Miami Heat 2016 Offseason Thread; "It will be fun in July"- July-er(Part XIII)

[NBADraft2003]

Q: Is this Erik Spoelstra’s year? The year he really has to prove himself? The year he doesn’t have to placate a superstar? The year he runs his offense te way he wants, up and down the court, with speed and ball movement? No more iso-ball? -- Yunasi, Miami Beach

A: First, Erik Spoelstra doesn't have to prove himself to anyone. He has coached championship rosters to championships, developmental rosters to the playoffs, and last season's mixed bag to a No. 4 playoff seed and within one game of the Eastern Conference finals. But I do believe this could be the first time that Spoelstra will have the opportunity to truly put his stamp on a team. When he arrived, he still was working in the shadows of Pat Riley. After those two seasons, it was about setting up what essentially stood as LeBron James' team. From there it was two seasons of being unable to finish what he had started with Chris Bosh. This season, you could see something close to what Brad Stevens has produced with the Celtics, or even what Terry Stotts produced last season with the Trail Blazers. In both of those situations, the pressure was down but the possibilities were pronounced. I do agreed that we might get a truer read on Erik Spoelstra this season than we have previously.

Well, let's see what's Spo got up his sleeve.

I don't think the Blazers have a talent advantage over us honestly, they just played the perfect style for them and maximized their players.

They do, might be a slight edge but they have that over us.

[RexBoyWonder]

Q: Is this Erik Spoelstra’s year? The year he really has to prove himself? The year he doesn’t have to placate a superstar? The year he runs his offense te way he wants, up and down the court, with speed and ball movement? No more iso-ball? -- Yunasi, Miami Beach

A: First, Erik Spoelstra doesn't have to prove himself to anyone. He has coached championship rosters to championships, developmental rosters to the playoffs, and last season's mixed bag to a No. 4 playoff seed and within one game of the Eastern Conference finals. But I do believe this could be the first time that Spoelstra will have the opportunity to truly put his stamp on a team. When he arrived, he still was working in the shadows of Pat Riley. After those two seasons, it was about setting up what essentially stood as LeBron James' team. From there it was two seasons of being unable to finish what he had started with Chris Bosh. This season, you could see something close to what Brad Stevens has produced with the Celtics, or even what Terry Stotts produced last season with the Trail Blazers. In both of those situations, the pressure was down but the possibilities were pronounced. I do agreed that we might get a truer read on Erik Spoelstra this season than we have previously.

Well, let's see what's Spo got up his sleeve.

I don't think the Blazers have a talent advantage over us honestly, they just played the perfect style for them and maximized their players.

They do, might be a slight edge but they have that over us.

How do you figure?

Let's compare the top 7 rotations :

Dragic << Damian Lillard
Rich < C.J. McCollum
TJ = Allen Crabbe
Derrick Williams + J.Jonson = Meyers Leonard
Justise > Al-Farouq Aminu
Hasasn >> Mason Plumlee
W.Reed = Ed Davis

They're not younger or deeper, They played an up-tempo 3 point chucking style and it worked great for them, We need to play an up-tempo defensive style and embrace to 3 point 3 more then we did, I don't see a talent gap there, I see great coaching on their side and a question mark on ours.

[NBADraft2003]

Well, let's see what's Spo got up his sleeve.

I don't think the Blazers have a talent advantage over us honestly, they just played the perfect style for them and maximized their players.

They do, might be a slight edge but they have that over us.

How do you figure?

Let's compare the top 7 rotations :

Dragic << Damian Lillard
Rich < C.J. McCollum
TJ = Allen Crabbe
Derrick Williams + J.Jonson = Meyers Leonard
Justise > Al-Farouq Aminu
Hasasn >> Mason Plumlee
W.Reed = Ed Davis

They're not younger or deeper, They played an up-tempo 3 point chucking style and it worked great for them, We need to play an up-tempo defensive style and embrace to 3 point 3 more then we did, I don't see a talent gap there, I see great coaching on their side and a question mark on ours.

