Miami, FL
Coup’s Takeaways: Jimmy Butler Has A Game For The Ages As Miami Takes 2-0 Lead Over Atlanta | Miami Heat
1. A video game with wonderful rhythm, this was not. The initial fifty percent was unpleasant for both sides, with lots of free-throws, core gamers in nasty problem and also turn overs to walk around. Miami resembled they were mosting likely to retreat in the 3rd as they increased by as high as 16, yet after that the crime – as has actually taken place throughout this period and also is something we’ll remain to watch on – struck a time-out and also the Hawks obtained it under 5 as the mins ticked down in the 4th.
The continuous throughout? Jimmy Butler. 45 factors. 25 shots. 5 rebounds. 5 helps. No turn overs. No fouls. The 3rd gamer in warm background to upload a 45-5-5 in the playoffs – signing up with Dwyane Wade and also LeBron James, that each did it when – and also the initial to upload that line with no turn overs. For as high as the Hawks had no protective solutions for the warm as a group in Video game 1, they had absolutely nothing to supply Butler alone in Video game 2. He struck jumpers – much more on that particular listed below – he reached the edge, he tunnelled his means right into and also via protectors and also he transformed takes, takes substantiated of his amazing mix of impulses and also speed, right into dunks. A virtuoso efficiency for the document publications, and also one that places Miami up 2-0 in the collection with their 115-105 triumph. This moment, when the warm’s crime seemed coming down right into the mud, Butler existed to get hold and also catapult them from it.
2. Recently we reviewed just how Butler might not be an excellent shooter, yet he still has an exceptional feeling of timing with his jumper. After a period invested shooting 23 percent from 3, Butler appeared and also fired 4-of-7 from deep – linking his high for the previous 2 periods – consisting of a fading leaner on the wing that basically stopped Atlanta’s run. Naturally the 3s are just a small praise to the remainder of his video game, the cherry ahead if you will, et cetera of his video game was vocal singing in this one as the Hawks, with their fly nasty problem throughout, simply couldn’t stay on top of Butler’s physicality and also timing. Generally Bam Adebayo getting his 4th fouls plain mins right into the 3rd quarter would certainly imply problem, yet in this situation Spoelstra generated Caleb Martin, the warm mosted likely to a five-out crime and also with Atlanta short on individually protectors Butler had the ability to strike without problem for dimension in the 2nd layer of the protection.
Butler’s performance history is that he’s greater than satisfied to have a video game such as this and also follow it up with another concentrated on playmaking – this was also real throughout his Finals collection versus the Lakers – so we could not always anticipate something such as this once more in the following video game while recognizing that Butler can do this in any kind of video game.
3. Atlanta’s huge modification in this one – aside from merely appearing and also being much more affordable after a loser Video game 1 – was to begin John Collins at facility along with Danilo Gallinari. Together with Youthful, De’Andre Seeker and also Kevin Huerter, that beginning schedule had actually played simply 38 mins this period with Atlanta’s typically-great crime yet a protective score (121.4) that would certainly have been the even worse protection in the organization. For the initial couple of mins there wasn’t much resistance on that particular end of the flooring, yet after a spell with turnover-itis on Miami’s component Atlanta’s protection worked out in and also stood up far better than anticipated provided the employees accessible with a Defensive Score of 117.3 – second-rate for the organization yet perhaps great for the Hawks in these scenarios without their beginning facility and also protective support in Clint Capela. Certain, the warm reached the line lots and also shot well, yet Atlanta’s aid turnings were much more ready this time around and also Miami just took 17 chance ats the edge.
And Also as you would certainly anticipate, having a sports, online alternative like Collins at facility to play off Youthful – Collins can additionally room the flooring – juiced the crime. Perhaps not statistically, provided Atlanta’s 106.2 per 100 effectiveness and also 12-of-40 capturing – buoyed by Bogdan Bogdanovic igniting in the 4th – yet the spacing and also half-court procedure was miles much better. For a while, a minimum of. Atlanta still requires Youthful (a career-high 10 turn overs) to do a lot, and also the Warmth are mosting likely to pack up numerous bodies before him, that the Hawks are mosting likely to require capturing to profit from just how Miami is firing the flooring. Because feeling, that they just tracked by 10-12 for much of the video game regardless of their inadequate capturing was a shock, and also it wasn’t a shock that they made their run when somebody aside from Young began making shots.
Atlanta’s schedule modification functioned, and also could function much better as the collection takes place, it simply didn’t function sufficient tonite.
It doesn’t seem like those Miami Heat rumors will slow down anytime soon.
The Heat are one of many teams newly linked to Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson. With speculation surrounding star Jimmy Butler, the Heat could make a move for Johnson. He was a 2019 first-round pick.
A potential trade between the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets could look like:
Miami Heat receive: F Cam Johnson, G Shake Milton
Brooklyn Nets receive: G Terry Rozier, 2029 first-round draft pick
For the Heat, Johnson becomes a consistent strong presence at forward. This season, he is averaging 20 points while shooting near 50 percent from the field for a rebuilding Nets team. The good thing about trading for Johnson is he isn’t just a half-season rental. He is on the books through the 2027 season. In this trade, the Heat also acquire guard Shake Milton, who has provided numerous solid games throughout his career. He could serve as a backup guard for a team that just lost Dru Smith for the season.
