Photo via Miami Heat

The Miami Heat entered Thursday’s game seeking a seventh consecutive win. The last they lost? Against the Brooklyn Nets, who was their opponent again on Thursday. Miami struggled early in the game on offense. The ball wasn’t moving, and Miami was forced to take tough shots. But Miami would get better as the game went on. They went on a 14-0 run to finish the first half. Brooklyn made it interesting late, but Miami closed the game in the end. With the win, Miami moves to 8-4 for the season. Here are my takeaways from Thursday’s win over the Nets.

Himmy Butler

Jimmy Butler started off the season cold. But recently, it seems like Butler is starting to get more engaged. And he showed it again in the first half. With Miami struggling with their shots, Butler took it upon himself to look to score. He punished the Nets defenders in the paint either through the post or forcing the foul. Additionally, he made them pay from beyond the arc. Butler knocked down two triples in the first half, even letting the Nets know he shoots 50 percent from there. You usually don’t see Butler triples this early in the season, but they have been a welcome sight for a struggling Heat offense. He was even better in the third period, where he scored 18 points. Butler finished the night with 36 points, five rebounds, and three blocks.

Duncan Robinson’s All-Around Game

It was another good all-around game for Duncan Robinson. Robinson, who was out of the rotation last year, has been a great addition to the rotation this season. Before, he was just a stand-still shooter who often got in foul trouble. However, that’s changed this season. The Heat forward has defended well without fouling and he’s impacting the game in other areas besides shooting. In addition to the Heat’s stars, Robinson has had moments where he’s been the playmaker for Miami. He’s done a good job of reading the defense and finding the open teammates. Robinson finished with 26 points on 6-of-10 shooting from downtown.

Caleb Martin Returns

After missing 10 straight games with his knee injury, Caleb Martin was back in the rotation. Martin looked like a player who hasn’t missed a beat. He knocked down his first three-pointer of the season on his first shot of the game. Martin looked very comfortable out there. He even brought out one of his famous three-point celebrations. Martin finished the night with six points in limited minutes. Of course, he ended up getting a technical foul for it. Martin’s addition also allowed Miami to test a new lineup. Miami went with an intriguing lineup of Josh Richardson, Martin, Robinson, Jaime Jaquez, and Bam Adebayo. Lots of versatility on both ends with that lineup. The lineup pushed Miami’s led to 15 in the fourth period.

Back on the Road

Now, the Heat are headed back on the road, where Miami will be away for nine days. The Heat will be playing five games, with the first road game being in Chicago. This new road trip will present a good challenge for Miami. They play the Chicago Bulls twice, the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and these same Nets. Expect a couple of those games to be a defensive battle. Still, Miami appears ready for the challenge, and they are slowly getting healthier with Martin back now. Miami would look to have similar success to their last road trip.

Next up: The Chicago Bulls on Saturday. The game tips off at 8pm eastern time.

Photo via Miami Heat

After losing four straight games, the Miami Heat have now won five straight games. This is their first five-game winning streak since 2022. The game didn’t start off well for Miami. Offensively, they couldn’t make shots while the San Antonio Spurs‘ offense was clicking. There was a point where Miami trailed by 19 points. However, they made a strong push to get back in the game. And after trading baskets with the Spurs in the fourth period, Miami was able to push ahead and seal the victory. With the win, Miami moves to 6-4 for the season. Here are my takeaways from Miami’s win over the Spurs.

Duncan’s Improvement

It’s amazing how Duncan Robinson‘s game has evolved over the years. In his first couple of years with the Heat, he was only a three-point shooter. But over the past few years, he’s added more to his game. And we saw all of that in Sunday’s game. Because of his three-point threat, opposing teams crowd Robinson at the three-point line. However, he’s now beating defenders off the dribble and finishing in the paint. There was a point in the game where he pulled the “Smitty” move on Victor Wembanyama. This has been a great development for Robinson and the Heat as well. Robinson led the way with 26 points.

Bam Continuing to do Bam Things

At this point of the season, expect Bam Adebayo to give you 20 and 10 a night. He’s been the leading guy for a while now. And Miami’s sticking with him. The midrange game of Adebayo is better than ever. He’s not hesitating to shoot the jumper. He’s very decisive on the offensive end of the floor. Most nights he’s going to have the advantage with his quickness against bigger centers. Defensively, Adebayo did what he usually does. He was everywhere on the floor playing man and helping on the weak side. It’s still boggling my mind that he doesn’t get credit for the level of defense he’s playing. Now, it’s even showing on the box score. Adebayo finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and three steals.

