Previewing Wednesday’s San Antonio Spurs at Miami Heat sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.
The San Antonio Spurs (17-21) visit the Miami Heat (27-12) Wednesday at AmericanAirlines Arena for a 7:30 p.m. ET tip-off. We analyze the Spurs-Heat odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup. This is their first meeting of the season – they’ll face off again in San Antonio Sunday afternoon.
The Spurs rallied from an 18-point deficit to beat the Toronto Raptors 105-104 Sunday, to improve to 2-1 on a current four-game road trip.
The Heat enter on a two-game skid, falling at the New York Knicks 124-121 Sunday and the Brooklyn Nets 117-113 Friday.
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Spurs at Heat: Key injuries
Heat
SF Justice Winslow (back) out
Spurs at Heat: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Wednesday at 1:25 a.m. ET.
AVOID. Miami (-223) is 17-1 at home, running off six in a row since a mid-December loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Meanwhile, San Antonio (+180) is 6-12 on the road. I’m going to PASS and focus on the spread.
The HEAT (-5.5, -106) are worth a small play. I usually would back the Spurs (+5.5, -115) in such a situation, but I’m counting on:
Miami being zoned in and focused following the back-to-back road losses at the Nets and Knicks.
San Antonio running out of gas down the stretch as this is the final game of its four-game trip. Plus, I’d guess the Spurs have been a little distracted, enjoying South Florida after playing in Toronto Sunday.
New to sports betting? Every $1.06 wagered on the Heat spread will profit $1 if they win by 6 points or more.
The OVER 221.5 (-106) is the STRONGEST PLAY. The Spurs average 113.9 points a game, ranking sixth in the league, while the Heat are 11th at 111.7 PPG. Plus, the Spurs rank fifth from the bottom in average points allowed at 115.0. Throw in that these are the top two NBA teams in Overs this season – San Antonio is 21-14, while Miami is 21-14-1 – and I like my chances to cash an Over ticket at the window.
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Johnny’s January record: 10-5-1. Strongest plays: 7-1.
Record since Dec. 1: 32-15-2. Strongest plays: 18-4.
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He might never win MVP again, but Jimmy Butler says LeBron is still the league’s top all-around player, high praise from the Heat All-Star.
LEBRON STILL AT THE TOP? When asked who the best all-around player in the league is, people will give you a variety of different answers these days, ranging from reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to reigning Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard to scoring champion James Harden. But according to Jimmy Butler, that honor still belongs to Lakers forward LeBron James.
Here’s what Butler had to say on the matter,in a recent piece for The Players’ Tribune: “So … the five toughest players I’ve ever guarded. Let’s get to it. LeBron James, Positionless, Los Angeles Lakers. I didn’t want to talk about LeBron here. I really didn’t. I wanted to give some other guys some shine. But you can’t have a 5 Toughest list and not have LeBron on it. He’s still the best all-around player in the league. He literally does everything well. He can shoot. Pass. Attack the rim. Defend. You need a bucket? LeBron’s got you. You need a rebound, a steal or a block? He’s got you. Whatever you need, whenever you need it. Bron’s got you. When you talk about a combination of speed and athleticism, plus a combo of strength and explosiveness, you gotta start with LeBron.”
If anyone would know who the best all-around player in the league is, it would be Butler, who has been one of the league’s top two-way wings for a few years now, and has spent a good amount of time defending LeBron in his heyday. The advanced numbers also make a strong case for James, with the four-time league MVP rankingfourth in Value Over Replacement Player,fourth in Box Plus/Minus andfifth in Win Shares in 2019-20.
He may have slowed down a bit from his ridiculous prime, but even today, there’s very few players in the league who can match James’ nightly impact. And he’s 35 years old. Insane longevity.
LAST NIGHT IN THE ASSOCIATION: Speaking of that LeBron guy, he dropped 31 points on 16 field-goal attempts yesterday against his former team, the Cavs, in a 128-99 win for the Lakers. Meanwhile, young Thunder Shai Gilgeous-Alexander guard went off for an insane 20/20/10 triple-double, an insane feat for the second-year player that headlined a 117-104 OKC win over the Timberwolves.
LATEST TRADE SCUTTLE: More trade rumors from both Monday and the weekend.
🏀More details on a potential Andre Drummond swap, with The Athletic reporting that teams aren’t offering first-round picks for the All-Star big man… yet. That could change as we get closer to the deadline.
