The Miami Heat dropped their home preseason opener to the Milwaukee Bucks 103-93.
It’s preseason, so the results don’t matter much. What does matter is that Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins and Nikola Jovic picked up right where they left off.
Powell tied a team-high with 18 points in 16 minutes, shooting 6-of-12 from the floor, 3-of-6 from 3-point range and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line. He added two rebounds and one assist — a lob pass to Andrew Wiggins in transition in the first quarter.
Powell, 32, was the primary beneficiary of the Heat playing fast. The 11-year vet is a quick decision-maker and was incredibly confident rising up in the halfcourt with his quick and high release. Powell may have forced a couple of contested 3-pointers through two games, but he’s taken what the defense has given him within the flow of offense — exactly what you want to see.
Second-year big Kel’el Ware also had 18 points to go along with 13 rebounds on 7-of-15 shooting in 23 minutes. Most of his scoring and rebounding came in the fourth quarter, when both teams were playing end-of-bench players.
Jovic scored nine points with eight rebounds and a team-high seven dimes in 23 minutes; Andre Wiggins had seven points on 3-of-7 shooting in 16 minutes while Jaime Jaquez Jr. had nine points, four rebounds, and three dimes on 3-of-6 shooting.
Miami had multiple encouraging performances from its regulars, albeit against a Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Bucks squad. Collectively, the percentages weren’t good. But Jovic, Wiggins, Powell, Bam Adebayo (5 PTS, 7 REB), Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel’el Ware combined to shoot 46 percent from the floor and 6-of-18 from distance.
What were your thoughts on Monday’s preseason home opener? Let us know in the comments!
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The truth is because so many guys are out it’s impossible to evaluate us. I’m just guessing in expressing my early concern. Also, it’s frustrating to see so many players injured. One of the impacts is it makes it hard to tell how good we are. Let’s hope this isn’t one of those seasons where a lot of injuries keep cropping up.
Yeah, for us to have any success this season at all, we can’t afford long absences by any of our top 7 players.
one significant player out tyler
just a preseason game, so I don’t want to get too worked up. But the Heat just got boatraced at home while starting their regular starters, playing against a Bucks team without Giannis. Looks like another 9-seed play-in season
We were without 5 guards and Simone. Team played well in the first half and played mainly non roster players in the second half. Surprised to see you this negative.
Sometimes it’s closer to appropriate. We are only inferring things at this point because it’s so early. But, early returns aren’t great.
Maybe our definition of realistic expectations is different. I believe this team can compete for a 5 or 6 seed. Just because I am optimistic does not mean that I am unrealistic or delusional. Right now I am just very happy to be watching my basketball team again.
Me too RC. Good to be watching our team again. And I get you.
I just want to be free to criticize when appropriate. There are times when our optimism doesn’t match the on court product. No, that doesn’t mean to pile on or jump to negative conclusions.
But it does mean to judge our front office’s efforts by our current product. If we are average or worse this year, it’s been too long since we were good to get upset when someone expresses their displeasure in some of the players we have brought in. Or to make excuses for them.
And, it’s also not enough to point to one successful signing and still remain a play in team. Powell is going to be good. And we definitely have some other good players. But, do we have enough of them compared to the rest of the league, that is the question. We shall see.
I know it was just one preseason game, but talent wise, Milwaukee, and they are just a fairly good team, but they appeared to have more than us and that’s taking into account our injured players. And I’m not talking about the scrubs, I’m talking about their first eight players against ours.
We are getting closer to competitiveness, and we are probably a little better than last year, but we appear to need more. Just my early opinion.
i think we are as good as orlando det.we were given a 20ppg player for nothing never understand that.we subtract a guy that caused bad defensive play.when u got 5 guys that can defend you will notice the difference 30.right there thats 5-7more wins from last year.go cats btw
That plus the increased pace should add up to at least 5 points per game. With solid closers that should add up to at least up to 10 more wins. 47 wins seems doable.
when u had 55 on the ct bam had to be peaking over there waiting for a blow by same with herro.we have defenders that will help so much.add norm team is def better.theres alot of tools in wares box he looks smooth on his jumpers id be dissapointed if he wasnt 15 12 guy.gotta see niko in reg season games last few years up and down
I agree Ware can definitely achieve that 15/12. I’d also be happy with 12/15.
If the team is not successful/ competitive, remember this was going to be a gap year anyway. If nothing else, it will clarify who needs to be included in the fire sale at the trade deadline and who should be kept moving forward.
i know this wont be popular id move bam for a good pg(morant)and let ware do his thing i think theres alot in his tool chest that can not be gotten to with bam playing 35mins.put jovic at the 4 hes 6 10 nice nba body
I’m open to trading any player if it tangibly helps the team.
And keep Herro? What you smokin? Move Herro and Wiggins for Morant instead and slide Nico into SF spot next to Bam and Ware.
nikos strong enough those serbs are tough suckers if bam shipped out wares 20 10 .dru and dav are backups on good nba teams both great kids great stories
Amen! There will be plenty of time for pessimism, negativity and hopelessness AFTER the real season starts. Meanwhile, I’m glad to see the progress some players are making in their development and looking forward to the new rotation and possibilities. Please allow some of us to have our moment of objectivity.
pre season means nothing to determine last few players who make team
scrubs played pretty much the whole 4th sir
Considering you said you weren’t excited for this season, I’ll give you credit for watching a preseason game. 🙂
Haha!
i know we cant win it all with jimmy never had that feeling
And what did that feeling get you? Nothing, at least relative to winning it all. His drama and lack of effort last season helped us to our third play-in in a row.
in every playoff series he played if not the best player the second best player on ct except maybe lebron ad.series.he got us to 2 finals and if riley had a decent 7 footer might have had two rings
If if if. If I was 6’4”, young and athletic, with a great basketball skill set, I’d be playing pg for the Heat. I’m not. Yes, he was a force in the playoffs, except against Denver when he was disappointing. He led the Heat to 2 straight play-ins and was the reason we ended up in the 3rd straight play-in.
Nothing from Bam, no Herro, no point guard playing. This is not the team will see at the end of October.
I can see a lot of positives. Minor disappointments are JJJ (but he doesn’t play his natural position), Bam, Ware (his effortless minutes), and rebounding.
I see a ray of hope from Jaquez. I’ll wait to pass judgement until the season starts. He looks better than when season ended. Interested in seeing how Rozier performs. Jury is still out on him too.
When goes inside, the defenders are stripping ball from him, as they did last year. I m not sure about 3p stroke. Seems the same as last year.
Jaquez is on his rookie contract so he still has time to develop, like Jovic has. Remember, Jaquez’ first year was better than Jovic’s third. Unless you are a gypsy with a crystal ball or know how to read Tarot cards, I think it’s still a little premature for you to predict what will happen.
Does that mean if they had won both practice games with scrubs primarily playing that you would consider Heat a top 4 team? ‘m reserving my judgement until the team is playing real games at full strength. But that’s just me.
P.S. I think you are mistaking the Heat for the Blazers.