Simon Smith – Hoops Habit https://hoopshabit.com NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats Thu, 25 Aug 2022 02:43:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.20 NBA Free Agency: Lonnie Walker IV is perfect for the Los Angeles Lakers https://hoopshabit.com/2022/07/08/nba-free-agency-los-angeles-lakers-lonnie-walker-iv/ https://hoopshabit.com/2022/07/08/nba-free-agency-los-angeles-lakers-lonnie-walker-iv/#respond Fri, 08 Jul 2022 10:00:21 +0000 http://hoopshabit.com/?p=446653 The signing of free agent Lonnie Walker IV was an underrated move by the Los Angeles Lakers’ front office as they looked to rebuild their roster. The Los Angeles Lakers front office has had a distinctly different approach this offseason. NBA Champions in 2020, the Lakers followed this up with a decidedly up-and-down season that resulted […]

NBA Free Agency: Lonnie Walker IV is perfect for the Los Angeles Lakers - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats

]]> https://hoopshabit.com/2022/07/08/nba-free-agency-los-angeles-lakers-lonnie-walker-iv/feed/ 0 NBA Trades: 3-team Duncan Robinson trade for the Miami Heat https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/29/nba-trades-duncan-robinson-miami-heat/ https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/29/nba-trades-duncan-robinson-miami-heat/#respond Wed, 29 Jun 2022 10:00:13 +0000 http://hoopshabit.com/?p=446458 Without question, Duncan Robinson is one of the greatest success stories in the history of the Miami Heat. Undrafted out of Michigan by way of Division III Williams College, Robinson had to defy the odds to find a landing in the NBA. And through a combination of personal self-belief and an organization with a proven […]

NBA Trades: 3-team Duncan Robinson trade for the Miami Heat - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats

]]> https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/29/nba-trades-duncan-robinson-miami-heat/feed/ 0 3 veteran free agents for the Miami Heat to target this offseason https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/07/free-agents-miami-heat-target/ https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/07/free-agents-miami-heat-target/#respond Tue, 07 Jun 2022 19:00:06 +0000 http://hoopshabit.com/?p=445508 53 wins and the number-one seed in the Eastern Conference wasn’t quite enough in the end for the Miami Heat. While losing three games at home in their seven-game defeat at the hands of the Boston Celtics is hardly ideal, the tidal wave of a season filled with injuries, and untimely absences, eventually had its […]

3 veteran free agents for the Miami Heat to target this offseason - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats

]]> https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/07/free-agents-miami-heat-target/feed/ 0 Miami Heat guard Gabe Vincent is far more than just a backup https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/19/miami-heat-gabe-vincent/ https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/19/miami-heat-gabe-vincent/#respond Thu, 19 May 2022 21:00:27 +0000 http://hoopshabit.com/?p=445177 Nothing has come easy for Gabe Vincent. You only need to check out his numbers from earlier this season to appreciate just how far he has come. With prime Miami Heat free-agent signing Kyle Lowry coming on board, Vincent’s overall playing time was incredibly sporadic to commence the year, which was his second full season […]

Miami Heat guard Gabe Vincent is far more than just a backup - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats

]]> https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/19/miami-heat-gabe-vincent/feed/ 0 The Jimmy Butler redemption tour continues with the Miami Heat https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/14/jimmy-butler-redemption-miami-heat/ https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/14/jimmy-butler-redemption-miami-heat/#respond Sat, 14 May 2022 16:00:19 +0000 http://hoopshabit.com/?p=444993 Jimmy Butler has been at the absolute top of his game this postseason, helping the Miami Heat return to the Eastern Conference Finals in convincing fashion. An interrupted season that ended in anguish and embarrassment – that was the summation of the Miami Heat at the conclusion of their 2020-21 NBA season. Following a momentous […]

The Jimmy Butler redemption tour continues with the Miami Heat - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats

]]> https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/14/jimmy-butler-redemption-miami-heat/feed/ 0 Max Strus is the latest Miami Heat developmental success story https://hoopshabit.com/2022/04/14/max-strus-miami-heat-success/ https://hoopshabit.com/2022/04/14/max-strus-miami-heat-success/#respond Thu, 14 Apr 2022 21:00:51 +0000 http://hoopshabit.com/?p=443773 Undrafted coming out of DePaul. Waived by the Boston Celtics. Incurs an ACL injury in his second career game after being signed by the Chicago Bulls. Waived by the Bulls. 12 months of rehab. It was quite the journey that Max Strus undertook before finding a home with the Miami Heat. Clearly, these various obstacles […]

Max Strus is the latest Miami Heat developmental success story - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats

