Tag Archive for: Miami Heat

What is the Actual Issue with Miami’s Shooting?

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The Miami Heat had one of their poorest shooting nights in a very long time on Friday, going 0 for 14 from three in the first half.

Now, the issue with Miami is not the three point shooting specifically, since this won’t happen much. There will not be many times that Duncan Robinson shoots up 8 threes in a game and only makes one.

The actual issue is when you begin to dive into the numbers of their offense inside the three point line. Miami was one of the best three point shooting teams this past season, so it’s clear they must stick to their roots, especially when Duncan Robinson is on the floor.

But, three point shots are generated by the activity around the basket and mid-range area.

The Heat are currently 28th in the NBA in 2 point field goal attempts per game, and that can be problematic.

Now, you can point to the fact that Jimmy Butler has been out and he is the heart and soul of their offensive attack, but just because he’s not out there should not result in a lack of penetration.

You may also point to the turnover issues this team has endured, since that ultimately means they have less possessions offensively. That’s a reason Coach Spo alluded to getting “shots on goal” before their match-up with the Mavericks, but getting “shots in goal” may have been more effective.

Although these statements can be used as counters for being third to last in the NBA on two point attempts, it doesn’t make it any better. One of the main reasons the Golden State Warriors were effective from three is that they generated a lot of stuff from the mid-range and paint early on.

Now, to add on to that, Miami ranks 27th in shot attempts per game less than 5 feet from the basket. And that stat right there is the true tell.

Once again, Jimmy Butler is a big proponent of utilizing a floater in that area, but it still falls onto others. Bam Adebayo has been expanding his range little by little each game, which definitely is a positive, but at times he will be needed to attack. The reason his jumper has been discussed is to broaden his game a bit, so it will open up his ability to drive to the basket. We saw him do it a bit in the win over Milwaukee, and it’ll be needed going forward.

Bam shouldn’t be the only one to blame. Guys like Andre Iguodala settling for threes early in the game is not ideal, but if he would put the ball on the deck and get to the basket, opportunities will begin to form.

The point is that Miami’s three point shooting can be their biggest strength, but also their biggest downfall.

It just comes down to realizing what the defense is giving them. And since Duncan has made his way to the top of the scouting reports for other teams, getting inside the paint will maximize the play of both Duncan and everybody on the floor.

A lot of the top teams seem to be struggling to start the season, but the good thing about Miami’s struggles is that they’re visible.

Turnovers are the primary issue, followed by getting to the basket which leads to getting to the free throw line. And by the way, the Heat are in the middle of the pack in free throw attempts, which should take a leap once Jimmy gets his rhythm.

Either way, the Miami Heat have some things to clean up, but I don’t think they’re as dramatic as some people think they may be. It all comes down to their leader and star, Jimmy Butler, since he can take control of a game and a team when he needs to, and I feel like that is coming soon.

5 Takeaways from Heat’s Tough Loss to Mavericks

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The Miami Heat had an offensive night like no other, losing to the Dallas Mavericks. Shots weren’t falling, rhythm wasn’t forming, and nothing could go right. Although there only seems to be one overall takeaway from this game, here are five…

#1: Miami Heat or Miami Cold?

Well, it’s obvious that this would be the first takeaway from this game, since the Miami Heat did not hit one three in the first half. It seems as if the troubles change every game. It went from turnover issues to offensive issues, which I will say I definitely did not expect. Goran Dragic has been a guy that has helped Miami when they begin to struggle offensively, and not even he could save them in that first half. It’s not everyday you see Duncan Robinson shoot 5 threes in a half and not make a single one. Ball movement is probably one of the main points you can look to, since they had 4 assists in the first half. So, it was clearly the Miami Cold in the first half, or better yet the entire game.

#2: Tyler Herro comes out under control offensively, back into his role.

As discussed previously, Miami could not get any shots to fall early in the game, except for Tyler Herro. He continues to look like the Tyler Herro that we all know. One who is confident in his game and looks to score first when he has the ball in his hands. He looked good off of the pick and roll, specifically when Precious Achiuwa was setting the pick. He knows he can utilize the pull-up mid-range, but he also threw a nice lob to Precious under the goal, which may have been Miami’s first offensive spark. A second year Tyler Herro, who struggled in his first game or two, being the rock of their offense in a game like this is a very positive sign.

