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.
Home and Away
Roster A Miami Heat role player proves why Coach Spoelstra places his trust in him during a crucial win over the 76ers. (All U Can Heat)
Recap Relive the good, bad, and beautiful moments from the Miami Heat’s dominating victory over the 76ers. (All U Can Heat)
Honor Jimmy Butler praises Tyler Herro for carrying the offense in their recent games. (Sports Illustrated)
Biz Former NBA stars Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady are looking to buy a minority stake in the NFL’s Buffalo Bills (CityTV)
Must Read Knicks forward OG Anunoby says he’s tired of being known for his defensive prowess. (The Athletic, subscription required)
League at Large
The Sixers are no longer just bad, they’re cornered
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) looks on against the Miami Heat during the third quarter at Kaseya Center|Photo by Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Look, I held off as long as I could, told myself it was only an awkward start. I looked to silver linings, to the tendency that things going wrong for this long tend to right themselves. I looked to the surrounding conditions for clues and when none revealed themselves, I decided to stay positive but now, it’s time: time to talk about the Philadelphia 76ers.
Beyond what Sixers fans know intimately and don’t need reiterated (things are bad), the mood around the franchise is starting to feel closer to cornered than merely frustrated. Last night, after a third quarter collapse against the Heat in Miami, the Sixers held a postgame meeting that lasted over an hour. The game already had a bizarre feel to it, Philly led by 19 before being down 20, and Joel Embiid went from being listed as doubtful to starting. No one on the Sixers roster looked especially comfortable, a trend that’s emerged throughout the team’s first full month of regular season play.
Slipping now to the bottom of the Eastern Conference, with a record of 2-11 I still feel the need to double check as I write this, one thing has become abundantly clear — the Sixers don’t have room to hedge.
There’s no scapegoat to pin the team’s shoddy performance on, not this early in the season. Even when healthy, and Embiid, George and Maxey are on the floor together, it’s been for naught. Both the teams wins came in arduous overtime, one without George and both without Embiid. The Sixers win against the Hornets was missing Maxey completely.
Here’s a problem I’ve wondered about since Daryl Morey landed George in what was declared an undisputed win for the franchise and the best move of the offseason — what about Philadelphia’s role players? To clear the books for cap space enough to sign George, Daryl Morey liquidated the team’s working roster — 13 of the team’s 15 man squad became free agents. Tobias Harrias and Nicolas Batum may not be spring chickens in NBA terms, but they provided the mechanical support the Sixers are now woefully lacking. This isn’t the Sixers only problem, that much has been made clear, but it’s a big one.
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.
3peat (ICYMI)
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Heat podcasts.
How Miami Heat’s Road Trip Performance Shapes Their Season The Miami Heat’s recent 2-4 road trip performance raises questions about their contender status, especially with Jimmy Butler’s absence. Key players like Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro are stepping up, with Bam showing an offensive resurgence and Herro delivering clutch fourth-quarter heroics. However, rebounding issues persist and rotation debates continue. Wes Goldberg and David Ramil react to the Heat’s loss to the Indiana Pacers and ask if they are encouraged after a six-game trip.
Signs That Bam Adebayo & the Miami Heat Will Be Better It’s been a difficult start to the season for the Miami Heat and Bam Adebayo’s offensive struggles are front and center. With two road games coming up against the Indiana Pacers, fans are eager to know if and when Adebayo will bounce back. Join Wes Goldberg and David Ramil as they drill down into Bam’s advanced stats before moving on to some of the most troubling advanced stats impacting the Heat, Jimmy Butler and others.
How Erik Spoelstra’s Mistake Cost the Miami Heat and Squandered Tyler Herro’s Big Night Another heartbreaking loss for the Miami Heat, who lost in the final seconds to the Detroit Pistons after a disastrous chain of events to end the game including an uncharacteristic mistake by Erik Spoelstra. Wes Goldberg and David Ramil react to the loss, ask if the Heat should trust Tyler Herro with more of the offense, and if a starting lineup change is in order.
