Miami Heat Regular Season/Speculation Thread 2021 Part 3

[Bishop45]

Actually canceled my League Pass after last nights game. The team is just off and not fun to watch this year.

They said: "we just want to watch the kids develop"

Petty, but true story.

Honestly, I'd be watching more if my schedule wasn't bum-phuck rn

Wanted to watch Winnie too, tho he's been trash. Hopefully he's good for the playoffs

[Wiltside]

If we’re looking at IT, you gotta assume Dipo ain’t returning anytime soon.

I think something is ailing Gogi. He’s looked a shell of himself lately. The back could be barking again. They would need another PG.

Nunn is the Dipo back-up, so if we’re looking at IT then we feel that both Dipo and Gigi are not reliable for a full PO run.

I’m at the point where running 25-30 minutes of broken IT is sounding appealing to me. Atleast he might be able to get buckets idc idc idc

[Bishop45]

Wanted IT in '16, I'll take him now for the chance at a resurgence-- would like to see him retire the way that he wants to

[HIF]

Roster construction has been one of the biggest missteps of this front office. Drafting a 6’8 225 center was just criminal. I mean can’t say i’m surprised from the same group and coaching staff that played 6’6 190 DJJ at PF. Look at him now with Portland playing SF and playing a really nice role for that team. Kelly Olynyk was told to play like a guard here. Now that he’s actually playing his natural position he’s playing well again. We take positionless basketball to another level. Andre Iguodala has been abysmal all year at PF. Trevor Ariza is starting to play better but even he’s better served to play SF. We play Bjelica at Center with two SF’s in the front court leaving him totally exposed. He should be playing the stretch 4 next to Bam. Spo has been completely clueless with rotations this year. Honestly think we should start out games big with Bjelica and bring Ariza off the bench in the Iguodala role. Iguodala at the 4 has killed this team this year. Achuiwa looks like a G league scrub. Hoping Dedmon can give us something cause this team is begging for a big to control the paint.

And keeping UD on seems to have worked out so well.

[HIF]

Somewhere along the line this coaching staff destroyed all of Achuiwa’s confidence. NBA center was not supposed to be in the cards for this kid.

He's lucky to be in the league earning all that money for nothing. Play where you told and put more effort in.

[HIF]

If we’re looking at IT, you gotta assume Dipo ain’t returning anytime soon.

I think something is ailing Gogi. He’s looked a shell of himself lately. The back could be barking again. They would need another PG.

We have to face the fact that he is finished as a legit NBA force. Let's move on.

Expectations from Miami fans were too high for this season. We've done well to be in the 4-8 battle.

[Umbooki]

This schedule is so busted. Basura. Adam Silver needs to get his ass beat.

[carnageta]

I feel like we limited Achiuwa’s progression a lot by just sticking him at C and using him as a lob guy.

The guy is quick enough and fast enough to defend out on the perimeter. He’s more athletic than Bam lol. But he isn’t as big or strong.

He’s really no bigger than a guy like OG Anunoby. Imagine the Raps playing him at C? Lol

He should be coming off the bench next to Bjelica. Play them together got damnit

Precious is over an inch taller than OG. But that is not the important part of where the comparison is flawed. It is Precious's own limitations that have him pigeon holed as a rim running center.

You think we don't want to play Precious at PF? You are comparing him to a player that shot 37% on almost 3 attempts per game his rookie year. If Precious had a fraction of that shooting ability we'd be talking about a completely different player.

Precious can't shoot from anywhere outside the paint and is a 50% FT shooter. Players w that level of shooting deficit don't play on the wing. Today, they don't play any other position besides center (unless their name is Ben Simmons).

Yes, the role role we are playing him doesn't match his body. But that's because his skills don't match his ideal position.

I was a proponent of playing him next to Bam, but now that I've seen more of him I understand why we haven't. He's not nearly good enough to justify clogging the lane.

He started playing basketball late in life, so hopefully he can add a jumpshot. His upper body form is good, but if u watch when he shoots FTs (which is the only good sample size we have to analyze his form) you'll notice he almost doesn't use his legs at all. Fixing his shot would change everything for him, and how he could be used.

In short, it is Precious's fault he is stuck playing Center and no one else's. He needs to, at the very least, add a consistent mid range shot before he can be used at his body type appropriate position.

Is it also Iguodala’s fault that he is stuck playing power forward??

[AirP.]

Somewhere along the line this coaching staff destroyed all of Achuiwa’s confidence. NBA center was not supposed to be in the cards for this kid.

He's lucky to be in the league earning all that money for nothing. Play where you told and put more effort in.

Good teams shouldn't have to rely on rookies because they don't know how to play in the NBA nor are they ready for the speed, quickness or strength of the NBA, it's the FO's fault for not having the quality players who SHOULD be playing in front of Precious.

