The Miami Heat will continue a tough road trip on Saturday as they travel to Salt Lake City as their next stop. The elevation and snowy terrain of Utah can only mean one thing, a game against Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, and the Utah Jazz.
That’s right, after the Miami Heat have managed to win four games in a row, they are rewarded with a game against the best team in the league, record-wise, right now in the 21-5 Utah team. That’s alright though, as that’s the Miami Heat way and most definitely the way Jimmy Butler would prefer it.
That’s a beautiful thing too as, well, because they’ll need all he can muster up on Saturday in order to get a win. Not only is every game a tough one in the NBA, so there’s always that, but this Utah team might be the worst possible matchup for the Miami Heat right now.
Let’s talk a bit about why.
The Miami Heat are a friendly beacon for 3-point shooters, which doesn’t jive well with Utah’s great outside stroke.
The Miami Heat have been putrid this season when it comes to what they are statistically allowing when it comes to opposing three point production. Notice the way that was worded.
While defense is always a part of it, it seems that no matter the defense played by the Heat this season, teams and certain players are just getting hot and staying that way. At least four different teams and two players have had near career or record setting nights on Miami this season from range.
Do the names Malik Monk, Reggie Bullock, or the record-setting Milwaukee Bucks ring a bell? They should as they have all torched Miami from three at different points this year.
The Utah team that the Miami Heat will face Saturday not only shoots the most threes in the league this year, but they make the most threes this year. Outside of the raw numbers, when it comes to the efficiency with which they do it, they are the third ranked team as far as percentages go.
Listen, I am no mathematical or statistical genius, but I can tell you one thing. When you take a lot, make a lot, and hit a high percentage of those you take, in general, that can only mean good things for your team.
That can only mean bad things for the opposing team and that’s any opposing team. When you have had the luck and lack of ability to defend the three point line that the Miami Heat have had this season already, that same sentiment multiplies by at least three times.
That’s why the Utah Jazz are the worst possible matchup for Miami right now. Miami can’t seem to stop team’s from making threes and Utah can’t seem to miss them.
That’s typically, always and certainly, a recipe for disaster.