Heat guard Victor Oladipo, who continues to work his way back from quadriceps tendon surgery, has played in just four games since returning to the hardwood for Miami on March 7, averaging 5.5 points on .450/.222/.667 shooting across 16.3 MPG. Oladipo has also struggled with lower back spasms in recent days.
Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel writes that the Heat were never anticipating that Oladipo could be a starter this season playing major minutes. Winderman notes that the 6’4″ guard, a former two-time All-Star with the Pacers before being beset by injuries, could still be a valuable contributor for the East’s top-seeded club in spot minutes during the playoffs. The play of fellow reserve guards Max Strus and Gabe Vincent has made any help Oladipo provides a bit of a bonus.
There’s more out of the Southeast Division:
- Heat center Bam Adebayo believes he deserves to be named Defensive Player of the Year this season, writes Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Adebayo has been the anchor for one of the league’s staunchest defenses this year. As of this writing, the Heat rank fifth in defensive rating and fourth in points allowed per game. The 6’9″ big man has been no slouch when it comes to counting stats, either, averaging 19.0 PPG, 10.3 RPG and 3.5 APG this season for Miami. Though Adebayo has missed 25 games this season due to injury, missing some contests does not necessarily preclude a player from DPOY consideration. In the 2017/18 season, Jazz center Rudy Gobert won his first Defensive Player of the Year award after playing only 56 of 82 games for Utah.
- Hawks head coach Nate McMillan sounds fairly skeptical that starting power forward John Collins will be available to return to the floor for Atlanta within the 10-to-14-day timeline initially provided by the team, per Sarah K. Spencer of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (via Twitter). “That’s when they will talk about his injury again,” McMillan said. “I don’t think we’re saying in two weeks he’ll be back. We will re-evaluate him in two weeks.”
- Hornets power forward Miles Bridges, who should at least be a finalist for the 2022 Most Improved Player award thanks to his excellent play this year, is focused on reaching the playoffs with Charlotte following several past disappointments, per Rod Boone of the Charlotte Observer. “I’ve been here before and all three years when we could’ve made the playoffs we didn’t finish like we wanted to,” Bridges said. “So I just want this year to be different.” Bridges is averaging 20.0 PPG, 7.1 RPG and 3.8 APG for the 36-35 Hornets, current occupants of the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte – currently 5.5 games ahead of the No. 11 Wizards with just 11 games left in its season – seems like a safe bet to at least qualify for the 2022 play-in tournament. Last year, the Hornets finished as the tenth seed with a 33-39 record, but lost to the Pacers in their first play-in game.
Losing John obv hurts but we still have the depth to make a long playoff run. Giving Jalen Johnson some rotation minutes would help
I just don’t think if losing the 2nd play-in game constitutes a “long playoff run”.
Looking at the DPOY odds it goes Gobert, Bam, Giannas, JJJ, Rob Williams and Draymond.
I’m kind of hoping Bam gets the award too.
Heat are at the top of the east, they overall rank better than the Jazz defensively.
And I know it’s sad but Gobert having 4 DPOYs and equaling Mutumbo and Wallace with the most DPOY awards all time just doesn’t seem right.
Give Bam this one, then hopefully next season we can give it to Giannas, Draymond, Kawhi or Simmons.
Yes, Bam DPOY, Tyler Herro 6th man of year….
What are you talking about? Ever look at actual stats? Gobert has all-time great defensive stats. He’s already considered one of the best ever. He’s a guy that’s clearly got under opposition’s skin. That should tell you right there he’s doing something right. Lol
Guys who play defense in this era of basketball really stand out. It should make zero difference how many previous players had the award. It’s about who earned it. This whole narrative garbage is why the title “all-star” doesn’t mean as much. Just says you’re popular. It’s not necessarily because the player earned it. That’s mainly because it’s heavily biased in fan voting for players in larger markets. It should be 100% based on who contributes the most value to their teams per position.
It also says a lot when centers were removed as a category in the all-star voting. That’s a complete bias against centers.
So how can you compare stats and awards from previous generations and call it even? Add to the fact that the game’s rules have been tweaked towards offense more and more every year. It’s no wonder defensive players really stand out.
The thing about Gobert is that he doesn’t just defend one player. He defends the entire opposing team! Watch him and you’ll see what I mean. It’s pretty amazing his effect on the game.
