Miami Heat: 3 takeaways from the first Summer League game
By Jack Simone
Takeaways from the first Miami Heat Summer League game: Javonte Smart plays with great energy and is a solid ball-handler
Javonte Smart played 30 minutes in Miami’s first game, and despite a poor shooting performance, he made it look like he belonged. His energy and aggressiveness are exactly what the Heat should be looking for.
He scored ten points, grabbed four rebounds, and dished out four assists. One of his dimes just happened to be a gorgeous no-look pass to Omer Yurtseven under the hoop.
Regardless of the highlight-reel play, Smart did struggle to shoot efficiently. He shot 3-13 from the field and 2-7 from three-point territory.
There is a slight hitch in his jump shot which causes him to shoot the ball slightly slower than most would like to see at the NBA level. However, some work with a shooting coach could do wonders for Smart.
The most impressive part about his game was easily his ability to run the floor. Whenever he was the ball-handler on offense, the Heat managed to put points on the board.
He ran the pick n’ roll with Yurtseven beautifully, which is a very important skill to have in the NBA. The Heat need more depth at guard, and Smart could be ready to step in and provide them with that right away.
Even so, he displayed great aggressiveness when driving to the rim. His on-court IQ looked great, and if he can iron things out a bit, he could be a legitimate contender to crack the Heat’s regular-season roster.