David Ramiland Wes Goldberg here, the hosts of the daily Locked On Heat podcast, with your daily Locked On Heat newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Heat and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Miami’s Third-Quarter Woes Lead to Loss vs. Kings
Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (11) protects the basketball from Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) during the second quarter at Kaseya Center.|Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
On today’s episode of Locked On Heat, we’re diving into the Miami’s recent struggles, especially their notorious third-quarter issues. Let’s break down the main points from the first part of the episode.
- Third-Quarter Troubles: The Heat’s third-quarter performance has been a recurring problem for years, with no discernible reason. Against Sacramento, Miami was outscored by 20 points in the third quarter, blowing their 13-point lead at halftime. This pattern has been a significant factor in their losses. Is it a matter of fatigue? Lack of focus? Their point differential in all third quarters this season is among the worst in the NBA.
- Late Game Decisions: The Heat had a chance to win with a three-point lead and 38 seconds left but faltered due to defensive breakdowns and questionable coaching decisions. Eric Spoelstra’s choice not to call a timeout and stick with the same lineup was criticized.
- Free Throw Concerns: Miami’s free throw shooting has been subpar, ranking 28th in the league. Missed free throws by key players like Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo have cost them crucial points in tight games.
- Defensive Struggles: The Heat’s defense hasn’t been as strong as in previous seasons. They’re allowing top players from opposing teams to score too easily, which is a shift from their usual strategy of focusing on stopping star players.
- Rookie Contributions: Pelle Larson, the rookie selected by Miami in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft, was a bright spot, showing promise in a 13-point performance and, perhaps inexplicably, sharing the floor with key rotation players in the closing minutes of the game. However, there’s a debate about whether it’s time to give another rookie, Kel’el Ware, more playing time, especially given the team’s rebounding issues.
- Coaching and Adjustments: There’s a call for better in-game adjustments from the coaching staff, particularly in the third quarter. The Heat’s preparation and effort seem to wane after halftime, leading to their struggles.
With a season-defining six-game road trip ahead, this was a game that Miami needed to win. They’ll need to address their lapses, improve free throw shooting, and make strategic adjustments to turn their season around. Stay tuned for more insights and analysis on Locked on Heat.
Here’s something I love: The Detroit Pistons with a win record of 3-5, better than the combined record of the Bucks and the Sixers. Given Detroit’s slow start to the season, and that lopsided match against the Knicks last Friday, I thought we were in for another season where the best the Pistons could hope for was besting their last season record of 14-68.
Yes, there could still be a slump; yes, the play-in still feels like an aspirational goal for this team, but neither of those outcomes takes away from the truth of the matter which is, the league is better when the Pistons are competitive.
This is a franchise with a proud, hard-fought history, a winning history, and one that’s been hard to see these last few seasons under the tarnish of poor decision making and ill-timed coaching fits. Going back to Cade Cunningham’s rookie season, coached by Dwane Casey, that team and the iterations that followed were too good to be as bad as they appeared. Casey — who transitioned into a front office role with the team last season —is a great coach, if a touch old fashioned. Admittedly, I miss being more proximal to him for the Casey-isms alone he’d offer, e.g. More than one way to skin a cat. A front office, mentorship-driven fit was always the goal of Casey even as head coach, given the rebuilding stage the team was in and how in two years its median age of players dipped to one of the youngest in the league.
Skip to last season, Monty Williams’ brief tenure and that dismal aforementioned season record, and rather than treat it as an unfortunate blip, the Pistons young talent took it as a lesson. Cade is in his fourth season and has lost more than any of his five draft contemporaries he was in the running for Rookie of the Year with. Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley, Jalen Green, Franz Wagner — these guys have certainly seen slumps, the nature of the Draft dictates likely being drafted to a struggling or rebuilding team, but they’ve also had their share of successes. Enough to keep them growing and developing. Cade has, in almost every way, had to take it upon himself to sift the lessons from the seasonal wreckage and keep his hope alive. That takes an incredible amount of discipline and fortitude.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Trade The Miami Heat could potentially acquire Atlanta Hawks’ $215 million star in a dream blockbuster trade, shaking up their roster dynamics. (Sports Illustrated)
Analysis Alec Burks’ potential as Miami Heat’s regular backup guard is evaluated, considering his fit and impact on the team’s dynamics. (Sports Illustrated)
Feel Good The Pistons had to take the subway to their game in Brooklyn because of the NYC marathon (ESPN)
Analysis Will the NBA pinpoint its 3 point problem? (TSA, Substack)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Is It Truly A Zach Edey Fantasy Basketball Breakout?
Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) drives to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) and forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) and guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center.|Photo by Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Monday’s NBA action was packed with thrilling games and standout performances, offering plenty of insights for fantasy basketball enthusiasts. Here’s a breakdown of some of the key matchups and player performances that could impact your fantasy strategy.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Bucks faced off against the Cavaliers in a closely contested game, with Cleveland edging out Milwaukee 116-114. Giannis Antetokounmpo was sidelined with an adductor issue, which opened the door for Bobby Portis to shine. Portis delivered an impressive 21 points, 18 rebounds, and three blocks, showcasing his potential when given extended minutes. Damian Lillard also had a strong outing with 36 points and seven assists, while Brook Lopez contributed defensively with four steals and two blocks.
Golden State Warriors vs. Washington Wizards
The Warriors secured a road victory against the Wizards, 125-112. Stephen Curry returned to action, scoring 24 points in limited minutes. Buddy Hield continued his hot streak with 20 points, but his current shooting efficiency may not be sustainable. For the Wizards, Jordan Poole put up 24 points, but his high block and steal numbers suggest a potential sell-high opportunity.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons pulled off a win against the Lakers, 115-103. LeBron James and Anthony Davis both had strong performances, with Davis scoring 37 points despite an ankle injury scare. Jaden Ivey impressed for Detroit, solidifying his status as a must-roster player with his improved play this season.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Heat podcasts.
Luka Doncic Will Win MVP Unless... + Can Dereck Lively II Improve Enough? Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks are gearing up for an exciting NBA season, with Doncic being a top contender for the MVP award. As the Mavs look to make a strong impact, the dynamic duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving will be pivotal in their quest for success.
How Klay Thompson Looked in his Mavs Preseason Debut Klay Thompson made his preseason debut for the Dallas Mavericks, showcasing his potential impact alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. The Mavs are gearing up for an exciting NBA season, with fans eager to see how Thompson’s skills will complement the team’s dynamic.
Is Dante Exum’s Injury the Mavs First BIG Test? + Luka Doncic’s MVP Chance The Dallas Mavericks are gearing up for a challenging season as they face the absence of Dante Exum for three months. With Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving leading the Mavs, the team’s depth will be tested in the competitive NBA landscape.
