Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Home success key to playoffs
MIAMI — Opportunities like these don’t come around often during an NBA season. The last time one came around for the Miami Heat, it hardly was maximized.
With seven of their next eight games at American-Airlines Arena, starting with today’s visit by the Charlotte Hornets, the Heat have the opportunity to extend their run of home success, with victories in 11 of their last 12 home games.
The last time the Heat had this type of home run, they went 3-3 on a six-game homestand in December, on the way to falling to 11-30 at midseason.
Now, with victories in 19 of their last 23 games, the Heat appreciate this upcoming eight-game stretch can’t be squandered.
“I mean, it’s really important, especially some games they are going to be like two games, especially the Charlotte game,” guard Goran Dragic said. “They’re right behind us, so it’s going to be really important to come out strong.”
The Heat enter Wednesday’s game at 30-34, with the Hornets 28-35.
“We feel like we’ve established that home court,” Dragic said. “We have a lot of home games now, and it’s going to be especially important that we take care of our business at home.”
Center Hassan Whiteside said the recent
has created a significant home court advantage.
“The fans are really getting into it now,” he said. “And we know how important these home games are. They are really important for us, trying to get that eighth spot.”
Maximize this opportunity, and more than the eighth spot could be the reward, with Indiana, Chicago and Detroit leaving the door open to a possible rise to No. 6 in the forgiving race for the lower seeds in the Eastern Conference.
“Especially right now, for teams trying to battle for playoff berths and seeding and that stuff, it’s big for us to protect our home court,” guard Josh Richardson said. “Because that’s where you have to start. People have got to be scared to play you there.”
Other than the Feb. 13 loss to the Orlando Magic, the Heat have not lost at AmericanAirlines Arena since Jan. 1, one home loss over a two-month span. Of the Heat’s 18 remaining games, 11 are at home.
“I think we did a good job of opening eyes. We got to continue to fly under the radar, keep piling these wins up, and make that push,” guard Dion Waiters said. “We are going to have to battle and fight to get where we want to get to and leave it all out there.”
Continued home success could have to come amid continued injury absences, with James Johnson and Tyler Johnson missing Monday’s victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena due to nagging ailments.
“The only thing about what’s happened this season is when you end up missing so many games due to injury that your guys get used to it,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Yes, we miss ‘em, but guys are used to the routine, used to the drill: OK, next man up.”
That had Wayne Ellington stepping up against the Cavaliers, with rookie forward Okaro White called upon to play 22 minutes.
“We don’t need exsuccess cuses.,” Dragic said. “We had two guys out. J.J. and Tyler, they are important players for us, but we know it’s going to be a dogfight.”
Even with Johnson and Johnson out, the Heat still managed to close 16 of 35 on 3-pointers in Cleveland, the 3-point game becoming more imposing than Whiteside’s inside presence.
“We find the right balance,” Dragic said. “We’re still an attacking team. We’re trying to get into the paint. But everybody is so worried about us to get inside they’re shrinking.”
The Hornets are another team that prefers to pack the paint, which again could lead to an over-thetop performance.
“That’s what we’ve been trying to establish, the ball movement,” Spoelstra said of setting up the quality 3-point opportunities, “our guys executing details, getting our attackers in the paint, working a good shot to a great shot.”