Opponent Scouting: Miami Heat (11-6)
Tonight at 7:00pm EST the Detroit Pistons will be hosting the Miami Heat at the LCA. THe Pistons are on one day of rest after losing to the Lakers on Sunday night, the Heat are on two days of rest after a loss to the Wizards on Saturday.
The Them:
The Miami Heat come into this game with a record of 11-6, sporting the league’s 4th best offensive efficiency and the 5th best defensive efficiency. The numbers line up with a genuine contender that is monstrous on both ends of the floor.
Victor Oladipo is out, Duncan Robinson and Markieff Morris are both questionable.
The Heat may be old but don’t tell them that. Kyle Lowry, now 35, doesn’t score as much but is still good for 12 and 8 per night and being a constant pain in the ass on defense. Jimmy Butler has fully embraced being the #1 guy in a way he hasn’t since coming to Miami, currently averaging 25 points and 5.4 assists per game, he also remains a bulldog on defense. Bam Adebayo may be proving that the whole “OMG HE’S THE BEST NON JOKIC PASSING BIG ALIVE” deal was silly, his assists are down below 3 per game, but he’s still legit. Averaging 20/10/2 and able to do a bit of everything. PJ Tucker starts, he is shooting well but is there for his tough defense. Sharpshooter Duncan Robinson had been starting, if he’s out Tyler Herro will probably slot in. Herro has mostly come off the bench as a classic 6th man who handles the ball and shoots a ton. Max Strus, who I genuinely didn’t know existed before this season (which is saying something for someone who watches as much hoops as me) is continuing the history of the Heat plugging in random guys to low-minutes roles and them doing fine as he’s a 6’5 wing who can shoot a bit and plays hard on defense. Caleb Martin also fits this mold even if he hasn’t shot very well as another undrafted guy who is at the back end of the rotation. Dewayne Deadmon is doing backup center stuff still.
This team has tough defenders everywhere and even if the offense doesn’t always look like the most high-powered unit, they have maybe the best coach alive and they know exactly what they want to do. I don’t know if they can keep some key guys healthy all season, and the existential question of whether or not they can survive in the playoffs with Herro and/or Robinson remains, but this team is full of killers.
Matchups to watch:
Pistons vs. Interior defense: This was a fatal flaw at times even with all their bigs available. With Olynyk hurt and Stewart suspended this is going to likely be brutal. Adebayo is an awesome center and the Heat love nothing better than bullying a small team inside.
Grant vs. Butler: I don’t know that they will be matched up a ton. It makes more sense for the Pistons to put Grant on Butler than vice versa, but this is a matchup the Pistons need to keep somewhat close.
Cade Cunningham vs. Efficiency: Cade has started to show every tool in the box and it’s been highly impressive. The trick for him now is to make sure he’s getting the right shots to stay efficient.
Hamidou Diallo vs. Keeping it up: A couple of really positive outings for Diallo, he needs to prove that this is what is capable of, not just a good reaction to the extended benching.
Casey vs. Not making me sad: Missing all of the bigs means that Garza has to play real minutes. It might go poorly, I don’t really think Garza is an NBA player. But if you can’t trust him to get real minutes in this situation then you may as well cut him now. Ditto for Saben Lee with Hayes out for a couple of games.
Frank Jackson vs Keeping in the groove: All of the Pistons wing players have predictably struggled to various degrees to find a comfort zone in the offense. Frank has seemingly been the one to get figured out first, he’s in a great groove.
So in conclusion…
Wink knowingly at your friends if:
Cade Cunningham is roasting fools.
Garzilla roars
Diallo and Frank are rolling with the bench unit
Run for the hills if:
The Pistons are getting slaughtered in the paint.
Jimmy Butler is getting everything he wants.
The Pistons cannot generate any offense.
Opportunities for me to look stupid:
Cade has 20/10
Bam Adebayo scores many points
Saben Lee still doesn’t play at all
The Pistons win. I don’t know how this seems like a real long-shot barring the Heat just playing like booty.
What do you think? Can the Pistons bow up inside? Can Jerami have another big game?