The Miami Heat came into Monday night’s preseason contest against the Charlotte Hornets at 3-0. Beating the Hawks, the Rockets, and the Spurs along this foray into the year, the Miami Heat had a chance to continue that streak and take things up, yet, another level.
While the guy that has been the absolute story of the preseason, Tyler Herro, couldn’t get things going on Monday, they did have plenty of help. The story, though, wasn’t that help in itself as much as where it came from.
For clarity though, the Miami Heat’s main guys did play alright. They weren’t terrible, but of course, weren’t good enough to win the game outright during their time.
Without Jimmy Butler again, as he hasn’t played in but one preseason game thus far, the Miami Heat continued to work things out heading into the new year. The really bright spot amongst the starters, to pick one, was the aggressiveness of Bam Adebayo.
The Miami Heat almost couldn’t take their preseason record to 4-0 on Monday. That’s, until, their young guys decided that they were not going to lose.
Vowing that he would come into this season with more aggressiveness about him and his offensive game, it was, again, on full display Monday. He took all of his afforded opportunities, from the midrange jumpers to the mismatch opportunities where he had players on him that couldn’t guard him.
Bam Adebayo seems to finally be getting that part of things locked up. If that is the case, not only will he be a top-15 player in the league this year, but the Miami Heat’s outlook and ceiling is as great and high as anyone else’s.
As far as how this game was won by the Heat, it all came down to the final moments. In the final minutes of the game, the Miami Heat found themselves down by double digits.
In fact and with around three minutes to go in the contest, the Miami Heat would manage to turn a 12 point deficit into a huge comeback win for themselves and all at the hands of their youngest guys.
For clarity, most of the guys that closed the game for Miami will be in Sioux Falls for a lot of the year. They still were able to get it done though, off of tough play inside by Omer Yurtseven and big moment hunting from guard, Javonte Smart.
One thing you love to see and say about it all is this. Be it the regular season, be it the preseason, or be it the offseason, culture is culture and it always prevails.