The Indiana Pacers were missing standout player Tyrese Haliburton for their game against the Miami Heat on Saturday, but they still won 144-129.
Usually, a team missing a star player would be a good thing for its opponent, but in this case, it might have had the opposite effect. After the game, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra explained how Haliburton’s absence may have actually hurt the Heat.
Spoelstra felt that the Heat had been playing better basketball defensively as of late but wasn’t happy with his team’s play on that side of the ball against Indiana on Saturday.
Spoelstra’s frustration is understandable. The 144 points that Indiana scored in the contest equals the second-most ever surrendered in a game by Miami. Also, the Pacers shot 65.9 percent from the field, the highest ever by an opponent of the Heat.
Bruce Brown led the way for Indiana with 30 points, and Obi Toppin added 22 points of his own. In all, four different Pacers players scored 20-plus points, and six scored in double figures. It was an impressive performance for a team missing its top player.
A large part of the problem for Miami’s defense in the matchup was the absence of Bam Adebayo, who missed the game as a result of a nagging hip injury. Adebayo is Miami’s best defensive player, and life is certainly tougher without him.
Miami has now lost four of its last five games and sits seventh in the Eastern Conference with a record of 11-9. Nearly a quarter of the way into the season, Jimmy Butler thinks the Heat are currently “mediocre,” and given how the standings look, his description may be pretty accurate.
The Heat will seek to get back on track when they face Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, and the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night at Scotiabank Arena.
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The Miami Heat have had a slew of injuries with what feels like a different starting lineup almost every night, but Jimmy Butler’s expectations haven’t changed.
Butler was asked where he thinks this team stands 20 games in, and he had some strong comments:
“We stand right where we don’t want to be, which is very mediocre. Not good, not bad, just mediocre,” Butler said.
“You talk about our offense; it’s been mediocre. You talk about our defense; it’s been mediocre.”
The Heat have been inconsistent and mediocre at the start of the season. That shouldn’t surprise anyone, but Butler will never use injuries as an excuse.
That still doesn’t change the fact that the Heat have battled an enormous amount of injuries in the first 20 games. Haywood Highsmith left last night’s game versus the Indiana Pacers just two minutes in with a back injury.
Bam Adebayo was already ruled out for Wednesday’s matchup versus the Toronto Raptors and will not make the road trip. Tyler Herro should be close to returning from his ankle injury, but it’s a lot to overcome.
Butler scored 33 points, five rebounds, and five assists in Saturday night’s loss to the Pacers. He and head coach Erik Spoelstra were both visibly frustrated postgame.
Spoelstra called it “one of our worst ball-containing games of the season.”
“We could not contain the ball off the dribble. Closeouts, pick and rolls.” Spoelstra said.
The Heat have some things they must improve on as the season goes along, but they have to get healthy for that process to start.
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