The Miami Heat always tend to be a scrappy bunch and that feature doesn’t fail amongst this current iteration of Heat guys. That same adage applies, not only, to them this season, as a whole so far, but to their game on Friday night.
Seeing the Washington Wizards for the third time in about a week, one at their place and for the second consecutive game at home, the Miami Heat would really get a chance to test what they are made of against a feisty Washington bunch that can put up points on you behind the play of Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis, and Kyle Kuzma.
The thing that also stands true about playing a team that many times in a short span of time, nonetheless in consecutive games, is this. Adjustments or most of them, at least, can be thrown out of the window.
There is but so much adjusting that can be done when you’ve seen so many possessions from the other side time and time again in a short window. With that, it was a test of best on best and will on will.
The Miami Heat would win both. Their best was Bam Adebayo.
Finally showing that consistent aggression you thought he should have been showing prior to this season based on his skill set and ability, Adebayo came out Friday with the mentality to dominate. At least, that’s what it looked like.
The Miami Heat got another needed win Friday night. Against a familiar Wizards bunch, Bam Adebayo stepped up in a big way with 38 huge points.
And he wasn’t alone, as all of his teammates stepped up big as well when it mattered the most. Take Kyle Lowry for example, a guy that has carried them, for the most part, over the last five or so games as injury has just obliterated them.
On Friday and with just three minutes or so remaining in the game, the Miami Heat were down three. With the next shot and subsequent Wizards possession capable of dictating the game, with sport being fluid and all, Lowry hit a shot that swung momentum back towards Miami.
Kyle 3 AND the foul 😤
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) November 26, 2022
Back in the lead after the made free throw. Tune in on Bally Sports 📺 pic.twitter.com/W67SSuabvY
Putting the Heat back up one there, it allowed them to maintain and eventually take enough control of the game late to win it. Along the way, Caleb Marin and Tyler Herro had huge defensive sequences on Bradley Beal.
Beal is an elite scorer and must be respected, so to see Caleb Martin force him into a terrible shot on the last possession with a chance to tie is great. Also, on one of the next-to-last possessions where they were also within one basket of the lead, Herro found himself matched up on Beal.
Wanting to get himself reset and balanced to exploit the Herro matchup, Beal gave it up, hoping to get it back. Upon giving it up, Herro gave it all up for his team, closed the space, and denied Beal a chance at ever getting the ball back.
Those are game-winning plays and the Miami Heat made them on Friday. This is the mentality that it takes to win ball games in the NBA and the mentality you hope they take forward.