#3: Although the struggles were clear, Bam Adebayo gave it his all from the jump.

Now, there’s obviously not much to point to statistically in that first half performance, but Bam Adebayo definitely stood out when watching. He was playing with a level of energy that was needed in this type of game. That mostly was visible in his ability to run the floor once he grabbed the ball off the rim. He also knocked down some mid-range jumpers, and it seems as if every one of these takeaway pieces includes an improved jumper from the past game. Bam being the source of energy and offense in a game where Jimmy Butler returned is interesting, but it’s also promising for their young centerpiece.

#4: Precious Achiuwa looks good once again, while it seems as if the KZ Okpala unleashing is ways away.

Precious Achiuwa and KZ Okpala seem to get linked together quite a lot, since they were two of Miami’s most intriguing young projects heading into the season. And well, not many would’ve expected the rookie to get the edge. Precious played very well tonight once again, since as I’ve mentioned, he knows how to play to his own role without straying off. He set good screens, played good defense, active around the boards, and lurked around the rim for lobs. And in a game where Miami trailed for most of it, and were looking for some type of spark, KZ Okpala was never inserted. He may still need some time to grow and put his entire package together, and the key word there is “time.” If he isn’t getting any run in a game like this, it doesn’t seem like he will have a set role in the rotation any time soon.

#5: Jimmy Butler doesn’t appear to look like himself.

Jimmy Butler returned to play tonight after missing the past two games, but he clearly wasn’t himself. He didn’t have it going offensively, and more importantly he didn’t seem to have that same energy that we’re used to seeing with Jimmy. Now, you can categorize it as a bit of rust after taking some time off with the ankle, but I would expect more initiative from the team’s leader when the team struggles this way. When speaking about him offensively, he just had no rhythm at all and did not seem to get off of his feet much, but I guess the entire team didn’t have any offensive rhythm as well. Either way, it was a poor performance from Miami in this game, and the team’s best player and leader will always get looked at first, especially since he was 0-6 from the field. And I’m sure he will take accountability, but he just needs to be Jimmy for this team to strive.

Who Benefits Most from a Jimmy Butler Return?

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Jimmy Butler is probable for tonight’s match-up against the Dallas Mavericks, and although they came out with a win without him on Wednesday, he will clearly be needed today.

One thing that is always discussed when talking about Jimmy Butler is his impact when on the floor. That was obvious after Miami got obliterated by Milwaukee on the first night of the back to back, since most of the guys just don’t seem comfortable when he’s not on the floor with them.

Every single player benefits when Jimmy shares the floor with them. It allows Goran Dragic to take less of a load from the last game and it gives Bam Adebayo added security on the defensive end.

But who profits the most from his return?

Well, that would most likely be Duncan Robinson. When people discuss the player that helps Duncan out the most, the name Bam Adebayo usually comes up, and rightfully so since the dribble hand-offs they run are un-matched.

But Jimmy Butler being on the court opens up the floor for Duncan tremendously. The word gravity is always tied with Duncan, but it should be tied with Butler as well, since the worry he puts on a defense when putting his head down to attack should not be understated.

Not many on this team attack the basket at the level of Jimmy Butler, except for maybe Goran Dragic, but he’s usually not looking to create for others on the perimeter when he drives in.

In the first game without Jimmy, Duncan was 1-4 from three, and followed that up the next day going 2-4 from three.

Only attempting four threes is something that must change for Duncan going forward, since he is their key to a successful offense. But just watch how many shot attempts Robinson gets up tonight when Jimmy returns.

Jimmy Butler will probably have to guard one of the leagues brightest young stars, Luke Doncic, tonight at times, so it’s clear somebody will need to step up on the offensive end to take the load off of him.

And I would expect that guy to be Duncan Robinson.

The Real Reason Tyler Herro Shined Against Milwaukee

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Twenty-One points. Fifteen rebounds. Four assists.

That is what Tyler Herro put up on the second night of a back to back against Milwaukee.

It’s a known fact that the overall game of Tyler revolves solely around the self confidence he has in his scoring ability with the ball in his hands.

