Observations and other notes of interest from Friday night’s 122-120 loss to the New York Knicks:
– This was a needed sign of life.
– Even if not the needed victory.
– Needed after allowing 70 points in the first half in consecutive games for the first time in the franchise’s 35 seasons.
– After falling behind by 17.
– After coming out so listless that no less than Ron Rothstein questioned the Heat’s first-half play during his televised halftime segment.
– No, the end result didn’t help.
– The Heat’s sixth loss in their last seven games.
– And it only gets tougher from here.
– A loss Saturday to visiting Atlanta now would drop the Heat to No. 8 in the East, seeding for a road game in the play-in round.
– But at least there was the good fight.
– More of which will be needed.
– As well as a win or two or a few.
– Also what will be needed is more of a bench boost, so it doesn’t have to be Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo or bust.
– When it came to bolstering the Feb. 9 NBA trading deadline, the Knicks added Jason Hart.
– The Heat sat idle.
– Which has made life considerably more complex for Erik Spoelstra’s team.
– Friday was another example of operating with a limited support system.
– But it has reached the point where the non-Butler, non-Adebayo minutes are harrowing.
– Because the support system isn’t there.
– And it’s not as if a Kyle Lowry return changes that calculus with Gabe Vincent returning to the bench.
– With Vincent again off in this one.
– And with Victor Oladipo having lost his footing.
– The Heat could have added wing depth.
– But instead went for Kevin Love and Cody Zeller.
– Both have had their moments.
– But neither offers the type of sixth-man explosiveness the Heat have lacked this season.
– The type Immanuel Quickley offered Friday night for the Knicks.
– To his credit, Caleb Martin did his part off the Heat bench.
– But that was about it for Heat bench boost.
– Listed as questionable earlier in the day due to knee pain, Butler was available and in the starting lineup.
– With that first five rounded out by Adebayo, Love, Herro and Vincent.
– That lineup now is 1-4.
– Lowry again was out (knee), with Spoelstra confirming Lowry also will miss Saturday’s home game against the Hawks.
– Lowry has not played since Feb. 3.
– The Heat again listed Orlando Robinson as inactive, leaving him at four NBA days on his two-way contract.
– It well could be that Robinson remains inactive as long as Zeller remains available and productive.
– Meanwhile, Omer Yurtseven was in the starting lineup Friday for the Sioux Falls Skyforce, his first game action since the preseason, the return coming in the wake of November ankle surgery.
– Oladipo played as the Heat’s first reserve.
– Max Strus followed.
– And then Caleb Martin.
– With Zeller making it nine deep.
– Butler’s sixth free throw moved him past Alonzo Mourning for 73rd on the NBA all-time list.
– Butler’s second free-throw attempt moved him past Larry Foust for 93rd on the NBA all-time list.
– Butler’s second steal tied Carmelo Anthony for 89th on the NBA all-time list.
– Herro’s first defensive rebound was the 1,000th of his career.
– Herro’s fifth 3-pointer was the 550th of his career.
– Love’s first shot was the 11,000th of his career.
– Love’s first 3-pointer tied him with former Heat guard Tim Hardaway for 41st on the NBA all-time list.
– Zeller’s first offensive rebound was the 1,000th of his career.
– Strus’ first assist was the 250th of his career.
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