FAIR WARNING: Lamar Odom’s career is notorious for the way it ended so quickly, going from being one of the league’s best bench players in 2010-11 to being out of basketball two years later.Odom discusses why it all ended so abruptly for him, as well as the warning he gave Mark Cuban when he traded for him.
LET IT FLY: LaMarcus Aldridge is shooting more threes than ever this season,and it’s helped the Spurs offense out a ton, propelling the team to the outskirts of the West’s playoff race.
GOOD CAUSE: Trae Young wants to be an All-Star this season, but not for selfish reasons. He wants to reach that honor so his platform gets bigger,and he’s able to do more work for his community.
The Miami Heat leader believes that the Los Angeles Lakers star is still the best all-around player in the NBA in his 17th season.
The Los Angeles Lakers employ the best all-around the player in the NBA, according to Miami Heat star guard Jimmy Butler. Butler isn’t known for singing praises of his opponents but he did in a column that he wrote on Monday for the Player’s Tribune, describing the five toughest players to guard in the NBA.
Although many would give the title of best player right now to Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kawhi Leonard, Butler believes that James still hasn’t been knocked out of that spot because of his ability to excel at every position on the basketball court in a way his peers, save for Kevin Durant when he’s healthy, cannot.
He’s still the best all-around player in the league. He literally does everything well. He can shoot. Pass. Attack the rim. Defend. You need a bucket? LeBron’s got you. You need a rebound, a steal or a block? He’s got you. Whatever you need, whenever you need it.
Bron’s got you.
The Lakers are currently reaping the benefits of having LeBron’s all-around excellence, holding a 32-7 record that remains the best in the Western Conference. James and the Lakers will be back on the court later this evening against Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, and his former Cleveland Cavaliers squad.
Even over Kevin Durant and LeBron James, Jimmy Butler explains what makes Houston’s James Harden the NBA’s most unstoppable player.
In a self-authored story on The Players Tribune, Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler says he thinks most NBA players would identify Kevin Durant or LeBron James as the league’s most unstoppable current player.
However, Butler’s choice is Houston Rockets guard James Harden.
In his analysis, Butler explains what makes Harden so tough:
Step-back. Floater. Euro step. He has so much in his package, and he’s always hitting tough shots.
In Butler’s view, it all starts with that renowned step-back jumper.
His whole attack is built off that step-back. He hangs the ball out there and teases you with it, and then he waits for you to make a move. He’s reading you. Whatever you decide to do, he’s got a counter for it. Because if you give him too much space, he’s gonna take the step-back, and probably make it. If you get too close to him — if you try to get up into him and take the shot away — he’s either going to lean into you and draw a foul or blow right by you and take it to the basket.
He’s one of those guys you game plan for. Like you go into the game saying, ‘We’re not gonna let James drop 40 on us.’ And he still drops 40 on you. That’s the mark of an unstoppable player.
"I don’t care if you average 40, or if you’re supposed to be the best player in the world. I’m here to battle every night. And I think I can play with the best of them."@JimmyButler on the top 5 most unstoppable players he's ever faced. https://t.co/jYbrOs2dHs
Other players on Butler’s “top five” list are Durant, James, Brooklyn guard Kyrie Irving, and Golden State guard Steph Curry.
Butler was a free agent last offseason, and the Rockets initially sought to pair him with Harden. But the 6-foot-8 forward — and a native of Tomball, Texas, located just outside Houston — spurned his childhood team for Miami, where he’s averaging 20.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.
Even though Butler passed on the chance to play with Harden, he still seems to view the Houston star and former MVP as the league’s best.
I think if you asked multiple people who the most unstoppable player in the league is right now, it would be a toss-up between a healthy KD and [LeBron] James.
But if you ask me? It’s James Harden, for the win.
Through 37 games of the 2019-20 season, Harden leads the league with an average of 37.7 points per game, which would be the highest total of any NBA player in 56 years and the most by a guard ever.
NBA players — and front offices too, I’d bet — everywhere know that getting on Jimmy Butler’s bad side isn’t the best idea.
And on Wednesday night, Indiana Pacers forward T.J. Warren got on Butler’s bad side.
The resulted was a pair of incidents that eventually resulted in Warren being ejected. Then, Butler called out Warren in postgame interviews and then took to Instagram to literally circle the next time his Miami Heat would play the Pacers again.