Precious had no summer league, no summer of working out with Heat trainers and barely a preseason and honestly, unless a big is just a physical freak for his age, they're going to have a hard time on the court, now toss in him having to play the 5 as an undersized center makes it all worse. THIS IS ALL ON THE MIAMI FRONT OFFICE. They've pissed away Butler's prime years for the young players. Luckily this front office has had 2 noteable players basically force themselves to Miami... Butler and Oladipo and people aren't even sure they want to keep Oladipo. In the last decade this FO hasn't really landed much talent that didn't try to force themselves there so I'm not really sure who this fanbase thinks will be coming other than... "a whale", that whale has been available twice, once for nearly free last year in CP3 and this year in J.Harden. BOTH were gettable, nobody can tell me they couldn't part Robinson, Nunn, or even Herro out for draft picks to acquire Harden, Miami didn't want to.

[AirP.]

Is it odd that I'm starting to get the same vibes about Butler in Miami as I did at the end with Butler in Chicago, the FO just refusing to build around him because he's not your typical 25-30 ppg star. Better hope Butler signs an extension this offseason or he may have thoughts on leaving after next season(4th year is a player option). Butler's type of game can age well deep into his 30s if he wants to play that long.

It wouldn't surprise me if Butler ends up back with Thibodeau in New York at some point. Don't underestimate their bond although he's built a bond with Spoelstra also. Thibodeau had Butler's back when Chicago's FO(Gar Foreman) threatened to have him benched(which Thibodeau didn't do) for that year that Butler bet on himself in Chicago. Playing for Thibodeau wasn't an option after Philly, it is now and Miami has just went 2 offseasons since adding Butler without really adding anything of significant value(other then Oladipo who basically forced his way there like Butler did).

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

If Butler moves on in a year, most of you will be happy to see the franchise turned over to Herro, the guy who can't be traded for better win now plays in Butler's prime. You did see Butler liked Harden saying he'd be good going to Miami... Butler knows what it would take to get him and Miami didn't do it.

Can't wait to see the next batch of bad contracts given out by this FO, I am very surprised how bad this FO has been in the last 2 years.

[SoFlaKingReal]

Is it odd that I'm starting to get the same vibes about Butler in Miami as I did at the end with Butler in Chicago, the FO just refusing to build around him because he's not your typical 25-30 ppg star. Better hope Butler signs an extension this offseason or he may have thoughts on leaving after next season(4th year is a player option). Butler's type of game can age well deep into his 30s if he wants to play that long.

It wouldn't surprise me if Butler ends up back with Thibodeau in New York at some point. Don't underestimate their bond although he's built a bond with Spoelstra also. Thibodeau had Butler's back when Chicago's FO(Gar Foreman) threatened to have him benched(which Thibodeau didn't do) for that year that Butler bet on himself in Chicago. Playing for Thibodeau wasn't an option after Philly, it is now and Miami has just went 2 offseasons since adding Butler without really adding anything of significant value(other then Oladipo who basically forced his way there like Butler did).

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

If Butler moves on in a year, most of you will be happy to see the franchise turned over to Herro, the guy who can't be traded for better win now plays in Butler's prime. You did see Butler liked Harden saying he'd be good going to Miami... Butler knows what it would take to get him and Miami didn't do it.

Can't wait to see the next batch of bad contracts given out by this FO, I am very surprised how bad this FO has been in the last 2 years.

You must be fun at parties.

[AirP.]

Is it odd that I'm starting to get the same vibes about Butler in Miami as I did at the end with Butler in Chicago, the FO just refusing to build around him because he's not your typical 25-30 ppg star. Better hope Butler signs an extension this offseason or he may have thoughts on leaving after next season(4th year is a player option). Butler's type of game can age well deep into his 30s if he wants to play that long.

It wouldn't surprise me if Butler ends up back with Thibodeau in New York at some point. Don't underestimate their bond although he's built a bond with Spoelstra also. Thibodeau had Butler's back when Chicago's FO(Gar Foreman) threatened to have him benched(which Thibodeau didn't do) for that year that Butler bet on himself in Chicago. Playing for Thibodeau wasn't an option after Philly, it is now and Miami has just went 2 offseasons since adding Butler without really adding anything of significant value(other then Oladipo who basically forced his way there like Butler did).

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

If Butler moves on in a year, most of you will be happy to see the franchise turned over to Herro, the guy who can't be traded for better win now plays in Butler's prime. You did see Butler liked Harden saying he'd be good going to Miami... Butler knows what it would take to get him and Miami didn't do it.

Can't wait to see the next batch of bad contracts given out by this FO, I am very surprised how bad this FO has been in the last 2 years.

You must be fun at parties.

Probably more fun then watching this team.

Sorry for being tired watching Butler just carrying bad rosters to the playoffs with the FO just flat out refusing to really trade any of their assets to get him some help. He did it in Chicago, Minnesota and now trying to do that in Miami.

Here's a harsh reality...
LA got LeBron, a year later they traded nearly all they're assets for AD and won the championship and are the favorites when healthy for the next few years, Miami had a chance to add Harden to Butler and Bam but Miami refused to do what it took(trade all the good youth) to get Harden and now they're where they're at, looking like a below .500 roster plus J.Butler. We got to see how bad this team was without Butler yet the FO still has done nearly nothing to make this team better for the next few years.

