2025 Regular Season Thread Vol. 8

[greg4012]

The effects of the cope pill that a potion of the fanbase swallowed that Jimmy was the problem and his departure would lead to an addition by subtraction result has worn off and reality of just how bad the cast is is starting to set in for some. (not saying this is you)

If Atl never lost Jalen Johnson, theyd be clear cut better than Mia (still are imo), If Chi didnt pull the plug and trade Lavine, theyd also be better, and if Philly wasnt such a freak show, theyd be better.

In other words, a team lead by Bam and Tyler is for sure a lotto team in an most other years and they still probably are this season even with the benefit of a weakened eastern conference.

I wouldn't say Jimmy was the problem but he clearly was no longer part of the solution here. The outlook isn't as bleak as some want it to be. We always create these 'what if' scenarios for other teams but dont give our team the same grace. What about the 7-8..maybe more double digit leads we blew late in games this year? If we win those games, we're firmly in the 4-5 mix. That's on top of the cloud that was following this group for much of the season.

This season is as bleak looking as it gets; and the long term outlook (at least the next few years) doesnt look particularly inspiring at the moment. Jacquez and Jovic havent proven themselves to be mainstays and the agenda of clearing maximum cap space for '26 was compromised with the contracts gotten in the Jimmy trade.

At this point, I dont really know what the direction is and I suspect the FO hasnt decided on one either.

Regarding their tendency to collapse in late game scenarios, the truth is they dont deserve grace because it's not like that tendency is happening because of bad luck or for some other reason that's beyond comprehension. They are being out-coached and out-executed which has to do with several factors including not having sufficient talent who can play on the ball.

This group simply is not a 4-5 caliber team. At best they are a 7-8 and if they were to get into the playoffs, they'd be looking at a similar fate as last season of getting thoroughly embarrassed in the first round.

Not close to as bleak looking as it gets.

People just want to freak out.

[Kobewade11]

Like I said. Go get Trae and KD for cheap in the off season

Trae
Herro
KD
Bam
Ware

The salary cap and trade pieces involved make this scenario highly unlikely

Yea..KD (55), Trae (46), Bam (37), Herro (31) puts us 14 mil over the projected cap for next season. And Bam's salary jumps another 15 mil the following season.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

Read on Twitter

Best defender in the world by the way.

I still need more shots and a higher usage.

[greg4012]

Read on Twitter

Best defender in the world by the way.

I still need more shots and a higher usage.

39% 3pt shooting on 3 attempts per game over this stretch.

TBH I think Bam's in his sweet spot in terms of shots and usage--right around 15 FGA per game while being able to create some offense around the paint. He'll become inefficient when burdened with more IMO.

BUT, pair Bam with a top 10 player that is a real top offensive option and at least league-average playmaking from the 1-3 spots and watch how different this team looks. Obviously easier said than done. But, as previously highlighted Miami is better positioned to strike on an opportunity for such a player than they have been in the past 5 years.

For as good as Jimmy was for Miami as that top dog and as much success as Miami found in partnership with Jimmy, the offensive functionality between Jimmy and Bam was always clunky due to them working best from similar areas of the court (and neither being real floor spacers).

[Kobewade11]

This season is as bleak looking as it gets; and the long term outlook (at least the next few years) doesnt look particularly inspiring at the moment. Jacquez and Jovic havent proven themselves to be mainstays and the agenda of clearing maximum cap space for '26 was compromised with the contracts gotten in the Jimmy trade.

At this point, I dont really know what the direction is and I suspect the FO hasnt decided on one either.

Regarding their tendency to collapse in late game scenarios, the truth is they dont deserve grace because it's not like that tendency is happening because of bad luck or for some other reason that's beyond comprehension. They are being out-coached and out-executed which has to do with several factors including not having sufficient talent who can play on the ball.

This group simply is not a 4-5 caliber team. At best they are a 7-8 and if they were to get into the playoffs, they'd be looking at a similar fate as last season of getting thoroughly embarrassed in the first round.

The "agenda" you mentioned is just hitching wagons to a speculative report. Nothing was compromised considering Duncan and Rozier come off the books and they can shed the additional contract needed for a max slot in 2026 if they truly want to.

When I think about bleak, I think about the Sixers being locked into paying a forever hobbled Embiid and a washed up Paul George a combined average of 113 million for the next 3 years while being a non playoff team. I think about the Suns not owning any of their first round picks for the next four years while sitting on the least desired contract in the league, with their best player allegedly having a foot out the door.