Although the big discussion as of late has been about his point guard skills, scoring is his natural ability, and he needs to play to his biggest strength.

We already know Tyler can score the ball like he did last night, but the biggest takeaway from that game was the exact spots and times he thrives as a play-maker.

He’s just not a natural point guard, which means he’s not the type of player that comes out the gate trying to get everybody in their spots. When the passing begins to be on display is when he gets into a rhythm with his scoring.

When the ball begins to go into the basket, his confidence rises. His body language tells you that automatically, since he begins to be on his toes a bit more, and has a burst of energy.

Now, another thing with his play-making is that he thrives as a passer on the fast-break or from full-court, more than he does in the half-court offense, as I mentioned during the game yesterday.

But why is that?

Well, it just plainly comes down to instinctive decisions. When he makes passes when running the break or from full-court, he just does it without thinking. But when he has the ball in his hands in the half-court trying to create for others, it seems as if he overthinks things at times.

As Tyler said after last night’s win, “I don’t think it has anything to do with point guard or shooting guard.” It just comes down to his primary mindset heading in to be a scoring one, and the passing will bounce off of that.

Erik Spoelstra seems to be putting Tyler Herro in these unique spots to test his limits, and see what he is truly capable of growing into. But now it seems as if he has realized that everything else is secondary.

Miami has a bunch of defensive guys on this roster who can rattle an opposing offense, but Tyler will be needed to take the reigns of the offense and do what he does best, which is putting the ball in the basket.

5 Takeaways from Heat’s Victory over Bucks

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The Miami Heat came out in the second night of a back to back against Milwaukee with a purpose. The Heat went from being offensively dominated in yesterday’s game, to utilizing their defensive grittiness with their unique lineups. A couple players shined with Jimmy Butler out, but here are five takeaways from this game….

#1: Turnovers strike early once again, but intensity balances it out.

One of the biggest issues early in yesterday’s game against Milwaukee was turnovers. The same thing happened tonight, except the intensity Miami brought on the defensive end kept them in it. The Bucks had trouble capitalizing on those turnovers since Miami made them play in a half court offense since they love to run. Miami’s defensive starting trio, Bam Adebayo, Avery Bradley, and Andre Iguodala, made this into a gritty defensive game, which plays into Miami’s favor. The turnover issue obviously means some are being careless with the ball, but it seems inevitable on a position-less team. Tyler Herro is still trying to get adjusted to that position, while Bam Adebayo had to take a leap in his offensive load. It was bound to happen, but it needs to be cleaned up quick.

#2: Bam Adebayo begins to play like Bam Adebayo.

After some interesting comments that began to loom about Bam Adebayo on the first night of the back to back, Bam came out with a purpose. For one, he attempted 7 shots in yesterday’s game, but attempted 9 shots in the first half tonight. And that’s all people can ask for. More importantly, he played to his role much better than the night prior, bringing much more intensity on both ends. Although we can discuss the capabilities Bam has in his arsenal, right now he has a certain role that he plays to, and the team needs him to play to. They are very capable of winning basketball games in that fashion, but Jimmy Butler being out makes that a bit harder. But increased shot attempts and offensive aggression is all you can ask for at the moment.

#3: Andre Iguodala and Avery Bradley starting insertions cause defensive disruption.

It was expected that the starting lineup would change after Milwaukee got off to a 12-0 run in last night’s game. They decided to insert Avery Bradley and Andre Iguodala into the starting lineup, and it was very effective. I’ve mentioned quite a few times in the past that Avery and Andre seem to play very well on the floor together on the defensive end, since both are high IQ defenders who are huge disruptions with their hands. And after an NBA record shooting the basketball from the Milwaukee Bucks, it was clear defense would be a priority. It’s also a huge positive going forward, since most effective lineups for Miami have to include either Jimmy Butler or Goran Dragic. But finding a lineup that can make some noise, while Goran and Jimmy can rest, will end up being very useful for Miami.

#4: Goran Dragic picks up the offensive load once again.