[Kobewade11]

Probably more fun then watching this team.

Sorry for being tired watching Butler just carrying bad rosters to the playoffs with the FO just flat out refusing to really trade any of their assets to get him some help. He did it in Chicago, Minnesota and now trying to do that in Miami.

He's got a supposed all star caliber running mate and they just went and traded trash for a 20 ppg guard who got injured. How much help does he need. It's easy for LA to get AD because his agent runs their team. If we had guys saying they're only going to play in Miami no matter what we'd get whoever we want too.

[AirP.]

Probably more fun then watching this team.

Sorry for being tired watching Butler just carrying bad rosters to the playoffs with the FO just flat out refusing to really trade any of their assets to get him some help. He did it in Chicago, Minnesota and now trying to do that in Miami.

He's got a supposed all star caliber running mate and they just went and traded trash for a 20 ppg guard who got injured. How much help does he need. It's easy for LA to AD because his agent runs their team. If we had guys saying they're only going to play in Miami no matter what we'd get whoever we want to.

Would it be too much to ask for a roster who doesn't look like one of the worst teams in the NBA without him?

Oladipo cost nearly nothing to acquire, they could have had Lowry(which they would have resigned) but didn't want to give up the assets or possibly pay him what he was asking for an extension. I kinda get that because of the age but what better options are there for Butler's window?

I would have done basically anything I could have done to pair up Harden with Butler and Bam, then again I would have traded for CP3 when OKC was basically trying to dump him so they could tank but you know, the 2021 plan stopped that, also stopped Miami from bringing back the same team that just went to the finals and went to 6 games with 2 key players hurt/out.

If it's about winning a championship I've not seen that. Miami has 1 guy who has now proven himself on center stage, Bam was hurt, so why not go get another piece? The only reason I've really wanted Miami to get Oladipo because he's the best they could/would realistically get.

I personally think Herro is more of a fan draw vs a player who can be a main player for a championship. I don't expect to see him in a top 30 player list for the NBA, possibly not top 50.

[Kobewade11]

Would it be too much to ask for a roster who doesn't look like one of the worst teams in the NBA without him?

Oladipo cost nearly nothing to acquire, they could have had Lowry(which they would have resigned) but didn't want to give up the assets or possibly pay him what he was asking for an extension.

What kind of logic is this? If he's not out there this team wouldn't be doing anything anyway. You didn't even want Lowry. And sending out 4-5 players for him wasn't going to make this team an instant contender and you know it. You just like hearing yourself talk.

[twix2500]

Here are the issues that I have notice that Spo has to solve. Spo has been tinkering with going small and attacking defense throughout the season. A set he was experimenting/developing with Okpala (but originated with DJ) and preparing to be a main defensive scheme. Obviously the hesitation to fully commit was because Okpala was still developing as a pro basketball player in general. I remember a question was asked of Spo about KZ development and Spo responded "I just want him to focus on his specific role".

Heat trades for Ariza, a player who knows how to be a pro and capable of playing the role that was for KZ. At the same time, Bradley was waiting to return who can be that final piece for a pressure, switching attack defense. One that can cause turnovers to compensate for lack of rebounds from lack of size. Then came the pursuit of Lowry and Oladipo two way guards who can score but also fit the defensive scheme.

I get it, if you can't match a team with size, be a better version of the opposite and see if you can force teams to adjust. Once the Heat added Dipo, giving up the only credible role player with size, Spo committed to the attacking defense as the primary defense. The idea of being able to rotate Ariza, Dipo, Iggy, Okpala, Butler and Bam throughout the entirety of the game may be enough of a problem for teams.. Flashes of its potential was taking place, but Dipo injury has completely collapsed the scheme. For a number of reasons, not only defensively but offensively.

We all know what Dipo was providing defensively. But offensively Dipo doesn't have to run off screens of bigs to have success like Herro, Duncan, Dragic and Nunn flourish off of. Dipo was going to take usage away from Dragic and Nunn, and become a drive and kick player for Duncan so he can rely less on screens. Now that Dipo is hurt, Nunn, Dragic usage is needed but missing is Olynyk (Leonard as well) as a big body screener pick n pop player.

Dragic is suffering likely the most. He is getting exposed to having to beat defenders without great picks. The same for Herro, Nunn and Duncan. Even thou Nunn is capable of beating his man without a screen its not part of his game. Thus this is hurting the chemistry of the offense as well as the defense.

Defensively, we all know the weaknesses of this current scheme. But what it could do was suppose to over compensate the weakness. No ball pressure from Oladipo, teams can run their offense cleanly and get the ball to the open spots and the mismatch down low.

Spo has to figure out how to satisfy the needs of Dragic, Nunn, Robinson and Herro only floor without key role players.

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[MettaWorldPanda]

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[Kobewade11]

at the deadline:

I'd rather see Miami pivot to Oladipo for way less assets, with his salary being 9 million less it's even less salary that has to be sent out.

[twix2500]

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?s=19

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[twix2500]

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Don't blame him. It got to be scary.

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