Heat (32-18) at Celtics (26-25) Game #52 1/31/22

[LilRip]

Payton 5 min, 0 shots, 2 assists.

Not sure how much we can take away from this. I mean, one of those assists was the Bruno three-pointer. Altho, I guess he’s shooting 100% from beyond the arc this season so…

[KG Living Legend]

Something I don’t like when PP runs the point is his over dribbling. The guy seems to only pass to get an assist or when he’s trapped. He doesn’t seem to really move the ball to get the ball moving.

 That's why I love Lonzo and Lamelos game

[KG Living Legend]

Aaron Nesmith is 17 for 76 this year from 3 (22%0).  Awful but it's got a patriotic feel to it.

 Plus one Ng

[smokeablount]

Aaron Nesmith is 17 for 76 this year from 3 (22%0).  Awful but it's got a patriotic feel to it.

It’s weird. His midrange shot is right on; the threes are wild as a t-short cannon.

It's a mental thing. He'll get it.

Grant’s improvement with the 3 point shot gives me so much hope that Neismith will get it soon. He just needs to break out of this funk.

It’s not Nesmith’s 3pt shot thats keeping him on the bench. He plays out of control on both ends. Game hasn’t slowed down for him. Hopefully it does next season.

Yeah, I’m not sure his nickname of “Crash” is wholly positive.

I more look to Rob Williams improvement than Grant for hope with Nesmith.  The game was too fast for him even a lot of last year, but now he’s got things under control and has really taken off.

I call him The Angry Bird.

[blink]

No excitement for the win tonight?

Against a depleted Heat team. I'm still excited by the win.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

I missed the game / game thread, but I am excited about ANY win this year.
Great job C's on the Miami beat down!!!!

[SHAQATTACK]

My server went down last night as Romeo and scrub group came on floor .

I ll take the win over a depleted cHeat

[Vermont Green]

You have to take the game for what it was.  Much better to play well and blow out a depleted team than to not play well.  But still all you can really claim from this is that we took care of business.  The team should not let this go to their heads too much.

Smart really seems to be making a difference.  He is playing well individually, efficiently, and it seems to have an impact on the rest of the team.  I saw Smart's quotes the other day about how he is a bit miffed that no one thinks he is a PG.  I have said all along that I am fine with Smart as the PG.  Never saw it as a problem or weakness.

I think the main thing though is that we finally are having a period where the entire starting unit is playing.  Last night was only game 17 that the starters were on the court together.  The coaching schemes are starting to take hold as well.

I don't see this team as turning it around 180 degrees and suddenly being a top team this season but it is good to see some of what this team can be.

[Surferdad]

You have to take the game for what it was.  Much better to play well and blow out a depleted team than to not play well.  But still all you can really claim from this is that we took care of business.  The team should not let this go to there head too much.

Smart really seems to be making a difference.  He is playing well individually, efficiently, and it seems to have an impact on the rest of the team.  I saw Smart's quote's the other day about how he is a bit miffed that no one thinks he is a PG.  I have said all along that I am fine with Smart as the PG.  Never saw it as a problem or weakness.

I think the main thing though is that we finally are having a period where the entire starting unit is playing.  Last night was only game 17 that the starters were on the court together.  The coaching schemes are starting to take hold as well.

I don't see this team as turning it around 180 degrees and suddenly being a top team this season but it is good to see some of what this team can be.

Well, sort of. He's got the players playing much better defense. However, he still mainly used an 8-man rotation. With a 26-point lead deep in the 4th quarter the lineup was Players 4 through 8. He doesn't trust the kids (PP, Nesmith, Langford). That may be justified, maybe not.

[Vermont Green]

You have to take the game for what it was.  Much better to play well and blow out a depleted team than to not play well.  But still all you can really claim from this is that we took care of business.  The team should not let this go to there head too much.

Smart really seems to be making a difference.  He is playing well individually, efficiently, and it seems to have an impact on the rest of the team.  I saw Smart's quote's the other day about how he is a bit miffed that no one thinks he is a PG.  I have said all along that I am fine with Smart as the PG.  Never saw it as a problem or weakness.

I think the main thing though is that we finally are having a period where the entire starting unit is playing.  Last night was only game 17 that the starters were on the court together.  The coaching schemes are starting to take hold as well.

I don't see this team as turning it around 180 degrees and suddenly being a top team this season but it is good to see some of what this team can be.

Well, sort of. He's got the players playing much better defense. However, he still mainly used an 8-man rotation. With a 26-point lead deep in the 4th quarter the lineup was Players 4 through 8. He doesn't trust the kids (PP, Nesmith, Langford). That may be justified, maybe not.

I was not referring to the player rotations/substitutions as much as how well the team moves without the ball, cuts to the basket, works as a unit.  The team also responded well to the zone defense and some other things like that.  I am sensing improvement in these areas and I think it is due to both the coaching starting to take hold and also having some continuity so that the first unit in particular is getting to play with some rhythm or cadence.

As to playing just 8 as the core unit, I think this is likely related to the same issue.  The more players involved, the more combinations that get put on the court, the harder it is to get the coaching schemes ingrained.  I would say they are trying to simplify things.  Their core rotation seems to be the starting 5 plus GWill, Schroder, and JRich.  Langford sometimes.  That is 8 or 9.  Then Pritchard, Nesmith, and Freedom are the deep bench 10-12.  I don't see a coaching issue with this.  8 or 9 should be  the core rotation.  The "9th" man can be Langford, Pritchard, Nesmith, or Freedom, depending on the match ups.  Or maybe they go 10 some nights.

