Should Miami’s Lack of Offense Be Concerning?
Saturday brought us some more basketball to talk about.
Miami Heat vs Indiana Pacers
This game was very fun to watch. In the first half, even though they must have been demoralized by that loss to the Wizards, the Pacers came out fighting. Their bench played excellent defense and the Pacers were in control with a double-digit lead.
The scoring dropped considerably in the 3rd quarter, where the Heat slowly clawed themselves back into the game. The low-scoring affair went down to the wire late in the 4th, where a Tyler Herro 3-pointer with 50 seconds left forced overtime.
After back-to-back close losses to start their season, the Pacers came through and finally won a game late. They took a sizeable lead in OT and grabbed their first win of the season.
Miami Heat
The Heat need more offense. That’s about it. The defense was good, but they just couldn’t score enough to win this game. I know Lowry was out, but the offense is still a question mark for this team.
Other Than Tyler Herro, The Offense Is Concerning
I think the headline is self-explanatory. Herro kept the Heat in this game, but other than him, the offense was hard to come by.
Bam and Jimmy couldn’t get things going and the other role players didn’t make enough shots. The Heat as a team shot just 39% from the field and 27% from 3. Having 22 turnovers certainly doesn’t help things.
Tyler Herro was the only reason this game was close. He had 16 points in the first half that helped the Heat stay in striking distance and his 3-pointer forced OT, where the Heat eventually lost. Herro just has his swagger back. He’s being aggressive and he is the only reason the Heat didn’t lose by 20+ points in this game.
30 points – 10 rebounds – 43% FG
Herro became the first player in Heat history with 30+ points and 10+ rebounds off the bench. But the Heat’s offense didn’t have enough shot creators in this game. I know Lowry was out, but they need to be a lot better.
Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo Have To Be Better
An easy solution to that problem is having your two All-Stars play better. Butler and Adebayo were atrocious last year in the playoffs and Miami got swept. Both of them struggled in this game and the Heat lost. Noticing a pattern?
Butler’s lack of a jump shot does hurt him, but we’ve seen him take over games before. But he didn’t draw a lot of free throws and he shot just 7/22 from the field in this game. Butler was just 2/7 in the 4Q/OT, which is certainly not good enough for a player of his caliber.
Adebayo had a lot of good looks in the pick and roll, but he just couldn’t get them to fall. He shot just 6/15 from the field and didn’t do much down the stretch when the Heat desperately needed scores. Adebayo was just 1/5 in the 4Q/OT, which again, isn’t good enough for a top-5 center in the NBA.
These two have to be better and they have to take over games, plain and simple. I don’t these guys should be playing badly just because Lowry wasn’t there. That might be an excuse for the role players, but not for the All-Stars.
The defense was the reason this game was close. If not for Tyler Herro continuing to play great, this game wouldn’t have been close. Not having Kyle Lowry, a true floor general, showed itself in this game.
The Heat offense needs more production, whether it’s from Lowry, or Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler just playing better. The offense is a work in progress and this game would have been a win had a few more shots gone in.
Indiana Pacers
FINALLY. The Pacers blew a 23-point lead against Charlotte to open their season and then blew two six-point leads late against the Wizards, finally losing in overtime. This game against the Heat was just one day after that demoralizing loss to the Wizards and the Pacers came through, finally.
The bench unit gave them great minutes. They went into a zone defense that slowed down the Heat and guys like Jeremy Lamb and Oshae Brissett gave the Pacers a 12-point lead.
The offense struggled in the 2nd half and it seemed like a death sentence that they were again headed to OT. But the Pacers took care of business, getting a much-needed first win of the season and avenging their two previous losses.
(Finally) Some Good Bench Production
The Pacers’ starters were excellent in their first two games, but the bench couldn’t push them over the top. Rick Carlisle used more bodies in this game because Indiana was on the 2nd night of a back-to-back and it paid dividends.
Oshae Brissett, TJ McConnell, and Jeremy Lamb were all excellent in this game. Lamb and Brissett combined for 30 points on 11/17 shooting, giving the Indiana starters, who struggled shooting in this game, some relief.
McConnell continues to be so underrated, playing pesky defense and being a great playmaker. Guys like Lamb and Brissett will have to continue to score until guys like Caris Levert and TJ Warren come back.
This 2nd unit also played some zone defense in the last 1st/2nd quarter and it worked really well. I have seen the Pacers play zone a lot, as Rick Carlisle is trying to throw opposing defenses a curveball. It worked well in this game and overall, I loved what the 2nd unit did in this game.