Lead us Kevin!

Since starting the first few games of the season, Kevin Love has been on the outside of the rotation. This weekend, Love has been back in the rotation. If you followed the Heat over the years, you would know the saying “Stay Ready so you don’t get ready”. Love got his number called and he’s been producing. In the third period, with Miami trailing, Love provided a much-needed spark in the third. Offensively, Love shot the three-ball and scored a basket or two in the paint. He also competed against Wembenyama on the defensive end and held his own for the most part. This was a good performance for the Heat veteran off the bench. Love finished the night with 12 points.

Richardson Bounces back

Josh Richardson has bounced back after a slow start to the season. The past two games this weekend have been very welcoming for Richardson. Last game against Atlanta, he shot 85% from the field. His jumper is looking better and he seems to have his legs under him. On Sunday, he was back in San Antonio, where he played last season. Before the game, he received a video tribute for his contribution last season. In the fourth quarter, he played a huge role in Miami’s comeback. Richardson knocked down two huge baskets in the final minutes of the game. And he also made two huge free throws as well. Richardson ended the night with 12 points.

Next up: The Charlotte Hornets. Game tips off at 7pm eastern time.

Photo Credit: Heat.com

The Miami Heat entered this new road trip with the goal of winning their road games. Since the start of the season, the Heat have been winless from the road at 0-3. On Wednesday, their opportunity to end that came against the shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies. At first, the Heat blew their lead up to double-digits. However, just like any other Heat game, this one ended up being a close one. But in the end, Miami was able to get stops and finish the game with a win. With the win, Miami moves to 4-4 for the season. Here are my thoughts on Wednesday’s victory over the Grizzlies.

Statement Game for Bam

This week has been a statement week for Bam Adebayo going up against two of the best defensive centers in the league. On Monday, Adebayo excelled in that challenge against Anthony Davis. This time his opponent was Jaren Jackson Jr, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. It was an uneven game for Adebayo in the first three quarters. He was making some questionable mistakes and got himself in foul trouble. But when the fourth quarter came, he was ready to play. Adebayo was very aggressive on both ends of the floor. He blocked a couple of shots and attacked the rim on the other end. Adebayo scored 16 points in the fourth period, putting the team on his back. Adebayo finished with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks.

Herro Goes Down

Things were clicking offensively for the Heat midway through the first period. Miami was moving the ball and attacking the open gaps in the Grizzlies defense. Tyler Herro was one of the main players attacking the Grizzlies defense. Unfortunately, his night ended when he sprained his right ankle on a play in the first period. Herro hobbled to the locker-room and never returned. Now the Heat awaits to hear about the severity of the injury. Losing Herro would be a blow to the Heat’s offense. He’s one of the few guys who can create his own shot. Now they’re going to need multiple guys to step up in his absence.

Kyle Steps Up

It’s been a quiet season offensively for Kyle Lowry. With the Heat’s top players taking on the bulk of the scoring, Lowry has been making an impact in other areas. The majority of the things he did don’t show up in the box score like taking charges and diving for loose balls. But when Herro went down, Miami needed more from him offensively. And Lowry certainly answered the challenge. He knocked down open threes and made plays in the paint for him and his teammates. Lowry almost had a triple double but was one assist away from it. Lowry ended the night with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists.

Rook to the Rescue

Since he’s been with the Heat, Jaime Jaquez Jr has shown great basketball IQ on the floor. His feel for the game is exceptional. Especially considering he’s only a rookie. Defensively, he’s in the right spots and has great hands. Most importantly, he was very clutch down the stretch of the game. He got a couple of stops on defense and shot a huge three to put the game away for good. Overall, a solid night for the Heat rookie. And He’s only going to get better from here. A great pickup for the Heat. Jaquez finished the night with 11 points.

Next up: The Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. The game tips off at 7:30pm eastern.

