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 at the 20-Game Mark: A Season of Surprises and Challenges
Nov 15, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) in the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski/Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
As the Miami Heat hit the 20-game milestone, it’s the perfect time to take a step back and assess the team’s performance. With a record of 10-10, the Heat have experienced both highs and lows, leaving fans and analysts alike eager to see how the rest of the season unfolds. In this episode of Locked on Heat, Wes Goldberg and guest Brendan Tobin from WQAM dive into the key storylines that have emerged so far.
Tyler Herro’s Breakout Season
One of the most exciting developments for the Heat has been Tyler Herro’s impressive performance. Averaging 24 points per game, Herro is shooting lights out from beyond the arc, ranking among the league’s top three-point shooters. His transformation into a more aggressive offensive player has been a revelation, and there’s even talk of an All-Star push. Herro’s newfound confidence and focus have been evident, and his ability to fight through contact and get to the rim has added a new dimension to his game.
Bam Adebayo’s Offensive Struggles
On the flip side, Bam Adebayo has faced challenges on the offensive end. Despite being a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, his scoring and shooting percentages have dipped. Tobin and Goldberg discuss the pressure Adebayo faces as the team’s cornerstone and the expectations for him to expand his offensive repertoire. While his current slump is concerning, there’s hope that Adebayo will regain his form as the season progresses.
Jimmy Butler’s Role and Future
Jimmy Butler’s performance has also been a topic of discussion. At 35, Butler’s ability to consistently dominate games is in question. While he remains a crucial part of the Heat’s success, there’s speculation about his future with the team, especially with a $53 million option looming next season. The conversation touches on Butler’s strategic rest and the importance of preserving his health for the playoffs.
The Young Guns: Potential and Patience
The Heat’s young players, including Jaime Jaquez, Nikola Jovic, and Khalel Ware, have shown flashes of potential but are still finding their footing. Tobin expresses frustration over the limited playing time for some of these prospects, particularly Jovic, who has shown promise but remains in the doghouse. The development of these young talents will be crucial for the Heat’s long-term success.
Looking Ahead
As the Heat continue their journey through the season, the focus will be on maintaining consistency and addressing the areas of concern. With Herro’s offensive surge, Adebayo’s potential resurgence, and Butler’s leadership, the team has the pieces to make a strong push. However, the integration of young players and strategic management of veteran minutes will be key factors in determining the Heat’s trajectory.
Stay tuned to Locked on Heat for more insights and analysis as the season unfolds. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual observer, there’s plenty to watch for as the Miami Heat navigate the challenges and opportunities of the NBA season.
Dec 1, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick calls a play against the Utah Jazz during the first half at the Delta Center. | Christopher Creveling/Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images
If JJ Redick had approached the season signalling a measure of outward self-awareness that he, a former player with no head coaching experience and cohost of a podcast with LeBron James, was now head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, things might be different. If Redick had acknowledged that very obvious, and unique to our contemporary basketball moment of athlete-driven media elephant in the room, things might be different. If Redick had at any point, when asked about his new role in scrums wherein he knows the clips and audio of his answers will be immediately and robustly aggregated, balanced out his self-aggrandizing basketball sicko-hood, or answers where he likened head coaching to nothing short of personal destiny, with something like, It’s a learning curve, really anything a hair more measured, things might be different.
Things would not look different. The Lakers made no real structural changes to their roster in the offseason, so the team playing bad basketball now is the same team that was playing bad basketball last season under Darvin Ham (Redick is one game off the 13-9 pace set by Ham last season), but things might be interpreted, or reasoned with, differently. That kind of grace, for a struggling franchise with major conflicting timelines and high-stakes notions like legacy on the line, goes a long way.
There is such a fine line in coaching between collaborative and domineering, confident and arrogant, and many first-time head NBA coaches have learned the hard way what it is to lose a team, and lose them quickly. Nate Bjorkgren went into the Pacers organization not just hot but by many accounts scorching, and was expeditiously fired at the end of his lone year in Indiana. Jason Kidd may have traded in his string of short-lived head coaching appointments (Nets, Bucks — and surprise! — Lakers) for his current and seemingly steady job with the Mavs, but there is no doubt a type afforded the leniency of multiple failures in the NBA, and it tends to be white, male and abidingly faultless.
