Miami Heat: Grading the newest acquisitions in their first game

Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers shoots the ball against the Miami Heat(Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images)
Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers shoots the ball against the Miami Heat(Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Miami Heat
Solomon Hill #44 sits on the side lines waiting to put in the game (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)

Solomon Hill- I (Incomplete)

Solomon Hill was an underrated part of the deadline deal made by the Miami Heat. While many people still want to judge him for his contract, which he signed for just being in the right place at the right time (a free agent in that crazy salary cap spiked summer a few offseasons back), he does what he does well when given the opportunity.

He isn’t a guy that you want to put the ball in his hands and tell to go to work, however, he does excel as a defender and in doing the little things that the Miami Heat and their fans have come to adore from their players. He didn’t get a chance to see the floor on Sunday and that is the reason for his grade here. He will be incomplete until we actually get to see him get on the floor for his new team.

Andre Iguodala- B

Andre Iguodala gets a flat “B”. A “B” isn’t bad, but it isn’t the best. Notice though, it isn’t a “+” or a “-“, but just a “B”.

He was his typical active self when on the floor. He got hands in the right places to knock balls away, he bodied up on offensive players to force them into undesired shots, and he continued to show that extra gear off of turnovers that has made him a terror in the passing lanes for years.

You would have wanted to see a bit more offensively from him, but he hasn’t played in live-action all year, so you can definitely understand the rust and hesitation there. He has been training, as apparent by the shape he is in, but there is nothing like real live action in sports they say.

Iggy will continue to get better and last night showed that he still does have that stuff that Pat Riley thinks he still has, he just has to fine-tune it again and be ready to give it for longer spurts. That is why Iguodala got a “B” though, a very respectable grade.