Yep. You’re witnessing the birth of a new NBA rivalry.
Let’s start with the original incident: Butler didn’t like the way Warren fouled him in the third quarter of the game, and if you’re a lip-reader, you can see Butler had some NSFW language for Warren:
"You're f—ing trash."
Jimmy Butler and TJ Warren got tangled up, and both players had a few words for each other 🤬 pic.twitter.com/C0VCJuuEFW
Then, Butler nailed Warren with a shoulder to the chest for a foul of his own … and Warren clapped right near his opponent, resulting in a second technical foul and an ejection. Butler blew him a kiss goodbye:
With the recent decade now suddenly in the rearview mirror, we looked at the top player who defined the 2010s for each team in the NBA.
With the recent decade now suddenly in the rearview mirror, we looked at the top player who defined the 2010s for each team in the NBA.
Atlanta Hawks: Al Horford
(Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Paul Milsap, Jeff Teague
The Atlanta Hawks were defined by their depth under former head coach Mike Budenholzer. It is what helped their entire starting lineup earn Eastern Conference Co-Players of the Month back in January 2015. But the best player during this era was Al Horford. The big man averaged 15.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game from the 2010-11 season until he left the team during the 2016 offseason.
Boston Celtics: Paul Pierce
(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Al Horford, Isaiah Thomas
Even though he won the 2008 NBA championship and the Finals MVP in 2008, Paul Pierce went on to make the Eastern Conference All-Star team three more times this decade. Before he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in the summer of 2013, he was averaging 18.9 points and 5.6 rebounds with 4.1 assists this decade. Pierce even had a chance to officially retire with the organization on a one-day contract in July 2017.
Brooklyn Nets: Brook Lopez
(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Deron Williams, Joe Johnson
Before they were the franchise that managed to sign both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in the same offseason, the Nets were long led by Brook Lopez. He was a member of the team both in New Jersey and in their move to the new home in Brooklyn back in 2012, which was his first and only career All-Star appearance. During his tenure with the team this decade, the big man put up 19.7 points and 6.6 rebounds as well as 1.7 blocks per game.
Charlotte Hornets: Kemba Walker
(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Marvin Williams, Nicolas Batum
During a tough decade for the Hornets, the one thing that kept them alive and interesting was star point guard Kemba Walker. He was a part of the team as a member of the Bobcats and then when they rebranded as the Hornets. Walker was a two-time All-Star as well as a two-time recipient of the NBA Sportsmanship Award. The guard averaged 19.9 points, 5.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game for the team during the decade before he joined the Celtics.
Chicago Bulls: Jimmy Butler
(Photo by Randy Belice/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah
When former No. 1 overall pick Derrick Rose won MVP in 2011 at 22 years old, fans in Chicago fairly assumed they would have a new defining talent for their city. Unfortunately, serious injuries made the point guard become a less impactful player than projected. However, the blow was softened a bit with the sudden emergence of a late first-round pick in Jimmy Butler. The wing won the league’s Most Improved Player in 2015. He was a difference-maker on both sides of the ball, averaging 15.6 points and 1.5 steals per game with the Bulls.
Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James
(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love
Considering that Cleveland’s hometown hero LeBron James notably left the Cavaliers as a free agent in 2010, few would have expected him to still be the Player of the Decade for this franchise. After such an ugly exit memorialized forever with a public shaming by team owner Dan Gilbert, though, James is a player who more than made up for the first early goodbye when he actually returned in 2014. All that he had to do was win the city’s first championship in any sport since 1948. In the process, he averaged an absurd 26.1 points per game with 7.7 rebounds and 8.0 assists for the Cavs in the 2010s.
Dallas Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki
(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Shawn Marion, Luka Doncic
Even though he was drafted in 1998, the undisputed most important in the career of Dirk Nowitzki happened in 2011 when he won a title and NBA Finals MVP. While his best playing days may have been before this decade, he still managed to be a perennial All-Star. The face of the franchise, he also won the league’s award for Teammate of the Year in 2017. His presence was felt, too, during his final season in the league as he helped ease the transition into the new era led by fellow European star Luka Doncic.
Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic
(Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Kenneth Faried, Ty Lawson
The Denver Nuggets may have hit the lottery when they selected Serbian big man Nikola Jokic with the 41st overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft. Jokic is a talent like no other in the league and has become one of the more versatile players in recent memory. He has averaged 16.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists for the Nuggets and the most exciting part is that he may still plenty of room to improve. At just 24 years old, the center could also be the best player of the decade in the 2020s for the Nuggets as well.
