The Miami Heat just completed a mini-road trip. For the most part, it was successful.
Going on the road and into hostile environments, one that has already seen them drop a game this year, they were able to get a tough win against a gritty team.
Though the Indiana Pacers aren’t anyone’s prohibitive favorites to do anything special, getting a win against that team, in their place, and without Jimmy Butler or Bam Adebayo—is a pretty good win.
However and on the following night, Saturday against a Giannis-less Milwaukee Bucks squad, they could not get it done. There could be many things pointed out to indicate why they might have dropped Saturday’s game.
They allowed too many easy looks at the rim, allowing the Bucks to make nearly half of their 98 field goal attempts. You could say that the mauling on the glass was the reason, being outrebounded by 20 to Milwaukee, to a tune of 39-57.
You could say they did the little things better than the Heat did, such as sinking their free throws, making 18-20 to the Heat’s 17-24.
The Miami Heat made shots on Friday and could not on Saturday. It’s really no big science behind it, the shots just wouldn’t keep falling over the weekend.
All of those things are true and a part of the reason why Saturday’s game went the way it did, a 102-124 defeat to Milwaukee, but none of those things speaks at the volume of the next thing.
It’s a make-or-miss league. Everyone has heard it before and it stands no less true now.
In fact and in today’s NBA, it stands even more true. “Defense” used “to win championships”, but in every league, the championship advantage has switched to the teams who can put up a big number and play just enough defense to not get killed.
Look at the MLB’s Braves from this past season or the Houston Astros of the last several seasons (cheating scandal not considered). Look at the Golden State Warriors or what the Brooklyn Nets want to do to teams.
Look at the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL. Yes, these are all teams who can make a play on the defensive side of the ball, field, or of things but they are all also offensive powerplants.
That’s the commonality. That’s also what got the Miami Heat in Milwaukee’s game, what powered them through in the Indiana win, and why this weekend split is indicative of the make-or-miss nature of the league.
Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, and Duncan Robinson made shots on Friday. The Heat, not only, had a chance but won the game.
They could not make shots on Saturday. The Heat never stood a chance.
It’s that simple. Hopefully, Jimmy Butler is rounding back into health as the Miami Heat head home.
They’ll open their first three-game homestand of the season on Monday against Memphis.