” It was Max, it started with him […] Max has been… Max did Max! I would like to say more! » Kevin Love can laugh about itthe veteran knows how much his teammate Max Strus did the Heat some good last night.
In Round 3 between Miami and New York, he acted as the third man behind figureheads Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
Author of a 3-point basket after having dribbled back in the corner, the winger followed up with a counter attack from Jalen Bruson then a counter-attack ended in “finger roll”. A few possessions later, the same Kevin Love signed a new raise, which he masters so well, towards Max Strus for a dunk still on the counterattack.
Without forcing, he scored 9 of his 19 points (7/14 on shots including 3/10 from 3-pointers) in this first quarter. “Offensively, he gives us a real spark. He’s a competitor. We knew and we know that, against this team, a lot of guys have to put their mark on the game.appreciates Erik Spoelstra.
Ready to take over
The Heat coach also stops on his commitment on the other side of the field, in what looks like the definition of a “3&D”: “ He does a lot of good things in defense, whether in physical impact, screens and rebounds. And if he doesn’t take them, he can deflect the ball to another. »
His 19 points in this part marks his best outing since the start of the playoffs. Established like last season in the last few weeks, the undrafted player had signed a discreet first round against the Bucks with just over 6 points on average.
This series against the Knicks seems to allow him to find colors. In Game 2, without Jimmy Butler and despite lower back pain, he had already planted 17 points. ” We really wanted this game and I think we should have won. He was in our hands and we let him go. It’s tough but playing without our best player has been inspiring “, then dropped the 27-year-old player.
” A lot of guys want bigger roles, to raise their game and help the team win. They are looking forward to opportunities like this. We are all competitors. These kinds of opportunities do not scare us. So we will raise the level when the team needs it », had promised the shooter who walks the talk right now for a Heat that lost Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo in these playoffs.
| Max Strus | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2019-20 | CHI | 2 | 3 | 66.7 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.5 |
| 2020-21 | MIA | 39 | 13 | 45.5 | 33.8 | 66.7 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 6.1 |
| 2021-22 | MIA | 68 | 23 | 44.1 | 41.0 | 79.2 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 10.6 |
| 2022-23 | MIA | 80 | 28 | 41.0 | 35.0 | 87.6 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 11.5 |
| Total | 189 | 23 | 42.7 | 37.1 | 82.0 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 10.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