Detroit Pistons: Andre Drummond
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Greg Monroe, Blake Griffin
Despite not coming into the league until 2013, Detroit Pistons big man Andre Drummond has the second-most rebounds in the NBA since 2010-11. He has led the NBA in rebounds three times, twice earning All-Star considerations. Drummond has been consistent in his role and despite the team not being much of a contender, he has made his presence felt day in and day out.
Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant
The things that Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry was able to accomplish during the 2010s were almost laughable. He was a back-to-back NBA MVP who won the championship three times. Curry led the Warriors to an unbelievable 73-9 regular season while topping the league in scoring and in steals in 2016 as well. He also connected on 3.8 three-pointers per game, which is 0.9 more than the next-best player during the decade. Curry has clearly redefined the way the game is played and is a generational talent unlike any we have ever seen step foot on a basketball court.
Houston Rockets: James Harden
(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Dwight Howard, Clint Capela
There has been no trade recently that changed the league quite like the one that sent the 2012 Sixth Man of the Year winner James Harden from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Houston Rockets. He has been an All-Star every year for Houston and led the league in assists 2017. The guard then led the league in scoring in 2018 as the NBA MVP and then again in 2019. Harden has put up an absurd 29.6 points with 6.0 rebounds and 7.7 assists for the Rockets. In an age of analytics, he has been the darling for general manager Daryl Morey.
Indiana Pacers: Paul George
(Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: David West, George Hill
Former Indiana Pacers wing Paul George was a four-time All-Star with the franchise, winning NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2013. The two-way star also received All-Defensive team honors three times while with the team. He averaged 18.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game for Indiana during his team with the Pacers. One of the other best factors about George is that his trade allowed Indiana’s front office to acquire two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo and potential first-time All-Star big man Domantis Sabonis.
LA Clippers: Chris Paul
(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan
Before there was Kawhi Leonard and Paul George on the Clippers, there was Lob City. None of the success happening for the franchise now would be possible if it weren’t for Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. The tide was turning when Griffin was drafted in 2009 and won Rookie of the Year in 2011. But it was solidified when they traded for CP3 in December 2011. Paul averaged an impressive 18.8 points and 9.8 assists with 2.2 steals per game when he was a member of the Clippers. He made the All-Star team five times in Los Angeles and twice led the NBA in assists during that time.
Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant
(Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Pau Gasol, LeBron James
Unlike with Nowitzki, the peak accomplishments for Kobe Bryant occurred before 2010. But even during this decade, he added another NBA title to his arsenal and an All-Star appearance each year before retiring in 2016. Bryant averaged 24.2 points per game for the Lakers starting in 2010-11, which was above average for someone who was his age. Of course, there was little more memorable than Bryant scoring 60 points in his final professional game.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: MARC GASOL
(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Mike Conley, Zach Randolph
Former Memphis Grizzlies big man Marc Gasol averaged 15.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists during his time with the Grizzlies this decade. He made three All-Star appearances while a member of the franchise, winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. The center was a fixture for Memphis, making the playoffs six times with the Grizzlies. Gasol, a World Cup winner with Spain, eventually won his first NBA title in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors after a midseason trade.
Miami Heat: Dwyane Wade
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: LeBron James, Chris Bosh
While it was obvious that James was the best player on the team, none of The Big 3 era Miami Heat would have been possible if it were not for Dwyane Wade. He was the instrumental player recruiting both James and Chris Bosh to Miami and even gave up more money in the process to allow it to happen. Wade also sacrificed his role as the key star to make room for more touches to both James and Bosh. This led to two more NBA Finals wins for Wade and All-Star appearances between 2010 and 2016. He was also able to come back to the Heat and retire with the franchise.
Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has been one of the most dominant basketball players in recent memory. He has averaged 19.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game since entering the league. After winning the NBA MVP in 2019, he has followed up with an equally impressive season so far this year. His play has been so sharp that one of the league’s most pressing questions, even now a year and a half away from his eligibility, is what will he decide to do as an upcoming free agent.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Karl-Anthony Towns
(Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Kevin Love, Andrew Wiggins
After trading away Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2014 offseason, the Minnesota Timberwolves were able to bounce back in some ways by grabbing No. 1 overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns. He has played the part of one of the elite big men in the NBA, averaging 22.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game since entering the pros. Towns has also made 39.6 percent of his three-point attempts, showing his versatility as an offensive force.
