The day has finally come— the Miami Heat will gear up for their long awaited 2024-25 season opener. They will be hosting the in-state rival Orlando Magic inside the newly renovated “Pat Riley court at Kaseya Center.” There is also a new fireball scoreboard in the arena, along with a rejuvenated Heat roster ready to go.
It was a longer offseason than usual, as Miami suffered an early first round exit to the reigning champion Boston Celtics last playoffs. The roster and depth chart will look vastly different from the last game to conclude this past season. Jimmy Butler, Terry Rozier and Duncan Robinson are all back to 100% health.
Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo are looking to continue taking leaps in their games, along with Nikola Jovic and Jaime Jaquez Jr. continuing their development. Outside of the main core, newly signed Alec Burks will make his regular season Heat debut. Either him or Dru Smith will be playing at the backup point guard in relief of Rozier with the second unit.
Josh Richardson, the only other option for that role in the depth chart, is listed as out with a heel injury after suffering season-ending shoulder surgery earlier this year.
It also looks like veteran Kevin Love has secured the backup big minutes during preseason, leaving rookie Kel’el Ware to take a more patient development approach. A wildcard to the bench comes with Haywood Highsmith, who was re-signed to a two year deal during the summer. His 3 and D efforts will provide valuable minutes as a role player to supplement the Heat’s core.
The expected Heat rotation is as followed:
- PG: Rozier, Burks, Smith (two-way)
- SG: Herro, Robinson, Richardson
- SF: Butler, Jaquez Jr, Pelle Larsson
- PF: Jovic, Highsmith
- C: Adebayo, Love, Bryant, Ware
Tonight’s game will feature Paolo Banchero leading the Magic, an All-Star caliber talent and rising superstar in this league. Containing him will pose as the biggest challenge on Miami’s scouting report. It will also be the debut for the Magic’s free agent acquisition of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. They have nobody listed on their injury report.
Offense and availability have been the main priorities for the Heat to improve on heading into the new season. Fans will get a first look at witnessing these elements following a successful preseason in this regard. Miami finished with a 4-1 record, good for a tie in first place with the Celtics and New York Knicks.
Moving forward, the games will be aired on the new FanDuel Sports Network Sun, rather than Bally Sports. Tip off is set for 7:30 PM EST with Eric Reid and John Crotty.
Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):
Miami Heat:
- Josh Richardson (heel) — OUT
Orlando Magic:
- None
Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):
Miami Heat:
- Terry Rozier, G
- Tyler Herro, G
- Jimmy Butler, F
- Nikola Jovic, F
- Bam Adebayo, C
Orlando Magic:
- Jalen Suggs, G
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, G
- Franz Wagner, F
- Paolo Banchero, F
- Wendell Carter Jr, C
Broadcast Info:
- Tipoff: 7:30 PM EST
- TV: FanDuel Sports Network Sun (Eric Reid & John Crotty)
- Radio: AM 560 Sports WQAM & The HEAT Radio Network (Jason Jackson)
- Spanish Radio: WAQI 710 AM & The HEAT Spanish Radio Network (José Pañeda)
Come back to Hot Hot Hoops at game time to join our GameThread and chat about the game live with other Heat fans!
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I got to admit that even after watching them have some success in preseason I still don’t trust the starting backcourt of Terry and Tyler on the defensive end.
I just think that the starting lineup would be better served with a great point of attack defender/wing defender like Highsmith in the backcourt in place of Terry or Tyler.
I also think there are just too many mouths to feed with our 4 best scorers playing in the same unit.
I believe it could lead to some confusion and hesitation on the players part with one player Jovic being the only player in that unit who fully knows his role on the offensive end.
I just think the team would be much better balanced offensively and defensively with one of Tyler or Terry coming off the bench.
I initially had Tyler as the one coming off the bench but after watching his newfound commitment to setting up his teammates in the preseason I now think that he should remain in the starting lineup and that Terry should be the one coming off the bench.
This move would give us a bigger and better rebounding unit that’s pretty stout defensively and could switch 1-5 and there would be no confusion with that lineup, everybody would know their roles.
Plus being the better 3 point shooter of the two Tyler would provide better spacing for Jimmy and Bam.
He also has very good chemistry with Jovic, they had one of the highest 2 man net ratings on the team last season.
Meanwhile Terry could be scary again doing his thing off the bench -which is how he got that title in the first place- playing with the 2nd unit.
He would get to play his game without having to think to hard about his role and Spo could give some mins to Kel’el as a backup 5 because now he would have someone to get him the ball.
With all that said though I hope the Terry, Tyler starting backcourt works out well because I’m a heat fan first and I want them to have nothing but good health and success.
While it seems the Herro/Rozier backcourt is set to at least begin the season, you make a very strong point.
Good post with some compelling stuff. Let’s hope Herro and Terry tear it up but you definitely have my ear if they don’t
Just how competitive has Miami been in the Butler, Bam, Herro, Robinson era?
Miami has lost in the playoffs to the eventual NBA Champions in 4 of the last 5 years.
In the 5th year (2022), they lost in the ECFs to the eventual NBA runner up (Boston).
Finally. Good luck tonight. I ll watch the game tomorrow.