If I wanted to, I could go on. These are just two specific examples, I wouldn't trade places with either of them -although I'm sure that those who think somehow the grass is always greener on the other side would cook up some reason as to why they would. For the first time in quite a while we'll be armed with picks we own, expirings, and rookie deals..that's usually the combo where you can upgrade the team. What we're experiencing are growing pains that for some reason we think we're entitled to not experience.

[greg4012]

Kinda stunning stat: Bam is shooting more 3PA per game this season than Jimmy did in any of his 5.5 seasons with Miami.

[Grumpy Heat Fan]

Kinda stunning stat: Bam is shooting more 3PA per game this season than Jimmy did in any of his 5.5 seasons with Miami.

lol


Jimmy out in GS playing every game and giving effort. That's all he had to do here but refused.

GSW look like they are Finals bound tbh.

[greg4012]

Kinda stunning stat: Bam is shooting more 3PA per game this season than Jimmy did in any of his 5.5 seasons with Miami.

lol


Jimmy out in GS playing every game and giving effort. That's all he had to do here but refused.

GSW look like they are Finals bound tbh.

I wouldn't even be too mad about it tbh

Def would prefer it to the Celtics or Lakers.

Jimmy's pettiness makes it hard not to have some resentment, but he does deserve success bc he's an extremely high impact player when he's actually available and engaged.

Him being able to join one of the best offensive players the NBA has ever seen and one of the better defensive players the NBA has ever seen should result in winning ball. They're all at the tail end and can't summon the magic as much as they used to, so it won't last long, but go ahead and get it.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

Read on Twitter

Best defender in the world by the way.

I still need more shots and a higher usage.

39% 3pt shooting on 3 attempts per game over this stretch.

TBH I think Bam's in his sweet spot in terms of shots and usage--right around 15 FGA per game while being able to create some offense around the paint. He'll become inefficient when burdened with more IMO.

BUT, pair Bam with a top 10 player that is a real top offensive option and at least league-average playmaking from the 1-3 spots and watch how different this team looks. Obviously easier said than done. But, as previously highlighted Miami is better positioned to strike on an opportunity for such a player than they have been in the past 5 years.

For as good as Jimmy was for Miami as that top dog and as much success as Miami found in partnership with Jimmy, the offensive functionality between Jimmy and Bam was always clunky due to them working best from similar areas of the court (and neither being real floor spacers).

You may be right, if he has better playmakers he may jump up to 23-24 PPG on his current usage just off getting more efficient looks

[3ammy3uck3ts]

Kinda stunning stat: Bam is shooting more 3PA per game this season than Jimmy did in any of his 5.5 seasons with Miami.

lol


Jimmy out in GS playing every game and giving effort. That's all he had to do here but refused.

GSW look like they are Finals bound tbh.

Warriors haven’t played anyone worth mentioning, let’s see how they do against better teams

[MettaWorldPanda]

Kinda stunning stat: Bam is shooting more 3PA per game this season than Jimmy did in any of his 5.5 seasons with Miami.

lol


Jimmy out in GS playing every game and giving effort. That's all he had to do here but refused.

GSW look like they are Finals bound tbh.

Warriors haven’t played anyone worth mentioning, let’s see how they do against better teams

Been watching them play. They are on a string right now and will probably win a ton from here on out. Butler and Curry are an amazing duo and Green is acting like Tucker was to our number 1 seed team.

[Umbooki]

As bleak as things look for us, Philly’s suffering is infinitely worse. “The Process” was an absolute failure (outside of Embiid’s MVP, I guess) and they’re paying PG13 a max deal for Tobias Harris numbers. Embiid doesn’t even smile anymore, man. He’s a broken man.

Don’t even get me started on the Knicks burning five picks for Mikal Bridges. They’re better than us, but there’s nothing to suggest that they’re actual contenders this year. They’ll need a proper coaching change before they’re worth a damn.

[MettaWorldPanda]

Read on Twitter

[contract]

Someone needs to make a game thread.

[contract]

As bleak as things look for us, Philly’s suffering is infinitely worse. “The Process” was an absolute failure (outside of Embiid’s MVP, I guess) and they’re paying PG13 a max deal for Tobias Harris numbers. Embiid doesn’t even smile anymore, man. He’s a broken man.