To Redick’s credit, he has vocally shouldered the blame of the Lakers recent, bad losses. When the team fell to the Timberwolves 109-80 to start the month, Redick noted their lacklustre effort was “looking more and more like it’s not an aberration”, correcting himself from a late-November blown effort against the Nuggets he said was. This week’s impressive loss to the Heat resulted in a two minute explanation from Redick that skimmed the existential and was anchored in the heavy weight of realization.
What’s difficult from here — beyond how the Lakers improve when their offensive energy is sporadic at best and their approach to defence has been to literally stand back and watch — is how to move forward into the long season still ahead, with the base level of competency and pride necessary for a cohesive team to function.
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
Fans With just 20 games left in the season, there are four compelling storylines that Miami Heat fans should follow closely, including playoff positioning and player performances. (All U Can Heat)
Analysis The Miami Heat played a significant role in the Lakers’ recent struggles. An insightful analysis breaks down how their tactics led to a Lakers’ meltdown. (All U Can Heat)
Rumor A trade proposal suggests the Miami Heat should take a risk on acquiring an injury-plagued guard. Explore the details and potential impact of this move. (Sports Illustrated)
Personnel Erik Spoelstra defends his surprising decision regarding Kel’el Ware, explaining his strategic reasoning. Read Spoelstra’s insights on this bold choice. (Sports Illustrated)
Biz The NBA will return to China in 2025; The first time since team executive Daryl Morey’s 2019 tweet signalled support for Hong Kong independence. (ESPN)
Feel Good Four Raptors rookies make history by playing in two games in one day. (SportsNet)
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Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Ayo Dosunmu’s Big Fantasy Basketball Night
Dec 5, 2024; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) looks to pass the ball while defended by San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) and forward Harrison Barnes (40) during the first half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter/Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
The Dallas Mavericks dominated the Washington Wizards, with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving leading the charge. Doncic’s 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, alongside Irving’s 25 points, highlighted their commanding performance. Despite a lackluster showing from P.J. Washington, Quentin Grimes and Spencer Dinwiddie delivered solid contributions. The Wizards’ decision to start Marvin Bagley over Jonas Valančiūnas was puzzling, given Bagley’s inconsistent play. Bilal Coulibaly’s struggles continue, and Jordan Poole’s shooting woes persist, though his minutes remain encouraging.
In another matchup, the Cleveland Cavaliers secured a significant win over the Denver Nuggets. Nikola Jokic’s 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 11 assists underscored his dominance, despite heavy minutes. Michael Porter Jr.'s defensive contributions were notable, with four steals and two blocks. On the Cavaliers’ side, Caris LeVert’s 21 points and Donovan Mitchell’s 28 points, six assists, and six triples were key to their victory.
The Oklahoma City Thunder overwhelmed the Toronto Raptors, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge with 30 points, five assists, and two steals. Cason Wallace’s defensive prowess was on display, contributing two steals and four blocks. The Raptors struggled without Jakob Poeltl, highlighting their lack of depth at the center position.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Heat podcasts.
Heat Offense Erups, Lakers Meltdown, Herro Kickstarts All-Star Campaign The Miami Heat blew out the Los Angeles Lakers in Miami on Wednesday night, forcing LeBron James, Anthony Davis and JJ Redick to take a hard look in the mirror. Meanwhile, Tyler Herro went off for 31 points, including making seven 3s in the third quarter, to kickstart his 2025 NBA All-Star campaign in front of a national audience. Wes Goldberg and David Ramil react to the game, ask how the Heat broke the Lakers, and what it means for the next part of their season
Why the Miami Heat’s Blowout Loss to Celtics Should Prompt Changes The Miami Heat got blown out by the Boston Celtics on Monday night. Sure, they were without Jimmy Butler, but the Celtics were also without several key players and it did not matter. Should back-to-back losses and falling to under .500 be enough to prompt changes? Wes Goldberg and David Ramil react to the game and look ahead to what the Heat can do to fix things.
Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo + Tyler Herro: A Dynamic Duo or Missed Potential? Can the Miami Heat bounce back after their tough loss to the Toronto Raptors? With Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro at the forefront, the Heat’s recent performance raises questions about their strategy and future prospects.
