Miami plays at Atlanta tonight still without a win, and Pelle Larsson and Simone Fontecchio are both listed day-to-day. The fix is getting stops, not winning the argument around Bam Adebayo.
Two names listed
Larsson, with a right ankle issue, and Fontecchio, with an illness, went onto the injury report on October 27. Both have an estimated return of October 28. Larsson is the bigger loss if he sits. He played 34 minutes against Dallas with 12 points and 3 steals, and he led Miami with 6 fourth-quarter points. Fontecchio has a 70.8% true shooting mark over his last 10 games. This rotation can't spare either of them.
Adebayo talks back
ESPN reported that Adebayo said critics are making him the scapegoat for the winless start. Here is his record so far: 8 points on 3-of-10 shooting and 0-for-5 from deep against Dallas, and 16.7% from three through four games. Talking won't change that. Making shots will.
Atlanta, wounded too
The Hawks are 2-2 and have lost two straight. Jalen Johnson runs everything, posting 21.5 points, 9.8 boards and 8.3 assists a night, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker adds 18.8. Mouhamed Gueye and Henri Veesaar are both out, and Aaron Wiggins, a 15.8-point scorer, is listed day-to-day with a left knee issue. Atlanta's net rating is 8.9. Miami's is -13.5.
Stops, not stories
Miami's defensive rating is 118.8. Detroit scored 128. Dallas put up 30 points in each of the last three quarters, and Cooper Flagg's layup with 10 seconds left settled it. The starters' plus-minus numbers tell the story: Andrew Wiggins and Mitchell were both -10 and Adebayo was -8. Portis came off the bench and finished +8.
Bottom line
After Atlanta, the Pacers come to Miami on October 30 in the Emirates NBA Cup, followed by a western trip through the Lakers, Clippers and Warriors. The open question is whether Erik Spoelstra keeps closing with the starters who keep bleeding points, or hands those minutes to the bench players who earned them.
When do the Heat play the Hawks?
Tonight, October 28, in Atlanta. Miami then hosts the Pacers on October 30 in the Emirates NBA Cup.
Will Pelle Larsson and Simone Fontecchio play against Atlanta?
Both are listed day-to-day, Larsson with a right ankle issue and Fontecchio with an illness. Each has an estimated return of October 28.
