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.
Jimmy Butler Dominates Shorthanded Mavericks
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) reacts against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half at Kaseya Center. | Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images
In the latest episode of Locked on Heat, the hosts dive into Miami’s thrilling overtime victory against the Dallas Mavericks. Here’s a quick rundown of the main points from the first part of the episode:
- Jimmy Butler’s Performance: Jimmy Butler led the Miami Heat with 33 points, playing a crucial role in their win over Dallas. His aggressive play and ability to dictate the game’s flow were key factors in the victory, and the efficiency with which he scored - 11-of-15 field goals attempted, plus an incredible 16 free throw attempts - was the best version of Butler during his stint in Miami.
- Game Context: The Heat were at a rest advantage, playing at home, and Dallas was missing their star player, Luka Doncic. Despite these advantages, the game was closer than expected, going into overtime. The absence of Doncic was significant, but Dallas still put up a strong fight, with Kyrie Irving stepping up with 27 points including several key shots down the stretch.
- Miami’s Struggles: Despite the win, is it possible there is still cause for concern? Miami had issues, such as missing 10 free throws and blowing leads in both the first half and the fourth quarter. The hosts expressed mixed feelings about the win, acknowledging the team’s resilience but also noting areas for improvement and, ultimately, any win, no matter the manner in which it is achieved, is necessary for the team’s continued growth.
- Bam Adebayo’s Role: Bam Adebayo’s performance was discussed, with the hosts noting his struggles around the rim and the need for him to find his place in the team’s five-out offense. Is he impacted negatively by Miami’s revamped offensive scheme? It’s difficult to look at his low production this season and not make a correlation to the new offense but Adebayo is still capable of making an impact when he takes advantage of the opportunities available to him, just as he did versus Dallas when he shot 3-of-6 from 3-point range, including a crucial shot during overtime.
- Pelle Larsson’s Impact: Larsson stepped up in a tough spot and contributed significantly to the team’s success, playing 37 total minutes and adding 14 points and 5 assists. His effort and knack for making smart reads and cuts continue to impress, and it’s likely that Larsson will continue to get playing time over other veterans on the roster.
Overall, the episode provided a detailed analysis of the game, highlighting both the positives and areas where the Miami Heat can improve as they aim to build on this victory.
It was the three second violation heard round the world. Kidding, but it was strange enough that you looked to confirmation of what you were seeing to those around you, and/or rewatched the replay of it several times.
Posted up under the Raptors basket, Rudy Gobert had Scottie Barnes on his back in a mismatch and was calling to Julius Randle for the ball. Beyond the arc. Randle dribbled the ball, unhurried, as the shot clock ticked down. He’s eyeing the lane, would clearly prefer to drive, and even plants a foot to take off from when the whistle finally comes for Gobert, strolling out of the key nonchalantly, with all the urgency you’d approach a dental appointment.
Still frustrated, Gobert then needlessly hip-checked Barnes at the other end, sending him to the line and sending the Raptors up in the match and in momentum. Toronto won 110-105.
You can take your pick for what’s more worrisome, because the perspective shifts depending on the root of a few problems the Wolves face.
That Gobert opted to showboat his frustration is definitely the most obvious, in terms of visibility. It isn’t the first time he’s let his petulant side out on the floor. That Randle saw Gobert — impossible not to with his long arm up and waving — and chose to ignore him, dribbling the ball into oblivion instead, is another concern. The biggest question around the Randle and Karl-Anthony Towns trade was fit — for playing style and chemistry. A slight detail that nearly gets lost in the sequence is that Jaden McDaniels hustled for a really long rebound, swung it to Randle, and the urgency of that move was immediately sapped by what transpired.
Taken individually, these would be wrinkles for a working team to smooth by the next match. And yes, both Randle and Gobert addressed the sequence, with Randle prompting media to “name a perfect family” and Gobert saying “people think great teams are the teams where the sky is always blue”. Normally, I’d enjoy an athlete beginning with a euphemism, in this case, it feels like aversion.
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
Rumor A surprising trade proposal suggests the Miami Heat might consider exchanging Jimmy Butler for a former No. 1 pick, sparking significant speculation about future team composition. (Sports Illustrated)
Analysis The Heat trio delivered their best performance of the year in an overtime victory against the Mavericks, with key takeaways emphasizing their effective collaboration and individual prowess. (Sports Illustrated)
Legacy Nikola Jokic continues to redefine basketball creativity with his full-court swat attempt against the Lakers, nearly achieving an incredible buzzer-beater despite the constraints of the Trent Tucker rule. (CBS Sports)
Biz NBA Hall of Famer Grant Hill discusses his investment in women’s sports and managing Team USA, highlighting his active retirement and commitment to sports development. (The Ringer NBA Show)
Rumor Western Conference coaches and executives are reportedly frustrated with the East’s playoff picture, suggesting a shift to a 1-16 seeding format to enhance fairness and competition. (Bleacher Report)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Ja Morant Is Set To Return And Impact Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Nov 17, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) takes videos with his phone after the game against the Denver Nuggets at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas/Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
As we wrap up another thrilling week in the NBA, it’s time to reflect on the standout performances and crucial player updates that could impact your fantasy basketball strategy. With six games on the slate this past Sunday, there was no shortage of action and intrigue.
Player Updates and Injury News
One of the most significant updates this week involves Ja Morant, who has been upgraded to questionable. The Memphis Grizzlies have a consistent pattern of moving players from doubtful to questionable before they return to play, so Morant’s return seems imminent. Marcus Smart is also off the injury report, ready to make his comeback. However, the Grizzlies are still without Vince Williams Jr., who is sidelined for weeks, and Zach Edey.
In New Orleans, the return of key players is on the horizon. While Herb Jones remains out, Jordan Hawkins is back, and CJ McCollum is expected to play soon. Dejounte Murray has been upgraded to doubtful, indicating he might return later this week. These returns will undoubtedly shake up the rotations and fantasy implications for players like BJ Boston and ElfridPayton.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been idle since Wednesday, and Alex Caruso, who aggravated a hip injury, is out again. This extended absence is concerning for fantasy managers holding Caruso. Meanwhile, Ousmane Dieng’s fractured finger will keep him out for three to four weeks, opening up reserve minutes for Dillon Jones until Jaylin Williams returns.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Heat podcasts.
Miami Heat: Would You Trade Bam Adebayo for Joel Embiid? A fun episode today! Wes Goldberg and David Ramil play “Would you...?” And frame several scenarious about various trade ideas (including Bam Adebayo for Joel Embiid and Tyler Herro for an All-Star guard), Miami Heat role changes and big picture questions about how the Heat should build the team going forward.
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.
