The Miami Heat are still having a hard time stringing together wins and this is starting to become a problem for the team. This Heat team is not power packed with star players and this season it looks like they will have to trust the process.
Heat president Pat Riley is not the type of person to concede a season, but this season is already looking like it is going down the drain for the team. A high draft pick could mean a big change in the future. Several teams have had to trust the process and slowly it is paying off. Here is how the Heat have been doing in the past week.
Heat-Celtics
The Heat faced off against the Boston Celtics in a close game, but the Heat would fall 112-104. Hassan Whiteside would have a huge night with 25 points and 17 rebounds. Whiteside’s performance would not be enough to contain Boston as their starters would combine for 64 points with 25 coming from Isaiah Thomas.
The Heat would only have 4 players in double figures while Boston would have 6 players with big scoring numbers. In this game the Heat were hurt by turnovers, and that would be a big factor in why they lost the game. The Heat must protect the ball better to stop costly turnovers from happening.
Heat-Nuggets
The Heat played the Denver Nuggets in their next matchup and won 106-98. Whiteside had another huge game and another double-double with 25 points and 16 rebounds. The Heat bench had a lot to do with this win. James Johnson, Tyler Johnson, and Wayne Ellington would combine for 50 points and 14 assist off of the bench.
The Nuggets turned the ball over 19 times during this game, but they did out rebound the Heat 55-48. The Heat usually have not had trouble rebounding especially with Whiteside under the basket, but they did not need as many rebounds this game.
Heat-Jazz
The Heat would capture their second straight win against the Utah Jazz 111-110 would be the final score. The star of this game would be Goran Dragic. Dragic would go off for 27 points and 6 assists for the game and put the Heat in a position to win. James Johnson would have a huge game off the bench scoring 24 points and grabbing 6 rebounds.
The Jazz kept pace with the Heat throughout the game, but could not close the game out. Gordon Hayward would have a big game for the Jazz scoring 32 points and having 7 assists. Hayward would have the last shot of the game for the win, but he could not convert the shot.
Heat-Trail Blazers
The final game of the week would be against the Portland Trail Blazers and the Heat would lose 99-92. The Heat were outplayed on offense having 4 players in double figures while the Trail Blazers had 5. Whiteside would finish with another double-double with 28 points and 16 rebounds.
Only 8 players would be available to play for the Heat so the bench production was not huge during this game and that hurt them in this game. Damian Lillard had a great game scoring 19 points and dishing out 6 assists. The Heat have several injured players and that is not a good sign for their upcoming schedule. The will all have to play well in order to win games with a short bench.