New Orleans Pelicans: Anthony Davis
(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Jrue Holiday, Ryan Anderson
His exit may have left a sour taste in the mouth of the New Orleans Pelicans, but Anthony Davis was absolutely stellar during his time with the team. He averaged 23.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game and also led the league in blocks three times. Davis was a six-time All-Star for the Pelicans and while he now plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, his return will leave New Orleans in a fine place for the upcoming decade. Not only did the front office get an unreal surplus of draft picks in the deal but Brandon Ingram is playing like a potential superstar.
New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony
(Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images)
It was a relatively underwhelming decade for the New York Knicks under team owner James Dolan. The front office mortgaged quite a bit of their future to secure Carmelo Anthony via trade in 2011 despite knowing that the star would become a free agent that offseason. As such, the team was a bit of a one-man show under his leadership. He averaged 24.7 points as well as 7.0 rebounds per game on the Knicks, eventually leaving in 2017.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant
(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka
The Oklahoma City Thunder somehow drafted three MVP winners who all hit their primes during the 2010s. While none of them is still with the team, the one who made the biggest splash was Kevin Durant. The former No. 2 overall pick put up 28.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while also shooting 38.6 percent from three-point range. Even though point guard Russell Westbrook was the player who had the longest tenure with the team, it was obvious that Oklahoma City was the most successful version of itself with Durant on the roster.
Orlando Magic: Nikola Vucevic
(Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Dwight Howard, Evan Fournier
Orlando Magic big man Nikola Vucevic might be the most underrated NBA player of the decade. He made just one All-Star appearance, finally earning the love last season. While he originally started his career in Philadelphia, he has found a niche in Orlando. The former No. 16 overall pick has averaged 16.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game for the Magic.
Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Ben Simmons, Thaddeus Young
His career may have started off defined by injury but since he has become a healthier player, there have been few with a higher ceiling than Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid. The big man has scored 24.2 points and pulled down 11.6 rebounds per game. He made the NBA All-Rookie First Team his first year in the league back in 2017. He has made the All-Star team, All-NBA Second Team and All-Defensive Second Team in both years since.
Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker
(Photo by Barry Gossage NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Goran Dragic, PJ Tucker
The Phoenix Suns have not had a decade many fans will want to look back on with fond memories. But the one takeaway is that there is at least some hope for the future due to the scoring punch of Devin Booker. He has been able to put up 21.7 points and 4.5 assists per game since he entered the NBA just two days before his 19th birthday. Booker put up 70 points back in March 2017 and at just 20 years old, he was the youngest player to put up 60 points in an NBA game. Back in March 2019, Booker had three games in a row where he scored at least 48 points.
Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard
(Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: LaMarcus Aldridge, CJ McCollum
There are few players in NBA history who have embraced their team’s city quite like Trail Blazers star has welcomed Portland into his life. After he was drafted No. 6 overall in 2012, he has turned his the Blazers into one of the most consistent contenders in the league. Lillard, who won Rookie of the Year his first season in the pros, is a four-time All-Star. He was honored with All-NBA 1st Team consideration in 2018 and led Portland to the Western Conference Finals in 2019. He has averaged 23.7 points and 6.4 assists per game for the Trail Blazers during his professional career thus far.
Sacramento Kings: DeMarcus Cousins
(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Isaiah Thomas, Rudy Gay
While the Sacramento Kings had a disappointing decade in many ways, their most feared player during the 2010s was undeniably DeMarcus Cousins. He was a force to be reckoned with on the Kings, averaging 21.1 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. He earned All-Rookie First Team honors in 2011 and he then took home All-NBA 2nd Team in 2015 and 2016. The big man was also disciplined and suspended a bit too often for comfort during his time on the Kings, eventually leading to an inevitable divorce of the two parties.
San Antonio Spurs: Kawhi Leonard
SAN ANTONIO, TX – (Photo byJoe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Tim Duncan, Tony Parker
When he won NBA Finals MVP in 2014, it was clear that former No. 15 overall pick Kawhi Leonard was a special player in this league. But he was able to take his game to the next level during his time with the San Antonio Spurs, also winning back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards for his efforts in 2015 and 2016. Leonard, who led the league in steals in 2015, also came into his own on the offensive side of the floor while before his time in San Antonio came to a surprisingly ugly close that kept him sidelined for the majority of 2017-18.