When Healthy, Watch Out For Indiana
I know that Duarte, Sabonis, and Brogdon struggled in this game, but when healthy, tell me this team isn’t fun;
Malcolm Brogdon
Justin Holiday
Caris Levert
Domantas Sabonis
Myles Turner
Chris Duarte (R)
TJ Warren
TJ McConnell
Oshae Brissett
Torrey Craig
Isiah Jackson (R)
The starting unit is well balanced. The bench has a lot of spotting youth, scoring, and great defense. This team has good depth, good coaching, they have it all.
Rick Carlisle has done great things with the Turner/Sabonis duo, letting them shoot the ball more and letting them play more on their own instead of always as a duo.
When Levert and Warren come back, they give the team even more scoring and the bench becomes better because now Duarte is down there. This team has constructed themselves nicely and they are just solid, from top to bottom.
I like what Rick Carlisle is doing with this team. Even when injured, they’re very competitive and a tough team with great players all-around their roster. When they get Levert and Warren back, they’re going to be dangerous.
They should be 3-0 right now, but they are on the right track. Sabonis and Brogdon are a great 1-2 punch and Chris Duarte has looked like one of the best rookies in the draft. If they can win these close games and be better than they were last year at home, Indiana is going to be a playoff team.
Bad Beats
Hopefully, Scott Van Pelt doesn’t see this segment. I know most teams have only played 2-3 games thus far, but who has been playing really, really bad? Like who has been so bad, that it’s going to cause your eyes to bleed when you see their stats.
I know these players can turn things around, but they haven’t exactly gotten off to the best of starts. Let’s see who is struggling thus far in 2022.
Kristaps Porzingis
Kristaps Porzinigs’ defense might look slightly improved in 2022, but his offense continues to suck. While Jason Kidd wants him to do more, perhaps he hasn’t come to the realization that Kristaps Porzingis just isn’t good on this end of the floor anymore.
Porzingis’ season has been off to a rough start offensively as I find it unlikely we’ll ever see New York Knick All-Star Porzingis offensively ever again;
Kristaps Porzingis In 2021-22;
2 Games – 29 points – 11/33 FG (33%) – 3/13 3-PT (23%) – -26 Plus/Minus
Kristaps Porzinigs is not the answer for the Dallas Mavericks. He’s never going to be good enough to be their 2nd option behind Luka and after he becomes a free agent in 2024, I doubt he’s going to be a Dallas Maverick for much longer.
Trae Young
This one isn’t surprising, given that Trae Young still has bad games. But we all know that without Trae Young, the Hawks might not even be a playoff team. Sure, they’re talented, but Trae Young is their driving force. He just needs to make a few more shots.
Trae Young In 2021-22
2 games – 43 points – 14/38 FG (37%) – 3/11 3-PT (27%) – 7 TO
I know that Trae Young will turn things around, but if the Hawks want to be great, they need Trae Young along for the ride with them.
Jalen Suggs
This one might be the most surprising one yet. Suggs was the 5th overall pick in the draft and I viewed him as one of the safer picks in the draft, given his high floor.
He could do it all, but he has struggled mightily in the NBA. His jump shots aren’t falling and his offense was been putrid to start the season. While the Magic aren’t the ideal team to start on, Suggs’ slow start has to be somewhat concerning, right?
Jalen Suggs In 2021-22
2 games – 24 points – 7/31 FG (23%) – 1/12 3-PT (8%)
While Suggs has shown promise as a passer, this is not the best start in the world. He is of course a rookie, but he has certainly had the worst start of any other top-5 pick in the draft this season.
Cleveland Cavaliers
When I watched this game, Hawks vs Cavs, I was expecting a blowout. The Hawks are the better team and the Cavs were without Darius Garland, their best player (yes, I said it). This game shouldn’t have been close, but the Cavs just kept battling.
Even with JB Bickerstaff sabotaging the Cavs by starting Lauri Markkanen over Isaac Okoro, the Cavs remained in this game. They opened up the 2nd half with a barrage, a 15-3 run to open up a double-digit lead. I kept expecting the Hawks to come back, but they just didn’t.
The Cavs hung to win and it was impressive. The Cavs might have one of the weirdest rosters in the NBA, but they made it work in this game for their first win of the season.
Please Start Isaac Okoro
I don’t know why this isn’t already happening. Okoro showed promise as a rookie, mostly as a defender. His offense lacked results, as he just couldn’t hit outside shots. But it was a solid overall season and I was excited to see his progression.
