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 Heat: A Season of Adjustments and Aspirations
Nov 4, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) celebrates with guard Pelle Larsson (9) against the Sacramento Kings during the second quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images|Sam Navarro/Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Welcome back to another episode of Locked on Heat, where we dive into the latest happenings with the Miami Heat. I’m Wes Goldberg, and today we’re joined by Jeremy Taché from FanDuel Sports Network and the Dan LeBatard Show with Stugotz. We’re here to dissect the Heat’s current standing and what lies ahead for this team.
Current Performance and Upcoming Challenges
The Miami Heat are currently navigating a crucial stretch of the season with a 3-4 record. As they face a challenging lineup of games against top-tier teams — including the Denver Nuggets on Friday night — the question remains: Can they compete in the Eastern Conference? Jeremy and I discuss our confidence levels in the team, drawing parallels to UCF quarterbacks to gauge our expectations.
Confidence Levels and Team Dynamics
Jeremy likens his confidence in the Heat to a “Dylan Gabriel” level—optimistic but cautious. The team, while not expected to be a top-three seed, has the potential to secure a solid playoff position. The narrative around the Heat this season is one of discovery, as they aim to identify their best lineup by the season’s end. With a mix of returning players and new faces, the Heat are in a phase of adjustment, striving to find the right chemistry and balance.
Defensive Concerns and Offensive Adjustments
A significant concern for the Heat is their defense, currently ranked 14th in the league. The starting lineup’s defensive struggles are evident, with a rating that would place them near the bottom of the NBA. Jeremy suggests potential lineup changes, such as moving Terry Rozier to the bench, to bolster the defense without sacrificing offensive capabilities.
Tyler Herro’s All-Star Potential
Tyler Herro’s performance this season has been noteworthy, with career-high averages and impressive shooting percentages. While the competition among Eastern Conference guards is fierce, Herro’s contributions could make him a contender for an All-Star spot if he maintains his current trajectory.
The Spin Zone: Positive Takes on the Heat
Jeremy shares his insights from the Spin Zone, highlighting players like Pelle Larsson, who have shown promise and potential. Despite the narrative of “running it back,” this Heat team has undergone significant changes, with a focus on integrating young talent and building for the future.
The Nuggets did it (Nikola Jokic did it), the Warriors did it (the death lineup and defensive efficiency), the Celtics did it (switching one through five, pre-switching, neutralizing open lanes), and now the Thunder are doing it.
It’s been described as pestering, smothering, swarming, but I‘d like to put “car wash” into consideration. That’s the set up awaiting opponents. The car (the opposing team) gets locked into those self-driving tracks and the gauntlet begins. Lu Dort and Alex Caruso appear as those cylindrical spinning brushes, stripping the ball outright and early or else funnelling players into the next wave of guards. Pressure continues from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jaylen Williams but it becomes more targeted, thinking of the jet streams of water now being directed at the car from every angle — and those spinning whirlwinds of Caruso and Dort haven’t relented.
If, somehow, an opposing player finds a sliver of daylight in the so-small-its-micro-ball switching scheme the Thunder are playing, if they manage to get out from the many hands reaching in, pressuring, forcing turnovers, then they will meet Chet Holmgren at the rim. Holmgren is like those long, slapping shammy tentacles that come down on the hood, sides and roof of the car from every angle, though his reach and hands are much more expertly deployed. The Thunder have a defensive rating of 96.5 (for context the Warriors, at second best, seem light-years behind with a respectable 103.8) and lead the league in steals (13.4) and blocks (7.3). The cars are coming out spotless, utterly worked.
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 and Sacramento Kings are discussing a potential trade involving Jimmy Butler and De’Aaron Fox. (Sporting News)
Replay The Miami Heat fell to the Phoenix Suns as fourth quarter shooting fails. (Sports Illustrated)
Watch Defense wins games? Here’s an insightful breakdown of OKC’s defensive schemes. (Thinking Basketball)
Must Read The Influence of Sedona Price: Take a fascinating look at the domino effect of NIL on college athletics, women’s sports, social media and athlete health. (The New Yorker)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Basketball Impact of Miles Bridges’ Injury
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) holds his knee after a collision at the basket against the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Spectrum Center.|Photo by Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
With only three games on Thursday, there was ample time to delve into the latest injury news and its implications for fantasy managers.
Injury Updates and Their Impact
Miles Bridges’ knee injury is a significant concern. After initially returning to play, he’s now sidelined for at least two weeks with a knee bone bruise. This situation opens up opportunities for other players. With Nick Richards and Mark Williams also out, Taj Gibson steps in as the starting centre. Grant Williams, who has been getting centre minutes, will likely shift to playing more at the four, alongside Tidjane Salaun. This reshuffling could push Williams into a more prominent role, making him a potential pick-up in 12-team leagues.
The absence of Bridges also means increased usage for Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball. Tre Mann is another player to watch; holding onto him could be beneficial as the team adjusts to these injuries.
Ja Morant’s hamstring injury is another blow, with expectations of a two-week absence. Memphis’ injury reporting is notoriously vague, so fantasy managers should prepare for an extended period without Morant. Tyrese Maxey’s situation is similar, with the Sixers indicating a reevaluation in a week, but realistically, it could be longer. Kyle Lowry is a suitable replacement in the meantime.
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