]]> https://hoopshabit.com/2022/04/14/max-strus-miami-heat-success/feed/ 0 The Los Angeles Lakers need to play small ball moving forward https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/22/los-angeles-lakers-small-ball/ https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/22/los-angeles-lakers-small-ball/#respond Tue, 22 Feb 2022 20:00:09 +0000 http://hoopshabit.com/?p=442246 If entering the All-Star break with a 27-31 record wasn’t bad enough for the Los Angeles Lakers, the knowledge that they’ll be without the services of Anthony Davis for the next few weeks due to a foot sprain he suffered in the final game prior to the annual layoff is clearly the furthest thing from […]

The Los Angeles Lakers need to play small ball moving forward - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats

]]> https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/22/los-angeles-lakers-small-ball/feed/ 0 The depth of the Miami Heat has been their greatest strength https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/10/depth-miami-heat-strength/ https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/10/depth-miami-heat-strength/#respond Thu, 10 Feb 2022 19:00:24 +0000 http://hoopshabit.com/?p=441770 Despite missing their top players for significant stretches this season, the Miami Heat currently find themselves sitting atop the Eastern Conference standings with a 35-20 record. Their leading trio of Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Kyle Lowry has missed a combined 56 games to this point, while other key rotation pieces such as Tyler Herro and […]

The depth of the Miami Heat has been their greatest strength - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats

]]> https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/10/depth-miami-heat-strength/feed/ 0 Examining the road to the playoffs for the Miami Heat https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/23/miami-heat-examining-road-ahead/ https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/23/miami-heat-examining-road-ahead/#respond Sun, 23 Jan 2022 22:38:57 +0000 http://hoopshabit.com/?p=440988 The Miami Heat are in a prime position as they prepare for the home stretch, especially when considering the amount of interruption and adversity they’ve faced this season. Bam Adebayo has already missed 25 games for the Miami Heat. Jimmy Butler has missed 18 games. Tyler Herro has missed eight games and Kyle Lowry is […]

Examining the road to the playoffs for the Miami Heat - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats

]]> https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/23/miami-heat-examining-road-ahead/feed/ 0 Caleb Martin is the latest two-way phenom for the Miami Heat https://hoopshabit.com/2021/12/06/miami-heat-caleb-martin-two-way/ https://hoopshabit.com/2021/12/06/miami-heat-caleb-martin-two-way/#respond Mon, 06 Dec 2021 22:00:16 +0000 http://hoopshabit.com/?p=439202 The impressive early-season play of swingman Caleb Martin simply adds to the long list of two-way finds for the Miami Heat. Naturally, the Heat’s offseason centered around the free-agent signings of six-time All-Star Kyle Lowry and 2021 NBA Champion PJ Tucker. However, the signing of swingman Caleb Martin to a two-way deal in mid-September has […]

Caleb Martin is the latest two-way phenom for the Miami Heat - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats

]]> https://hoopshabit.com/2021/12/06/miami-heat-caleb-martin-two-way/feed/ 0 Miami Heat: Getting the most out of Bam Adebayo on offense https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/13/miami-heat-getting-adebayo-offense/ https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/13/miami-heat-getting-adebayo-offense/#respond Sat, 13 Nov 2021 17:00:09 +0000 http://hoopshabit.com/?p=437985 On the second night of a back-to-back against the Los Angeles Clippers, and with Jimmy Butler sidelined, the Miami Heat were always going to be asking a lot of Bam Adebayo. The loss highlighted the need to get the absolute most out of Adebayo as often as possible. His start to the game could not […]

Miami Heat: Getting the most out of Bam Adebayo on offense - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats

]]> https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/13/miami-heat-getting-adebayo-offense/feed/ 0 Miami Heat: P.J. Tucker was destined to play under Pat Riley https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/27/miami-heat-tucker-destined-pat-riley/ https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/27/miami-heat-tucker-destined-pat-riley/#respond Wed, 27 Oct 2021 16:30:22 +0000 http://hoopshabit.com/?p=437196 Miami Heat team president Pat Riley doesn’t lavish praise upon any of his players simply at the drop of a hat. So it was more than noteworthy when he detailed his extreme admiration for free-agent signing P.J. Tucker at his annual Miami Heat press conference to preview the season: “He’s three times more than what […]

Miami Heat: P.J. Tucker was destined to play under Pat Riley - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats

]]> https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/27/miami-heat-tucker-destined-pat-riley/feed/ 0 Los Angeles Lakers: The real Anthony Davis needs to stand up https://hoopshabit.com/2021/09/17/los-angeles-lakers-anthony-davis-5/ https://hoopshabit.com/2021/09/17/los-angeles-lakers-anthony-davis-5/#respond Fri, 17 Sep 2021 16:22:50 +0000 http://hoopshabit.com/?p=435565 Appearing in exactly half of the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 2020-21 schedule, Anthony Davis was a shell of himself last season. Clearly feeling the aftereffects of the grueling bubble schedule and the ensuing trip to the 2020 NBA Finals, the short turnaround time between seasons resulted in a distinct lack of health and production for one […]

