Miami Heat RTD: Preseason in Review
By Wes Goldberg
Welcome back to another Miami Heat Round Table Discussion. On today’s agenda, we talk about Gerald Green winning Sixth Man of the Year, concerns over the starting lineup and Miami’s chances in the East.
1. On a scale of “yes” to “how could he not?” will Gerald Green win Sixth Man of the Year?
Allana Tachauer (@ChitownHeiress): Yes, absolutely. I will admit that I have not always followed his career, but he seems like an entirely new athlete since coming aboard the Miami Heat. From his sheer confidence level, to his raw talent…this guy is the real deal; in preseason play, he averaged 17.8 points and 4.4 rebounds in 21.6 minutes. Ps, can we talk about his decision to put up the “menacing gesture” he made on Instagram? Genius, even if he did then take it down.
Joseph Zapata (@JosephZapataIII): Those are my options? I will settle with a reluctant yes. Green’s looked great this preseason, but let’s not forget, only a few years ago no team in the league wanted him and Green was forced to play overseas. I think fans should treat Green like J.R. Smith, expect nothing, and be happy when he plays well.
Chris Posada (@CPoTweetsStuff): Is this a number scale? Doesn’t matter, I’m saying yes. This award is made for volume scorers off the bench, like JR Smith, Jamal Crawford, and Lou Williams – all of whom are past winners – so Green would make an easy choice. Whether he does or not will depend on how well he actually shoots over the course of the season. But we saw in the preseason that he’s definitely not shy, leading the Heat in points per game, field goals attempted, and threes attempted. He certainly has the green light, if you will (I’ll be here all week), and he’s taking advantage of it. If he can continue to shoot near 45 percent from the field, then it’s in the bag.
Wes Goldberg (@wcgoldberg): How could he not? Dwyane Wade said today that the second team’s offensive strategy is pass the ball the Tucker Gerald Green edition. He’s going to get plenty of touches and finish as one of the top three scorers on a team that will be in the mix to win the Eastern Conference. He’ll have the numbers and national visibility, so I like his chances.
Oct 12, 2015; Miami, FL, USA;Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) dribbles the ball against San Antonio Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
2. Are you concerned about the Heat’s starting lineup not getting much playing time together?
Allana: Nah. I feel like that is pretty much the norm in preseason. Plus aside from the fact that Chris Bosh was sidelined during the second half of the season, those guys already have a good enough feel for one another. Regardless, the first few games will have hiccups anyways, but as the season goes on, rotations etc. will iron themselves out.
Joseph: I’m not worried about their playing time together as much as I’m worried about their lack of shooting. Bosh is the only above-average 3-point shooter in this starting five, which is why I believe Green should start at small forward over Luol Deng.
Chris: I am, because I love continuity, and the Heat currently lack that. But I not overly worried about them. They’ll probably spend the first few weeks working out the kinks before they find their groove. We still don’t really know how they’ll mesh together, so the quicker they figure that out the better. Good news is that the first month of the season is very soft. Bad news is that they run the risk of wasting it.
Wes: What this starting unit lacks in 3-point shooting and general athleticism, they make up with basketball know-how and experience. Chemistry will be there most important attribute so, of course I’m nervous that the starters have played two games together. They’ll need to get on the same page fast and, though I’m concerned with that process, this is the team to figure it out.
3. Do you feel better, worse, or the same about the Heat’s chances to with the East now that the preseason is over?
Allana: The same, but that is only because I already felt great going into 2015-2016. Obviously it was nice to see guys do well and the overall team chemistry come together during these last couple of weeks, but I had no doubt that would be the case. Wednesday night cannot come soon enough!
Joseph: Worse. I went into this preseason only evaluating pure talent, which the Heat definitely have, but the chemistry just isn’t there (yet). I think the Heat should just focus on finding an identity and trying to win a top-four seed.
Chris: About the same. I’m in love with the second unit, so that has me feeling hopeful. The starters lack of gelling has is annoying, but that should come in time. I knew they would struggle with three-point shooting and that clearly remains an issue. Their defense was something I was also concerned with, but they finished ninth in the preseason in defensive rating, and tenth in opponent scoring, so I’m encouraged. But this team will go as far as health can take them.
Wes: Worse. It’s quite obvious that this team has some mechanical issues. Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic are playing tug of war with the pace, and the team lacks natural floor spacers. Chris Bosh is the starting unit’s best 3-point shooter, and that’s more of a gimmick than a true threat. Luol Deng was atrocious and Hassan Whiteside had a permanent scowl on his face that makes me nervous as hell. The good news is that they still play in the East, so the Heat will still be in the mix.
Oct 4, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Amar
4. What’s your favorite thing about this Heat team?
Allana: Where do I begin? Probably the fact that they are stacked. I am not saying magic will happen overnight, but I have nothing but good feelings about the year(s) to come. As long as injuries do not become a problem, I am totally psyched about this team as a whole. But of course, I am also so thankful that Bosh is back.
Joseph: The abundance of pure talent. Along with their star-studded starting five, the Heat have Amare Stoudemire, Josh McRoberts, Justise Winslow and Mario Chalmers on the bench. That’s pretty ridiculous. I think it’s fair to say they may be the most talented team in the East. Just to clarify, not the best, but the most talented.
Chris: That second unit. I heart them. Winslow and Richardson has defenders; McRoberts as a big man with great court vision; Green just doing Green things. Most of all, Tyler Johnson has shown that he can make an impact. Include Amar’e Stoudemire, and the Heat have the makings of a fantastic bench unit. Oh, and Mario Chalmers.
Wes: The fact that Heat fans will be debating whether or not the starters or bench unit is better. Like pushing for the backup quarterback, the bench unit will be the favorite of Heat fans and actually look better at times. The fact is that the second team meshes better, but the starters have more talent. Erik Spoelstra mixing and matching bench guys with four starters will be a lot of fun.