Until we actually SEE what these guys do with an increased role, Portland owns that advantage.

[PizzaLord305]

Q: Is this Erik Spoelstra’s year? The year he really has to prove himself? The year he doesn’t have to placate a superstar? The year he runs his offense te way he wants, up and down the court, with speed and ball movement? No more iso-ball? -- Yunasi, Miami Beach

A: First, Erik Spoelstra doesn't have to prove himself to anyone. He has coached championship rosters to championships, developmental rosters to the playoffs, and last season's mixed bag to a No. 4 playoff seed and within one game of the Eastern Conference finals. But I do believe this could be the first time that Spoelstra will have the opportunity to truly put his stamp on a team. When he arrived, he still was working in the shadows of Pat Riley. After those two seasons, it was about setting up what essentially stood as LeBron James' team. From there it was two seasons of being unable to finish what he had started with Chris Bosh. This season, you could see something close to what Brad Stevens has produced with the Celtics, or even what Terry Stotts produced last season with the Trail Blazers. In both of those situations, the pressure was down but the possibilities were pronounced. I do agreed that we might get a truer read on Erik Spoelstra this season than we have previously.

Well, let's see what's Spo got up his sleeve.

I don't think the Blazers have a talent advantage over us honestly, they just played the perfect style for them and maximized their players.

They do, might be a slight edge but they have that over us.

Naw man that Blazers team was wildly overrated last year. They were a pretty bad defensive team for decent stretches of the year. They could get buckets though, but now thats complicated cause they went out and got Evan turner for god knows what reason. I think people made too much out of their season because lillard is super likeable and they made the playoffs.

[Cmon_Son-_-]

Well, let's see what's Spo got up his sleeve.

I don't think the Blazers have a talent advantage over us honestly, they just played the perfect style for them and maximized their players.

They do, might be a slight edge but they have that over us.

How do you figure?

Let's compare the top 7 rotations :

Dragic << Damian Lillard
Rich < C.J. McCollum
TJ = Allen Crabbe
Derrick Williams + J.Jonson = Meyers Leonard
Justise > Al-Farouq Aminu
Hasasn >> Mason Plumlee
W.Reed = Ed Davis

They're not younger or deeper, They played an up-tempo 3 point chucking style and it worked great for them, We need to play an up-tempo defensive style and embrace to 3 point 3 more then we did, I don't see a talent gap there, I see great coaching on their side and a question mark on ours.

I wouldn't really say Justise is > Aminu yet. For the 2 seasons Aminu has been in the playoffs he's been pretty good. He even shot 40% from 3 this year in the playoffs. Also Ed Davis is better than Willie Reed and you forgot about Moe Harkless who also elevated his game in the playoffs.

[NBADraft2003]

Well, let's see what's Spo got up his sleeve.

I don't think the Blazers have a talent advantage over us honestly, they just played the perfect style for them and maximized their players.

They do, might be a slight edge but they have that over us.

Naw man that Blazers team was wildly overrated last year. They were a pretty bad defensive team for decent stretches of the year. They could get buckets though, but now thats complicated cause they went out and got Evan turner for god knows what reason. I think people made too much out of their season because lillard is super likeable and they made the playoffs.

Won 44 games in a stacked West in which they were supposed to be a lottery team. Nobody is calling them a championship team so you can't call them overrated, they wouldn't have beaten the Clippers if they had a healthy team. They may have over-achieved though...

[Prince Ali]

Despite more lucrative offers, Reed signed a two-year deal with the Heat for the veteran's minimum. He felt he owed it to the organization after being awarded the opportunity to play with Miami's summer league team the past two seasons. Last summer he spurned the Heat to play with the Brooklyn Nets because of a better deal.