Los Angeles Lakers: The real Anthony Davis needs to stand up - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats

]]> https://hoopshabit.com/2021/09/17/los-angeles-lakers-anthony-davis-5/feed/ 0 Lakers: Kendrick Nunn, Malik Monk crucial to success https://hoopshabit.com/2021/09/15/los-angeles-lakers-nunn-monk/ https://hoopshabit.com/2021/09/15/los-angeles-lakers-nunn-monk/#respond Wed, 15 Sep 2021 18:20:31 +0000 http://hoopshabit.com/?p=435519 As it stands now, the Los Angeles Lakers have nine players aged 32 and over entering the 2021-22 season. Granted, this includes a combined 48 All-Star appearances and a host of other personal accolades. However, the challenges and grind of an 82-game regular season can never be underestimated, as each of these respective players will […]

Lakers: Kendrick Nunn, Malik Monk crucial to success - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats

]]> https://hoopshabit.com/2021/09/15/los-angeles-lakers-nunn-monk/feed/ 0 Miami Heat: Now is the time for Max Strus to shine https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/31/miami-heat-time-max-strus-shine/ https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/31/miami-heat-time-max-strus-shine/#respond Tue, 31 Aug 2021 18:00:31 +0000 http://hoopshabit.com/?p=435104 It’s been quite the journey for Max Strus to arrive at his current destination with the Miami Heat. Initially undrafted coming out of DePaul, not only was he waived by the Boston Celtics just prior to his first professional season, Strus would then appear in two games for the Chicago Bulls before blowing out his […]

Miami Heat: Now is the time for Max Strus to shine - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats

]]> https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/31/miami-heat-time-max-strus-shine/feed/ 0 Miami Heat: The Kyle Lowry era is ready to launch https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/03/miami-heat-kyle-lowry-era/ https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/03/miami-heat-kyle-lowry-era/#respond Tue, 03 Aug 2021 18:15:47 +0000 http://hoopshabit.com/?p=433905 It was truly one of the more open secrets in recent memory, but at just after 6PM ET on August 2, Kyle Lowry was at last a member of the Miami Heat. In the lead-up to the most recent trade deadline, the Heat front office tried valiantly until the last minute to acquire Lowry to […]

Miami Heat: The Kyle Lowry era is ready to launch - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats

]]> https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/03/miami-heat-kyle-lowry-era/feed/ 0 Miami Heat: 3 game-changing trade propositions for the offseason https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/23/miami-heat-3-game-changing-trades/ https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/23/miami-heat-3-game-changing-trades/#respond Wed, 23 Jun 2021 17:00:49 +0000 http://hoopshabit.com/?p=430403 Following a 4-0 first-round belting at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks, the front office of the Miami Heat knew it was now their time to shine. With just five players under contract for the 2021-22 season, and with no draft picks in hand, team president Pat Riley and his team are fully aware that […]

Miami Heat: 3 game-changing trade propositions for the offseason - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats

]]> https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/23/miami-heat-3-game-changing-trades/feed/ 0 Miami Heat: 5 realistic free-agent targets this offseason https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/09/miami-heat-realistic-free-agent-targets/ https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/09/miami-heat-realistic-free-agent-targets/#respond Wed, 09 Jun 2021 16:00:09 +0000 http://hoopshabit.com/?p=429772 It was an enormous thud back to reality for the Miami Heat in season 2020-21. Coming off the back of a memorable trip to the NBA Finals through an unprecedented run in the NBA bubble, the Heat were never able to recapture the form that shocked the league last postseason. Through a combination of Covid […]

Miami Heat: 5 realistic free-agent targets this offseason - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats

]]> https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/09/miami-heat-realistic-free-agent-targets/feed/ 0 New York Knicks: Tom Thibodeau is pushing the limits https://hoopshabit.com/2021/05/10/new-york-knicks-tom-thibodeau-limits/ https://hoopshabit.com/2021/05/10/new-york-knicks-tom-thibodeau-limits/#respond Mon, 10 May 2021 16:59:18 +0000 http://hoopshabit.com/?p=428112 Without a shadow of a doubt, the New York Knicks are one of the major success stories of the 2020-21 NBA season. Leading the way has been Julius Randle who has had a remarkable season, not only making his All-Star Game debut but also being a strong candidate for All-NBA selection. Second-year guard RJ Barrett […]

New York Knicks: Tom Thibodeau is pushing the limits - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats

