Miami’s Bad Road Trip, Let’s Go Home

Loss @ Clippers – 2/5/20

The biggest and probably best news of the road-trip didn’t even happen on the court. Before it was official Thursday morning, the Heat had a trade agreed with the Memphis Grizzles for Andre Iguodala parting ways with Justise Winslow initially. The full trade included the Heat also acquiring Solomon Hill and Jae Crowder for Dion Waiters and James Johnson. The Heat then played a game vs the Clippers. Jimmy Butler left this game in the 3rd with a strained left shoulder, and the Heat were outscored after halftime, losing this one by a score of 128-111. Landy Shamet paced Clippers scorers with 23 as the Clippers hit 23 threes as a team. Derrick Jones Jr. poured in a career-high 25 points but it wasn’t nearly not enough as the Heat got routed by 17. Jones Jr., did provide us with some hindsight on what to expect from this year’s dunk contest.

Loss @ Kings – 2/7/20

After a disappointing start to the road-trip, the Heat looked to bounce back against the struggling Kings. Iguodala, Crowder, Hill, Butler and Tyler Herro were all with the team but remained out for this game. So, the Heat rolled with 6 undrafted players in this one. Adebayo poured in a game-high 26 points, and Duncan added 18. But, yet again Miami could not stop the three ball as Sacramento knocked down 19 threes on 43% shooting.

Bam caught two bodies, yes, but the Heat lost their 2nd straight for only the 2nd time all year. The Heat played very shorthanded, but you still had your all-star center and a good volume of shooters against a subpar Kings team. This is a game you should have won but didn’t.

Loss @ TrailBlazer – 2/9/20

Coming into this game, I expected a loss and that we were given. Damian Lilliard was coming off a performance where he was straight up robbed by the refs. So, of course Miami had to be the team to face them next, and man were the refs not great in this one. Still without Butler, the debuts of Iguodala and Crowder were present in this one. Their impacts were immediately felt and wow did Crowder ooze with #HeatCulture.

Crowder posted 18 points to go along with 11 boards on 5-8 shooting from downtown. What a debut for the former Marquette star. Something about former Marquette players and Miami. This was yet another loss for the Miami Heat and the first three game losing streak on the season.

Win @ Golden State – 2/10/20

The next night was the most positive night of the road trip. The Heat won their only game, yes, but Jimmy Butler also played which is a good sign his shoulder injury was nothing serious. The Heat handled the worst team in the NBA by a score of 113-101, but again it wasn’t all that easy. Miami opened up an early 20+ point lead after halftime but saw it get cut down to as little as 4. Crowder again showed his worth scoring 21 points, and Jimmy Butler’s presence was felt back in the lineup as he had 21 points to go along with 10 boards and 5 assists. Additionally, Miami poured in 36 assists as a team, 2nd highest total this season. And, you guessed it Kelly Olynyk led the way with 11 assists.

Loss @ Utah – 2/12/20

Welp, time for a much needed all-star break for Miami. They went 1-4 on this brutal road-trip with their only win coming against Golden State. They could’ve squandered this road-trip with a much needed road victory over the Jazz but failed to do so. Miami had a lead all through the 2nd and 3rd quarter, but quickly gave that up late in the 3rd and ended up losing this one 116-101. Butler had 25, but when your second leading scorer is Duncan Robinson you are not going to win many games. And this is nothing against Duncan, cause he has been the shooter we have needed all year. But when you are relying on him knocking down his 3 ball as a 2nd scorer problems could ensue.

Hats off to Duncan, cause he looks like he is ready for Saturday night. Also, big congratulations as he became the 1st player in franchise history to knock down 5+ threes in 4 straight games.

Bam had an up and down road trip. He provided highlights in Utah and Sacramento. He posted 26 points in Sacramento but had a +/- of 23 in Utah. Bam will bounce back, but first he will steal the show this weekend in Chicago.

Let’s Take a Break

Miami will send 6 guys to Chicago, but then won’t play again till heading to Atlanta on Thursday. This is a time to celebrate the season thus far as Miami is well represented in Chicago for all-star festivities. But, it is also a time for the other players as well as management to get some rest and figure some things out for the remaining 25+ games. Miami is going to play in late April, but the question is will they be playing in May and June?

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