Instead, JB Bickerstaff is starting 3 guys who are 7 feet tall and I don’t get it at all. Markkanen isn’t a good player and he never has been. Okoro is a better defender and he certainly puts more pressure on the defense with his drives to the rim.
And it’s not like Okoro isn’t playing. He played 34 minutes in this game, more than Markkanen. What’s the point of keeping him on the bench then? Just start him!
While Okoro had just 9 points, he had a positive plus/minus (+2) and Markkanen had a negative plus/minus (-4).
I don’t know why Okoro isn’t starting. He’s better defensively, he’s your lottery pick from last year, ugh. Why are the Cavaliers so stupid?
Other Than Markkanen, I Like The Big Guys
While I’m not a huge fan of the Cavs using a huge lineup, their big guys were excellent in this game, other than Markkanen of course. Mobley, Allen, and even Kevin Love all played well on both ends and were the driving force for this win for the Cavs.
Evan Mobley
Evan Mobley had himself another great game on both ends of the floor.
All of his points came inside the paint. He had a few good putbacks, one good drop-step, and just lived in the paint. Usually, Mobley can stretch the floor a little bit, but it’s good to see that he is strong enough to score down low consistently. Mobley finished the night with;
17 points – 11 rebounds – 58% FG
On top of that, Mobley played some great defense. He clogged up the lane and just got in the way for the Hawks. He finished with 4 blocks, mainly because he was just lurking around the rim and waiting for would-be shots to go up.
But his most impressive block showed off just how special he is. He stayed with the elusive Trae Young on the perimeter and just smothered his shot attempt in the paint. Not many 7-footers can stay with Trae Young on the perimeter, but Mobley is one of those guys.
Mobley has gotten off to a great start this season and is playing a lot better than I expected him to.
Jarrett Allen
Allen started the season by shooting 16/17 from the field (94%). People didn’t like his contract extension, but he’s showing you why he got paid $100 million dollars.
Offensively, he’s a great safety blanket. Allen’s field goals aren’t pretty, but he knows how to use his size down low. You wouldn’t think of him as a great post player, but he scored down low when he got the chances. He was efficient and finished with;
11 points – 14 rebounds – 56% FG
But again, defense is Allen’s true calling card. Like Mobley, Allen did a really good job of just getting in way of the Hawks’ pick and rolls. He had a big steal with less than a minute left in the game that sealed the deal, but he and Mobley are such a great defensive 1-2 punch.
Allen has gotten off to a great start this season and he’s showing you why he’s worth the money he got. He’s an excellent defender and a solid offensive player. He’s a building block for the Cavs down low and I think he’s going to turn a lot of heads this season.
Kevin Love
Kevin Love is somehow still a Cleveland Cavalier, but he honestly played well in this game.
He hit some shots, got to the free-throw line, rebounded the ball, and passed out a few dimes as well. Not a bad game for someone who, at times, didn’t look like he wanted to be in Cleveland last season.
Love was a +11 in 24 minutes of action, something that is promising. If he can make an impact, then he certainly deserves some minutes off the bench.
If the Cavs can get Darius Garland healthy and if Isaac Okoro starts over Lauri Markkanen, I like this team a lot. Garland gives them a true floor general, Sexton can score, and I am already loving the Allen + Mobley defensive combo.
This team is similar to the Hornets and T-Wolves in a lot of ways. They’re young, frustrating, and exciting all at the same time. I think the Cavs might have their best season in years if JB Bickerstaff gets a few more brain cells.
Portland Trail Blazers
After my Blazers lost to the Kings to start the season, a date with the defending Western Conference champions seemed like a death sentence. Instead, it was a statement win against a very good team, something that Portland had struggled to do in years prior under Terry Stotts.
The offense looked excellent, featuring more passing, better shooting, everything just looked smoother. Dame only shot the ball 11 times and we still scored 134 points. Powell and CJ were excellent and we got really good looks throughout this game.
But the thing that I was the most impressed with was the defense. The Suns really had to work for their looks and the defense looked a lot sharper than it did against the Kings. Portland’s defense allowed them to build a lead and they never looked back, dominating the reigning Western Conference champions.
This game is the thing I was looking for under Terry Stotts. Us not relying on Dame that much, good play from the others, and excellent defense. Everything is going w-
Norman Powell Injuries Knee, Exits In 2nd Quarter
Oh, for the love of god!
CJ McCollum + Norman Powell Scoring Punch
After years of Damian Lillard leading the team in scoring, it’s good to see other guys in the mix. The only other time this happened was in 2018…when the Blazers were swept by the Pelicans. But that’s besides the point. The Blazers need CJ and Powell to do what they do best, score.