For the first time since June’s NBA Finals, the Miami Heat were back on the hardwood floor. They took on the Charlotte Hornets in their first preseason action this year. As always, we should note that preseason game results don’t matter as much. It’s mostly about getting players in rhythm, evaluating the roster, working through plays, and setting rotations. Still, it was an entertaining performance from the Heat. With that being said, here are my three takeaways from Tuesday’s action.

No Reliable True Point Guard

There’s still no reliable true point guard on the roster. Kyle Lowry remains the only true point guard on the roster. Lowry started alongside Tyler Herro on Tuesday. As evident last season, Lowry’s best role may be as a reserve. To combat this, the Heat will give more ball handling duties to Herro, Josh Richardson, Jimmy Butler, and Bam Adebayo. It’s very possible that Herro and Richardson will start together when the season starts. We got our first look at the combo during the game.

In the lineups the two players shared in the backcourt, Richardson was the one mostly handling the ball. Herro, on the other hand, played more off the ball. They had Herro running through more pin downs on the perimeter. Playing those two together makes sense. On the defensive end, Richardson can also take on the opposing team’s best guards as well.

Another Undrafted Gem?

Since the Heat Big 3 era ended, Miami has done a great job of finding undrafted gems and turning them into rotational players. We also see those players getting paid in free agency after playing with Miami. Just this past summer, we saw Gabe Vincent and Max Strus get paid. Now, Miami is seeking another gem to add to their system. And it appears that gem is Cole Swider, who has reportedly had a great camp. And he certainly showed it on Tuesday.

Swider missed his first couple of shots. But that didn’t deter him. He just kept letting it fly whenever the opportunity came, and it paid off in the end. Swider led the Heat’s 4th quarter comeback with 17 points in the period. He also made five triples as well. It’s early but it appears Miami may have found their next Duncan Robinson. If this continues, they’re going to need to lock him in quick before another team poaches him.

Jaime Jaquez is Ready

If I told you Jaime Jaquez was a rookie, you probably wouldn’t believe me. The Heat rookie looked more like a seasoned veteran player than a rookie. There’s just a lot of patience in his game. Unlike most rookies, he moved at his own pace and was never sped up. The one thing that really stood out from Jaquez’s performance was his advanced footwork. We got our first look at that midway through the second period with the play below.

After catching a pass on a cut toward the basket, Jaquez stopped at the edge of the paint, threw a ball fake at Hornets veteran forward Gordon Hayward with his left hand, spun the other way, and then stepped through for a layup with his right hand over Hayward and Hornets center Mark Williams, all while keeping his right pivot foot firmly planted to avoid the travel. Jaquez would finish the game with 13 points and seven rebounds.

Next up: The San Antonio Spurs on Friday.

Josh Richardson‘s return to the Miami Heat has been in the Heat’s sights, according to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. This has always been the case since 2019. A young dynamic two-way player, Richardson was always valued by Miami, but he had to be a part of the deal to acquire Jimmy Butler from Philadelphia. Since then, the 30-year-old swingman has moved around the league, playing for the New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, and San Antonio Spurs before coming back to Miami this summer on a two-year veteran’s minimum contract.

“It’s always kind of been there,” Richardson said of his return to the Heat. “It almost happened a couple times. But all the chips didn’t fall in place. But I mean, when I left, me and (coach Erik Spoelstra) talked about it that it was going to happen eventually. It’s just one of those things.”

Spoelstra recalls that conversation as well, during which he informed Richardson that the team would probably try to sign him again in the future. This summer, on the first night of free agency, Spoelstra made contact with Richardson and persuaded him to stay.

“It was one of those special conversations because we were able to revisit some of the things that we talked about back when he left,” Spoelstra said. “One of the things was he was a big piece, obviously, to get the transformative piece (Butler) for us. You take that as an incredible compliment as a player. Sometimes it sucks in this business to be involved in a move like that. But we invested so much in him.”

Richardson’s Role

The last time Richardson was in Miami, he was cast as the Heat’s number one option. However, his role is entirely different now with Butler and Bam Adebayo being the Heat’s two all-stars. Given the current roster construction, the 30-year-old guard might end up as the Heat’s starting point guard or shooting guard, sixth man, or perimeter defensive specialist, among other roles. He’s a capable shooter and dependable defender who can fit into any lineup. We’ll find out where Richardson lands once the regular season starts on October 25.

