NBA: The Miami Heat settle old pending accounts with those who did not count on them at all

ABefore the season began, the NBA published the survey among the general managers of the 30 franchises in the league with their forecasts for the course that was about to begin. A pool that, at the moment, does not look like it will even reach 11 hits after seeing how the experts forgot about the Miami Heat among the favorites for the ring. In fact, the experts did not even give them a chance to enter the finals of a conference that they now dominate with an iron fist.

The directors completed their particular club for the season that was about to begin. Nets and Lakers – what those times! – were the clear candidates for the ring and the New Yorkers repeated as favorites to dominate the Eastern Conference along with the Milwaukee Bucks. Today the Florida team looks at all those rivals through the rearview mirror of a racing car that, silently, has placed first in its conference with a two-game lead over the Chicago Bulls, whom they dominated without contemplations in their last game (111-99) showing that all those who ignored them at the beginning of the season were wrong.

Those of Spoelstra, another of the great undervalued in the last decade in the NBA, gave a real defensive lesson and handcuffed the attack of the Bulls, the second best team in the East. Especially DeMar DeRozan, who arrived after 10 consecutive games scoring at least 30 points and who against the South Beach team stayed at ‘barely’ 18.

A new example of the solvency of a team that manages like a charm when it comes to closing its hoop, that aspect that experts say gives championships, and that has already reached 41 victories this season. A magical figure in the Florida franchise, since every time they have reached it after 62 games they have reached the NBA Finals. That land that seemed banned to them at the beginning of the season and with which they have now earned the right to dream.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are starting to really believe they can make the playoffs this season. An unusual territory for them, but one that is within their reach. Especially if they maintain their offensive level (the best in the NBA so far in 2022) that allowed them to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers (122-127) in a game dominated by D’Angelo Russell with 18 points in the second half.

The 26 points, 16 rebounds and six assists of the Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo (14 of 14 in free throws), together with the 21 of Jrue Holiday (5 of 8 in triples) and the 20 of Bobby Portis Jr (4 of 7 in triples) , gave Milwaukee a comfortable win over the Hornets. A victory in which Serge Ibaka reappeared. The Spanish international came off the bench to add two points and seven rebounds in 16 minutes before being sent off for six personal fouls.

Toronto Raptors rookie Scottie Barnes is experiencing one of the best moments of the season. The Canadians rookie signed a monumental performance with 28 points (12 of 14 shooting) and 16 rebounds after scoring his first 11 field goals.