Read More: https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article267221552.html
It was only the preseason, but could it have gone any better for the Miami Heat?
Bam Adebayo seems poised for the best season of his career, Tyler Herro looks like he’s going to be worth every bit of his new contract, Caleb Martin played like a starting power forward and even Nikola Jovic looks ready to help out in South Florida this season.
Now, the regular season is here and the Heat Check podcast is back to discuss what is for real, what might be a mirage and what we learned from Miami’s five preseason tune-ups. David Wilson and Anthony Chiang, the Heat beat writer for the Miami Herald, break down the big lessons ahead of Miami’s opener against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday at FTX Arena.
Most of those lessons came from the Heat’s preseason finale, a 120-103 win against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday in Miami. Coach Erik Spoelstra treated it as a dress rehearsal before the start of the regular season and the Heat ran through it near flawlessly.
The projected starting lineup of point guard Kyle Lowry, All-Star forward Jimmy Butler, Herro, Martin and Adebayo outscored the Pelicans, 60-48. Adebayo led the way with 25 points in 25 minutes and finished the preseason with 64 points in 74 minutes. Herro wasn’t far behind, scoring 23 points, and finishing the preseason at 52 percent from the field and 58 percent from three-point range. Jovic even got a brief chance to play with Lowry, Herro, Butler and Adebayo — an indication as to how much he has impressed Spoelstra since Miami took him with the No. 27 pick in the 2022 NBA draft.
All of these are good signs. The question is how much are they a sign of what’s to come in the 2022-23 NBA season.
Video by Miami Herald Sports
More from the Miami Herald:
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/miamiherald
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MiamiHerald
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/miamiherald/
Website: https://www.miamiherald.com/
8 Comments
Tyler is not a Devin Booker type of player or the next Devin Booker, he's the first Tyler Herro type of player.
I think he’s always been a sharp shooter here though, according to spo he might have one of the best training camp records
He came into the league already an elite shooter he's gonna be so much more this season as a starter
The Heat are deep at all positions and can rotate 11 or 12 players depending on match ups and back to backs. Oladipov and Vincent at the point for Kyle, strus Duncan jovic for Herro Jimmy and Caleb and dedmon and yurtseven for bam. We can go big or small, stretch the floor on offense and lock down on defense. The East is loaded but we can make the conference finals again
This is good stuff..appreciate you. I would say Gabe can for sure organise the 2nd unit though..I expect him to be the next Van Fleet …eventually😀
I feel like Bam is finally speeding up his decision making. It looks like he has a 2 to 3 second count now & if he doesn’t see a pass he’ll find his own shot. Finally! If that sticks he’ll be a beast this season.
Sorry but herro always been a good shooter from college till now
I don't know why you guys are undervaluing Tyler hero when Jimmy Butler himself said they are going to go as far this year as Tyler hero and Bam takes them. And there doesn't have to be a first second third best player there can be three badasses. So why not choose faith and simply believe that we are going to have three true elite all stars playing ball Hooping this year for us? Why not think like the very players you are fans of? I don't know I guess because you're trying to be journalists but are subject to fan narratives, potentially tainting that objectivity, oh what do I know I'm not God right so don't listen to me but I have faith in Tyler hero that kid is going to be special because he already has been special. This is what I don't understand about all the hate he has received this off season from our fans and a lot of the podcasters also. You guys are professionals so I've never seen you guys troll him and for that I thank you but there are a lot of podcasts there's that have been blasting him all year. End of rant … Lol