]]> https://hoopshabit.com/2021/05/10/new-york-knicks-tom-thibodeau-limits/feed/ 0 Miami Heat: Trevor Ariza proving a pleasant surprise https://hoopshabit.com/2021/05/06/miami-heat-trevor-ariza-surprise/ https://hoopshabit.com/2021/05/06/miami-heat-trevor-ariza-surprise/#respond Thu, 06 May 2021 18:30:57 +0000 http://hoopshabit.com/?p=428049 Among a host of storylines, one of the more prevalent that centered around the Miami Heat entering this season was the gaping hole in the frontcourt beside Bam Adebayo. This past offseason, Jae Crowder, who played the role as a stretch-four to great effect as the Heat advanced all the way to the NBA Finals, departed […]

Miami Heat: Trevor Ariza proving a pleasant surprise - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats

]]> https://hoopshabit.com/2021/05/06/miami-heat-trevor-ariza-surprise/feed/ 0 Miami Heat: Bam Adebayo responds to the challenge https://hoopshabit.com/2021/04/19/miami-heat-bam-adebayo-challenge/ https://hoopshabit.com/2021/04/19/miami-heat-bam-adebayo-challenge/#respond Mon, 19 Apr 2021 18:00:36 +0000 http://hoopshabit.com/?p=427096 Following the third consecutive loss for the Miami Heat, Jimmy Butler simply needed to vent. Having succumbed to the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves 119-111, Butler expressed his sheer frustration at what the Heat were serving up: “Home, away, no matter what opponent you’re playing against, you just stroll into the game thinking you’re nice, you’re good, […]

Miami Heat: Bam Adebayo responds to the challenge - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats

]]> https://hoopshabit.com/2021/04/19/miami-heat-bam-adebayo-challenge/feed/ 0 Miami Heat: Jimmy Butler should be a genuine DPOY candidate https://hoopshabit.com/2021/04/13/miami-heat-jimmy-butler-dpoy-candidate/ https://hoopshabit.com/2021/04/13/miami-heat-jimmy-butler-dpoy-candidate/#respond Tue, 13 Apr 2021 16:00:03 +0000 http://hoopshabit.com/?p=426622 For several seasons now, Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler has been widely recognized as one of the premiere two-way players in the league. Despite his comical non-selection to the annual All-Star game this season, Butler has only continued to enhance his reputation with the Heat with his sublime play on the floor. Surprisingly for a […]

Miami Heat: Jimmy Butler should be a genuine DPOY candidate - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats

]]> https://hoopshabit.com/2021/04/13/miami-heat-jimmy-butler-dpoy-candidate/feed/ 0 Miami Heat: Assessing their new post-deadline rotation dilemma https://hoopshabit.com/2021/04/08/miami-heat-assessing-rotation/ https://hoopshabit.com/2021/04/08/miami-heat-assessing-rotation/#respond Thu, 08 Apr 2021 15:00:16 +0000 http://hoopshabit.com/?p=426345 To say the 2020-21 NBA season has been an up-and-down experience for the Miami Heat would be an understatement. After responding to a recent six-game losing streak, the Heat put forth their most consistent sequence of defense for the season to compile four straight wins, and in the process getting them back above .500. But […]

Miami Heat: Assessing their new post-deadline rotation dilemma - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats

]]> https://hoopshabit.com/2021/04/08/miami-heat-assessing-rotation/feed/ 0 Miami Heat: Duncan Robinson has found his groove https://hoopshabit.com/2021/04/01/miami-heat-duncan-robinson-found-groove/ https://hoopshabit.com/2021/04/01/miami-heat-duncan-robinson-found-groove/#respond Thu, 01 Apr 2021 17:12:09 +0000 http://hoopshabit.com/?p=426048 At the start of the season, the talk surrounded James Harden, and in the weeks leading into the trade deadline, speculation surrounded the Miami Heat and their potential pursuit of veteran Kyle Lowry. Throughout it all, the name of Duncan Robinson was front and center as it pertained to trade packages involving these aforementioned players. […]

Miami Heat: Duncan Robinson has found his groove - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats

]]> https://hoopshabit.com/2021/04/01/miami-heat-duncan-robinson-found-groove/feed/ 0 Miami Heat: Running out of superlatives for Jimmy Butler https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/15/miami-heat-superlatives-jimmy-butler/ https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/15/miami-heat-superlatives-jimmy-butler/#respond Mon, 15 Mar 2021 16:40:44 +0000 http://hoopshabit.com/?p=424833 The All-Star snub was utterly ridiculous at the time. And after the ensuing few weeks, Jimmy Butler’s non-selection is only looking more and more like the most egregious error in All-Star voting history. But for the Miami Heat, its been a godsend, with Butler continuing on with the most impressive stretch of play in his […]

Miami Heat: Running out of superlatives for Jimmy Butler - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats

]]> https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/15/miami-heat-superlatives-jimmy-butler/feed/ 0