The start of a new era for the Miami Heat began last week when they opened training camp. The next step is finally here, as the Heat will open their preseason slate against the Toronto Raptors in Quebec.
But even though it's unlikely that we're going to see Giannis Antetokounmpo make his Heat debut in this game, that doesn't mean there aren't several other intriguing storylines to keep a close eye on Saturday night.
The Heat opens their preseason slate in Canada against the Raptors
In fact, especially with the way the start of training camp has gone, there will be quite a few noteworthy things to keep a close eye on as the Heat open their first of five exhibition games before the regular season.
Again, the expectation is that there will be no Giannis or Bam Adebayo, but there will be much to watch in this game. Let's explore four of the bigger things to watch for.
Will we see point Pelle Larsson?
First, how much Pelle Larsson at the point guard position will we see? It's already been teased that he could see time at the lead guard position, and with Dru Smith out, I'd imagine Erik Spoelstra could end up experimenting with this idea right off the bat.
If there is indeed a belief that Larsson will have to play some point guard this season, it'd be smart to get an early look at what that may entail. It's just one thing to watch heading into this exhibition matchup.
Can Ryan Conwell take advantage of the opportunity?
Speaking of the injury to Smith, who is penciled in to be the backup point guard behind Davion Mitchell, can Ryan Conwell take advantage of the sudden opportunity? The second-round pick may not be a natural replacement for Smith, but he'll certainly have his chance to make his case over the next couple of weeks.
If Conwell is going to send a strong message to the coaching staff, one that insists he's ready for minutes right away, that has to happen now. And there's no question that the injury to Smith just opened that door in an unexpected way.
Will any of the stars, mainly Giannis Antetokounmpo, get any playing time?
Even though it's an expectation, I suppose we still have to see if the Heat do, in fact, list Giannis and Bam as out. I can't imagine they're going to let him make his Heat preseason debut on the road, especially when they have their home opener in a few days, but it's not off the table until it becomes official.
So, will Giannis and Bam play at all in this game? If they surprisingly do, it will be interesting to see how much and in what capacity.
Is the pace-and-space offense here to stay?
Whether the Heat regulars play or not, one of the bigger storylines will revolve around the Heat's offense. What will it look like? How comfortable will the new players look in it? How much of last season will they carry over into this season?
Essentially, is the pace-and-space offense here to stay? Even though there have been hints that this is the case, we won't know for sure until we see them in a game setting.
In their preseason opener, if nothing else, we will get a closer look at what this offense is going to look like.
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