[Surferdad]

You have to take the game for what it was.  Much better to play well and blow out a depleted team than to not play well.  But still all you can really claim from this is that we took care of business.  The team should not let this go to there head too much.

Smart really seems to be making a difference.  He is playing well individually, efficiently, and it seems to have an impact on the rest of the team.  I saw Smart's quote's the other day about how he is a bit miffed that no one thinks he is a PG.  I have said all along that I am fine with Smart as the PG.  Never saw it as a problem or weakness.

I think the main thing though is that we finally are having a period where the entire starting unit is playing.  Last night was only game 17 that the starters were on the court together.  The coaching schemes are starting to take hold as well.

I don't see this team as turning it around 180 degrees and suddenly being a top team this season but it is good to see some of what this team can be.

Well, sort of. He's got the players playing much better defense. However, he still mainly used an 8-man rotation. With a 26-point lead deep in the 4th quarter the lineup was Players 4 through 8. He doesn't trust the kids (PP, Nesmith, Langford). That may be justified, maybe not.

I was not referring to the player rotations/substitutions as much as how well the team moves without the ball, cuts to the basket, works as a unit.  The team also responded well to the zone defense and some other things like that.  I am sensing improvement in these areas and I think it is due to both the coaching starting to take hold and also having some continuity so that the first unit in particular is getting to play with some rhythm or cadence.

As to playing just 8 as the core unit, I think this is likely related to the same issue.  The more players involved, the more combinations that get put on the court, the harder it is to get the coaching schemes ingrained.  I would say they are trying to simplify things.  Their core rotation seems to be the starting 5 plus GWill, Schroder, and JRich.  Langford sometimes.  That is 8 or 9.  Then Pritchard, Nesmith, and Freedom are the deep bench 10-12.  I don't see a coaching issue with this.  8 or 9 should be  the core rotation.  The "9th" man can be Langford, Pritchard, Nesmith, or Freedom, depending on the match ups.  Or maybe they go 10 some nights.

I'm on board with simplifying things, especially for the playoffs.  In the RS, you have to give 9-12 some run, right?

[Vermont Green]

You have to take the game for what it was.  Much better to play well and blow out a depleted team than to not play well.  But still all you can really claim from this is that we took care of business.  The team should not let this go to there head too much.

Smart really seems to be making a difference.  He is playing well individually, efficiently, and it seems to have an impact on the rest of the team.  I saw Smart's quote's the other day about how he is a bit miffed that no one thinks he is a PG.  I have said all along that I am fine with Smart as the PG.  Never saw it as a problem or weakness.

I think the main thing though is that we finally are having a period where the entire starting unit is playing.  Last night was only game 17 that the starters were on the court together.  The coaching schemes are starting to take hold as well.

I don't see this team as turning it around 180 degrees and suddenly being a top team this season but it is good to see some of what this team can be.

Well, sort of. He's got the players playing much better defense. However, he still mainly used an 8-man rotation. With a 26-point lead deep in the 4th quarter the lineup was Players 4 through 8. He doesn't trust the kids (PP, Nesmith, Langford). That may be justified, maybe not.

I was not referring to the player rotations/substitutions as much as how well the team moves without the ball, cuts to the basket, works as a unit.  The team also responded well to the zone defense and some other things like that.  I am sensing improvement in these areas and I think it is due to both the coaching starting to take hold and also having some continuity so that the first unit in particular is getting to play with some rhythm or cadence.

As to playing just 8 as the core unit, I think this is likely related to the same issue.  The more players involved, the more combinations that get put on the court, the harder it is to get the coaching schemes ingrained.  I would say they are trying to simplify things.  Their core rotation seems to be the starting 5 plus GWill, Schroder, and JRich.  Langford sometimes.  That is 8 or 9.  Then Pritchard, Nesmith, and Freedom are the deep bench 10-12.  I don't see a coaching issue with this.  8 or 9 should be  the core rotation.  The "9th" man can be Langford, Pritchard, Nesmith, or Freedom, depending on the match ups.  Or maybe they go 10 some nights.

I'm on board with simplifying things, especially for the playoffs.  In the RS, you have to give 9-12 some run, right?

I don't think giving 9-12 some run should be the priority (or definitely 10-12) over assuring 1-8/9 are clicking and ready to go.  In this case, 1-8 have not had enough time together.  9 seems the sweet spot to me.

[pokeKingCurtis]

I sort of like the rigid rotation

Ime is putting his foot down. Play hard on D, don't complain, and play the right way at a high level or don't play at all

Schroeder going from 6th man to now the 8th is great btw. It's Kind of coming together now

[ozgod]

Given that these types of games against (perceived) subpar opposition (either due to missing players or quality of players) have been the real banana skin games for us, to win decisively is a big deal. We really can't afford any slip ups given where we are in the standings.

[SHAQATTACK]

I sort of like the rigid rotation

Ime is putting his foot down. Play hard on D, don't complain, and play the right way at a high level or don't play at all

Schroeder going from 6th man to now the 8th is great btw. It's Kind of coming together now

I believe the constant rash of injuries has not allowed for a correct pecking order ,  trust and not allowed everybody to ease into their roles .   But the obvious fact is no matter how well the team as a whole plays defense we are lacking in offensive scoring ability when any of Tatum , Brown and Rob are missing .  Rob cleans up misses , distributes well,  and draws attention that allows other's to score.    When ANY three of these are missing ,  winning is such a huge struggle .     Some changes to help these guys must be made  Grant has added nice scoring , but we need replacements for our guards who can’t be relied on to create , distribute or hit jumpers every game .  playing ok every third game and not scoring at all in 2 or 3 out of four is not NBA material.