Five days. Just five more days.
Like the ball dropping in the middle of Times Square, the countdown to the start of the regular season is underway. But, before the games actually start to count, one last tune-up is required when the Heat travel to Memphis for their last game of the preseason.
It’s tough to gauge exactly what to expect out of tonight’s contest. The Heat (3-4) made important cuts yesterday, releasing Tyler Johnson, Shawn Jones and Larry Drew II. With a roster paired down to 16, Miami will likely make one more cut before next Monday’s deadline. If they’re interested in a player waived by another team, then more cuts could be in store but that seems like the least-likely scenario. Players on the bubble include Khem Birch, Justin Hamilton, Andre Dawkins and Shannon Brown; typically, Miami sticks with “proven” veterans but we’ll see if there’s a change in culture this season.
As for the game itself, the Grizzlies (3-4) give Miami a last opportunity to tweak rotations and see what players can do in a live-game situation. With Josh McRoberts expected to miss the game, coach Erik Spoelstra might elect to change the starting lineup to deal with Memphis big men Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph – maybe Udonis Haslem might get some minutes. Like the Heat, the Grizzlies have altered their starters throughout the preseason, going with Tony Allen or Quincy Pondexter at small forward. Mike Conley, a solid point guard with good defensive skills, and Courtney Lee – a shooter with range – round out the starting five. Vince Carter, still a decent contributor at 37, was signed as free agent this summer to provide some offensive punch off the bench.
Tonight’s game can go one of two ways – either Spoelstra will want to cement his rotations (in the absence of McRoberts) and view tonight’s matchup as a dress rehearsal for the regular season, or he’ll let key players rest before the long grind of the regular season. With so much time before opening night against the Wizards, I would expect the former but what do I know? The key is that players who do play have to take this opportunity to fine tune whatever needs work. Here are some things to look for:
- Consistency – Luol Deng and Shawne Williams have flip-flopped offensively this preseason, good one game and then…not so much. They both struggled against Houston so maybe a good game is in order.
- Dwyane Wade – After turning back the clock with 27 points on Tuesday, will he even play? He’s proven that the ability is still there, just not as frequently evident as it was in his prime.
- Grit n’ Grind? – Memphis’ defensive-minded motto hasn’t been on display this preseason, giving up over 110 points on three occasions. Still, it’s the preseason, making it impossible to determine if this is the norm or just an aberration.
Tonight’s tipoff is set for 8 p.m. at the FedEx Forum in Memphis. Check in for a recap, analysis and players grades after the game.