Game Thread | 2020-21 Season | Game #64 | Heat @ Cavs | May 1, 2021

[Wham with the Right Hand]

We arrive in May which means the season is almost over. The Heat come in well-rested after two days off to take on the Cavs, who played last night. The Heat are 33-30 and are in 7th place, just 0.5 games behind the 5th and 6th place teams. They are rested, relatively healthy, and have something to play for. None of that applies to the Cavs. I don't think there's any doubt as to the outcome of this one. The Cavs lost by 29 to Washington last night and are so injury depleted that a win is not realistic.

These teams played a month ago with the Heat winning 115-101. Darius Garland turned his ankle last night and is listed as a game time decision. Victor Oladipo and Tyler Herro are out for Miami but they have plenty of firepower led by Butler, Adebayo, and Duncan Robinson, who always plays well against the Cavs. This year in two games Robinson is shooting 61.1% from the floor and 58.5% on 3's against the Cavs, who don't have enough height on the perimeter to bother the 6'7" Robinson's shots.

This one won't be pretty and if Garland can't go it's going to get real ugly, real fast.

I'd like to see Bickerstaff experiment with Kabengele at power forward. Nance is out and there's no point playing Kevin Love and risking him getting hurt and having to spend another off-season rehabbing. MK can shoot 3's and at 6'9", 250 he has a power forward's body. We know what we have in Love and Wade. These last nine games don't mean anything so let's give this kid a shot at the 4.

 

[red.]

Darius Garland will miss Saturday's game with a sprained ankle that he suffered in Friday night's loss to Washington.​

In Garland's absence, expect Cedi Osman to be the biggest beneficiary. Osman has scored in double figures in three of his last four games, and has played at least 34 minutes in just as many. Expect this to continue as long as Garland is sidelined. Damyean Dotson should also see an increase in minutes as long as Garland is out.

 

[Futuredome]

It will be a massacre

 

[Rodzilla]

delly is not playing so yes this will be a massacre by 40

 

[kookoo]

Cedi has contributed for 11/13 points so far.

 

[Kizzle]

Okoro wants to show out for Jimmy Butler, and im not even mad. Go do your thing boy

 

[WorldFreeB]

Didn't expect them to play this well,,nice first qtr.
Even Cedi played well.

 

[ansatsusha80]

Dotson keep leaving Nunn open...smh

 

[Rich]

Just tuned in.

This is bad coaching. They're playing zone and we have no one flashing to the FT line. It's Allen standing under the rim and 4 guys around the 3 point line. SOmeone has to make them guard the middle of the zone.

Poor stuff from JBB tbh.

 

[daddywags]

Okoro's bothering Butler.

 

[Rich]

I dont like seeing so many people rebound the ball over Allen's head.

It's especially bad when it's 48 year old Trevor Ariza.

Allen looks tired.

 

[ice cream man]

Just tuned in.

This is bad coaching. They're playing zone and we have no one flashing to the FT line. It's Allen standing under the rim and 4 guys around the 3 point line. SOmeone has to make them guard the middle of the zone.

Poor stuff from JBB tbh.

Agreed. Zones in today's NBA should not and do not work. Unless you're playing the Cavs. No shooting and not enough height to make certain passes. Allen should be the one at the FT line for that reason, in my opinion.

Meanwhile, I'm so sick of the Cavs playing zone defense themselves. Wide open look every time for the opposition.

 

[OptimusPrime]

Osman self destructing now. He is the king of the tank.

 

[ansatsusha80]

Cedi with two turnovers already...smh

 

[daytripper]

I'd feel a little better about Okoro if he would stuff the stat sheet a little more. There's no reason Sexton should have more rebounds than Okoro.