Winderman’s view: But will the 76ers still crush Heat hope?
Observations and other notes of interest from Thursday night’s 129-101 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers:
– Yes, the victory keeps the Heat alive for No. 6 in the East.
– And direct entry into the best-of-seven first round of the playoffs.
– And the victory probably doesn’t matter.
– Because regardless of any other results going forward from the Heat or the Nets, if the 76ers lose Sunday in Brooklyn, then the Nets are Philadelphia’s first-round opponent.
– And the Heat are in the play-in, where one or two losses and the season is over.
– In other words, expect to see Dewayne Dedmon starting at point guard for Philadelphia in Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Sunday afternoon, if that is what is needed for the 76ers to avoid the Heat.
– Yes, stranger has happened.
– And, yes, a Nets win before Sunday (on Friday at home over Orlando) or a Heat loss in their final two (at Washington, home against the Magic), would make Sunday’s 76ers-Nets moot.
– But we’re at a time of season when manipulation is rampant.
– And the 76ers still are in control of who gets No. 6.
– No matter how much Adam Silver might not like it.
– The Heat for the second consecutive game opened with a lineup of Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Max Strus, Tyler Herro and Gabe Vincent.
– Because the Heat had 16 available and only allowed to have 15 in uniform, two-way center Orlando Robinson was a healthy scratch.
– Also inactive for the Heat was rookie big man Nikola Jovic, who remains out with back spasms.
– Despite being locked into No. 3 in the East, the 76ers rolled out their regulars, with Joel Embiid, P.J. Tucker, Tobias Harris, De’Anthony Melton and James Harden starting.
– The 76ers, however, were without Heat killer Tyrese Maxey, who was out due to neck spasms.
– With Vincent in early foul trouble, the Heat’s first two substitutes were Kyle Lowry and Caleb Martin together midway through the opening period.
– It was the 200th career regular-season appearance for Martin.
– With his appearance, Lowry moved past LaMarcus Aldridge for 95th on the NBA all-time list and tied Jeff Hornacek and Lenny Wilkens for 93rd.
– Kevin Love then followed.
– And then a Haywood Highsmith sighting.
– And a Duncan Robinson sighting, with those two playing ahead of Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller, among others.
– By scoring in double digits, Adebayo moved past Udonis Haslem into ninth place for such Heat all-time scoring efforts.
– Strus’ second 3-point attempt moved him past Josh Richardson for 11th on the Heat all-time list.
– Herro’s second rebound moved him past Joel Anthony for 24th on the Heat all-time list.
– Herro’s fourth 3-pointer was the 600th of his career.
– Adebayo said there are benefits of such late-season games with meaning.
– “It just puts us in a position to be playoff ready,” he said. “We’ve been in how many clutch games this year? [54] So more than enough to be ready to be in those playoff moments when games are decided by one, two points.”
– Strus agreed.
– “Every game matters still,” he said. “We got to play until the end of the season with the position we’re in. Can’t take any games lightly.”
– That, of course, could change as soon as the Heat being locked into a seed on Friday, ahead of Sunday’s regular-season finale against the visiting Magic.
– Strus laughed about games when Butler has been playing possum during early stages.
– “That’s Jimmy,” he said. “He wants to get other guys involved. He wants to make everybody feel included and get other guys going because he knows at the end of the day, it’s going to help him, too.”
– Strus added, “If other guys are making shots, it opens up the floor for him. So he’s one of the smartest IQ basketball players I’ve ever played with and he knows how to work the game.”
– Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers practically brushed aside a pregame question regarding Embiid and the MVP race.
– “It’s over,” he said with a knowing smile. “That one is over.”
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