2025 Playoffs: Round 1, Game 2: Heatz v Cabs - 7:30pm EST on 4/23

[marson]

Key matchups

I said before the series starts, Herro and Mitchell averages will cancel each other out. Need more offensive production from our Captain and Wiggins.

Herro 33
Mitchell 30

Bam 11
Mobley 20

Wiggins 10
Garland 21

So for the series Bam is the only one up on their matchup but we’re down 0-2.

Herro 54
Mitchell 60

Bam 35
Mobley 29

Wiggins 24
Garland 51

There’s one true outlier here but I know you gotta do you thing

That's why I said both Wiggs and Bam. I did not single out Bam. Thought you were a Heat fan?

[MettaWorldPanda]

There is a reason Jimmy loved Niko and Jaime, he loves guys with high bball IQ. Really wish Jaime could play like last year (or that he didn't pork Spo's ex) because we could've really used his shot creating ability.

Jaime’s game is not really a good fit here with the big front court so it’s probably best he gets dealt in offseason for a better 3 point threat.

[Tim_Hardawayy]

Why wasn't Wiggins on the floor late in the game?

He sucks.

I honestly wish we could move him to the bench. He'd be much better fit there. Can ball stop and chuck all he wants. But I know Spo/the org wouldn't "disrespect" him that way.

I wouldn't go that far, but he doesn't work when Herro's the only creator. If we had a true point guard, or maybe if he was playing with Niko? I dunno Wiggins is just a weird talent because he has crazy iso skill, but he's a ball stopper and its just better for the offense when he relegates himself to spot-up shooting.

[UFAlum88]

Ugly, but still led the team in +/- despite the bad misses and turnovers down the stretch. Tough ask to come into playoff intensity after missing so much time, Spo probably should've turned back to Wiggins or Ware at some point here in the fourth.

This is why BPM is not always that indicative of how a player performs.

Niko is a connector. It's why the team generally plays well when he is on the court. He made some bad plays down the stretch there, and missed some good looks, but he was part of the 5 man unit that got us back in the game. Spo will often ride a lineup too long, which is probably the mistake he made here down the stretch. It's Niko's first real game in line 2-3 months - should've probably gone with a vet down the stretch, but that's the decisions a head coach has to make.

I think people need to remember that Niko is only a year older than Ware. He's young. He's younger than some guys who are about to be drafted. Giving him playoff reps is only going to help development down the line.

You know you are arguing against yourself in that spiel? Saying how great he is, then explaining away his mistakes due to age, saying that he should not have been in down the stretch, that he is rusty, and that having him out there was a coaching error. Which is it?

Jovic is who he is. He is an average player. His D is OK and his O is OK. He is not going to win you games. He is another Riley special. Average.

The reason the Heat were close was due to Herro's shooting. Yet, Jovic had a higher BPM; probably due to Herro's D. That is why I said BPM is not always an accurate measure.

[MettaWorldPanda]

Rockets chose violence tonight

[3ammy3uck3ts]

Key matchups

I said before the series starts, Herro and Mitchell averages will cancel each other out. Need more offensive production from our Captain and Wiggins.

Herro 33
Mitchell 30

Bam 11
Mobley 20

Wiggins 10
Garland 21

So for the series Bam is the only one up on their matchup but we’re down 0-2.

Herro 54
Mitchell 60

Bam 35
Mobley 29

Wiggins 24
Garland 51

There’s one true outlier here but I know you gotta do you thing

That's why I said both Wiggs and Bam. I did not single out Bam. Thought you were a Heat fan?

Did we get this from you after game 1?

[HeatFanDan]

Rockets chose violence tonight

I'm cool with that. lol

[UFAlum88]

People blaming Niko while he was a huge factor for us getting back into the game. If anything blame Bam and Wiggins for not being able to score the ball.

Sure, Jovic played his heart out. But he is just average. This team is mostly made up of a lot of bench players who start. It is what it is.

I'll take an average Unicorn over an average horse any day of the week.

Unicorn? Only to a delusional Heat fan.

[DayofMourning]

GB Cavs fans complaining bout how the refs are biased for Miami.

Now those are some rose colored glasses. Lmfao.

7 more FTA than us and 6 more foul calls on us.

[Tim_Hardawayy]

Imagine if Jaime hadn't lost his mojo and Niko didn't get hurt, and we were using this lineup...

Herro
Jaime
Jovic
Bam
Ware

3 ball handlers and shot creators, and that's not even counting Bam, great size, only negative is you might have issues defensively but again the size can cover some of that. Davion was great again tonight though so I dunno, hard to pull him out, I just wish he could actually identify the open man when he drives.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

Read on Twitter

The Strus we know.

[marson]

So for the series Bam is the only one up on their matchup but we’re down 0-2.

Herro 54
Mitchell 60

Bam 35
Mobley 29

Wiggins 24
Garland 51

There’s one true outlier here but I know you gotta do you thing

That's why I said both Wiggs and Bam. I did not single out Bam. Thought you were a Heat fan?

Did we get this from you after game 1?

Combining for just 59 points over two games, Wiggins and Bam both earning under $30 million, need to step up their offensive output. That level of production is simply not acceptable given their contracts. Herro needs help offensively.