After losing in the NBA Finals, it was a quick turnaround for the Miami Heat. With the NBA Draft and Free Agency coming up, they immediately had to turn their attention to improving their roster. All-star guards Bradley Beal and Damian Lillard were immediately available for trade. Unfortunately, as we approach training camp, the Heat missed out on both guards. On Wednesday, Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, after months of trade discussions. With Lillard off the board, the Heat have questions to answer as the season approaches.

Who’s starting at Point Guard?

If you talk to anyone in the Heat front office, they will tell you they like their roster. This shouldn’t come as a surprise since they’re coming off an NBA Finals appearance. But yet, the roster still has positional areas that needs to be addressed, mainly the point guard position. Last year’s starting point guard Gabe Vincent left the Heat through free agency and Lillard is playing with Milwaukee. Currently, Kyle Lowry is the only true point guard on the roster, but he’s expected to come off the bench. With Lowry on the bench, that means the majority of the ball handling duties will come through either Tyler Herro or Jimmy Butler. So where does Miami go from here?

Miami needs to sign at least one more player to a standard contract before the start of the regular season even though the Heat’s roster has already reached the preseason roster limit of 21 players. This is because the new CBA makes it difficult for teams to consistently carry less than 14 players on guaranteed contracts. They could go after former Heat point guard Goran Dragic, who has expressed interest in returning. The Heat can only offer the veteran minimum for any potential free agent options. The other option could be exploring the trade market for point guards. The best guard on the market Jrue Holiday, was traded Sunday to the Boston Celtics. Don’t be surprised to see Miami start the season with Herro at the point.

Who’s Starting at Power Forward?

This time around last year, there were questions about the power forward spot. Last year’s team lacked depth and size at the power forward spot until the team signed Kevin Love before the buyout deadline. Love started in 17 of the Heat’s games during the regular season and 18 of its games during the playoffs, giving the team the crucial floor spacing the team lacked at the position. He also provided a different layer in fast breaks with his outlet passing. Miami saw its three-point shooting jump from 34 % in the regular season to 38% percent in the playoffs. And Love was a key reason why.

Now, Miami must decide whether to keep Love in the starting lineup or go small again with Caleb Martin. Martin started for the Heat last year and often guarded the opposing team’s best guards. After struggling from downtown in the regular season, Martin saw those percentages jump up in the playoffs. In the Eastern Conference Finals, Martin erupted for 19.3 points per game while shooting a blistering 48.9 percent from three. If he can add shooting to his defensive versality, you could make the clear argument for Martin as the starting forward.

Motivated Tyler?

We have to give Tyler Herro credit. He’s now survived star trade talks for five years now with names like Kevin Durant, Donovan Mitchell, and Lillard linked to the Heat. When you talk about efficiency, no one’s doing it better than Herro at 100%. Herro also has been poking fun at the rumors involving him this off-season. Even though he’s trolling, he’s most definitely heard all the noise about his talent. Especially after Miami made it to the NBA Finals without him. Since coming into the league, Herro has developed into a 20-5-4 guy for Miami while also improving some on the defensive end.

For now, he remains in Miami and there will be eyes on him this season. With Butler getting older, Miami is going to need him to take a leap this season. Since his rookie season, there’s been a knock on him about his playoff performances. Outside of his rookie season, Herro has been struggling with injuries and with his on-court performance. Now, he’s getting another chance to prove his doubters wrong. Will he take another leap?

Who’s the Backup Center?

Adebayo is the Heat’s defensive anchor and is always impactful whenever he’s on the floor. But as we saw in the minutes without him, it’s usually a disaster. The Heat tried to survive those minutes with Dewayne Dedmon and Cody Zeller to no avail. Orlando Robinson had his moments, but he wasn’t quite ready yet. To address that issue, Miami picked up Thomas Bryant in free agency. The 6’11 center is known for his offense whenever he was given minutes but has struggled on the defensive end. He’s likely going to get the opportunity to play behind Adebayo once camp starts. And he’s likely battle Robinson for those minutes. If Robinson can show some defensive mobility, he has a good shot to win this role. Love could also be another option for that role and he can play both positions. Regardless, Miami needs positive minutes when Adebayo is sitting.

The 2023-24 season is upon us. We’ll see what Butler and the Heat have in store for us this time around.