NBA 2022-23 Season Opener! Miami vs Chicago. 730 PM EST.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

If there’s legit concern here it should 1000% be with Lowry

[MartyConlonJr]

To those saying he shouldn't average 20, he will expend too much energy etc - Bam averaged 19 last year. 1 extra point is not much, but also more to the point even when he is not scoring he is expending effort on the offensive end with screens and DHO. I'm not sure that is any less effort than the alternative of being aggressive looking for his own. To me, Bam is always expending effort on offence and defence, his motor is high, and we are just asking for a different focus of that energy?

[RexBoyWonder]

If you're looking at this team and think BAM of all people is our problem - you're truly clueless.

Bam isn't a great scorer and never will be one, but he's a very good player overall. He just shouldn't be looked at as the #1 or #2 option.

Our starting PG on the other hand, might be the worst starter on any playoff team. How bout we address that problem before yapping about Bam.

Oh, and we're starting a slim SG as our PF. That might be a bigger issue too.

[EMC5466]

PG and PF is a nightmare for us right now.

[MHeat0279]

Have you ever asked yourself the question why did we look so fluid playing when our main guys were injured last year? the pace, the open 3 pointers, the constant passing of the ball, we almost looked like the warriors with our fluidity. Yurt grabbing rebounds like a madman. I believe when Spo was forced to play out of his sets, we looked better. As soon as Jimmy and Bam came back we reverted to our ugly offense, isolation plays at the end of the shot clock, same movie as last night vs Chicago.

You’re looking at the wrong side of the court. Obviously we could’ve been better offensively but we gave up 116 points on our home court to a team that was missing an all star scorer and their starting Pg. Hell that’s 2 of their top 4 scorers and they still smoked us and these are long term issues, not just 1 fluke game type stuff. Lowry will continue to be ass and from what we’ve seen the defense is going to continue to be horrible and we’re smaller than ever right now.

I agree our defense was beyond bad last night, but we found multiple times playing our ugly brand of basketball, the ball stops moving, wasting time behind the 3 point line while the rest of the players were just standing around, to makes matters worse Lawry which is the one to organize our game and not find ourlseves running down the shot clock without a decent play, had a very bad game. But we need constant contribution almost from everybody, we dont have a superstar in this team, Jimmy has played like one in very important playoffs games, but we can not expect or rely on that happening constantly ( there is a reason he is no Wade) We need to have a smart game where players do not stop moving around and passing the ball, our isolation plays usually never end up with a good result because we dont have a superstar that can do that on a consistent basis.

[rate_]

The real issue is they rely too much on threes offensively and have no one with a quick first step that can constantly apply rim pressure in the halfcourt. Oladipo was supposed to be that guy but he can't stay healthy and he isn't exactly getting younger either.

[MHeat0279]

I think we need Jovic at 4 instead of Caleb. We're just too damn small. Highsmith isn't much of a rebounder either.

Just to keep watching us get out rebounded continuously was irritating. Yurt can't come back soon enough, but who knows how that's gonna look.

Any person with brain cells would see this, I dont really have an answer as to why
The smart idea is to suffer Jovic's growing pains than to pay a skinny undersized Caleb as a PF. Jovic is slender but at least he has the hight and way way more potential than Caleb.

[MHeat0279]

Come on guys we need to give this team the benefit of the doubt at least for more than 1 game.