[Shewasfly]

Why wasn't Wiggins on the floor late in the game?

He sucks.

I honestly wish we could move him to the bench. He'd be much better fit there. Can ball stop and chuck all he wants. But I know Spo/the org wouldn't "disrespect" him that way.

I wouldn't go that far, but he doesn't work when Herro's the only creator. If we had a true point guard, or maybe if he was playing with Niko? I dunno Wiggins is just a weird talent because he has crazy iso skill, but he's a ball stopper and its just better for the offense when he relegates himself to spot-up shooting.

After seeing him for the time hes been with us, I'm confident with my assessment of him. Obviously he doesn't fully "suck" as a player, but as far as what we would need him to do? Absolutely. He's like Bam (not saying Bam sucks, Bam is FAR better of a player) in that he's a third option, preferably less than that on a good team.

Think about it, even with a true creator, would you seriously want him kicking it out to Wiggins? Enough to give him 19 shots a game, or whatever amount he's shooting for us?

He would be better as a 6th man. We looked noticeably better when Pelle was starting in his place.

[Tim_Hardawayy]

GB Cavs fans complaining bout how the refs are biased for Miami.

Now those are some rose colored glasses. Lmfao.

7 more FTA than us and 6 more foul calls on us.

They (and random posters) also claiming Niko sucks, GB is always low IQ reactionary takes, they don't notice who got us back into the game they just see the missed 3's.

[UFAlum88]

Imagine if Jaime hadn't lost his mojo and Niko didn't get hurt, and we were using this lineup...

Herro
Jaime
Jovic
Bam
Ware

3 ball handlers and shot creators, and that's not even counting Bam, great size, only negative is you might have issues defensively but again the size can cover some of that. Davion was great again tonight though so I dunno, hard to pull him out, I just wish he could actually identify the open man when he drives.

Jaime scored 40+ and then he was put on the bench.

[Trapstar3]

Sure, Jovic played his heart out. But he is just average. This team is mostly made up of a lot of bench players who start. It is what it is.

I'll take an average Unicorn over an average horse any day of the week.

Unicorn? Only to a delusional Heat fan.

Sure thing buddy

[Shewasfly]

Imagine if Jaime hadn't lost his mojo and Niko didn't get hurt, and we were using this lineup...

Herro
Jaime
Jovic
Bam
Ware

3 ball handlers and shot creators, and that's not even counting Bam, great size, only negative is you might have issues defensively but again the size can cover some of that. Davion was great again tonight though so I dunno, hard to pull him out, I just wish he could actually identify the open man when he drives.

Jaime scored 40+ and then he was put on the bench.

Come on now. He scored 40 in a game no one cared about.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

That's why I said both Wiggs and Bam. I did not single out Bam. Thought you were a Heat fan?

Did we get this from you after game 1?

Combining for just 59 points over two games, Wiggins and Bam both earning under $30 million, need to step up their offensive output. That level of production is simply not acceptable given their contracts. Herro needs help offensively.

That’s not the point you were making though, you were nitpicking 1 game to prop up a player and **** on the others but your whole basis was about winning matchups. 1 of those players has won their matchup based on the standard you’re holding them to. I’m not even arguing anything, I’m just calling out the Wild nitpicking from you and then not even backing the own argument you’re trying to make when it gets corrected lol

[UFAlum88]

GB Cavs fans complaining bout how the refs are biased for Miami.

Now those are some rose colored glasses. Lmfao.

7 more FTA than us and 6 more foul calls on us.

They (and random posters) also claiming Niko sucks, GB is always low IQ reactionary takes, they don't notice who got us back into the game they just see the missed 3's.

Dumb. No one said he sucks. Just that he is average. That he should not have been taking needed shots with a bad hand. That his youth and rust meant he might not have been the best choice at the end. But sure...whatever you say.

[Tim_Hardawayy]

He sucks.

I honestly wish we could move him to the bench. He'd be much better fit there. Can ball stop and chuck all he wants. But I know Spo/the org wouldn't "disrespect" him that way.

I wouldn't go that far, but he doesn't work when Herro's the only creator. If we had a true point guard, or maybe if he was playing with Niko? I dunno Wiggins is just a weird talent because he has crazy iso skill, but he's a ball stopper and its just better for the offense when he relegates himself to spot-up shooting.

After seeing him for the time hes been with us, I'm confident with my assessment of him. Obviously he doesn't fully "suck" as a player, but as far as what we would need him to do? Absolutely. He's like Bam (not saying Bam sucks, Bam is FAR better of a player) in that he's a third option, preferably less than that on a good team.

Think about it, even with a true creator, would you seriously want him kicking it out to Wiggins? Enough to give him 19 shots a game, or whatever amount he's shooting for us?

He would be better as a 6th man. We looked noticeably better when Pelle was starting in his place.

I can't disagree with any of this, it just sucks because he makes too much money to be a 6th man unless your team is already a championship contender. He also cuts into the 2026 plan so we kinda have to showcase him if we want to possibly move him for capspace and not be stuck with him.

Also he plays great D. But it is disappointing that he's basically just a more offensively talented Haywood Highsmith.