I expected that Goran Dragic would need to pick up the slack from Jimmy Butler on the offensive end, since losing a veteran that attacks the basket is pretty huge. And after getting some time off in yesterday’s blowout, it was obvious he’d be out on the court for quite some time. It’s continually mentioned that Goran always finds a way to get Miami out of their tough spots, and he battled to do it once again. As discussed prior, turnovers were an issue early in this game, so having Goran take control of the offense was essential. Same thing occurred in the beginning of the second half, since Dragic checked in and got right to work. Some big time triples early in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference maker as well. Not many expected Goran to have this much of a load this early in the season, but it seems necessary for this team at the moment.

#5: Tyler Herro shines with an impressive overall stat-line.

There’s one overall takeaway from Tyler Herro’s performance in tonight’s game: He played like Tyler Herro. At times in the first few games, he seemed uncomfortable with his new role, since it obviously takes time to get acclimated. But is it about getting acclimated or playing to his strengths? In my opinion, he just needs to do what he does best which is score the basketball in a confident manner. You can just tell when he begins to get into a rhythm offensively, and that is when his play-making abilities begin to shine. There’s a reason he seems to be a better play-maker on the break than in the half-court. And that’s because his passes are instinctive on the break. Everybody is aware that Tyler is a completely different player when playing with confidence, so his indecisiveness will need to fade away for him to thrive.

5 Takeaways from Heat’s Blowout Loss to Milwaukee

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It was clearly a tough night for the Miami Heat, in a blowout loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on the first night of a back to back. The Milwaukee Bucks were scorching on the offensive side of the ball all night, but Miami obviously have some things that need to be touched up as well. Either way, here are five takeaways…

#1: Early turnovers occur for Miami, which is problematic against Milwaukee especially.

It’s no secret that Miami played pretty poorly early in this game against Milwaukee, and one thing the Bucks do is take advantage of your mistakes. Well, that’s exactly what they did, getting out to a 12-0 lead to begin the game. Milwaukee loves to run the floor, and when turnovers begin to occur carelessly, that is what they will automatically begin to do. Now, not having Jimmy Butler plays a huge role in turnover issues, due to losing a primary play-maker, but there’s still no excuse for sloppy basketball. Luckily, Miami gets to hit the floor against the same team, in the same building, tomorrow night, and it’s clear that Erik Spoelstra will be ready to make adjustments.

#2: Tyler Herro gets into an offensive rhythm, which may be only positive from this game.

If there was anything good to takeaway from this game, it was that Tyler Herro finally looked like Tyler Herro. He seemed to lack a bit of confidence in his overall offensive game in the first two regular season games, which is unusual for Tyler. One thing I’ve mentioned is that it’ll take some time for him to get acclimated to his role in the starting lineup, and it still may take a little bit longer. But getting his shooting and scoring going was a huge step. It seemed that he was unsure if he wanted to pass or shoot at times to begin the season, but he just needs to play to his natural talent which is scoring the basketball. All he needed was one performance like this to get him rolling, which is why this is the positive takeaway from this game.

#3: Bam Adebayo lacks initiative on offense, mostly with reluctant jumper.

It’s very different discussing Bam Adebayo after a game in a type of negative connotation, but he just plainly was not himself. In a game that Jimmy Butler wasn’t playing, it was going to be essential that he took initiative on offense to not just direct traffic with his passing, but also scoring the ball. He had plenty of open mid-range jumpers early in the game, but he just refused to even look toward the basket at times. It feels as if people have been saying this for quite some time now, but it just comes down to confidence with his jumper. I expected him to attack the basket early in the game, but that did not occur either. But as I mentioned previously, Miami will face off against Milwaukee in a little less than 24 hours, and I’m sure we will see a much more aggressive Bam tomorrow.

#4: Avery Bradley looks impressive on both ends once again.

Although there aren’t many positives from this blowout loss to Milwaukee, I can’t let Avery Bradley’s individual performance go unnoticed. He played for the first time with the Miami Heat on Christmas Day, and was a big reason for their win over the Pelicans after shutting down JJ Redick. But once again, Avery showed flashes throughout that he can make some noise with one-on-one defense by beating over screens and things of that nature. He also didn’t look too bad offensively, showing that he has the ability to knock down the three, as well as get to the mid-range area and utilize his floater. It’s hard to discuss him shining on both ends in a game where they’re trailing by 30 for most of the night, but just know Avery will win Miami some games throughout this season.

