By Darnell "Playmaker" Sallins
The Eastern Conference Semifinals are here as we are down to the Elite Eight in the NBA Playoffs. This series is a surprising matchup in the Eastern Conference as the Miami Heat go against the New York Knicks.
The Miami Heat surprisingly took out the top-seed Milwaukee Bucks in 1st round in five games. The expectation was for the Bucks to defeat the Heat fairly swifty but 11 minutes into Game 1, that thought process went out the door. Giannis Antetokounmpo goes down with a back injury and Milwaukee couldn't gather themselves together. Jimmy Butler turner into Jimmy Buckets and Playoff Jimmy.
The New York Knicks punked the fourth seed, Cleveland Cavaliers with a gentleman's sweep of five games. Their series with the Cavs was disappointing for Cleveland and surprise for New York. Jalen Brunson had the pleasure of knocking out Donovan Mitchell for the second consecutive postseason in a row. The Knicks out tough, out physical, and out willed the Cavaliers.
Regular Season Series
The Heat and Knicks met four times in the regular season with the Knicks winning three of the four games. Three of the meetings took place in March with each team winning in Miami and the Knicks defending home court in the last meeting.
For the Heat, they had five average double-digit scoring versus the Knicks led by Tyler Herro. Herro averaged 23 points against the Knicks on 50.7 percent shooting and 42.9 percent from three-point. Next is Jimmy Butler who averaged 22.5 points on 49.1 percent shooting and a whooping 75 percent from three with 4.8 rebounds and 6.3 assists in the four games. Third for the team is Bam Adebayo, who averaged 18.5 points and 7.8 rebounds in the four-game series. Adebayo's production will need to improve in the playoffs.
For the Knicks, six players averaged double figures scoring versus the Heat led by RJ Barrett. Yes, RJ Barrett plays well against the Heat, averaging 21.2 points on 51.6 percent shooting from the field along with 5.3 rebounds in the four games. After Barrett is Julius Randle, who averaged 21 points on 49.2 percent shooting and 41.4 percent from three. Randle also averaged 7.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists in the four games. Then there's Jalen Brunson, the big free agent signee from Dallas. Brunson averaged 20.7 points on 58.5 percent shooting with 5.7 assists in three games against Miami.
Playoff Preview
This will be the sixth time the Heat and Knicks faced off in the NBA Playoffs with the Knicks having the edge 3-2 over the Heat. The last playoff matchup came in 2012 where the Heat defeated the Knicks in five games when LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh led the Heat to back-to-back championships.
The Miami Heat will need more players to step up outside of Jimmy Butler. Butler had a monstrous series against the Milwaukee Bucks. Averaging 37.6 points on 59.7 percent shooting from the field and 44.4 percent from three in the surprising five-game upset over Giannis and the Bucks. None more impressive than Games 4 and 5 going for 56 points and 9 rebounds in Game 4. Then following up with 42 points and 8 rebounds in the close-out Game 5.
Unfortunately, for the Heat, Tyler Herro will remain out with the broken hand suffered in Game 1 versus the Bucks. With that said, Bam Adebayo and the others must help Butler against the Knicks. Adebayo only averaged 17.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 5 assists in the Bucks. That won't be enough against this Knicks team as Adebayo needs to be the second scorer for the Heat.
But Herro wasn't the only lost for the Heat, just as painful was the loss of Victor Oladipo to a torn patellar in his knee. Now the bench of the Heat loses some important bench production and others must step up. Players like Caleb Martin who averaged 11.2 points against the Bucks. Klye Lowry will be needed and probably the sighting of Duncan Robinson who barely averaged 20 minutes per game in the Bucks series. Robinson is that other player who shoot like Herro from deep and the Heat will need it.
For the Knicks, Julius Randle is the one who needs to step up. Currently dealing with a sprained left ankle, the Knicks are "hopeful" he can play. Nevertheless, Randle was not impressive in the Cleveland Cavaliers series. Only averaged 14.4 points on 33.8 percent shooting, 23.5 percent from three and 6.4 rebounds. Just like Bam Adebayo for the Heat, Randle needs to be the second-best player for the Knicks. It was easy for the Knicks to control the Cavs, that will not be the case against the Heat so Jalen Bruson will need a running mate for this. Jalen Brunson was the star of the entire Cavs series. Averaging 24 points on 43.7 percent shooting from the field.
Absolutely, the star matchup is Jimmy Butler vs. Jalen Brunson, but who wants to be the second-best player for their team between Bam Adebayo and Juluis Randle? Then, how will the bench of the Heat step up without the services of Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo? Caleb Martin, Kyle Lowry, and Duncan Robinson are looked upon to step up in production. RJ Barrett for the Knicks needs to continue his good play from the Cavs series into this series with the Heat. Josh Hart is the heart of the Knicks and will need be as the matchup is tougher now.
This should be a fantastic series for a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Miami Heat were there last year, losing to the Boston Celtics in seven games. The New York Knicks hasn't been to the East Finals since 1999.
This series begins Sunday, April 30 at 1:00PM on ABC at Madison Square Garden.