The preseason is over! The regular season is coming soon to televisions near you!
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In the final game of the preseason, the Miami Heat lost to the New Orleans Pelicans 93-90. But, more importantly, the preseason is over and the regular season is around the corner. That’s right, folks, basketball that matters is so close you can feel it through your pants.
Miami lost, but who cares, real basketball soon. Anyway, it should be noted that Goran Dragic, Luol Deng and Amar’e Stoudemire sat this game out. They should be ready to go for the regular season. Which starts next week.
For a preseason game, the Heat and Pelicans put on an entertaining show. Both teams will have a new look this year, and it’s great to see them explore that. One of those new pieces for the Heat, Gerald Green, had another monster game. Green led Miami with 24 points off the bench.
For the Pelicans, early MVP darling Anthony Davis finished with 25 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and five blocks. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing similar stat lines from him quite a bit this regular season.
Chris Bosh finished with 19 points and five rebounds and Hassan Whiteside finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks.
“That’s What I Do.”
Chalmers hit a clutch 3-pointer at the end of the game to give the Heat a chance at the win. It wasn’t enough but, man, is this shot insane.
Analysis:
– Not much to gather from this game, really. The Heat didn’t have its starting lineup, again, so we didn’t get a chance to see the process of this team gelling.
– Whiteside played well enough, though he was called for a few fouls against Davis. Keeping his cool will be key this season, especially when he’s playing opponents who may be the beneficiaries of some star calls.
– Green was Miami’s best offensive player during the preseason and it wasn’t even close. Chris Bosh is more talented but not as quick to put up shots. Dwyane Wade is more refined but not as explosive. Goran Dragic has his hands full running the offense and Whiteside, while dominant, lacks range. Green could finish the regular season as one of Miami’s top three scorers and, if that’s the case, could be in the running for Sixth Man of the Year.
– It’s clear after this preseason that there is no bonafide 15th man on this roster. James Ennis, who played a little more than five minutes before getting injured, didn’t do enough this preseason to warrant a roster spot and guaranteed money. I expect the Heat to let him go and keep the 15th spot open for a possible waiver pick up in the future.