5 takeaways from the Miami Heat's win over the Indiana Pacers
The Miami Heat are now 2-0 in their current six-game home stand with a 95-89 win over the Indiana Pacers.
1. Whiteside once again
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Hassan Whiteside’s first half alone represented a tremendous return for an entire game – 20 points and 14 rebounds. He finished with 26 points, 22 rebounds and two blocks in 34 minutes and was the most influential player on the court. His two total blocks doesn’t properly represent Whiteside’s control of the paint. Pacers players’ forays towards the rim often resulted in altered shots or dribbling back out to find a different option.
Whiteside’s direct opponent, Myles Turner, managed just 11 points on 5-of-13 shooting. The only downside was Whiteside’s poor form from the free-throw line, coverting on just 6-of-11 attempts. He is now converting at just 53.7 percent for the season.
2. James Johnson continues to impress
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James Johnson continued his impressive run of form as one of head coach Erik Spoelstra’s closing unit permformers. Johnson posted 14 points, six assists and three rebounds in 25 minutes and was a team-high +15 while on the floor. The versatility Johnson provides the Heat has been more noticeable with each passing game. He can bring the ball up the floor, score in a variety of ways and also find and setup teammates for their own scoring opportunities.
Despite not starting in any regular season games thus far, Johnson has averaged 9.1 minutes per game in the fourth quarter over the course of the season. Hence, he certainly has gained the trust of coach Spoelstra’s in his short term in Miami.
3. Winslow Returns
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Second-year forward Justise Winslow returned to the Heat lineup following a 16-game absence due to a wrist injury. Coming off the bench, Winslow posted two points, two rebounds and two assists in 21 minutes of court time. Winslow was clearly rusty, shooting just 1-of-5 from the field and missing both free-throw attempts. Once Winslow gets his legs under him, his contributions at both ends of the floor will be welcomed by the Heat. His return is very timely considering starter Rodney McGruder has scored just 9 points over the past 3 games in 24.3 minutes per game.
As a rookie, McGruder’s numbers have been fading, and he will be more suited to a backup role once the Heat have their full complement of players available.
4. Bench contributions
Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Just like the Heat’s previous game against the Washington Wizards, the Heat’s bench were crucial in getting the team over the line. And just like the Wizards game, the three primary contributors were Tyler Johnson, Josh Richardson and the aforementioned James Johnson. Tyler Johnson notched 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and a career-high four blocks! Richardson contributed 10 points, five rebounds and three assists and as mentioned earlier, James Johnson was excellent with 14 points and six assists.
Further, these three players also registered the three highest Heat plus/minus contributions for the game. Tyler Johnson was +11, Josh Richardson +13 and James Johnson was +15. With starters Goran Dragic, Wayne Ellington and Rodney McGruder shooting a combined 7-of-28 from the field, the bench unit of the Heat was crucial in getting them over the line.
5. Free-throw woes continue
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Despite coming away with the win, the Heat again did themselves no favours from the free-throw line. The Heat converted on just 14-of-26 for a terrible 56 percent conversion rate. Conversely, the Pacers finished with 14-of-17 for an 82.4 percent conversion rate. As has been the case nearly all season, the Heat rank a distant last in the league, shooting just 66.8 percent from the line. With the Heat also ranking 28th in points per game, making the most of their trips to the line will be the crucial if the team is going to make a run and improve their overall record.
The Heat continue their home stand on Friday night to play host to the Los Angeles Clippers. Game starts 8 pm ET.
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