Toronto Raptors: Kyle Lowry
(Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: DeMar DeRozan, Kawhi Leonard
While it was Leonard who was the undisputed best player of the team that won the Toronto Raptors their first NBA championship, veteran point guard Kyle Lowry was the heart and soul of the squad. After the team traded away his longtime teammate DeMar DeRozan during the 2018 offseason, the year was inevitably going to be an emotional rollercoaster for Lowry. But for him to respond by helping Toronto finally carry the Larry O’Brien trophy was an effort that solidified his place as the Player of the Decade for the Raptors.
Utah Jazz: Rudy Gobert
(Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors
If general fans valued defense the same way they value offense, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert would be considered one of the Top 10 players in the NBA. After he led the league in blocks back in 2017, the French big went on to win Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 and in 2019. Gobert has actually averaged 2.2 blocks per game since entering the league in 2013. He has also pulled down 10.8 rebounds per game and has connected on 63.4 percent of his total field goal attempts.
Washington Wizards: John Wall
(Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Bradley Beal, Marcin Gortat
Before his recent injury trouble, Washington Wizards point guard John Wall was an electrifying player. He has averaged 19.0 points and 9.2 assists for the Wizards since going No. 1 overall in the 2010 NBA draft. He made the All-Star team from 2014 until 2018, also grabbing All-Defensive 2nd Team honors in 2015 and All-NBA 3rd Team in 2017. Wall has averaged 1.7 steals per game, too, showing he can be a defensive stopper. Now he is on a tough contract, though he initially earned it with his previously fantastic play.
The future of Jordan Brand is bright with Luka Doncic on board
It’s rare that we see star basketball players become free agents in the sneaker market. It’s even more rare for those star players to be just 20 years old.
That’s what we had in Luka Doncic this season. After his deal with Nike expired earlier in the year, Doncic was in the open market and fully testing the waters with different companies, including Nike, Under Armour, Jordan Brand and more.
Now, the chase is over — the young phenom has made his choice. Jordan Brand officially announced on Thursday that they’ve locked the Mavericks guard down to a deal via a video on Twitter.
Doncic will join the likes of Zion Williamson, Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler, Kemba Walker and Russell Westbrook on the Jordan roster.
Doncic, more than any other star in the Jordan lineup, is poised to make major waves for the brand immediately. The company is most known for its retros and the shoes Michael Jordan actually wore. Most of those are being turned into designer collaborations these days — basketball almost feels secondary.
They’ve had notable active athletes over the years like Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul, but they haven’t made the same lasting imprint on the NBA some of their Nike counterparts have.
Jordan Brand hasn’t had a player with the kind of ceiling Doncic has had in quite some time. That’s a credit to how good Doncic already is and how good he could be.
Now, at just 20 years old, Doncic is one of the best players in the league. He’s already an MVP candidate in just his second season as an NBA player and looks like he could be an All-NBA player for a majority of his career. He still has to go out and prove he is that, but the foundation is there.
All of a sudden, the future of Jordan Brand’s roster of athletes is looking quite bright. Doncic is only one part of the equation — we can’t forget about Williamson. If these two are as good as people think they can be, Jordan Brand will be in some pretty good hands going forward.
The arrival of Jimmy Butler in South Beach has made quite an impact on the organization this season, from the top to the bottom.
The Miami Heat are a team with one star, and it isn’t Jimmy Butler.
Of course, that was the message delivered by Butler himself this week when questioned about the Heat being a team with only one star player.
“This is a team with one star?” Butler asked. “Who’s that star, Bam? I’ll take Bam as our star any day.”
Certainly, the question was asked with Butler in mind as the lone star on the roster. After all, Butler is a four-time NBA All-Star and a four-time member of the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.
But, this season has painted a better picture of Butler. He has caught criticism in the past for clashing with teammates since he is a player that has never been one to hold his tongue when it comes to speaking his mind. That has rubbed his former teammates the wrong way but it seems to fit in well in South Beach this season.
Through the first quarter of the season, the Heat have raced out to the third-best record in the Eastern Conference at 20-8 thanks in large part to the play of Butler. He is pacing the Heat with 20.8 points per game but he has been quick to shine the spotlight on his teammates. From Bam Adebayo to rookies Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn, Butler doesn’t often talk about himself.
