Miami will be demolished without Jimmy Butler

Miami will be demolished without Jimmy Butler

The Miami Heat (9-10) lost to the Boston Celtics (17-4) 108-89.

Here’s a look at four key takeaways from the matchup:

1. Bam Adebayo has hit rock bottom offensively.

The good news is that Adebayo can’t get much worse than how he’s playing now. He finished the game with 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists on 33.3 percent shooting and 25 percent from three-point range. Not only has his three-point shooting been abysmal so far, but he has also regressed on his mid-range shots and in the paint. There were numerous missed layups today that Adebayo would have made in previous seasons.

2. Terry Rozier once again played below expectations.

Rozier should never play passively in a game where Jimmy Butler is inactive. Rozier finished the game with four points, three rebounds and one assist on 33.3 percent shooting and missed both of his three-point attempts. The Miami Heat offense was already struggling before he arrived. However, it is inexcusable that Dru Smith significantly outperforms him on both ends of the court.

3. Jaime Jaquez Jr. performed in Butler’s absence.

Jaquez may not have had the most efficient night on the team, but he was undoubtedly one of the main contributors to the Heat’s emphatic defeat. He finished the game with 19 points, 10 rebounds and three assists on 35.7 percent shooting and missed all three-point attempts. Jaquez played similarly to Butler as he made 12 attempts at the free throw line.

4. Duncan Robinson once again struggled with his shooting.

Robinson finished the game with five points, three rebounds and three assists on 22.2 percent shooting and missed all three-point attempts. He played so poorly that Erik Spoelstra decided to let Smith start the second half in his place. It was three straight games in which Robinson shot less than 40 percent and three games in which he shot less than 30 percent. They are 1-2 on this stretch. He was on the injury report this week dealing with a glute problem. The Heat can’t continue this high three-point attempt strategy if their best shooter is struggling and still hoping to succeed. Robinson needs to shoot better.

Bryan Townes contributes to Miami Heat On SI. He can be reached at [email protected] or on X @bryantownesjr11. Follow our reporting on Facebook.

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