- Spo is too good of a coach regardless of his flaws he finds a way to maximize his team to get the most of them.
- Miami has been able to find small trades to impact the team prior to the trade deadline, yes we didn't pull the trigger this last offseason but we were going after the whales like we always do and we struck out. Our free agency execs will always take those gambles specially when the payoff is big. They haven't felt that anyone trade out there would move the needle enough for them to get rid of assets. We need to trust them, and now that Dipo may not be as productive as we expected this opens the door for Miami to go after a player they probably didn't think would help previously. These execs are paid big dollars to assemble championship contenders and their going to do that we need to trust that they are working behind the scenes to make it happen.
- You can tell from the Pre season that our players worked on a lot of new things, I don't believe you can work out all these kinks and new ideas completely prior to start of the season. Last year, Boston was working on their offense and looked cooked all year and then Boom flash in the pan they made it to the Finals.
- Our current core have worked themselves in the playoffs hard since Jimmy has arrived and we have had some amazing runs that in the Finals or ECF's as contenders for a championship. To say were not going anywhere after 1 game is a little ludicrous.
- Listen this doesn't mean that our weaknesses are going to disappear completely from day 1, it means that they will find schemes, other lineups, or sets to offset some of these over the course of the season to limit their negative impact.
- If our pg situation in Lowry does not get better as the season progresses, hard decisions will be made. I believe they will bench Lowry or and their is still the distinct possibility of him getting his shooting rhythm back. It doesn't mean he won't still be a traffic cone on defense but at least we can mitigate those situations with some schemes and keeping him benched during closing lineups.
- I don't remember Bam ever being this bad in any one game last year, we should not be completely dismissing any improvements over the offseason from game 1, that is asinine. He wasn't out there trying to do too much, like literally an aberration of him missing the simplest of bunnies. Regardless of how bad the team played last night, had Bam shown up to his standards from last year we would be having a different conversation this afternoon.
- I will look at each game to see how Miami improves and how they blend all the new things they showed during the pre season incorporated over the course of the season. I know that if they fall behind in the standings it could be detrimental but we need to trust the team as a whole, upper management, the players, the coaching staff will do what they do every year and that is to be competitive and put themselves in a situation to compete for a championship. Right now we don't have all the how's at least I don't . However I know that they will show us the how and hopefully we all enjoy the journey together.
- This ride may not be pleasant in the beginning but well talk about it here and curse at them a bit, and have a couple laughs along the way. "In order to get the most out of joy one must experience a bit of pain along the way"

Ice, this is not a new team. We should not look this bad
They wanted Bam to average more shots per game? did we give him that last night? or he started to pass the ball like the usual?
Lowry is looking bad, like really bad in every aspect of his game, we need to find out what is Herro's forte, he is not a great dribbler, so we need to put him in situations where he is comfortable scoring, we can not force Bam to be one of the main scorers on the team, again we can not settle for him to serve as a screener and passer only, either look for him in transition or find some damn way to make him effective. I believe we look worse because of our gameplan.

[Tony15]

If there’s legit concern here it should 1000% be with Lowry

And that's REALLY saying something about our PG rotation lol, because after him is Gabe.....who has his moments but is not who I would call reliable when the going gets tough. If Lowry is not a consistent contributor, we're screwed at that position unless Jimmy takes on more ball handling responsibility.....which opens up other problems offensively because Tyler is the only other guy who can create his own.

At worst, I think we're a 6 seed but if we get hit with injuries for a long period we could be looking at just making the play-in and potentially losing. BOS is the class of the conference, MIL is right there, BKN has extreme upside, CLE got better, PHI got slightly better, & TOR is still around. All we did was lose PJ Tucker (to PHI I might add) and we're still very small. Best case scenario is that Tyler turns into a legitimate All-Star and Bam shows marked improvement on offense from an aggression standpoint but that's it because as I said earlier in this thread, Jimmy and Lowry aren't getting any better, only older.

[Tony15]

It might take Riley coming down and ordering Spo to make Jovic a rotation player, because otherwise dude's gonna get the same treatment Yurt did last year.

[MHeat0279]

You know what's crazy to me? When Bam has great scoring games everyone is preaching he needs to do this all the time. When Bam wasn't showing up in the playoffs everyone said he needs to become an offensive threat.

Bam had a bad game yesterday while trying to be aggressive now everyone is saying that's not what he should be doing. That's not who he is etc. There is no pleasing some of you guys. This fanbase is full of pessimists. Bam might not be the best offensive player currently but working on it and trying is how he actually becomes better and learns what works vs what doesn't work for him. An aggressive Bam opens up and also makes the game easier for Butler Herro and others.

when you have a natural ability to score and you practice you become elite at it or close to it, Bam is not a guy with a natural scoring ability, he can try all he wants, he will be average at best. Nothing to do with pessimism. An agressive Bam is good for the whole team, but you need to actually score.

[rate_]

It might take Riley coming down and ordering Spo to make Jovic a rotation player, because otherwise dude's gonna get the same treatment Yurt did last year.

I don't understand the same treatment with Jovic as Yurt though, for such a position of need. Yurt not getting that much PT makes sense because theoretically, he isn't as good fit next to Bam as Jovic. Jovic is a good passing big with legit 3P range and quicker feet to hedge/rotate defensively than Yurt. Yurt is wearing cinderblocks. And even though Jovic is a rookie, he's been playing overseas against grown men professionally for years. So, he isn't your typical young, inexperienced rookie.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

Jovic should be the 2nd big in the rotation if we’re being honest

[ShulaDon92]

Lol Mheat... this has happened quite a few times. We look best with no stars and playing outside our normal sets. Anyway this game was baffling. Herro looked like he was about to drop 40 easy then did nothing in the 2nd 1/2. We would permanently glue guys to the bench for missing a many bunnies as bam missed last night. Dedmon surprised me playing well. Cairn was ok. We have absolutely no help d at the rim.