For the Nets, they are in a rebuild since moving on from their Big Three of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving. They traded Dennis Schroder to the Warriors last week, signaling they’re willing to move significant pieces prior to the trade deadline. Acquiring Terry Rozier could give the Nets a scorer who has shown he can perform at a high level. However, the big piece of the deal is the unprotected 2029 first-round draft pick, which could be valuable down the line. The Nets could start stockpiling on draft picks by moving more players.
If the Heat make a move for Johnson, he could help the team re-establish themselves as contenders in the East.
Sean Jordan is a contributor to Miami Heat On Sports Illustrated. He can be reached at sjorda06@syr.edu.
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After carrying the load offensively all night for a shorthanded Orlando Magic squad, the only thing Jalen Suggs could do was watch Tyler Herro as he sunk the game-winning shot for the Miami Heat to cap off a thriller from the Kaseya Center Thursday night.
The former Kentucky star spoiled a big night from the Gonzaga standout. Suggs finished with a game-high 29 points on 10-of-22 shooting from the field, but it wasn’t enough as the Heat stormed back in the second half to beat the Magic, 89-88, on a 19-foot jumper in the final seconds from Herro.
“Sometimes you’ve just gotta tip your cap,” Suggs said of Herro’s go-ahead basket. “Even the last possession, I thought TQ [Trevelin Queen] played great defense, good contest, tough shot. So sometimes you’ve just gotta give the guy some props.”
Jalen Suggs the man that you are pic.twitter.com/WGhKQ358rT
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) December 27, 2024
The Magic leaned heavily on its 6-foot-5 guard from start to finish — as has been the case lately without Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner in the lineup due to injury. Suggs came into Thursday averaging 18.4 points in 29.5 minutes over his last five contests. The Heat had a track record of stifling No. 1 options as of late, though that certainly wasn’t the case when trying to slow the Magic’s go-to guy.
Suggs and company scored the first 14 points of the night and took a commanding 22-5 lead after the former fifth-overall pick knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers in the first quarter.
Jalen Suggs alley-oop pass to Goga Bitadze who converts pic.twitter.com/uS8OrqpieI
— The Magic Way (@MagicFilmRoom) December 27, 2024
The Heat chipped into the Magic’s lead heading into the second quarter before Suggs checked back in for the final minutes of the first half. He helped push the lead back to 14 points with a midrange jumper to make it 40-26, followed later by a 23-foot jumper. With just over a minute remaining, Suggs connected with Goga Bitadze on an alley-oop to make it 50-40 in favor of the Magic.
Jalen Suggs creates space and drills the mid range jumper pic.twitter.com/oOLp85lhMB
— The Magic Way (@MagicFilmRoom) December 27, 2024
Orlando led by 10 going into the fourth quarter before the Heat scored six points in a 45-second span to make it 71-67 with 11:14 to play in regulation. Alec Burks went 3-for-3 at the charity stripe upon drawing a foul from Anthony Black while shooting from long distance. Burks connected on his next try from 25 feet on the ensuing possession.
After former UCLA standout Jaime Jaquez Jr. made it a 1-point game, Burks put the Heat out in front 77-76 with 7:42 left. Suggs scored four points in a row to tie things at 80 apiece, but from there it was all Miami down the stretch.
Herro finished with a team-high 20 points. Jaquez Jr. had 15 points while Burks and Terry Rozier combined to score 31 points off the bench for the Heat (15-13).
Tristan da Silva tallied 18 points and Bitadze recorded a 10-point, 14-rebound double-double but the Magic (19-13) suffered a loss for the fourth time in its last six contests.
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Jim Larranaga stepped down as Miami men’s basketball head coach on Thursday, ending a 14-year stint with the Hurricanes. The 75-year-old head coach is nearly two years removed from bringing the Hurricanes to their first Final Four appearance.
Miami has lost eight of its last nine games, touting a 4-8 record to open the season. Larranaga’s abrupt, mid-season decision surprised many. On3’s Joe Tipton reported that players found out the news on social media.
Larranaga’s departure triggers the 30-day transfer portal window for Miami players. NCAA rules allow athletes on a team with a coaching change to enter the portal the day after the change. In this case, Miami athletes can start entering Friday.
According to the NCAA, an athlete who transfers after enrolling at a school cannot transfer during that same year and compete for a new school. Grad students could transfer if they don’t play in any games this fall and be eligible in the spring.
The former Bowling Green and George Mason head coach cited NIL as part of the reason for his retirement.
“At this point, after 53 years, I just didn’t feel that I could successfully navigate this whole new world that I was dealing with because my conversations were ridiculous with an agent saying to me, ‘Well, you can get involved [with a prospective player] if you’re willing to go to $1.1 million,’ and that would be the norm,” he said at a news conference on Thursday.
The college basketball transfer portal is scheduled for 30 days during the spring of the 2024-25 academic year. According to the NCAA, the portal opens for business on Monday, March 24, and closes on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The national championship game will be played on April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Athletes would still be given a 30-day window to transfer after a head coach’s departure.
The college basketball transfer portal is starting to mirror the NBA’s free agency. Last spring alone, 1,962 Division I players tested the portal waters. According to college basketball analytics expert Evan Miyakawa, for the first time in history, more than half of the points scored in Division I men’s college basketball will be scored by players recruited through the transfer portal, not from high school in 2024-25.
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