The Heat are looking to “right the ship” and improve on bad habits created during the absence of Jimmy Butler and others this month, Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel writes.
Butler, who returned on Saturday after missing ten straight games due to the league’s health and safety protocols, poured in 30 points, seven rebounds and eight assists in the contest. It was Miami’s first victory in over a week, snapping a five-game losing streak.
“It’s a start,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We just have to continue to forge ahead. Our spirit has been lifted. It feels different than it did two weeks ago.”
Miami has battled COVID-19 and a series of injuries thus far, opening the 2020/21 season with a 7-12 record. The team has upcoming games scheduled against the Hornets on Monday and the Wizards on Wednesday and Friday.
There’s more from the Southeast Division tonight:
- The Heat and Butler mutually missed each other during his absence, David Wilson writes for The Miami Herald. Butler is coming off a season that saw him average 19.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and six assists per game, leading Miami to its first Finals appearance since 2014.
- Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer examines whether Hornets rookie LaMelo Ball is ready to make his first NBA start. Ball scored a career-high 27 points in the team’s win over Milwaukee on Saturday, also adding five rebounds, nine assists and four steals on 8-of-10 shooting.
- Magic forward Jonathan Isaac is embracing the grind of his rehab, working his way back from a torn ACL suffered last August, Roy Parry of the Orlando Sentinel writes. “I like the work. I like getting in and grinding every day,” Isaac said. “I think most people would think that that’s the hardest part but I take it like I’m out there playing on the court when I’m doing my rehab. This is my game right now. But the hardest part is definitely just being on the sideline and watching those guys fighting and just wishing I was out there with them.”
LaMelos per 36
18 pts 9 rebs 9 assts 2.2 stls per game in his first 20 games out the gate
This kid is special and if we had this info today and did a redraft nobodies questioning who the #1 pick would be
Wiseman per 36 minutes
First 20 games out the gate
20.9 pts
10.5 Rebs
40.9% 3 pts FG
2.2 shot blocks
Yeah, I think everyone would take Wiseman.
Stats wise
LaMelo is a new Luka?
Rookie Chris Bosh per 36
13 pts
7 rebs
Luka imo, is a top 8 player in the game today- Ball will never reach that ceiling but he doesnt have to to be considered great for Cha
I think a poor mans Kidd makes a better comp if you want to go that route- Cha would live with 80% of Kidd career, I think Lamelo is lucky Lonzo took all the heat/attention away from his own rookie year. While I found Lonzo super immature his rookie year its hard to gauge anyone on that bottom feeding Laker team that was coached by Luke Walton. That atmosphere likens to the McDonalds play pens they set up pre covid for kids to exchange snot with
lol That atmosphere made its fans… but LJ/RichP/EarvinJ/Pelinka had a different plan for LAL!
I’m thinking more Shaun Livingston without the injuries, but still raw, and not as high basketball IQ
Livingston indeed san the inj is a better comp-
Once that day happened tho was hard for me to make the comparison as I hope Ball or nobody would ever have to endure that. Thats why I went 80% on Jk but I do like your comp better-
Shame we never got to see Livingston Prime, he was interesting albeit stuck in Clipper wasteland
Wiseman wishes he was Chris Bosh. Embiid reminds me of a bigger version of Chris Bosh, with not as much mobility after his injuries and bulking up
Givony and Schmidts repeatedly said he was their top guy.
Ball is face of Hornets and future of Hornets
Start him right away
you talking to yourself again… lolol
LaMelo is on it’s way for ROY & if they keep (very oddly) not starting him… he is on his way for SMOY as well! Way to go LaMelo!
Borrego should start Ball. Benching Rozier is the only reason I wouldn’t have done it already.
Charlotte might be looking to trade Rozier? Then Borrego by default starts Ball?
Seems like a plausible scenario given the Hornets unexpected success this season.
Ball had a great gm against Bucks. I still don’t see him as a PG. He’s more a wing to me. He doesn’t need to start. He needs to get steady mins. Hornets still seem like a team finding it’s way. Definitely could use a rim protector. To steady their team D. They should look into Bamba Bamba …..
Fultz/Bamba for: Rozier, Monk, Carey.
Can see it hard to break up the reasonable success of CHA, but I think a deal could help both teams. (Maybe with a pick added?)