From the moment Butler agreed to join the Heat, his impact has been noticeable. The nine-year veteran arranged for some summer workouts with his new teammates and he even had Herro join him for a week in Chicago to get some work in. Herro recalled his experience working out with Butler, as reported by Jeff Zillgitt of USA TODAY.
Get up at 5:30 in the morning, workout at 6, another workout after that, get some lunch, another workout after that. It’s definitely something different, but I liked it. His hard work and dedication to the game leave an impact on everyone in the locker room.
Butler has immediately taken to Herro since joining the Heat. He has been impressed by his work ethic and willingness to guard any player on the court. As Butler said during training camp, Herro would even talk trash right back at him in pick-up games.
The team chemistry with the Heat is perhaps at an all-time high as everyone on the roster has completely bought into the Heat Culture, as it has been called in the past. The Heat have a proven track record of competing at the highest level and it has been no different this season.
Many thought the Heat were getting a proven star player when Butler arrived over the offseason but it turns out the star players may have already been on the roster.
The Philadelphia 76ers fan base greeted Jimmy Butler with boos on Wednesday night.
The Philadelphia 76ers welcomed in the Miami Heat on Wednesday for the second time this season and that meant the second return of Jimmy Butler to Philadelphia after leaving for the Heat in free agency in June. The passionate fan base in the City of Brotherly Love were anything but lovable as he was introduced.
As was the case in his first trip in November, Butler was bood loudly by the Philadelphia faithful as they let their emotions know about his move to Miami. Butler spent 55 games with the Sixers after being acquired in a trade back in November of 2018 and was a big reason why the Sixers were just one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2019 playoffs.
The Sixers routed the Heat in their first matchup and Wednesday’s matchup has some early season standings implications on the line with the two teams being so bunched up at the top of the standings. [lawrence-related id=21592,21584,21575]
The Philadelphia 76ers welcome in the Miami Heat for a matchup on Wednesday.
The Philadelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat are two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference so when they matchup on Wednesday, it promises to be an exciting game. However, the focus will once again be on the second game back in Philadelphia for former Sixers forward Jimmy Butler.
Butler and the Heat have already made a trip to Philadelphia this season, a rather easy 113-86 win for the Sixers, but with both teams rested after they were both on a back-to-back, it should be a better game.
With that being said, it’s time for the complete guide to this one:
How to watch Sixers vs. Heat
Date: Wednesday, December 18
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Location: Wells Fargo Center Philadelphia, PA
TV: ESPN, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Injury Report
Sixers: NONE
Heat: OUT: Goran Dragic(right groin strain), James Johnson(personal reasons), Dion Waiters(team suspension), Justise Winslow(lower back strain)
Storylines
Richardson credits Heat
Before he became the Sixers starting shooting guard, Josh Richardson was a second-round pick of the Heat in the 2015 draft. There, he worked his tail off and he became a legitimate NBA rotational player and he was a key member of Heat playoff teams in 2016 and in 2018. He gives the Miami staff a lot of credit for his development and where he is as a player currently.
“A lot,” he said at practice on Tuesday. “Just giving me confidence, giving me an opportunity to play early, and working with me every day. Chris Quinn, he and I worked very closely from my time there and I still keep in contact with him. I consider him a friend outside of basketball but working at it every day. He encouraged me to shoot threes off the dribble my last year there so that’s another part of my game that I can bring.”
Sixers need to grow Simmons’ perimeter game
Ben Simmons is unquestionably one of the better players in the league. However, the lack of a jump shot continues to be a storyline with him and it will continue to be one until it’s fixed. For the Sixers to succeed in the playoffs, they will need him to show some semblance of a jump shot and it is something that is on the mind of coach Brett Brown.
“I spend so much with Ben talking about spacing,” said Brown. “This is an ongoing discussion that we have been having and it’s not as clear or as simple when you digest the tape, you see what he sees. There are times when he just eats space and doesn’t accept space, he uses the space to play downhill and the bottom line is, we need to grow his perimeter game.”
Prediction
The Sixers are coming off a loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, but that was on the road. Now, they come home and they will be highly motivated to want to put on a better performance. This is a much different team at home and it’s a team that just gets it done at home. With Joel Embiid returning to the floor, they should be able to put on a more dominant defensive performance and play well enough to win this one.
