Ryan Aston

The Miami Heat have seen their players log a myriad of epic postseason performances over the years. Dwyane Wade’s 42-point, 13-rebound effort during Game 3 of the 2006 NBA Finals immediately comes to mind (along with two or three other games from the series). Then there’s LeBron James against the Celtics/Nets, Tim Hardaway in a Game 7 against the Knicks, et al. However, no one -- including himself -- ever reached the heights that Jimmy Butler did during Game 4 of Miami’s first-round matchup w…

For a team that rated as one of the biggest disappointments in the Association during the regular season, the Miami Heat have done well to wipe out bad juju that surrounded them heading into postseason play. Despite losing Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo to devastating injuries, Erik Spoelstra’s squad may be on the verge of becoming just the sixth No. 8 seed ever to dispatch a No. 1 in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Still, getting to 3-1 against the top-seeded Bucks required Jimmy But…

Just two days after their heartbreaking Game 1 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, the Golden State Warriors managed to flip the script on their second-round series with LeBron James and his crew. And, as was the case when the Dubs have been at their best throughout the campaign, they did so on the back of a total team effort. Led by Klay Thompson, who scored a game-high 30 points and rained down eight three-point bombs, six Warriors players -- and all five starters -- finished in doub…

In a contest that got next-level sloppy at the end, Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo’s defensive brilliance continued to shine through during his team’s Game 4 win over the New York Knicks on Monday evening. In his 11 fourth-quarter minutes, the Knicks’ scoring pace slowed to an output of just 81 points per 100 possessions. “He has to do all of it,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Adebayo’s defensive workload following the win. “He has to play the pick and roll coverages, defend a great scorer i…

Thanks in large part to big efforts from Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins, the Golden State Warriors were able to stave off elimination in their second-round playoff series with the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, winning Game 5 by a 121-106 score. Anthony Davis’ absence down the stretch probably didn’t hurt matters, either. Davis, who scored 23 points on 10-of-18 shooting over 32 minutes of play, exited the court shortly after the eight-minute mark of quarter No. 4 when he caught an errant…

Depending on what happens over the next handful of days, the Golden State Warriors could potentially be hitting a fork in the road of their dynastic era. Should they win two games to close out their Western Conference Semifinal series with the Los Angeles Lakers, they’ll continue to be regarded as one of the NBA’s elite squads. Should they lose, however, the changes that many already feel are necessary could become sweeping in nature as the front office works to either give Stephen Curry the…

With a win in Boston on Thursday night, the Miami Heat will officially secure their return to the NBA Finals for the first time since their 2020 bubble run. Even so, it’s a safe bet that team president Pat Riley and his brain trust have eyes on the club’s future. To that end, Miami owns the 18th overall selection in the upcoming NBA Draft. And while some are of the opinion that the pick would be best used as an asset to include in a trade netting another star to play alongside Jimmy Butler an…

Unless they catch lightning in a bottle and make another Cinderella run to the NBA Finals, the Miami Heat are facing the prospect of undergoing serious roster changes over the summer. And even if the club does make it to the promised land, there are definitely some areas that should still be addressed. However, the team could also experience turnover in some other areas, too. Namely, on Erik Spoelstra’s coaching staff, where former baller-turned-assistant Chris Quinn may find himself with an…

Afamiliar face was back in his old digs when the Miami Heat-Milwaukee Bucks series moved over to Kaseya Center for Game 3 on Saturday. Namely, Goran Dragic, who spent parts of seven seasons with the Heat before getting sent out in the trade that netted Kyle Lowry in 2021. Entering the contest, Dragic had seen all of three minutes on the court versus his old team in the series, logging a pair of free throws and no other stats to speak of. And even he would admit that he’s no longer the guy who…

The first big fireworks of NBA free agency have dissipated and only a smattering of bona fide players remain available on the open market. Nevertheless, teams across the Association -- including the Golden State Warriors -- continue to work the phones. And with a handful of assets, tradeable contracts and open roster spots at their disposal, Dubs GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. and his brain trust still have the wherewithal to pull off a considerable trade (luxury tax constraints notwithstanding). Fo…