Heat Preseason Continues Against Division Rival Atlanta Hawks

The Miami Heat have yet to win this preseason, now standing at 0-3 after the Saturday overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Rio de Janeiro. On Tuesday, they face their Southeast Division rivals, the Atlanta Hawks (1-1), in a game scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. at the AmericanAirlines Arena.

The preseason is fairly meaningless and certainly not a true indicator of Miami’s expected record during the 82 games that count. As head coach Erik Spoelstra is fond of saying, it’s all about “the process,” one which has been increasingly more complicated due to the continued absence of Josh McRoberts. He of the long-flowing mane of hair and Biblical-era beard has yet to play, due to a lingering toe injury. While it’s obviously more crucial that he be at full strength for the regular season, his absence impacts the Heat in a number of ways, among them:

• His versatility adds a dimension to this offense that has been missing. Though solid at times, it’s been clear that “something” is needed and McRoberts is expected to provide added passing that could improve Miami’s efficiency
• Rotations are impacted due to his absence; Udonis Haslem will not be the starter once the season begins. Part of the preseason is determining which lineups work well together – combinations of players that improve offense or defense – and we know what we’re getting out of Haslem at this point in his career
• The 3-point shot is missing from the starting lineup

On the flip side, Atlanta is going through their own health issues, as Pero Antic, Al Horford and free agent signee Kent Bazemore have yet to make their preseason debuts. The Hawks have started Elton Brand and Mike Muscala in the place of Antic or Horford, who have not been confirmed ready to play as of this posting. But there have been positives for the Atlanta faithful, who are desperate to put the controversies of this summer behind them.

At full-strength, the Hawks are a dangerous team and are considered legitimate challengers to the Eastern Conference title held by Miami. The have an elite shooter in Kyle Korver, who consistently burned the Heat last season. They also signed an aging-but-solid Thabo Sefalosha, whose defense and inconsistent outside shooting could be a problem for Dwyane Wade. But Atlanta’s biggest threat is Paul Millsap, a notorious Heat-killer. Since his days in Utah, Millsap has taken his game up a notch when facing Miami, displaying a deft outside touch in combination with his work in the painted area. If/when Horford and Antic get healthy, it’s clear why Atlanta is considered a serious threat in the East.

Still, it’s the preseason so teams are working out the kinks and will take chances as they tinker with players who may not be in the NBA in a few weeks. Here’s what to look for in this matchup:

• Miami’s point guard situation – Who will start? Mario Chalmers’ hip injury might limit him but, with Norris Cole getting the starting nod in the past two games, “Rio” might force his way onto the floor. Let’s see how he responds after a lackluster couple of games
• Can James Ennis keep it going? – The breakout star of Miami’s preseason has been dynamic, a boost of athleticism against secondary rotation players. Does Spoelstra reward him with more minutes against Atlanta’s starters?
• End-of-rotation guys don’t have much time to stand out – With the first cuts taking place, players like Tyler Johnson, Shawn Jones, Khem Birch and Andre Dawkins must make an impact in order to stick around. Doing what they do well – if they even get in the game – is crucial to sticking around in the NBA
• Look for Atlanta’s unheralded bench to make an impact – Guys like DeMarre Carroll, Shelvin Mack and Dennis Schröder have played well in two games, so far. They’ve got something to prove, as well

Stay tuned after the game for a full recap, player grades and analysis.