Observations and other notes of interest from Saturday night’s 126-114 overtime loss to the Orlando Magic:
– Yes, Jimmy Butler is a one-man band.
– Which says plenty about Jimmy Butler since the All-Star break.
– He also has to feel lonely at the top of the scoring sheet.
– The supporting cast is well paid, or at least will be when Tyler Herro’s extension kicks in next season to join Bam Adebayo on his extension.
– But it’s as if there is nothing there when Butler isn’t in there.
– And the man certainly deserves his rest.
– With this one the second night of a back-to-back.
– With three more Heat back-to-back sets to follow.
– Kyle Lowry was supposed to be the sidekick in stardom.
– That never happened.
– Adebayo was trending that way.
– Then came the All-Star break.
– As for Herro, the ultimate streak-scoring element, perhaps.
– But not necessarily a No. 2 on an elite team.
– So Butler or bust.
– Attacking.
– Relentlessly.
– With all of it needed.
– And still not enough.
– Through no fault of his own.
– So perhaps fitting he walks off the court before it was over.
– He could not have done more.
– After starting in his previous 677 appearances, Lowry played as a reserve in his return from his 15-game absence with knee soreness, with Gabe Vincent again starting at point guard.
– The Heat starting lineup again was rounded out with Adebayo, Kevin Love, Butler and Herro.
– Inactive for the Heat were Caleb Martin, Duncan Robinson as well as Orlando Robinson and Nikola Jovic, who both are on G League assignment.
– Martin was scratched earlier in the day with knee soreness.
– Duncan Robinson is in NBA health-and-safety protocols, which likely will continue to have him out.
– The Magic opened with Markelle Fultz, Gary Harris, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.
– Victor Oladipo played as the Heat’s first reserve.
– Lowry then entered with 6:21 to play in the opening period, after Butler was called for his second foul.
– With Cody Zeller the Heat’s third reserve.
– But after Zeller took a shot to his nose, forced to the locker room, Omer Yurtseven entered, his season debut after November ankle surgery.
– With Max Strus making it 10 deep for the Heat on the second night of the back-to-back.
– The Heat opened 1 of 9 on 3-pointers until Strus converted his first attempt.
– Herro’s fifth point moved him past Bimbo Coles for 17th on the Heat all-time list.
– Butler’s third free throw moved him past Robert Parish for 72nd on the NBA all-time list.
– With his fourth assist, Lowry tied Norris Cole for 24th on the Heat all-time list.
– Lowry’s first steal was the 1,400th of his career.
– Strus’ fourth 3-point attempt tied Kelly Olynyk for 13th on the Heat all-time list.
– Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said the time was right for Lowry’s return.
– “He’s worked very diligently behind the scenes to prepare for this,” he said. “And I’m excited to have him back in the mix. We could use another spark right now, during the stretch run.”
– Asked pregame about the play-in tournament from a league-wide perspective, Spoelstra said the fact that it keeps the league competitive is a positive turn.
– “Seemingly it’s been a really good thing from the competitive standpoint around the league,” he said. “I can’t really point to a lot of other things to show that less teams are tanking. I don’t know.”
– He added, “If you’re anywhere near the play-in, you might as well go for it, because you’re going to get that feeling of real competitive playoff basketball. So I think it’s all good for the league.”
– He also noted how it has its advantages for a younger team such as the Magic, who remain on the fringe of the play-in race.
– “Anytime you have games that have meaning, context, consequences and where you have to learn how to play winning basketball, I think is good for any young team,” he said, “and where you’re not gifted minutes that don’t mean anything.”
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Source: Berkshire mont
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