#5: The importance of Jimmy Butler shines tonight.

One broad takeaway from this game against Milwaukee was that the impact of Jimmy Butler is greater than you may have thought. Everybody knows what Jimmy does for this team, but just his presence on the floor is impact alone. As I mentioned before, losing his play-making tonight plays a huge role in this game. One example is Duncan Robinson, since it’s clear that Jimmy’s ability to attack the basket allows Duncan to get some room on the perimeter. The same goes for everybody on the floor though, since the entire team is just much more comfortable when Jimmy is on the floor. But as the players have said in their press conferences, it is next man up. It just comes down to that next man playing Miami Heat basketball.

The Weight on the Shoulders of Goran Dragic Once Again

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Heading into this season, there were a lot of uncertainties surrounding Goran Dragic, due to his injury. And somehow, he was out there ready to go for the start of the season.

But would you expect anything else from Goran?

Probably not considering his will to play in the Finals game after his injury.

The consensus with Goran this season was that he’d take his time working himself in, and possibly take a decrease in minutes for the beginning of the regular season.

But well, that clearly wasn’t the case. He played 25 minutes in the season opener and scored 20 points, then played 27 minutes in the second game and scored 18 points.

He was the rock of the team once again, getting them out of tough spots while being the most consistent offensive weapon on the team.

And now he’s heading into the third game of the season with Heat star, Jimmy Butler, out. It was known all last season that it was necessary to stagger Jimmy and Goran’s minutes since everything was under control when one was on the floor.

The motto between coaches and players on this team has been next man up. But ultimately that next man up needs their steady veteran.

This does not mean that Goran will get overplayed, since keeping him healthy is obviously priority, but it’s hard to hold Dragic back.

If Miami begins to struggle to get things going offensively, Goran will make sure to step onto that court to take control.

Miami has plenty of guys that are waiting for their chance, and now it’s time for the depth to be utilized. But once again, Goran will be necessary for those guys to strive.

And I have no doubt he will be out there as much as needed to try and get these games against Milwaukee.

Not many expected Goran to be in this spot this early in the season, but here he is. Ready to step up once again.

Could the KZ Okpala Unleashing Happen Now? I Believe So

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KZ Okpala is one of the most intriguing players on this Heat team, mostly since everybody seems to be fascinated with the unknown. But we kind of do know what he’s capable of, after his big time scoring display in the preseason.

Many have been wondering when he will get his chance to shine in this rotation, and I believe that opportunity comes now.

Miami will be facing the Milwaukee Bucks in a back to back home-stand starting tomorrow night, and it seems as if there is no better time for him to get some run. And here’s why.

For starters, there hasn’t been an update on the injury status of Jimmy Butler, and since it’s a back to back, I’d expect him to sit out at least one of those games.

That obviously means there’s an opening at the wing position, which makes me think he could get thrown in off the bench for some spark minutes.

And even if Jimmy Butler played both games, I believe we see some minutes for him. Back to backs are always when the depth comes alive, especially with a turnaround as quick as the Miami Heat just went through.

Also, this is the first bundled up set of games that the Miami Heat are going into. And as I’ve mentioned quite a lot, it’s a circumstance where Erik Spoelstra can strive with his creativity.

That includes changing the rotation from one night to the next, by possibly inserting KZ Okpala.

There are tons of reasons why this back to back against Milwaukee seems to be Okpala’s first real NBA opportunity with something to prove.

And if the coaching staff wants to get another good look at him, why not throw him out there against one of the best players in today’s NBA, in Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Losing Jae Crowder in the off-season hurts the ability to overpower Giannis with physical bodies. But if KZ emerges by playoff time, he may be a key piece to stopping the league’s MVP.

Opportunities come pretty quickly on this Heat team right now. Just ask rookie Precious Achiuwa.

If KZ gets his chance over the next two days, there’s a possibility he may earn his spot for good.

A Look Into the Impact of Duncan Robinson

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Some people think they know who Duncan Robinson is as a player. A guy who can knock down 7 threes in a game on the big stage on Christmas Day.

