The Miami Heat have always been associated with playing tough defense. In the current squad, Bam Adebayo has been a top-tier stopper for a long time with his versatility as a rim protector and a point-of-attack defender.
Adebayo is not the only top-tier defender on the roster, as Davion Mitchell has broken out as one of the very best perimeter stoppers on the team. He was always recognized as a stopper, dating back to his college days at Baylor and early years with the Sacramento Kings.
Mitchell's defense is on superstars' radars
Nicknamed "Off Night" for his elite defense, Mitchell has carved out a strong reputation for himself. He is a smaller player at 6'0", but Mitchell's physicality and defensive tenaciousness make him a tough matchup for every guard he defends.
On Saturday, the Heat played against the Minnesota Timberwolves, which meant Mitchell's matchup was superstar guard Anthony Edwards. Mitchell knew the weight of the matchup because he is playing against arguably the league's best shooting guard.
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However, Edwards himself has immense respect for Mitchell's defense. The Heat guard lived up to his reputation as a defensive matchup every player has to prepare for, because even Edwards was wary of him. Edwards still scored 33 points, but it was a tough night.
"I just try to get as much sleep as possible, because Davion Mitchell always gives me a hard time. I try to get in bed by like 9:30 PM because I know it's going to be a long day. He's going to chase me around, so I had to be ready," Edwards said after the Timberwolves' win against the Heat.
The Timberwolves respected the Heat's defense because they are one of the toughest teams to play against. Adebayo and Mitchell are already one of the best matchups in the league, and top teams like the Timberwolves respect that.
Even head coach Chris Finch is a big believer in the Heat. It is a tough matchup, even though they have a 19-16 record. They are the eighth seed, which is a bit rough so far, but the potential is there for them to make some noise.
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