"I wanted to be able to come to the Heat [this offseason]," Reed said. "I told my agent that if I was able to get a minimum deal with the Heat, I'd take it just because what they did for me."

Perhaps a bigger determining factor was the Heat's recent track record of developing former D-League players. Whiteside and guard Tyler Johnson just signed lucrative contracts after spending time with the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

"That just proves the D-League is the fastest way to the NBA," Reed said. "You get better there. That just shows the hunger that those guys had and I think that's the same hunger that I have."

After visiting St. Louis this weekend, attending a friend's wedding in Las Vegas the following week and then going on a trip to Cancun with his wife for their anniversary, his focus turns to this season. One of the first things on the agenda is setting up a meeting with Whiteside.

"I look forward to speaking with him and kind of pick his brain a little bit as well," Reed said. "Even though he's a young guy, he's had success in this league. Any bit of information that I can take in and try to get better, that's exactly what I'm going to do."

[PizzaLord305]

They do, might be a slight edge but they have that over us.

Naw man that Blazers team was wildly overrated last year. They were a pretty bad defensive team for decent stretches of the year. They could get buckets though, but now thats complicated cause they went out and got Evan turner for god knows what reason. I think people made too much out of their season because lillard is super likeable and they made the playoffs.

Won 44 games in a stacked West in which they were supposed to be a lottery team. Nobody is calling them a championship team so you can't call them overrated, they wouldn't have beaten the Clippers if they had a healthy team. They may have over-achieved though...

Dude I listened to podcasts where people were saying they're a better team than the heat, Celtics, and Hawks were last year. Some folks were really high on them. Obv that's not what you're saying. I can see your point a bit though they have talented young guys and HAD balance.

Guys like aminu and harkless balled out and really made up for some of the short comings of others. I just don't feel too good about a young team whose best players are crappy defenders. Cj isn't too bad, but every time I watch lillard he's getting destroyed. He does have a huge offensive burden though. I hate that Evan turner signing. Taking the ball out of your two best players hands in favor of an erratic playmaker for 17 mill a year sounds crazy and he's not a good defender

I guess we'll just have to wait and watch what happens this year. I just like the two way capabilities of our guys. I think they'll be better than a lot of people think.

[PizzaLord305]

They do, might be a slight edge but they have that over us.

Naw man that Blazers team was wildly overrated last year. They were a pretty bad defensive team for decent stretches of the year. They could get buckets though, but now thats complicated cause they went out and got Evan turner for god knows what reason. I think people made too much out of their season because lillard is super likeable and they made the playoffs.

Won 44 games in a stacked West in which they were supposed to be a lottery team. Nobody is calling them a championship team so you can't call them overrated, they wouldn't have beaten the Clippers if they had a healthy team. They may have over-achieved though...

Alsoooooo, the West was extremely top heavy last year. I don't think there was the usual stack-ness for the majority of the season. Too many injuries everywhere

[NBADraft2003]

Naw man that Blazers team was wildly overrated last year. They were a pretty bad defensive team for decent stretches of the year. They could get buckets though, but now thats complicated cause they went out and got Evan turner for god knows what reason. I think people made too much out of their season because lillard is super likeable and they made the playoffs.

Won 44 games in a stacked West in which they were supposed to be a lottery team. Nobody is calling them a championship team so you can't call them overrated, they wouldn't have beaten the Clippers if they had a healthy team. They may have over-achieved though...

Dude I listened to podcasts where people were saying they're a better team than the heat, Celtics, and Hawks were last year. Some folks were really high on them. Obv that's not what you're saying. I can see your point a bit though they have talented young guys and HAD balance.

Guys like aminu and harkless balled out and really made up for some of the short comings of others. I just don't feel too good about a young team whose best players are crappy defenders. Cj isn't too bad, but every time I watch lillard he's getting destroyed. He does have a huge offensive burden though. I hate that Evan turner signing. Taking the ball out of your two best players hands in favor of an erratic playmaker for 17 mill a year sounds crazy and he's not a good defender

I guess we'll just have to wait and watch what happens this year. I just like the two way capabilities of our guys. I think they'll be better than a lot of people think.

