MIAMI – Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 130-116 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers:
– The Cavaliers had the right to be cavalier.
– They have shown an ability to get to the top of the standings with their roster.
– As they did last season.
– The Heat have not.
– And that’s why no matter who played for Cleveland (or in this case did not), this was a big game for the Heat.
– Because every game, at any point of the season, against any roster combination, is a big game for a team trying to avoid a fourth consecutive trip to the play-in round.
– Can’t take anyone lightly.
– As coach Erik Spoelstra said pregame, “We’re not one of those teams that can overlook anybody. We haven’t proven anything yet.”
– With each of the last three years showing the slightest of margins between playoffs and play-in.
– Yes, the Heat were without Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.
– But there could be times this season when they are down even more.
– Or when they will have to make their own lineup decisions when it comes to back-to-back sets of their own.
– What the Heat needed Wednesday night was to seize the moment.
– After a 37-45 season, leave no gift unturned.
– Instead, a regrettable, lamentable loss.
– Too many turnovers.
– Too many fouls.
– Seemingly too much indifference that it still isn’t easy.
– So, instead, a humbling, humbling moment.
– A bad loss.
– Very bad.
– Borderline unacceptable.
– With Adebayo missing a fourth consecutive game with his toe sprain, the Heat for the fourth consecutive game opened with Kel’el Ware, Andrew Wiggins, Pelle Larsson, Davion Mitchell and Norman Powell.
– Larsson’s nine starts now is one more than he had as a rookie last season.
– Inactive again for the Heat were Adebayo, Herro (ankle), Terry Rozier (not with team), Jahmir Young (G League) and Myron Gardner (G League).
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– Amid resting Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, and with Darius Garland out, the Cavaliers opened with Jarrett Allen, Dean Wade, De’Andre Hunter, Lonzo Ball and Sam Merrill.
– Spoelstra downplayed the shorthanded opponent.
– “We’re trying to establish ourselves, establish our identity, find consistency in our game. It’s really not about the other team,” he said.
– It was Jaime Jaquez Jr. again as Heat sixth man.
– Immediately scoring on a one-on-three transition drive.
– With five points in his first two minutes.
– Nikola Jovic and Simone Fontecchio followed together next off the Heat bench.
– And then Dru Smith for the now-usual nine deep amid the absences of Adebayo and Herro.
– Beyond last season’s playoff sweep by the Cavaliers, the Heat entered having won four of five in the regular season from Cleveland.
– The next time the teams meet, it also will be in consecutive games, on March 25 and March 27 in Cleveland.
– Before the game, lifelong Dodgers fan Jaquez exchanged jerseys with World Series hero Miguel Rojas.
