Miami head to Salt Lake City hoping to continue their red-hot form
The Utah Jazz are currently 8-0 versus the Eastern Conference this season, and they just had the best November in the franchise’s history, but things are going to get as tough on Wednesday night against the red hot Miami Heat. The Heat are riding high on
a five- match winning streak.
Miami had to bear the brunt of the fans early in the season, as they flopped miserably despite having some of the most talented players in the league amongst their ranks. The team, tipped to challenge for the title this season has finally got going now,
and they head to the Salt Lake City brimming with confidence; the ‘Big Three’ have finally clicked.
Although Miami seemingly have found their rhythm and intensity, their latest victories were either against overmatched opponents or at home. The Heat has struggled when it comes to facing the big boys of the National Basketball Association (NBA). They are
4-5 on the road, and have yet to beat an opponent with a winning record away from Miami. Miami dropped games at Boston, New Orleans, Orlando and Dallas, and will definitely expect a much bigger challenge when they visit the Utah Jazz, who won the first meeting
of the season between the sides in Miami.
In that game the Jazz came back from a 22 point deficit in the third quarter, to take the match into overtime, and broke Miami hearts down the stretch with a 116-114 win.
Since opening the season 9-8, Miami has found its groove and silenced many of its critics by winning its last five games, with an average of 17.2 points and allowing an average of 82.2 points on 37.7 percent shooting.
"I think the early season trials and tribulations that we've been through just allowed us to calm down and worry about the next play," LeBron James said following Monday's 88-78 win against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Heat will be looking for revenge considering Utah were one of the teams to beat them in their early season slump.
Match-up.
Last season, the two teams split the season series 1-1 with each team winning on their home court. The Heats are 19-29 all-time versus the Jazz in the regular season, but Miami has had the better of the Jazz of late, winning 11 of the last 14 contests. However,
in the games played at the Energy Solutions Arena, Miami is languishing at 7-17, to go with a 12-12 record in the games played at Miami.
Players to watch out
For the Miami Heat, the trio of two-times reigning MVP LeBron James, Dywane Wade and Chris Bosh will pose the greatest threat. The tremendous three have destroyed the defences of their opponents in their last two games, scoring more than
75 percent of the Miami points and if they click again on Wednesday there will be no stopping Miami.
Dwyane Wade has led Miami’s scoring in 12 of the past 14 meetings between the two franchises, including a 50-point game in triple overtime in Miami. While LeBron James, picked up his second triple-double against the Jazz with 20 points, 14 assists and 11
rebounds the last time these teams met in November, it will be paramount for the Jazz to keep him quiet.
For the Utah Jazz, Deron Williams has been letting it rip this season with a team-high of 21.2 points, 10.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game. In the last match against Miami, he scored a double-double notching up 21 points and 14 assists.
Williams, who was crowned the player of the month for November/October, will definitely be a threat for the Heat, but they will focus their attention on Paul Millsap. The 25-year-old forward, who is in his fourth professional year, posted a career high
46 points last time these two teams met as Utah snatched an unlikely victory. Having made only two three-pointers in his career, Millsap went 3-for-3 from behind the arc in the fourth-quarter, and Miami coach Erik Spoelstra, will definitely have to devise
a strategy to contain him this time around.
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