The Heat forum should reserve extra vile for these faux Jazzers (Jazz music in Salt Lake City does actually exist but, unlike in New Orleans or New York, it must be hunted with vim), because they ended the 4-game run of great OP, HeatFanLifer, who lifted us from nearly the bottom of the Eastern Conference. I dedicate this win (for win it must be) to HeatFanLifer. May he forever slay.
We are now a playoff bound team, but nothing has changed. We still have a ton of lost ground and must get some more wins to improve our position.
We just earned a good result against a tired Raptors squad, but we will need to be even better to beat the Jazz. Fortunately, the Miami Heat have Jimmy Butler:
Utah at 25-6 has the best record in the NBA. Their record since our last meeting is 5-1, including their win against us.
Miami has a historical record of 18-14 against the Jazz at home. The Heat have only been shut out against the Jazz thrice this century, in 2011-12 (when we played only one game), and from 2001-2003 (two seasons, a 6 game losing streak.) While both teams have had 7-game winning streaks against each other, they are more likely to split the games, so... we better win this one. Right?
Donovan Mitchell is the leading scorer at 24.5 ppg, but the team has many ways to score. They are especially hot behind the 3-pt line with Royce O'neal, Joe Ingles, and Mike Conley all above 40%. Gobert has a very high rebound percentage, 33.4% DRBD % and 13% ORBD %.
The Utah Jazz compared to the Miami Heat:
Utah injuries: Udoka Azubuike has a right ankle injury and should be out.
Miami injuries: Avery Bradley and Tyler Herro are both out, however Bradley is reaching the beginning of the 3-4 week range of his expected absence. Meyers Leonard is out for the season after shoulder surgery. Chris Silva is back.
Points: Jazz make 116 per game. 3rd best in the league. Opponents score only 105.9 ppg (2nd in the league).
Miami make 107.2 per game, 5th worst in the league. Oppoents score only 109.4 ppg (6th best in the league), a stingy defense by all accounts, but worse than the Jazz’s D.
Pace: (similar)
Jazz operate at 98.4 (22nd in the league)
Miami is 98.3 (23rd in the league)
Shooting: (stats are per game)
The Jazz lead the league in 3 points made (17) and 3 points attempted (42.6). Their 3 pt pct is THIRD in the league at nearly 40%. Truly remarkable. Unsurprisingly they take the fewest twos, ranked 30%: 24 for 44.9. They are about average at free throws: 16.9 for 21.8, 77.7%. Their eFG is 0.566, 4th best in the league. Their opponents’ eFG, by contrast, is 0.501, which is indicative of the control they have over their opponents game.
Miami are about average in 3 points made (15th with 13.0), shoot 36.7 per game (10th in the league), for 21st in the league (35.5%). Truly mediocre. Miami also doesn’t make many 2’s either, 27th in the league with 25.5 for 29th in the league attempts, 46.6. Miami is better than the Jazz at the charity stripe, 10th in the league 17.2 makes in 21.7 attempts (that’s 16th, average), but at a very nice 79% (Butler and Bam say Hello!) The eFG has no surprise, very average both for defense and offense. Miami’s offensive rating 108 compares with its defense rating 110.2.
Rebounding:
The Jazz are excellent at rebouning, 2nd in defensive rebounds and total rebounds (37.3), fifth in offensie rebounds (11.1).
The Heat are poor rebounders, especially offensive boards (30th in the league), truly pathetic at 7.4 per game. That’s an 18.1% ORB percentage, which ranks 28th in the league. We are better at defensive rebounds, but one reason that ranks higher is that we give up so many wide open shots.
Assists/Turnovers:
The Jazz rank 21st in assists, 23.7 per game. They are 21st in turnovers, with 14.5, not bad at all.
Miami ranks 1th in assists, which is a real plus, at 26.1 per game. This is one area where the Heat are definitely better than the Jazz. Unfortunately, we also have 16.1 turnovers per game, 16.1, which is worst in the league. The Jazz are not good at forcing turnovers though, especially steals, so there is hope.
Steals/Blocks:
Worst in the league, 6.3 per game, 30th place. Gobert/Favors get lots of blocks though. Jazz get 5.6 per game (7th in the league)
Miami defense, unfortunately, does not pick up the slack of our crap offense. 6.9 steals per game ranks 23rd. 3.9 blocks per game ranks 29th. Miami forces 15.2 turnovers per game, however, which is fewer turnovers than we make, but it is 8th in the league. Also, Miami shooters are rarely blocked, 3.8 per game.
Opponent shooting:
Jazz are so impressive. First against 3rd pointers (only 10.9) and THIRD in 3 pt pct (34.7%). They are also good at combating shots within the arc: 49.1% for 2nd place. They also concede few free throws (19 free throw attempts per game).
Because our perimeter defense is so poor (we rank 28th in 3 pt makes per game), Miami actually has fewer two point attempts and two point makes than any other team in the league. Our opponents shoot at 37.1% from beyond the arc against the Heat, which is 17th in the league, about average. This is much improved over the last ten games.
Opponent Rebounding:
Offensive rebounding of opponents is about average: 15th in the league. Their Defensive Rebounding, however, is spectacular, 31.9 per game, 2nd in the league.
Opponents outrebound the Heat, especially the offensive rebounding (a difference of almost 3 per game).
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To win, Miami must be dynamic, pass the ball at an elite level, hit 3's, and not be passive in the paint. Yes, Miami can eek out a win here, but they must play their best game.
