The Miami Heat played their first preseason game last night and it was everything fans could have ever wanted. Not only did Miami get a 125-99 win, but they looked absolutely dominant.
Sure, the Atlanta Hawks didn’t play some of their better players, but that doesn’t take away from how good the Miami Heat looked. Jimmy Butler didn’t even suit up and they still looked like a complete team.
It felt great to be able to watch a Miami Heat basketball game, and a bunch of players stood out. Since it was only a preseason game, a lot of people got the chance to show off their offseason improvements.
What are some takeaways Miami Heat fans should have from this first preseason game? Obviously, there’s no reason to overreact, but it’s nice to at least recap what happened.
Takeaways from the Miami Heat preseason game vs the Atlanta Hawks: The Miami Heat are not playing games
Well, in the literal sense they technically are, but in the figurative sense, they most certainly are not. It is clear that the Miami Heat are ready to compete amongst the league’s best.
As mentioned, it’s tough to judge this game since the Hawks didn’t play some of their best players. However, the Heat did not take that lightly.
Instead of relaxing and just trying to get warm, the Heat came out of the gates like they wanted to win this game desperately. You just don’t see that from a lot of teams in the preseason.
If their energy in this game is any indication of how well they will play in the regular season, fans should be thrilled. The whole team looked fired up in this one.
Takeaways from the Miami Heat preseason game vs the Atlanta Hawks: Kyle Lowry’s passing & Miami’s depth
Kyle Lowry’s passing is beautiful
When the Miami Heat signed Kyle Lowry this summer, everyone knew how solid of a player he was. That being said, his playmaking abilities still seem to have been underrated.
Lowry didn’t even play 15 minutes against the Hawks and he still managed to drop seven assists. His passing was beautiful to watch, and as of now, team chemistry does not seem to be an issue.
The connection he has with Bam Adebayo is extremely apparent, and could even lead to a breakout season for the young center. Lowry’s impact as a passer is undeniable.
Miami signing Lowry was widely regarded as the best move of the offseason, and now it’s easy to see why. His playmaking will be a crucial part of the team’s success this year.
Miami’s depth might not be that bad
On paper, it’s easy to question whether or not the Miami Heat have enough depth. Outside of Tyler Herro, the team’s expected bench rotation looks fairly weak.
However, based on some performances from last night, that might not be the case. Both Max Strus and Gabe Vincent managed to play very well.
Strus put up 14 points while shooting 4-8 from three-point range. Meanwhile, Gabe Vincent scored six points and tallied seven assists in around 20 minutes of play, showing why the Miami Heat decided to make him the backup point guard.
It was great to see both of these players get off to hot starts, even if it is just the preseason. If they can continue to play this well, the Miami Heat will be in good shape.
Takeaways from the Miami Heat preseason game vs the Atlanta Hawks: Caleb Martin & Tyler Herro
Caleb Martin could play quality minutes
When the Miami Heat signed Caleb Martin to a two-way contract this summer, most people probably didn’t bat an eye. Well, with the way he played last night, he has certainly earned fans’ attention.
Martin scored 11 points, grabbed three rebounds, and dished out two assists. He also managed to tally a steal and three blocks, proving his worth on the defensive end as well.
It was clear to see that Martin has the right mentality to play on this Miami Heat team. If he can produce, he would add some much-needed wing depth to Miami’s rotation.
Though he is only a two-way player, Martin could end up playing some big-time minutes for the Heat. If he keeps playing this well, he certainly deserves to.
Tyler Herro is a monster
Any doubts anyone had about Tyler Herro should be long gone by now. He came out of the gates hot and it looked like he was on a mission to prove his doubters wrong.
Herro finished the game with 26 points, four rebounds, four assists, a block, and a steal. He shot 9-12 from the field and 3-4 from three-point range.
He played extremely aggressively and was looking to get to his spots any chance he could get. This is exactly the type of Herro that the Miami Heat need this season.
From the looks of it, Herro spent the offseason doing exactly what Erik Spoelstra said he did – getting better. Hopefully, Herro can keep up this level of play for the entire season.