Depends on what part of the year you heard those claims. The Heat, Celtics, and Hawks were all looking like trash compared to what they finished the season at. I don't know what they'll do this season, I can see them making the Playoffs again or missing it.

[KingDavid]

Despite more lucrative offers, Reed signed a two-year deal with the Heat for the veteran's minimum. He felt he owed it to the organization after being awarded the opportunity to play with Miami's summer league team the past two seasons. Last summer he spurned the Heat to play with the Brooklyn Nets because of a better deal.

"I wanted to be able to come to the Heat [this offseason]," Reed said. "I told my agent that if I was able to get a minimum deal with the Heat, I'd take it just because what they did for me."

Perhaps a bigger determining factor was the Heat's recent track record of developing former D-League players. Whiteside and guard Tyler Johnson just signed lucrative contracts after spending time with the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

"That just proves the D-League is the fastest way to the NBA," Reed said. "You get better there. That just shows the hunger that those guys had and I think that's the same hunger that I have."

After visiting St. Louis this weekend, attending a friend's wedding in Las Vegas the following week and then going on a trip to Cancun with his wife for their anniversary, his focus turns to this season. One of the first things on the agenda is setting up a meeting with Whiteside.

"I look forward to speaking with him and kind of pick his brain a little bit as well," Reed said. "Even though he's a young guy, he's had success in this league. Any bit of information that I can take in and try to get better, that's exactly what I'm going to do."

Well, damn!

Sounds like another UD in the making.

Someone will overpay for his services though.

[DayofMourning]

ESPN headline, "It's good to be a mediocre free agent". Pictured are Timofey......and Hassan. Good grief. Hassan equals mediocre?

[afour495+]

Could we play Reed and Whiteside together with Reed at PF and Whiteside at C? Surround them Johnson, Richardson and Babbitt to keep the shooting up. Shot blocking out the wazoo

[QUIZ]

ESPN headline, "It's good to be a mediocre free agent". Pictured are Timofey......and Hassan. Good grief. Hassan equals mediocre?

Gotta get the clicks in. Putting up a pic of Mozgov and Allen Crabbe probably wouldn't get many views.

[HeatFanDan]

ESPN headline, "It's good to be a mediocre free agent". Pictured are Timofey......and Hassan. Good grief. Hassan equals mediocre?

That's ESPN and their anti-Heat agenda for you. smh

[DayofMourning]

ESPN headline, "It's good to be a mediocre free agent". Pictured are Timofey......and Hassan. Good grief. Hassan equals mediocre?

Gotta get the clicks in. Putting up a pic of Mozgov and Allen Crabbe probably wouldn't get many views.

I didn't do them the favor. Save that genius for someone else.

[PizzaLord305]

Take away Zach Lowe and David Thorpe and ESPN's basketball content is in SHAMBLES. I am a Kevin Arnovitz fan though too tbh.

[NBADraft2003]

ESPN headline, "It's good to be a mediocre free agent". Pictured are Timofey......and Hassan. Good grief. Hassan equals mediocre?

Gotta get the clicks in. Putting up a pic of Mozgov and Allen Crabbe probably wouldn't get many views.

I didn't do them the favor. Save that genius for someone else.

As the "genius", it didn't say anything about Hassan. Main picture in the article is Mozgov at the Cavs parade, I guess they used Hassan for clicks.

[cyclix]

32 min of US Select Team. Justise looks trash

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA3oICBWPuQ[/youtube]

[RexBoyWonder]

32 min of US Select Team. Justise looks trash

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA3oICBWPuQ[/youtube]

1. Looked trash? WTH are you talking about. Did you even see the clip?

2. TJ is more deserving to be in USA select team then McDermott. J.Rich too actually.