For CJ, scoring has really never been his problem. It’s consistency. Games like this make you think he’s a competent 2nd scorer but then he goes 4/16 in Game 2 of the playoffs and you’re hope is lost. While we haven’t gotten to step 2 of that thought process yet, it’s good to see CJ playing well.
He hit 6/11 of his 3’s and finished with a game-high 28 points. If he continues to play like this and stay healthy throughout the season, Dame doesn’t have to do as much.
Norman Powell was re-signed this offseason to be that 3rd scorer. After not getting many looks in the season opener, you could tell his teammaters were looking for him tonight. Before leaving with that knee injury, in just 12 minutes, Powell was very productive;
16 points – 6/8 FG – 2/4 3-PT
Powell had a few nice cuts that resulted in layups and his 3-pointers were just him being aggressive, something that needs to happen. You see what happens when his teammates are looking for him and when Powell is aggressive.
Getting this type of production will be vital to the Blazers’ success this season. If Powell + CJ can do this on a nightly basis, then I think the offense is in good hands.
Hey, Look, It’s Defense!
The Blazers were awful defensively in the first game of the season. They allowed the Kings to score easily using the three true outcomes (paint points, free throws, and 3-pointers). The Blazers have to take one of those away if they want to win games. They did that in this game.
Against Sacramento, the defensive rotations were poor. In this game, they were much better. The Blazers were flying to the ball and the Suns really had to work to get open 3-PT looks. The Suns shot just 32% from 3, as Portland covered them from outside very well. The Suns really didn’t find themselves wide open as the Kings did on opening day.
The Blazers, who often struggle with foul trouble, allowed just 15 free throws in this game. So while the Suns shot 48% from the field and had 56 points in the paint, the Blazer avoided fouls and just outgunned them from outside, which is very encouraging.
Jusuf Nurkic and Cody Zeller were solid inside and like we talked about, the roations to shooters were a lot better. It felt like the Suns had to work for their shots and thats really all you can ask for. Effort on defense and making opposing offenses try.
I have to give my praises to Chauncey Billups on this one. That was impressive.
These are the games I need to see more of. I definitely believe in Chauncey Billups a little more after games like this, where I see genuine change from what we had during the Stotts regime.
If we play like this more often, especially against good teams, then we can do damage in the Western Conference. I just need Dame to be more aggressive (surprising wish list item) and for Norman Powell to be healthy.
We play the Clippers on Monday, so hopefully we can continue to play well against good teams.
Dallas Mavericks
Wait. You’re telling me the Mavericks won this game. I swear they were down early. Oh god, now I have to compliment Jason Kidd?
No, no, no, no, no, no. Not happening. Not in 1,000,000 years. It’s more likely that the Kings will make the playoffs before I compliment that water-park loving “coach.”
Finally…Offense
The Mavericks again looked sluggish in that first half due to poor spacing and shooting. The Mavericks shot just 32% from the field in the first half, eerily similar to their poor performance against the Hawks.
But as soon as Luka Doncic and Tim Hardaway Jr. got going, the game changed. Doncic had 12 points in the 3rd quarter, helping fuel a 12-0 run that gave the Mavericks a lead.
Tim Hardaway Jr. had 22 points in the 2nd half on 8/10 shooting and 6/7 shooting from 3. He and Luka got the offense going and that was the key. The Mavericks built a double-digit lead and cruised to the win.
Luka getting hot isn’t out of the ordinary, but the Mavericks need this type of production from THJ and KP. If they can do that, it becomes a lot easier for Dallas to win games. It’s good to see some offense, but I want to see become a consistent thing, instead of a one-off type of thing.
Give Luka The Ball
As I said, as soon as Luka got the ball in the 3rd quarter, things went well. Hopefully, Jason Kidd also sees this pattern instead of thinking about which water park he’s going to go to after the game.
Luka Doncic needs the ball in his hands more. Dallas’ offenses have been incredibly good the last two years even when Luka Doncic was playing with role players, not All-Stars. Even with a new coach, nothing should change.
You can change the schemes, where things are, but Luka Doncic needs the ball in his hands constantly. He’s a generational talent and on his way to being a generational talent. He demands the ball and hopefully, the Mavericks stop being so f****** stupid and just give it to him.
Give the ball to Luka Doncic = win games
That’s how Dallas will continue to win games this season until they finally get him a good co-star. Pretty simple.
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