NBA 2024-25: takes place at the Kaseya Center in Miami Miami Heat–NY Knicks, two of the most accredited teams to obtain a place in the top positions of the Eastern Conference. Jimmy Butler against Jalen Brunsonwho will win?
Miami Heat-NY Knicks: the comparison between the two teams
Miami Heat [2-1]: signs of recovery
After the first match of the season played by the Miami Heat everyone was ready to point the finger again Jimmy Butler and teammates, guilty of not putting the right effort into Regular Season matches.
In the match lost 97-116 at home against the Orlando Magic the team seemed to be in clear difficulty, especially from a scoring point of view. The main face of the Heat, Jimmy Butlerhad even finished with just 3 points, Adebayo with 9 e Herro with 14. There have been many criticisms received, but the team of Erik Spoelstra he let the field do the talking.
After the unfortunate first match, two victories followed, even convincing ones, albeit against opponents who were not top tier like the Charlotte Hornets (per 114-106) ed i Detroit Pistons. (for 106-98). Butler reacted with two games of 26 and 23 points, proving to everyone that if put in the crosshairs of critics he brings out his best version.
Between the main protagonists of this start to the season in Miami there is, without a shadow of a doubt, Terry Rozier. Up to this point he has been the most consistent player on the team, both in terms of goalscoring and presence during matches. 19-20-22 points for the former Charlotte Hornets, currently the team’s best scorer.
The Heat’s goal is to secure a quiet place in the Play-Offsalso because at roster level they start slightly behind some teams in the Eastern Conference. Recovery signalsbut everything will depend on how the team decides to play during the course of the season.
The Knicks [1-2]: something is still wrong
I New York Knicks seen in the last season gave rise to only positive signs in view of this new one. The roster is among the longest and most complete in the league, with some players definitively consecrated to absolute superstars, such as Jalen Brunson.
At the beginning of October came the trade that shocked everyone, both in New York and Minneapolis: Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo they flew in the direction Minnesota Timberwolvescon Karl-Anthony Towns who did the reverse route.
The Knicks thus started with all the odds at the beginning of the season, applying together with the Milwaukee Bucks as the second/third force of the Eastern Conference, behind the usual ones Boston Celtics.
What we have seen so far, however, does not best reflect these sensations. The negative record matured with two defeats against “direct” opponents for the top positions in the East, such as i Boston Celtics precisely and i Cleveland Cavaliers. If a decline could be expected against the former (in the match played on the NBA opening night), against Donovan Mitchell and comrades no.
Jalen Brunson it still seems a little tarnished, and not exactly what we saw in the previous Play-Offs. Towns he seems to have integrated reasonably well, but in the implementation phase much more is asked of him than the 15.3 average points recorded up to now. Mikal Bridges after an anonymous start he seems to have recovered (21-19 points in the last two).
It is clear that something is still wrong: it will serve the team much more than Tom Thibodeau to be able to compete at higher levels.
The match prediction
The match between Miami Heat and NY Knicks promises to be very beautiful to look at and very balanced on paper, as the various lines available also suggest. THE New York Knicks start as slight favorites, exclusively because they have a longer and more complete roster, despite not having started very well in this new season.
Personally I would consider a under total scoreas two of the best defenses in the Eastern Conference face off. If I really had to lean towards one of the two teams I would prefer the Knicksperhaps evaluating them with a few favorable spread points (+4.5/5.5).
Pay attention to the points line Terry Rozier, the best of his team at the start of the season and who scored 34 points in the last Miami Heat-NY Knicks match.
