Observations and other notes of interest from Sunday’s 115-91 NBA playoff victory over the Atlanta Hawks:
— First, there has to be the perspective of the Hawks doing this on a 39-hour turnaround, after closing out the play-in round Friday night in Cleveland.
— But that is only part of it.
— The bigger part is no Clint Capela.
— Which cuts them down to size.
— Yes, the Hawks had John Collins back, but it’s not the same as Capela on the boards or the alley-oop.
— It’s as if Trae Young lost a partner in harm.
— Eventually the Hawks will make their shots.
— They have too many shooters not to.
— But this opened as you would expect No. 1 to at home against No. 8.
— With the ensemble team playing as an elite ensemble.
— No, no dominant Heat performances.
— But also no need.
— Just Kyle Lowry and Jimmy Butler taking care of teammates.
— Bam Adebayo not forcing.
— P.J. Tucker stepping up when expected.
— And Max Strus holding things down in the starting lineup so Duncan Robinson could be a spark off the bench.
— Basically, all as according to expectation and according to form.
— As expected, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra remained with the starting lineup he shifted to at the close of the regular season.
— That had Strus remaining in the opening mix, along with Tucker, Adebayo, Butler and Lowry.
— The Heat closed the regular season 3-0 with that starting lineup.
— The starting role tied Butler with P.J. Brown for 94th on the NBA all-time playoff list.
— With his appearance, Butler also tied Shawn Kemp for 94th on the NBA all-time playoff-games list.
— The game was Lowry’s 84th career playoff start, tying him with Chris Bosh and Metta World Peace for 84th on the NBA all-time list.
— All four Heat players listed as questionable earlier in the day were available: Tucker (calf), Dewayne Dedmon (ankle), Markieff Morris (hip) and Haywood Highsmith (hip.)
— That had all 17 players healthy.
— Two-way players Mychal Mulder and Javonte Smart, however, are ineligible for the playoffs.
— The two continue to practice and work with the team.
— As expected the Heat opened defensively with Lowry on Young, but then constantly switched everything.
— Butler’s first-quarter 3-pointer tied Dennis Scott for 99th on the NBA all-time playoff list.
— Butler’s first steal moved him past Shawn Marion for 70th on the Heat all-time playoff list.
— Tyler Herro played as the Heat’s first reserve.
— Followed by Dedmon.
— Then Robinson.
— Then Gabe Vincent.
— With his second basket, Herro moved past Ray Allen for 14th on the Heat all-time playoff list.
— Tucker’s first 3-pointer moved him past Nick Van Exel for 77th on the NBA all-time playoff list.
— Butler’s fourth free-throw attempt moved him past Buck Williams’ for 81st on the NBA all-time playoff list.
— Butler passed Hawks coach Nate McMillan for 67th on the All-Time Playoffs steals list with 132, doing it in the third period.
— Robinson’s fourth basket moved him past Dan Majerle for 21st on the Heat all-time playoff list.
— That also allowed him to pass P.J. Brown for 19th on the Heat all-time playoff scoring list.
— With his fifth assist, Lowry passed Avery Johnson for 49th on the NBA all-time playoff list.
— With his second 3-pointer, Lowry moved past Damian Lillard for 25th on the NBA all-time playoff list.
— With his third 3-point attempt, Lowry moved past Rasheed Wallace for 24th on the all-time playoff list.
— Adebayo’s third point moved him past Allen for 13th on the Heat all-time playoff scoring list.
— In the third period. Herro has passed Jamal Mashburn and Bosh for 11th on the Heat all-time playoff assists list.
— Earlier, Adebayo passed Jason Williams for seventh on the Heat all-time playoff assists list.
— As for Tucker, he passed Sam Cassell, Kenny Smith and former Heat guard Mario Chalmers for 72nd on the all-time playoffs 3-pointer list.
— Also along the way, Butler just passed Hawks coach Nate McMillan for 67th on the NBA’s all-time playoff steals list.
()
from Signage https://ift.tt/UpFh10E
via Irvine Sign Company