For example, a recent game he helped hold the opposing team to 8 total points in the paint in the first half!! That’s insane!
How can one ignore his greatness just because of some blind loyalty to some feeling you have. That’s what is not right. Lol
If standings stay as they are. We got
Nets – vs – Hawks
Raptors – vs – Hornets
Nets will sweep. Raptors, Hornets will be a tough series. I hope Kyrie gets to play. More folks getting behind Kyrie and against mandates in NY. That’s best thing that can happen for Nets.
You clearly don’t understand how the play-in situation works. Please google it
Nets Raptors would be great. As Kyrie can’t play in Toronto.
KD vs Toronto and they have a bunch of guys they can throw at him like Barnes, OG and Siakim, it would be a terrible match up for him.
Sure Drummond will get loads of rebounds but imagine him trying to guard the perimeter. I’d actually have the Raptors taking it.
If the Nets don’t make it out I’m a happy man cause then it’s the Bucks for whoever makes it out. Bucks I think wipe the floor with the Nets. Giannis and Middleton are all over KD. Holiday can do bits on Kyrie. But they don’t have the defenders to stop Giannis, Middelton and Holiday on offence. Not to mention Portis at centre making Drummond guard the perimeter it’s all over. So the Raptors I believe would be much tougher. Much like against KD they have bodies to throw at Giannas with Siakim Barnes and OG. I think that would be a tougher match up and I could see that possibly going to 7. Which as a Sixers fan we need. If we are playing the Bucks in the second round we want them to have battled hard, be a little tired, sore and fatigued that way we can hopefully come out strong and beat them. If by a miracle the Raptors make it out, Embiid is to big for them, Harden and Maxey might have issues but Embiid would carry. Then defensively throw Thybulle on FVV and I think it also makes their life really tough.
Not at all feeling confident but very optimistic as a Sixers fan. I know a lot of people are doubting us as true contenders and I somewhat feel that too but we don’t have to run through every team in the east to make it to the final. A lot of the times playoffs are won by some luck and by good health. Have Harden go off against the Cavs, have Embiid go off second round and then bam ECF just like that. Nets get upset without Kyrie, Bucks battle hard against the Raptors and maybe get some injuries I’ll take it and go through to the ECF happily.
Brooklyn > Miami
Celtics > Chicago
Mil > Cleveland
Phil > Toronto
Brooklyn > Celtics
Mil > Phil
Brooklyn > Mil
****
Phx > Clips
Dal > Jazz
GSW > Denver
Mem > Min
Phx > Dal
GSW > Mem
GSW > Phx
****
GSW > Brooklyn
Nets fan??? Lol
I’m not a Nets fan… but I think this is on target. Although, I wouldn’t be surprised if Celtics were the ones to run it to the Finals instead.
Klay needs to step it up tho. He hasn’t yet. But if he and Dray can get back to form, then I also think GSW over Suns. But that’s only if GSW is playing at thrir best, anything less and Phoenix rolls the rest of the conference. They look incredible this year.
No but I think they will be one of the toughest outs. Anything can happen of course.
If you need to blow your own trumpet to win an award… well then probably it means you ain’t good enough for it in your own merits, right?
I mean Jokic has been the last couple years the most dominant player I have ever seen in the last 40 years in the league, but you will never hear him saying I deserve the MVP, right?
Most dominant player in the past 40 years … boy get out of here
Also, he has said stuff like that lol
Heat are the most disrespected team every year. Herro might get 6MotY by default, but I wont be surprised if he gets screwed over too.
All the Heat need from Oladipo is to defend somewhat decently near what he could previously do, playmake, and knock down an occasional catch and shoot jumpshot
Loving how they’re easing dipo into the rotation
His play will have a lot to do with their playoff success I believe
PG- Lowry/Herro/dipo
SG- Duncan/Strus
SF- Butler/Martin
PF- PJ/Kieff
C- Bam
IMO their weakness is size but Bam is playing lights out defensively
If he doesn’t hurt his neck like he did in 2020, he can handle the opponents best big, and they make a serious run at finals
I’m not worried about Nets or sixers this year. I think the Bucks are the team that Miami will have a hard time with and Boston is extremely underrated and overlooked right now. I hope we don’t have to play them.