Miami Heat Sunk By Tough Suns Rebounding And Shot-Making
The Miami Heat came into their latest contest against the league-leading Phoenix Suns with an opportunity to close the gap on the two teams above them in the league. Sitting just a half-game behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the second overall seed in the league, the Miami Heat had a slight opportunity before them.
To open the contest, it seemed as though they would be able to capitalize on that opportunity, even without Jimmy Butler in the lineup for them. Then, as the game progressed, the Phoenix Suns were able to snatch it away from their grasps.
The first half was an even one, with the Heat getting out to a blitz of a show on the Suns before Phoenix would pull back close to close the first sector of play. The teams went into halftime with Phoenix up by two, 57-55.
As the second half got underway, the Suns opened the half on a blitz of their own. They would go on a 12-3 run across the first three minutes or so of the half that would put the Heat down, 69-58.
That was the end of the contest, from the actual terms of it being in question. The Suns had, all but, cashed in a win at this point.
The Miami Heat had a tough matchup with the Suns Wednesday and Jimmy Butler didn’t play. It showed too, as Phoenix out-toughed them in multiple ways.
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Some will tell you that it was tough Suns defense that led to this defeat and while that could be the case, it was more about their tough shot-making, while the Heat couldn’t buy a basket. Listen, both teams play tough defense, among the best in the league even.
However, the Suns made almost 10 extremely tough shots in the second half, with almost half of those being threes, while the Miami Heat missed quite a few looks we have grown accustomed to seeing go down. Who knows, they may have still been defeated, but that part can’t go understated.
The Miami Heat were also mauled on the glass. Always a point of emphasis, they were outrebounded, 55-38, on Wednesday, with JaVale McGee grabbing 15 boards in just 16 minutes of action on his own.
The Miami Heat will want to continue to emphasize cleaning their glass as they move throughout the rest of the year, as it could end up costing them more in an even bigger moment. There are a few other things to take away from this one though.
The Miami Heat were without Jimmy Butler and the Suns were without Chris Paul. When all things were equal in their last matchup in Phoenix, the Heat blew the doors off of them in their building too.
That was something Devin Booker mentioned in his postgame interview, so they had this game circled, which also says a little something. They had this game cirlced and now the motivation of the get back lays with Miami.
That’s not something you want to rely on, but it’s there in case a future NBA Finals matchup awaits. Though a ton of things to clean up, you still like your Miami Heat’s chances in future faceoffs with this team, even when both teams are at full health.
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The Heat have a day off before they take on a pesky opponent for them this season, the Cleveland Cavaliers, on Friday. Look for a better showing then.
Hopefully, one with Jimmy on the floor.