There are defeats that frustrate, and there are defeats where you want to change sports. That night in Los Angeles, the Heat were on the road to face the orphan Lakers of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Lonnie Walker. It is therefore logical that Miami lost the match, 112 to 109.
It’s legend Wednesday, but what does it hurt.
While the Heat had just offered us a semblance of progress, winning 4 of their last 5 games, Erik Spoelstra’s men managed the feat of taking three steps back.
We were still in the vibes of the victory at the Clippers and the game winner of Tyler Herro in Utah, so everything was… fine?
And then there was last night’s game. Not enough to throw all the recent efforts in the trash, but it still deserves some explanation.
Anthony Davis was obviously absent, and LeBron joined him being sick.
Add to that the absence of Lonnie Walker, and you had three of the Lakers’ top five players unavailable, facing a nearly complete Heat squad. We do not count Duncan Robinson operated this week, for the rest all the executives were present: Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, Max Strus, Caleb Martin, Gabe Vincent, Victor Oladipo, the total.
So normally on paper what you would expect is a fucking blowout.
And quite the opposite happened.
Miami just lost to the Lakers.
112 to 109.
Sans LeBron.
Without Anthony Davis.
Sans Lonnie Walker.This one is at the very top.
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) January 5, 2023
How are you, Victor Oladipo?
(PS: wonderful pass from Reaves)pic.twitter.com/ivFbQaD2CK
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) January 5, 2023
Timid entry, the men of Miami let the Lakers gain confidence, which laid a bad foundation for the rest of the meeting.
Dennis Schroder, Thomas Bryant and Austin Reaves in the kitchen, then Russell Westbrook off the bench, it was unfortunately enough to make this Heat team doubt that night.
You had to see this poor Spoelstra, tapping his foot on the side of the field during defensive oversights, to understand the level of seriousness of his troops this Wednesday.
How can you expect anything other than a surprise, when you let the opponent survive so much and when you realize so many mistakes? Oladipo, first, regaled in his omissions in full money-time. But it is the other experienced executives who have also overlooked the importance of small efforts. While Bam Adebayo was doing his usual job (30 points, 13 rebounds), the visitors believed that the Lakers were going to collapse when they had to take this game by their own hands.
Result of the races, in a somewhat wobbly money-time, it was the Heat’s shots that did not come in, while Schröder (on an ankle) enjoyed himself.
Miami will then move to Phoenix, before facing the Nets, the Thunder and twice the Bucks. Nothing insurmountable, but if this kind of effort happens again, you shouldn’t be surprised to see the Heat bow down… and with style.