The Miami Heat need a coffee jolt from Jimmy Butler, Damian Lillard’s short list and Shams on a crucial surgery

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 Jimmy Butler must pass out some free Big Face Coffee to energize Miami Heat.

Can Miami Re-tie Finals?

How to win Game 4

Game 4 of the NBA Finals (8:30 p.m. ET on ABC) is a must-win for the Heat. With a win tonight, the Denver Nuggets will be up 3-1 with two of the next three potential games at home. Only one team has ever overcome a 3-1 deficit in the finals to raise the trophy, but I’m not sure Miami wants to replicate the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers’ title path.

Miami completely fell apart in Game 3’s second half, during which Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray torched them and became the first tandem in NBA history with 30-point triple-doubles in the same game. Here are three adjustments the Heat must make to win Game 4.

 

1. Generate and knock down good looks. 

In Game 3, Denver did a much better job of defending the 3-point line, allowing just 25 uncontested 3-point attempts. Miami made 10 of those, which is still good. But a 40-percent clip isn’t better than 53 percent (the Heat’s Game 2 efficiency on such shots). Miami must execute the offense like it did in the first two games (30 uncontested attempts in each) and knock them down like in Game 2.

2. Slow the pace way down. 

Miami can control pace against Denver by hitting shots to grant time for setting up its defense. Denver does a great job of creating mismatches after stops and sends Miami’s effective transition defense into a panic. Game 2’s sub-90 possession pace played into Miami’s hands. Games 1 and 3 both had more than 90 possessions. The Heat must keep grinding it out.

3. Stop missing bunnies. 

The Heat are being outscored by nearly 17 points per game from the paint in the finals. However, the difference in Miami’s losses and its sole win is its interior efficiency. The Heat shot 59 percent from the paint in Game 2. In Games 1 and 3? Miami shot a combined 41 percent on such attempts. If the Heat get into the teeth of Denver’s defense, they must apply pressure by converting.

Before moving into potential trade chatter, let’s check in with Shams for a Friday update!

The Latest From Shams

Key surgery for East contender

All-Star forward Khris Middleton underwent successful surgery on his right knee shortly after the playoffs to address an issue that plagued him this past season, league sources have told myself and The Athletic’s Eric Nehm.

Middleton, 31, is expected to fully recover from the minor arthroscopic procedure, and he should be back on the court in July. Per sources, the clean-up procedure to his right knee was planned and scheduled prior to the season coming to a close.

The three-time NBA All-Star averaged 15.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 24.3 minutes per game in 33 games this past season and increased those averages to 23.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.2 assists in 34.6 minutes against the Heat in the first round of the playoffs.

This is an important offseason for Middleton and the Milwaukee Bucks. He has a player option worth $40.4 million for the 2023-24 season and needs to make a decision on that option by June 21. He was also involved in the team’s recent coaching search and, alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, attended the team meeting prior to the Bucks hiring Adrian Griffin.

Back to you, Zach.

The Dame Game

Lillard lists locations

Damian Lillard is the superstar controlling the potential trade market. Ideas of him leaving Portland have grown louder in recent years, but Lillard occasionally nuked the conversation. Then, after the Blazers struggled again this season and secured the third pick in this year’s draft, those convos reached intense decibel levels. It prompts two Portland options: move the pick to outsource real help for Lillard or finally trade the team’s all-time leading scorer and rebuild?

On his recent appearance for The Last Stand podcast with Brian Custer, Lillard was asked about hypothetical trade destinations he’d be interested in. He had several teams and an order in mind:

“Miami obviously. Miami is the obvious one. Bam (Adebayo) is my dawg. Bam is my dawg for real.”

He also cited Brooklyn as a preferred destination due to his friendship with Mikal Bridges. Lillard wants to remain with the Blazers and make it work. He continues to preach loyalty, but fewer and fewer people are buying the idea of him sticking around, especially given Portland’s uninspired efforts to retool in the last two seasons.

Lillard linking with Miami is complicated without involving Adebayo, meaning Tyler Herro and the $120 million he’s owed over the next four seasons would be the focus of any potential trade. Maybe Victor Oladipo’s expiring money could help. Miami also has younger guys on good contracts (Caleb Martin, Nikola Jović). The Heat could also offer three first-round picks and swaps. Is that return enticing enough for Portland to trade arguably its best player ever?

A Brooklyn deal probably centers around the expiring deals of Spencer Dinwiddie and Joe Harris. That’s before hoping to pry as many of those future first-round picks Brooklyn has from Philadelphia, Phoenix and Dallas. Either way, such offers might not inspire a promising rebuild for Blazers fans.

NBA, What Gives?

College tweaks block/charge

I’ve recently ranted about the NBA’s block/charge rule. Despite what some people assumed, after only seeing an aggregated version of my argument, I sought to help defenders be more competitive. At worst, players shouldn’t be rewarded for sliding under players to draw fouls, which resulted in injuries to Ja Morant and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the playoffs’ opening weekend.

At least the NCAA is doing something about it, so maybe the NBA can follow suit. The block/charge will remain, but officials are ensuring games will less resemble a car crash. From the Associated Press:

“The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved rule changes on Thursday that require a defender to be in position to draw a charge at the time the offensive player plants a foot to go airborne for a shot. If the defender arrives after the player has planted a foot, officials have been instructed to call a block when there’s contact.”

These tweaks seem reasonable and should at least partially eliminate the more reckless charge-taking attempts by defenders. But the NBA should never let college basketball beat it to a good rule change. Heed me sooner!

Bounce Passes

Listen to The Athletic NBA Show discuss Miami’s problems and Chris Paul’s future.

John Hollinger’s 2023 free agency BORD$ rankings are out, and the top 10 will surprise you.

There’s a rumor/report that the gun Ja Morant flashed recently on social media was a toy. That doesn’t make a difference to Adam Silver.

Marcus Thompson says the Nuggets responded in Game 3 like the champs they want to be.

Christian Braun is the perfect backcourt match next to Jamal Murray.

We are seeing a Miami sports scene renaissance thanks to the Heat, Panthers and Lionel Messi.

Dirk Nowitzki isn’t surprised when Jokić makes those incredibly tough shots.

(Photo of Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo:  Nathaniel S. Butler / Getty Images)