The Heat played their first preseason game of the year against the Hornets, winning 113-109. This is the first time we have seen the new Heat team in action. Jimmy Butler did not play. Without further ado, let’s dive into the details.
Heat Off-Season Companion Part 19: Tyler Herro Returned and Scored 22 Points
It is great to see Tyler Herro return to the basketball court. Herro scored 22 points on 9/22 shooting. It wasn’t his most efficient performance, but he is certainly rusty after not playing since game one of the Heat’s first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks last season. Herro has committed to being more efficient and an All-Star appearance from him this season would be unsurprising.
Bam Adebayo Had 13 Points and Thomas Bryant Had 15 Points
The Heat’s center situation is looking far better than it did last season. Bam Adebayo had 13 points in this preseason game and will likely only develop further. Additionally, Thomas Bryant had 15 points and is a better backup center than either Dedmon or Cody Zeller.
The Heat struggled in the minutes without Adebayo last season. Hopefully, Bryant will help the Heat do better in those minutes. It already looks promising, even though it is only preseason.
Heat Off-Season Companion Part 19: Jaime Jaquez Had An Efficient 13 Points
Jaime Jaquez is one of the Heat’s most promising new additions this season. Jaquez is athletic and his post game already looks quite good, especially for a rookie. Jaquez scored 13 points on 5/8 shooting against the Hornets in this win. Jaquez’s inside scoring and athleticism will add a new element to the Heat’s offense this season.
The Heat Scored 35 Points in the Fourth Quarter
Playing well in the fourth quarter is a major key to success and the Heat did that against the Hornets. Cole Swider’s 17 points helped the Heat score 35 points in the fourth quarter and win. This is encouraging. Hopefully, Swider will become a major contributor for the Heat this upcoming season.
The Heat Play the Spurs Next in Preseason
Next, the Heat will travel to San Antonio to play the Spurs in their next preseason game. It will be interesting to see how the Heat perform against Victor Wembanyama. It is a good bet that Jaime Jaquez will score at least 10 points in that game.
Check back next week for more Miami Heat content.