(Photo via Miami Heat/X)
Following the Miami Heat’s 120-104 preseason loss on Sunday, they became the only team in the league to have an 0-4 record for this year’s preseason.
Yes, preseason doesn’t really matter besides to just experiment with lineups and combinations. Starters don’t usually play more than 15-20 minutes. In this game’s case, each of Bam Adebayo, Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins and Nikola Jovic were all out entirely.
But the Orlando Magic also had their star duo of Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane rested. It was essentially a matchup against each team’s respective benches and g-league talent.
Unfortunately for Miami, there hasn’t been much encouraging play from their youngsters. They currently only have two of their three two-way roster spots filled. And nobody has really stood out to make a case for themselves to earn that final spot.
Jahmir Young totaled 18 points on 6 of 11 shooting off the bench. That was about it from solid performances off the bench in Orlando.
Coach Erik Spoelstra went with a first unit of Davion Mitchell, Pelle Larsson, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel’el Ware. Larsson totaled 14 points on the night, but the main storyline came from the continued dominance of Ware.
The 7-foot big man put up a 24/10 double-double to go along with 2 steals in just 25 minutes. He also shot an efficient 9 of 17 from the field and 2 of 4 from 3-point range. Ware additionally knocked down all four of his free throws, and really looked like the only bright spot of the entire game— despite his -12 plus/minus.
The Heat struggled the most in this preseason matchup in the rebounding battle, where the Magic had the 60-41 edge. They also struggled to shoot the 3-ball, going just 27% as a team.
Outside of Ware’s statline, and Mitchell making his season debut (2 points and 2 assists in 10 minutes), this was a preseason outing to forget. Miami is now a league worst 0-4 and 0-2 against the in-state rival Orlando alone.
They will have another chance to secure the first preseason win on Monday in the second night of a back-to-back versus the Atlanta Hawks.
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Can somebody explain to me why, in a meaningless preseason game where you play so many future SkyForce players, that Vlad gets zero minutes? The other 2-way player, Gardner, has played in every game, I think.
I don’t know the answer. However, I do know Miami is very ill prepared to go into the season with Bam and Ware as their only legit big men. If either one goes down, the whole season is f’d. Riley still hasn’t traded for a ss or a big as we concluded they would need to be serious contenders. If those two issues are not addressed, I see a possible tank coming on in the not-to-distant future.
We need to hang on with what we have till all star game. Sooner or later a decent center will be available.
1) What if one or both (Bam and/or Ware) go down due to injury. What is your Plan B? Who do you start Precious and/or Jovic?
2) What if Miami starts off with a really bad record after 20-30 games with both Bam and Ware getting 30+ minutes? Kind of late to start looking for solutions then. Wouldn’t you agree.
3) Thus my speculation that a tank (including a fire sale) may begin well before the all-star game.
4) If that happens, I think everyone except Ware, Bam and Jakucionis will be on the table/available for the right price.
I would say that he is not the type of center to have any chance against Orlando bigs.