Miami Heat: Hassan Whiteside makes a statement and other takeaways

The Miami Heat may have fallen short to the Orlando Magic in their home opener, but there were still plenty of positives to take away from the game.

The Miami Heat are now 0-1.

And while opening a new season on a losing note is never ideal, even less so when its against a team that should have easily been dominated, there are still always lessons to be learned.

As well as positives that can be taken away.

So although the Heat fell short 104-101 to the Orlando Magic last night, after a combination of foul trouble, turnovers and rushed shots held them back from a victory, fans shouldn’t feel entirely discouraged.

See you in Charlotte

Hassan Whiteside has one main goal this year: come back better than ever.

After a lackluster 2017-18 campaign, plagued with injuries and frustration, the big man is determined to have a bounce back season. And hopefully silence the haters once and for all.

However, he has another factor that is keeping him motivated to do better; he wants to represent Miami in the 2019 All-Star Game, taking place in his home state of North Carolina.

So you better believe that his push to receive votes, has already begun.

Last night, the center finished with a nice 12 points and 18 rebounds in 22 minutes of play, alongside an added steal and two blocks. He was energetic on both ends of the floor, working in a few dunks on the offensive side of things, and fighting diligently for loose balls on defense.

In essence, he did what he could to show that the comeback is real.

And if that’s the Whiteside the team will get all season, he may very well find himself in Charlotte after all.

What decline?

Going into the summer, many seemed ready to trade away Goran Dragic.

A seemingly crazy concept, given that he played some of his best basketball yet last year.

Still, fans noted his age, making the argument that at 32, it was only natural for the guard to start declining.

The thing that they didn’t factor in though, was that dragons don’t grow old in the same way that mere mortal humans do.

Which is exactly why Dragic put up an easy 26 points in 32 minutes yesterday, shooting 9-for-14 from the field and 3-of-7 from downtown.

(He also totaled four rebounds and four assists.)

Decline? More like aging like a fine wine.

Mistakes happen

Let’s get this out of the way: yes, Josh Richardson stepped out of bounds on a potential game-saving play last night.

But that’s not why the Heat lost.

In fact, the fourth-year had himself a decent game overall.

He recorded 21 points, five rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block in 37 minutes. The only real problem was that he went 8-of-21 (including a cringeworthy 2-for-10 from 3-point land).

The rest was just a mistake.

If fans should trust anyone to tight walk a line, it’s the swingman, who once credited playing football growing up as to why he’s usually so smooth at tiptoeing the edge.

And the irony wasn’t lost on Richardson, either.

One loss down, but 81 possible wins to go.