As the Miami Heat get set to tip-off against the Denver Nuggets and finish out the 2019-2020 campaign, what does each player have to prove?
In a season full of the unknown, the Miami Heat have once again established themselves as a top dog in the Eastern Conference behind the arrival of Jimmy Butler. Head coach Erik Spoelstra is once again coaching a playoff contender, with a depth that’s nearly unmatched.
On Saturday, they’ll take the floor in the first of eight remaining regular-season games before continuing on to the postseason. Their first opponent will prove a real test: Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, the Western Conference third seed.
Walking into their first game, the Heat are whole and healthy.
Tyler Herro, despite his shooting struggles, has recovered from the ankle injury that sidelined him 15 of the team’s final 16 games before the league’s suspension. Center Meyers Leonard is recovered from his own ankle injury that saw him miss that same 16 game span in full.
Andre Iguodala is rested and spry, or at least it appeared so in their three scrimmages last week. Bam Adebayo and Kendrick Nunn are beyond their own struggles with the coronavirus and were able to rejoin the team last week and get some action in the scrimmages as well.
Between the aforementioned players and the rest of this Miami Heat roster, what’s to prove for each of the South Beach ballers? Let’s dive into each of them, by position.