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Highlights Video :
The red-hot Miami Heat will travel to Chicago looking to win their sixth straight against a Chicago team that is fighting amongst themselves on social media.
Dwyane Wade, Jimmy Butler and Rajon Rondo. There was really no in-between when it came to opinions for the Bulls' offseason moves. You either loved them or you hated them. Well, three months later, those that labeled Chicago's moves as foolish are looking like prophets. After Butler and Wade sent barbs in the direction of the team following their tough home loss to Atlanta on Wednesday night, Rondo decided to take to Instagram to send some shots at the duo. The former NBA champion with Boston called out the veterans for voicing their opinions outside of the locker room, instead of dealing with it internally.
Wade didn't wait long before responding to Rondo's shots, also on Instagram. To put it lightly, Wade called Rondo selfish and washed up. It will be interesting to see how management in Chicago handles this whole situation, especially with the trade deadline approaching. As for the game itself, the Bulls will welcome the Heat to town on Friday night, a team that overcame an 18-point deficit at Brooklyn on Wednesday to extend their current win streak to five.
Miami will travel to Chicago without Tyler Johnson, who has been dealing with a shoulder injury but should be back for Saturday's game against Detroit. Hassan Whiteside has been dealing with a right ankle issue and is considered questionable for Friday. With Johnson and Josh Richardson both out, Miami has leaned on Goran Dragic, Dion Waiters and Wayne Ellington to anchor the backcourt in recent games. The trio each played at least 36 minutes in the win over Brooklyn.
Willie Reed, Okaro White and Luke Babbitt have received extended minutes with Whiteside being banged up and Josh McRoberts also dealing with a stress fracture in his left foot. Miami has dealt with a myriad of injuries this season, but they're playing Chicago at the right time with all the drama surrounding the Bulls.
Keys to the Game
Chicago Bulls
- Play as a team: The Bulls are coming off an ugly home loss to the Hawks where the box score epitomized their season. Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade had 40 and 33 points respectively, while no other Bull scored more than ten. The team tallied just 18 assists and did not play as a collective unit.
- Knock down open threes: In each of Chicago's last two losses, they have shot below 30 percent from behind the arc. Good teams knock down the the long ball between 35 and 40 percent of the time.
Miami Heat
- Keep offensive momentum going: The Heat have scored at least 105 points in four of the five games in their winning streak. Their season average of just over 99 points per game is evidence that Erik Spoelstra may have found a winning formula.
- Feed Waiters: The fifth-year veteran out of Syracuse has been red-hot as of late. He has hit the game-clinching jumper in back-to-back games. In Miami's 16 wins this year, Waiters has averaged 18 points per contest. In their 30 losses, Mr Waiters only averages just over 12 points per game.
Projected Bulls starting lineup
PG Jerian Grant, SG Dwyane Wade, SF Jimmy Butler, PF Taj Gibson, C Robin Lopez.
Projected Heat starting lineup
PG Goran Dragic, SG Dion Waiters, SF Luke Babbitt, PF James Johnson, C Hassan Whiteside.
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