But that’s not who he really is. More importantly he’s a guy that impacts winning.

30 seconds into the second quarter, Duncan knocked down his 5th three of the game. And yes that’s right, his fifth.

It’s clear that the number of threes made at that point is impressive in itself, but what that led to was the true definition of Duncan Robinson.

After that shot to begin the second quarter, I tweeted to watch what happens for the rest of the team from that point on. And well, Miami went on a 27-7 run after that shot.

And by the way, that is not a coincidence. When an opposing team has one guy who hit five threes on them in only 12 minutes of play, adjustments are made.

But that’s exactly what Miami wants.

The reason the word gravity is associated with Duncan is because of that very reason.

In that 27-7 run, almost all of their points came from a layup, dunk, or the free throw line. This is when guys like Goran Dragic, Jimmy Butler, and Bam Adebayo can begin to do what they do best, which is attack the basket in the open floor.

We often discuss spacing being essential for the production of Duncan on offense, but spacing is actually much more beneficial for the rest of the team once created by Duncan.

This offense relies on Duncan, not to hit seven threes in a game, which can happen on any given night, but actually to just be a decoy at times so others can thrive.

And not to get back into past trade packages, but that is why this team will hold on to Duncan for as long as they can.

He’s more than a piece. He’s more than an asset. Duncan Robinson still is making leaps, even if he is already 26 years old. The guy is just absolutely special.

27-7 run. That run can be the difference in a playoff game. And 7 threes can also be the difference in a playoff game.

He’s playing at a very high level at the moment, while many of his peers haven’t even gotten going. So just wait til the starting lineup begins to click.

And that offensive chemistry will have a lot to do with impact of Duncan Robinson.

Miami’s Bench Unit: The Reliable Four

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In the Miami Heat’s Christmas Day win over the New Orleans Pelicans, we finally got some clarity about this Heat team.

Although lineups and rotations will change constantly, this game showed who the 9 man rotation will ultimately include. The fifth player in the starting lineup is interchangeable, but the first four off the bench will most likely remain the same.

And rightfully so, since that second unit kept them going in yesterday’s game, since they have the perfect balance of scoring and defense.

Goran Dragic has a lot to do with the success of that second unit, since he just calms everybody down when he steps on the floor, and can control the pace of the game. He also is a scoring threat from all three levels, and he has proved this far that he’s one of Miami’s most consistent go to scorers.

Precious Achiuwa is another reserve that was surprising, since not many expected that he would be getting this many minutes to start the season. Not only does he have zero experience at this level, but he’s been playing like he has the most experience. He is under more control than most guys on the roster, since he knows how to play his individual role at a high level.

The connection between Goran and Precious has been obvious as well, since Goran seems to have made it a priority to get Precious touches and set him up in his spots. Bam mentioned that in his post-game press conference, that Goran wants to get Precious involved as much as possible.

Now, although Goran and Precious are the most intriguing names to discuss off the bench, Andre Iguodala and Avery Bradley were the two guys that truly stood out in my opinion.

For starters, individually Andre did what he does best offensively by being the unselfish distributor, but also knocked down the occasional corner three which increases his value even more. Avery was huge on offense as well, hitting the three ball when needed, but more importantly taking that one step inside the three point line since that is his strength.

Both players had great Christmas Day performances individually, but they stood out even more as a duo. They were causing defensive havoc on the perimeter in yesterday’s game, since both of them are so active with their hands on the ball. JJ Redick couldn’t get an ounce of open space all game with Avery’s off ball defense, while Iguodala’s ability to switch made it that much better.

The reason this group of guys work so well together is because they have a great deal of chemistry, which is odd since it includes a free agent signing and a rookie. If the continuity is this high right now, just give them a few weeks.

The second unit worked best when the fifth guy was either Tyler Herro or Duncan Robinson, since adding an extra offensive threat on the perimeter maximizes their play.

The reason I call them the reliable four is because even when the starters seem to struggle, they all go out there and play their own game consistently. Miami has something special with this bench unit, and it’s why many have been raving about their depth.

Once the starting lineup gets in a flow, since they haven’t yet, this Heat team will be even more intriguing than last years team.