Don’t even get me started on the Knicks burning five picks for Mikal Bridges. They’re better than us, but there’s nothing to suggest that they’re actual contenders this year. They’ll need a proper coaching change before they’re worth a damn.

I'll never understand teams losing their minds for guys who aren't superstars.

[MettaWorldPanda]

Watch on YouTube

Yes PLAY KESHAD JOHNSON

[MartyConlonJr]

Kinda stunning stat: Bam is shooting more 3PA per game this season than Jimmy did in any of his 5.5 seasons with Miami.

lol


Jimmy out in GS playing every game and giving effort. That's all he had to do here but refused.

GSW look like they are Finals bound tbh.

Warriors haven’t played anyone worth mentioning, let’s see how they do against better teams

I am team petty so I don't want Jimmy winning. Not because I wouldnt normally want him to get one, but because he is also team petty, and him winning a championship would not come without the gloating and I told you so to Miami. If he would raise his head up above it, I'd maybe be happy for him (eh, probably not) but I know he wouldn't be able to help himself. I dont want to see that.

But even I can look objectively at a team that is 6-1 since Jimmy joined and winning by an average of 17.5 ppg (even factoring in the Dallas loss - winning by 19.7 ppg in the other 6 games if you exclude it), beating Houston, Dallas, Sacramento and Milwaukee who are two 5th seeds and two other playoff teams, to go with the two lotto teams of Charlotte and Chicago, and see that they are much better.

Beating bad teams by an average of 27.5 ppg (Charlotte and Chicago).
Beating decent teams by 24 ppg (Dallas and Sacramento).
Beating top teams by 10.5 ppg (Milwaukee and Houston).

Edit: After writing this, did see Giannis was out for Bucks, AD is obviously out for Dallas. Sacramento, despite being 5-4 since trading Fox, really aren't the same and have barely capitalised on a very soft schedule (3 games vs NOP and 1 vs Charlotte, 1 vs POR, and barely beating Dallas themselves without AD), Houston are 4-6 without FVV. Maybe you are right, maybe team petty has a chance.

[Kobewade11]

Watch on YouTube

Yes PLAY KESHAD JOHNSON

I think his time for rotation minutes is going to come next year, especially after another summer of extended time with the staff. He's got something to his game, I've been very impressed in his limited minutes.

[Bmaster]

Kinda stunning stat: Bam is shooting more 3PA per game this season than Jimmy did in any of his 5.5 seasons with Miami.

lol


Jimmy out in GS playing every game and giving effort. That's all he had to do here but refused.

GSW look like they are Finals bound tbh.

Last game he only scored 8 points.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

lol


Jimmy out in GS playing every game and giving effort. That's all he had to do here but refused.

GSW look like they are Finals bound tbh.

Warriors haven’t played anyone worth mentioning, let’s see how they do against better teams

I am team petty so I don't want Jimmy winning. Not because I wouldnt normally want him to get one, but because he is also team petty, and him winning a championship would not come without the gloating and I told you so to Miami. If he would raise his head up above it, I'd maybe be happy for him (eh, probably not) but I know he wouldn't be able to help himself. I dont want to see that.

But even I can look objectively at a team that is 6-1 since Jimmy joined and winning by an average of 17.5 ppg (even factoring in the Dallas loss - winning by 19.7 ppg in the other 6 games if you exclude it), beating Houston, Dallas, Sacramento and Milwaukee who are two 5th seeds and two other playoff teams, to go with the two lotto teams of Charlotte and Chicago, and see that they are much better.

Beating bad teams by an average of 27.5 ppg (Charlotte and Chicago).
Beating decent teams by 24 ppg (Dallas and Sacramento).
Beating top teams by 10.5 ppg (Milwaukee and Houston).

Edit: After writing this, did see Giannis was out for Bucks, AD is obviously out for Dallas. Sacramento, despite being 5-4 since trading Fox, really aren't the same and have barely capitalised on a very soft schedule (3 games vs NOP and 1 vs Charlotte, 1 vs POR, and barely beating Dallas themselves without AD), Houston are 4-6 without FVV. Maybe you are right, maybe team petty has a chance.

Yep my point exactly, the good teams they beat had major key guys out.

I honestly don’t care either way tbh, they’re not winning the championship whether the close out the year strong or not. I was just pointing out that they haven’t beat anyone notable