out
Meyers Leonard, shoulder, out
Tyler Herro, neck, questionable
Gabe Vincent, knee, probable
Tyler Herro missed the last game on Saturday, but does have a chance to play on Monday while Gabe Vincent, who played on Saturday, should also suit up again though still being listed on the injury report. The Miami Heat won’t be whole, again, but that still doesn’t mean they shouldn’t respond in a huge way.
What happened to them on Saturday is inexcusable and cannot happen against the team with the worst record in the East. Listen, this Pistons team is a lot better than their record says they are, while wins against Boston and Phoenix are the proof.
However, they shouldn’t have drug the Heat around the gym and to a tune of a 20 point winning margin as they did on Saturday. The Miami Heat had a small window to bounce this one around and discard it, because on Monday, they need to send a message and that’s can only come with a huge responding win.