Would like to see cain and finally Idc idc idc but I'd love to see Whiteside on this team. His attitude might have been entitled but he wasn't bad on the court at all. Let bam play the 4 we would be perfect.

Like usual. Still waiting forever for him to drop 45 or 50

[3ammy3uck3ts]

Lol Mheat... this has happened quite a few times. We look best with no stars and playing outside our normal sets. Anyway this game was baffling. Herro looked like he was about to drop 40 easy then did nothing in the 2nd 1/2. We would permanently glue guys to the bench for missing a many bunnies as bam missed last night. Dedmon surprised me playing well. Cairn was ok. We have absolutely no help d at the rim.

Would like to see cain and finally Idc idc idc but I'd love to see Whiteside on this team. His attitude might have been entitled but he wasn't bad on the court at all. Let bam play the 4 we would be perfect.

Like usual. Still waiting forever for him to drop 45 or 50

Can’t lie, after the first quarter I thought we were getting a new career low for Bam and career high from Herro

[KingDavid]

It might take Riley coming down and ordering Spo to make Jovic a rotation player, because otherwise dude's gonna get the same treatment Yurt did last year.

I don't understand the same treatment with Jovic as Yurt though, for such a position of need. Yurt not getting that much PT makes sense because theoretically, he isn't as good fit next to Bam as Jovic. Jovic is a good passing big with legit 3P range and quicker feet to hedge/rotate defensively than Yurt. Yurt is wearing cinderblocks. And even though Jovic is a rookie, he's been playing overseas against grown men professionally for years. So, he isn't your typical young, inexperienced rookie.

Might have to campaign on social media to get that change to happen. Chant it in games, etc.

[Shewasfly]

To those saying he shouldn't average 20, he will expend too much energy etc - Bam averaged 19 last year. 1 extra point is not much, but also more to the point even when he is not scoring he is expending effort on the offensive end with screens and DHO. I'm not sure that is any less effort than the alternative of being aggressive looking for his own. To me, Bam is always expending effort on offence and defence, his motor is high, and we are just asking for a different focus of that energy?

They’re asking him to get it himself this year. Essentially actually play like he’s a star and max player. That’s very different than the finisher role he’s been allowed to be in till now (his natural role).
I agree that it’s not going to kill his energy or whatever, but it will hurt offensive efficiency. Overall it will not be a net positive.

[ShulaDon92]

To those saying he shouldn't average 20, he will expend too much energy etc - Bam averaged 19 last year. 1 extra point is not much, but also more to the point even when he is not scoring he is expending effort on the offensive end with screens and DHO. I'm not sure that is any less effort than the alternative of being aggressive looking for his own. To me, Bam is always expending effort on offence and defence, his motor is high, and we are just asking for a different focus of that energy?

They’re asking him to get it himself this year. Essentially actually play like he’s a star and max player. That’s very different than the finisher role he’s been allowed to be in till now (his natural role).
I agree that it’s not going to kill his energy or whatever, but it will hurt offensive efficiency. Overall it will not be a net positive.

Imagine needing Ben Wallace to also be your offensive cog. It may not work.

There's a reason they got Rasheed

[ShulaDon92]

After the tape sesh it's clear to see Valenciunas destroyed Bam. Just have to leave it behind and start again if you're Bam.

Also, DeFrozen completely destroyed Jimmy.

[abark]

Westbrook for Lowry and Duncan seems appealing from an eye test standpoint in this system.

Spo needs all 3d, two way guys

If Lowry's washed, why not?

You’re eyes are deceiving u if u think Westbrook isn’t terrible. He can put up stats but he’s horribly inefficient and takes away possessions from better players. Lowry sucks but he doesn’t try to do much.

Every player in that trade is trash. The only benefit is that Westbrook’s contract is expiring (which is the biggest positive of any part of the trade). I’m not saying we’ll win anything if we don’t make that move, but we’re definitely doing nothing this year if Westbrook is the PG.

I'd eat a year of Westbrook to get out of Duncan and Lowry's deals if it were vital to getting Miami's finances in order so that re-signing Vincent, Strus, and potentially Oladipo wouldn't be an issue.

Miami has found ways to extract value from seemingly hopeless cases, so it would be an "expect the worst, hope for the best" scenario. Worst case, if Westbrook becomes an issue, you can just have him stay away from the team.

Would we really even be any worse if we made the trade then waived Westbrook? The fact I’m not sure it would make much difference says a lot.