It’s quite impressive that the Miami Heat defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in primetime.
There are many moments to be grateful for in a year when the Miami Heat made an unexpected run to the NBA Finals.
A lot has happened in the past 12 months of Miami Heat basketball: An unprecedented Finals run; one of the biggest upsets in NBA playoffs history; an ECF Game 7; trade rumors; hand injuries; slumps and evolutions; and so much more. Amid the ups, downs and unexpected, there were some standout performances that reflect the Heat’s year. Here are All U Can Heat’s best performances of 2023.
Honorable mention: Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s Christmas Day announcement
For a rookie to score 31 points and lead the Miami Heat to a primetime win over the Philadelphia 76ers is hugely impressive. This was the biggest game of Jaquez’s career, and he was starting in place of the injured Jimmy Butler. Had it come against a Sixers team with their best player (Joel Embiid was also sidelined for this game), then Jaquez’s Christmas Day eruption probably ranks higher on this list. Still, the rookie cracks the top six for a team that just made the NBA Finals. Impressive.
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Have Miami Heat’s Tyler Herro And Bam Adebayo Earned Your All-Star Vote?
As basketball fans continue voting for their favorite players to be NBA All-Stars, some of the biggest names floating around have been Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, and Joel Embiid.
Should we also put Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro and center Bam Adebayo in the All-Star conversation?
Adebayo is averaging 22 points, 9.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists through 20 games. He is having a career year scoring, as well as improving his all-around game with facilitating and defending.
Meanwhile, Herro is averaging 24 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists in his 12 games this season. He is averaging career highs in nearly every statistical category, including steals, points and assists. Herro is shooting 46 percent from the field and 42.7 percent from 3-point range.
Herro and Adebayo are certainly having star seasons, but their Eastern competition makes it difficult to clinch a spot. Herro has to compete with players like Tyrese Haliburton, Trae Young, and Donovan Mitchell. He’s also only played in 12 of the Heat’s 30 games, which some can argue is a short sample size.
Adebayo has a solid chance as a backup center behind Embiid, but he still has frontcourt competition such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Julius Randle, and Jayson Tatum.
Still though, it’s early in the voting process and there is nearly a month until voting ends. Herro and Adebayo have the opportunity to add on to their cases Thursday night against the Golden State Warriors (15-15).
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